The Chaliphate - Muir - The Search For Mecca

A.D. S92-907] EGYPT RECOVERED 555
overcame. Chief was that from the Karfimita TCarmathians), A.H. 279-
a race of fanatics which had signing U[j (hiring the late ^^
reign, and of which mention will be made in the following Curmathians.
chapter.
In beating back the savage Karmati hordes which spread Egypt reover
Syria and besieged Damascus, the Caliph received Cal^phate'
^
substantial aid from the Egyptian arm)-, under command of 290 a.m.
Mohammad ibn Suleiman. Afterwards this general, seeing ^
the now helpless state of the Tulunid government, and the
consequent disorder of his country, not only transferred his
allegiance to the Caliph, but advanced with a powerful army
to reduce Egypt itself, and restore it to the Caliph; while
with the same object a fleet from Tarsus entered the Nile.
As Mohammad approached Cairo, most of the leading
captains went over to him, and left Harun with diminished
forces. These again fell out among themselves, and Harun, Harfm
in the attempt to quell the tumult, was killed b)' an arrow. ^g,\'„
Egypt, thus restored to the Caliphate, was ravaged by the
invading force, and the grand works of the last twenty years
destroyed. The Tulunid family, with all their propert)-, were
transported to Bagdad, and the dynasty ceased. Notwithstanding
his great services, and the vast treasures he brought
with him from Egypt, Mohammad was cast into prison, and
tortured to reveal some part of the spoil he was suspected
of keeping back. The banished captains of the old dynasty 293 a.h.
again returned to Egypt, and set up afresh a rebel government
at Fustat ; but the}- were beaten, and Egypt finally
restored to its allegiance.
Mosul was again the scene of serious attack. The Mosul,
Kurds came down from their hill retreats in great multitudes
on Nineveh. The government was at the time in the hands
of a chief of the Hamdan family (founder of that house),
Arabs of the Beni Taghlib clan, who had to draw for
reinforcements on Bagdad, and with that help pursued the
Kurds into Azerbljan, and at last restored order. The
Samanid ruler of Khorasan was about the same time
attacked by countless hordes of Turkomans, and placed in
such danger, that, instead of being able to render aid against
the Kurds, he sent an urgent appeal for help to I^agdad,
which was read out from all the pulpits there, but with small
result.
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