An Arab-Syrian Gentleman and Warrior in the Period of the Crusades

USAMAH IN EGYPT 31
JuyGshiyyah and their allies won the victory over the Rayhaniyyah,
of whom were killed in the Suwayqah [3] Amlr-al-JuyQsh 11 one
thousand men, whose corpses blocked the passage in the Suwayqah.
As for us, we remained under arms by night and day for fear that
they might in turn attack us, as they had done prior to my arrival
in Egypt.
When the Rayhaniyyah were thus slaughtered, people thought
that al-Hafiz would denounce the act and would destroy their
murderers.
But al-Hafiz was lying sick on the verge of death, and
two days later the end came (may Allah's mercy rest upon his soul!).
Not even two goats locked horns on account of the massacre 12
Ibn-al-Sattar's successful revolt against al-Z&fir. — His youngest
son, al-?afir bi-Amr-Allah, succeeded him and chose for vizier
Najm-al-Din ibn-Masal, who was already an aged man. Al-Amir
Sayf-al-Dln abu-al-Hasan 'Ali ibn-al-Sallar, 13 who was then in his
province, 14 recruited some troops, brought them together, marched
against Cairo and sent word to his house.
Al-£afir bi-Amr-Allah
immediately called a convocation of amirs in the Vizierate Palace
and dispatched to us the major-domo of the palace, 15 who said to
us, "Know ye amirs that this Najm-al-Din is my vizier and representative.
Let him, therefore, who obeys me obey him and comply
with his orders." The amirs replied, "We are the slaves of our
master, obedient and loyal." The prefect carried back this response.
Thereupon an aged amir, named Lakriin, said, "O amirs, shall
we leave 'Ali ibn-al-Sallar to be killed?" To this they replied,
"No, by Allah!" "Rise up, therefore," said he. Accordingly they
all
rushed out from the palace, saddled their horses and mules and
hastened to the succor of Sayf-al-Din ibn-al-Sallar.
Seeing that,
and finding himself unable to resist him, al-Hafiz put at the disposal
of Najm-al-Din ibn-Masal a large sum of money and said, "Go
out to al-Hawf, 16 recruit and assemble an army, distribute money
among them and repulse ibn-al-Sallar."
Ibn-Masal set out to execute these orders.
In the meantime,
u The market place named after the "commander of the armies "
u A well-known Arabic proverb signifying that perfect peace and tranquillity
prevailed
u Spelled "Salar" in Encyclopaedia of Islam, art "al-'Adil "
M Alexandria and Buhayrah.
18
zim&m al-qusilr, "chief prefect " See Qalqashandi, vol III, p. 485.
M A district in the eastern part of the Delta.