in confined quarters, and to set off for the open country. So the Franks continued to besiege Akká; and those Moslems who were therein made sallies upon them every day, and fought with them until the middle of Shawwál. Also, there arrived Adil-Abú-Bekr with the Egyptians and a great number of others, who accompanied him to the siege. And when they entered upon the month Safar in the year 586, the Prince went into winter-quarters. Then several great lords came to the Sultán; and men also came from all quarters, out of those warriors who were near Akká, Therefore battles continued between the Moslems and the Franks for eight days, being incessantly renewed by each party.

And there set out the King of Almán (Germany), who marched forward among the greatest of the Franks, as regards the number of his troops, and was the most eminent for insolence and haughtiness, and had expressed the most confident opinion that he would recapture the Consecrated Temple, and was most ostentatious in his indignation and sorrow. Therefore he collected an army, and went forth in the direction of the country of the Moslems, desiring that victory might ensue for the people of his religion, and that he, with those whom he had under him, might seize Jerusalem from the Moslems. Their number was

about 160,000; but, one day, their king went down to bathe himself in a river near Antioch, and was drowned in a place where the water did not reach the middle of a man; and his son took the command after him. Nevertheless, the force of the divine and providential destiny of the Lord caused them to perish on the road; so that there remained of them only about one thousand men who arrived at Antioch, and set off to return to their country; but their barks were sunk, and not one of them was saved. Glory and power be ascribed to God! Praise be to him! Let him be exalted who brings forward his command and procrastinates not his decree; for he determines in equity.

T

Now there still continued much fighting with the Franks who were in Akká. Also the Associators received a re-inforcement, which arrived by sea from the islands afar, in such numbers, that they filled the land and the sea. There came also re-inforcements to the Sultán. Also, the great Patriarch forbade them, under pain of God's curse, to enjoy any pleasure, and shut the gates of the churches. And they clothed themselves in mourning garments, and were straightly prohibited from approaching their wives. Nor were they to cease these observances until they should obtain an entrance into the Holy City. They set off,

therefore, on their intended expedition; and whilst they were marching one day in a state of negligence, then the Sultán returned upon them, and completely enclosed them (in a circle, like a serpent's coil). Then they marched forth another time; and in this expedition made use of great towers of wood, with loop-holes all round: every tower was seven stories high. They constructed also a terrific ram; they constructed it of wood, and employed upon its head several hundred weights of iron in forming the horns, (which they sharpened) for the purpose of butting against walls, and overthrowing them. Thus they brought them out against the Moslems; and the towers shot at them stones, and caldrons of naphtha (Greek fire), and set every thing on fire. As to the ram, however, it stuck in the mud through its extreme weight, and was inefficient; and it was very easy to avoid its attack. Between these two parties, then, several affairs occurred throughout a long period, which are related in the Book of Histories.' The siege of Akká lasted two years, and more than 100,000 Franks were killed in it. And in the year 588 peace took place between the Sultán Saláh-Uddín and the Franks, notwithstanding great unwillingness with respect thereto.

And, in the latter part of the aforesaid year, the Sultán fell sick, and his malady became severe, and he was removed to Damascus, where he died.

in the month Safar, the year 589. And God hath transported his pious spirit to its place of repose among good angels, with those prophets and sincere ones, and martyrs and pious men, to whom God's blessing hath been granted. These hath he mercifully given as his companions. He was buried (may God be merciful unto him!) on the northern side of the Mosque of Umaiyah, in the western porch-that which is made of marble. His tomb is still visible on the road of the pilgrimWhen good people heard of his decease, there was great grief and wailing and tumult in the neighbouring regions, and a great agitation; and by God he was worthy of it. He left behind him seventeen sons; one, surnamed Aziz, became lord of Egypt, and Fadhl, lord of Damascus, and Táhir, lord of Aleppo; besides others :-also one daughter.

age.

With respect to his son Aziz, he came before Damascus, and his uncle, Prince Adil-Abú-Bekr with him; and his brother Fadhl defended Damascus in battle; but the army closely (begirt) Damascus, and he and his uncle Adil obtained an entrance into that city. Then Al Aziz returned to Egypt, and Adil remained in Damascus, and assumed the government thereof, and expelled thence the children of his brother Saláh-Uddín, and gave Afdhal the city of Sarkhad. Then Adil demolished Jaffa, after taking it by the sword in the

month Shawwál, the year 593. But the Franks attacked Bayroot, and became masters of it without much difficulty. In the year 594, news arrived of the decease of Tufankín, who was brother of Saláh-Uddín. He was lord of Yeman. His son Ismaël ruled after him, who was unjust and reckless, and who designed an evil expedition, aspiring to the Khilafat. He surnamed himself Leader of the Way;' yet he never accomplished the matter. In the year 595, Al Aziz died. His brother Afdhal had been hastily sent for before his death, and had arrived in Egypt, and made the son of his brother Al Aziz king; which son was a boy : therefore Al Afdhal became Atábeg (Regent). Then Al Afdhal took the army of Egypt, and came before Damascus, and besieged it, and carried on the siege with spirit, burning all the suburban villages, and doing every frightful deed. Then he entered the country, and arrived at BáhAl-Baríd, where the comrades of Prince Adil attacked him and those with him, and routed them disgracefully, and returned to the place whence they came; but Al Afdhal re-organized his troops, and the siege proceeded. At the entrance of the year 596, Al Afdhal and his brother Záhir, with their army outside Damascus, dug a wet trench, full of muddy water, from the place where they were, by the side of that which their uncle Adil