FLAG OF THE PROPHET. 699 FLAMBARD. FLAG OF THE PROPHET ( Ar. xinjaq Shar- if, noble standard). The sacred banner of the Mohammedans. It was originally of a white color, and was composed of tin- turbans oi the E£oreish, captured by Mohammed. A black dag was, how- ever, soon substituted in its plan-, consisting of the curtain thai hung before the door of Ayesha, the favorite wife of the Prophet. This dag, re- garded by the Mohammedans as their most sacred relie, was tirst held by the successors of Omar at Damascus; it afterwards fell into the hands of the Abbassides, caliphs of Bagdad, and, at a later period, was brought into Europe by Ainu- rath III. It. was covered with forty two wrap- pings of silk, deposited in a costly casket, and preserved in a chapel in the interior of the se- raglio, where it is guarded by several emirs, with constant prayers. The banner unfolded at the commencement of a war, and likewise carefully preserved, is not the same, although it is believed by the people to be so. FLAG OF TRUCE. A white flag exhibited by one of two contending forces, indicating a de- sire to communicate. The necessity of occasion- ally communicating with the enemy in time of war, and the fact that this can usually be best done by means of a flag of truce, has given to the latter a sort of sacred character, which is recognized by all civilized people and by many savages as well, and a violation of the recognized immunities of the flag and of its bearers is re- garded as just ground for retaliation and pun- ishment. The immunities of the bearer are not, however, absolute. If it appear during an en- gagement firing need not terminate, and if the bearer or a person accompanying him be killed or injured there is no ground for complaint. De- liberate firing upon a party bearing a flag of truce, unless they have been warned not to pro- ceed, is regarded as a breach of the military or naval code. A flag of truce, to have the ordinary immunity, must be sent by the senior officer pres- ent, and it can only be received at the will of the senior officer of the other side. In a naval battle the vessel bearing it should not attempt to pro- ceed beyond a point at which her character can be easily ascertained ; should she attempt to go farther she may be warned by a shot across her bow, and if she does not then stop she will be fired into. Having been warned to stop, she must then await the pleasure of the enemy: if he declines to communicate she must perforce retire, but this is unusual. The detention of a flag of truce beyond the lines is a protection to the receiving side against espionage, torpedo attack, etc. Any attempt to obtain information of the enemy's position, condition, or force through a flag of truce may subject the bearer to trial as a spy. In any case he may be detained as a pris- oner if the receiver deems it desirable. In dispatching a flag of truce, except during an engagement, the flagship of the senior officer should keep her colors flying and a white flag at the fore; and if the senior officer of the enemy receives the flag-bearer his ship should do like- wise during the progress of the conference, and afterwards until the flag-of-truce boat has reached its inner lines. The boat carrying the flag should be met at the proper point by one in charge of an offieer of suitable rank from the other senior officer, which should fly a white flag while going and returning. Vol ATI. — 45. FLAGON; Moll. female camp-follower, in Burgoyne's comic opera The Lord 0/ tht )tam n role may have been u ated by Kate Matchlock, in Steeli i wneral, and, owing to the broadness of its humor, it was played by male actors. FLAGSTAFF. A town in Coconino County, Ariz., on the Santa !■>■ Pacific Railroad (Map: Arizona, C 2). It is at an altitude oi 8935 feet, and is south of the San Franei co Mountains, one of which, San Francisco Peak 1 12,800 fi t) of particular interest, being an extinct volcano. The Northern Arizona Norma] School is here, and in the northwest of the town is the Lowell Ob- servatory. Flagstaff has extensive live stock and lumber interests. A railroad extend-, from the vicinity of the town to the Grand Cafion oi the Colorado. Population, in 1890, 963; in 1900, 1271. FLAGSTONE (flag, Icel. flaga, slab, from flagna, to flake off + stone, AS. stan, Icel. steinn, Goth, stains, ollt;. shin, Ger. Stem, stone). A rock which splits into tabular masses, or flags, of various sizes and thickness, along the original planes of stratification. Flagstones are generally sandstones, containing more or less argillaceous or calcareous matter; some, however, are indu- rated clays, and others thin-bedded limestones. They are used for pavements, cistern-linings, etc. Iliuestone is a variety of sandstone of Devonian age found in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, and excellently adapted for paving pur- poses. It forms the basis of a large industry. Other formations yielding flagstones are the Car- boniferous of Ohio and Pennsylvania, and the Triassic brownstone of Connecticut. FLAHAULT DE LA BILLARDERIE, fla'- 6' de la be'yar'dre', Auguste Charles Joseph, Comte de (1785-1870). A French soldier and diplomat, born in Paris. His family was forced to leave France at the time of the Revolution, and did not return until 1798. He accompanied Napoleon into Italy, and was made lieutenant at Marengo. In 1837 he became general of division, and afterwards Napoleon appointed him to treat for peace with the Allies; but this task was too much for Flahault's diplomacy. After the Em- peror's return from Elba he fought under him at Waterloo, and upon the French defeat upheld the cause of Napoleon's son, the King of Rome. He then went to England as an exile, and mar- ried there Lady Keith, a peeress in her own right, and did not return to France until 1827. The Revolution of 1830 restored him to his titles. He was made Minister Plenipotentiary to Berlin in 1831. and from 1841 to 1848 was Ambassador to England. The Second Empire brought him the additional honor of Senator (1853), and the grand chancellorship of the Legion of Honor (1864). FLAIL. See Threshing. FLAM'BAED, Ranulf (?-1128). Bishop of Durham in the time of William II. and Henry I. He was a Norman of humble origin who took holy orders, and became chaplain to William Rufus, who, in 1099, made him Bishop of Dur- ham, and one of his principal advisers. To obtain money for the King, he resorted to op- pressive measures which earned him the hatred of the people. His extortions were so flagrant that a plot was formed against his life, but the
