The Chaliphate - Muir - The Search For Mecca

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A.D. 640-1] BEXJAMINM^ESTOREU 165
to be made for the former head of their Church ; and the A.H. 19-20.
patriarch Benjamin, after thirteen years' retirement, was
reinstated in his office. This step was only equal in
wisdom to the manner in which 'Amr had made use of
the mutual hostility of Romans and Copts to advantage his
own cause.
Finding that the Egyptians, used to delicate and luxurious
'Amr would
living, looked down upon the Arabs for their frugal fare,
Egyptians to
'Amr, famed for mother-wit, chose a singular expedient to respect the
disabuse them.
First he had a feast prepared of slaughtered
camels, after the Bedawi fashion, and the Egyptians looked
on with wonder while the army satisfied their hunger with
the rude repast. Next day a sumptuous banquet was set
out, with all the dainties of the Egyptian table ; here again
the warriors fell to with equal zest. On the third day the
troops were paraded in battle array, when 'Amr thus
addressed the crowds who flocked to the spectacle :— " The
first day's entertainment was to let you see the simple
manner of our life at home ; the second, to show that we
can enjoy the good things of the conquered lands, and yet
retain, as ye see this day, our martial vigour notwithstanding."
The Copts retired, saying one to the other, " See ye not
that the Arabs have but to raise their heel upon us, and
it is enough." 'Omar was delighted at his lieutenant's
device, and said of him, " Of a truth it is on wisdom and
resolve, as well as upon force, that warfare doth depend." ^
A curious tale is told of the rising of the Nile. The Fable of
yearly flood having been long delayed, the Copts, according ^^|.^'^"g ^^
to custom, sought leave to cast into the river a maiden Nile,
beautifully attired, or rather, as we may suppose, the effigy
of such a one."- When referred to, the Caliph inclosed this
singular letter in a despatch to 'Amr ;
The Commander of the Faithful to the River Nile, greeting.
If in times past thou hast risen of thine own will, then stay thy
flood ; l:)ut if by will of Ahiiighty God, then to Him wc pray that thy
waters may rise and overspread the land.
'
'Pab. i., 2590 f.
-
The tradition is not given by our early authorities, but may nevertheless
be grounded on fact, for Lane tells us it is the custom to cast
year by year such a figure into the river, calling it The Bride of the Nile.
{^Modern Egyptians^ xxvi.)