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USAMAH IN EGYPT 39<br />
<strong>and</strong> made its way <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> horses' picket l<strong>in</strong>e 40<br />
<strong>and</strong> took its place<br />
<strong>the</strong>re as though it had no o<strong>the</strong>r object [<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> flight] but <strong>the</strong> loss <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> four thous<strong>and</strong> d<strong>in</strong>ars.<br />
Usamah's <strong>in</strong>terview with NUr-al-D<strong>in</strong>. — On our way we stopped<br />
<strong>in</strong> Busra, 41 where we learned that al-Malik al-'Adil Nur-al-D<strong>in</strong><br />
(may Allah's mercy rest upon his soul!) was camp<strong>in</strong>g aga<strong>in</strong>st Damascus.<br />
There had arrived <strong>in</strong> Busra, al-Amir Asad-al-Dln Shlrkuh 42<br />
(may Allah's mercy rest upon his soul!). So I jo<strong>in</strong>ed him <strong>and</strong> went<br />
to <strong>the</strong> army, where we arrived <strong>the</strong> even<strong>in</strong>g preced<strong>in</strong>g Monday.<br />
Early <strong>the</strong> next morn<strong>in</strong>g, I held an <strong>in</strong>terview with Nur-al-D<strong>in</strong> on<br />
<strong>the</strong> subject <strong>of</strong> my mission. He said, "O, so <strong>and</strong> so, 43 <strong>the</strong> people <strong>of</strong><br />
Damascus are our enemies, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Franks are our enemies, too.<br />
I trust nei<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>se nor those <strong>in</strong> case I go <strong>in</strong> between <strong>the</strong>m."<br />
<strong>the</strong>refore asked him, "Wilt thou <strong>the</strong>n authorize me to enlist troops<br />
from among those who were rejected from service <strong>in</strong><br />
I<br />
<strong>the</strong> regular<br />
army? These I shall take <strong>and</strong> go back, but thou shalt dispatch<br />
with me one <strong>of</strong> th<strong>in</strong>e own men at <strong>the</strong> head <strong>of</strong> thirty horsemen, so<br />
that <strong>the</strong> campaign may be considered as hav<strong>in</strong>g been carried out<br />
<strong>in</strong> thy name." Nur-al-D<strong>in</strong> replied, "Go ahead <strong>and</strong> do it." Accord<strong>in</strong>gly,<br />
I recruited until <strong>the</strong> follow<strong>in</strong>g Monday eight hundred<br />
<strong>and</strong> sixty horsemen.<br />
These I took with me, march<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> heart<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Frankish territory, mak<strong>in</strong>g our stops at <strong>the</strong> call <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> bugle<br />
<strong>and</strong> start<strong>in</strong>g aga<strong>in</strong> at <strong>the</strong> call <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> bugle.<br />
<strong>in</strong> my company 'Ayn-al-Dawlah al-Yaruqi 44<br />
horsemen.<br />
The cleft<br />
Nur-al-D<strong>in</strong> dispatched<br />
at <strong>the</strong> head <strong>of</strong> thirty<br />
at Petra Mosque. — On my way back I passed through<br />
al-Kahf <strong>and</strong> al-Raqim 45 <strong>and</strong> made a stop <strong>the</strong>re. I entered <strong>the</strong><br />
mosque 48 <strong>and</strong> prayed <strong>in</strong> it; but <strong>the</strong> cleft <strong>in</strong> it I did not go through.<br />
One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Turkish amirs, however, who were <strong>in</strong> my company,<br />
named Barshak, came with <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>tention <strong>of</strong> enter<strong>in</strong>g through that<br />
narrow cleft. I said to him, "What art thou do<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>re? Pray<br />
outside <strong>of</strong> it." "There is no god but Allah," he replied. "I must<br />
40 fuwalah
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