man retaliate upon you," or words to that effect, Jábalah asked, "And are we upon an equality in this matter?" To which ʾOmar replied, "Certainly; the law of el-Islám is the same for both of you." Then Jábalah said, "Let me wait until to-morrow." And when day dawned he went off to Cæsar, Emperor of Rome, and apostatized. Afterwards he repented, and composed these lines:—
A Prince has apostatized by reason of a blow!
But had I pardoned it, what were the harm?
Obstinacy and pride have hindered me,
And on its account I bartered true vision for one-eyedness.
Would that my mother had never borne me! and would that I
is said the herâm, worn at the present day by pilgrims on passing within certain limits of the holy towns of Mekkah and el-Medînah. This piece of stuff, in the form of a long white cotton (or sometimes woollen) shawl, is wound about the upper part of the body. Another white piece of stuff, called the Izâr, is worn round the waist. The shoulder-piece might in Jábalah's days have been broader than is now worn. I find this anecdote shortly related in Modern Universal History (London, A.D. 1766). It is there stated that Jábalah and the men of his tribe having embraced el-Islám, performed the pilgrimage to Mekkah. And whilst walking in procession round the Kaʾabah, a man of the tribe of Fazâreh accidentally trod upon Jábalah's vest, whereby it fell from his shoulders; upon which, though the man swore he did not mean to affront him, Jábalah struck him, broke his nose, and beat out four of his front teeth.
