enemies it was denounced as a dishonourable stratagem. Hence this siege is usually called "the Campaign of the Trench." The idea, we are told, was suggested to the Prophet by an emancipated slave of unknown origin, who is celebrated in Muslim tradition under the name of Salmān the Persian; at all events the word applied to the trench (khandaḳ) is derived from the Persian language. In digging the trench Mahomet himself took an active part. The implements required for the purpose were mostly supplied by the Ḳuraiẓa, the only Jewish clan who still remained at Medina. It is difficult to believe that the Ḳuraiẓa regarded Mahomet with friendly feelings, but it would appear that, in spite of the manner in which he had treated their co-religionists, they still considered themselves as bound by their agreement with him; moreover they probably realised that if Medina were taken by storm the hordes of Bedouins would plunder all parties indiscriminately. During the siege the vigilance and discipline of the Muslims contrasted strangely with the disorder which prevailed on the opposite side. The besiegers, in spite of their vastly superior numbers, seem never to have contemplated a real assault. Small troops of cavalry now and then endeavoured to cross the trench but were easily repulsed by a shower of arrows and stones; on the one occasion when some of them succeeded in forcing an entrance they soon found it necessary to retreat. In explanation of these facts it must be remembered that an extreme dread of attacking fortifications, however rudely constructed, has been characteristic of the Arabs, and in particular of the Bedouins, down to the present day.
Though the loss of life on either side was quite insignificant, both the besiegers and the besieged were soon reduced to great straits. The cold and stormy weather severely tried the defenders of the trench, while the Bedouins without suffered greatly from lack of provisions. Accordingly both parties strove hard to bring the siege to an end by means of negotiation. Mahomet's principal object was to detach the Bedouins from their alliance with the Ḳuraish; the besiegers, on the other hand, sent secret messages to the Ḳuraiẓa urging them to violate their agreement with Mahomet. The chief of this Jewish clan, Ka'b ibn Asad, at first indignantly refused to listen to these suggestions, but finally he yielded, and the Ḳuraiẓa forthwith assumed so menacing an attitude that the Muslims became seriously alarmed. The Jews, however, did not venture to make an attack; they remained, as usual, shut up in their fortresses, until the Ḳuraish and their allies, weary of waiting, suddenly raised the siege, which had lasted only a fortnight, and returned to their homes. Thus ended the last attempt, on the part of the Meccan aristocracy, to crush the new religion.
As soon as the besiegers had departed the vengeance of Mahomet naturally fell on the Ḳuraiẓa. He did not content himself with pillaging them but, having compelled them to surrender after a brief siege,
