The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-04-25
ARMED WOMEN,
Ehe Extremity 10 Which the MahdI May
be Reduced.


aas been arming the Arab women, in
view OF supreme effort to oppose the
advance of a relief party by way of
ouaklm, is not by any means absurd.
From the earliest period of the history
the women of the desert tribes were as
celebrated for their skill with lance
and bow as for that bronze beauty
which the composers of the "quasidah"
or the ''moallakat" were never weary
OF describing. Before Islam it was the
BOAST of many Arabian tribes, as it was
afterwards of certain Tartar hordes,
that their women could fight as we'll as
the men: the Himaryites were among
the most famous of these. All through
those ancient Arabian poems to which
Mahomet is said to have referred as
final authority for the meaning of GER
tam words or phrases in the Koran, one
finds legends of Arab girls celebrated
Tor their equestrianism, their dexterity
with the cimeter, and even for the num-
Der Of men they have overcome in sim
gle combat. Islam, by subordinating
the woman to man and destroying the
idea of female equality, did much to ex-
tinguish the warrior-spirit of the fairer
eek throughout the greater part ofothe
Orient; but in the deserts of Arabia and
Northern Africa something of those an
cient ideas still prevail
And the modern Arab woman who
acquires skill with any weapon might
well appeal to Moslem tradition in just
iticatiOn of her use of such powers.
When Mahomet was struck down at the
battle of Ohod, it was young Arabian
woman who stood over him and fought
valiantly with bow and sabre in his be-
half-keeping back the enemy until she
herself was disabled by a severe wound
in the shoulder. Still it must be CD
served that among the very famous
warrior-women of Islam who appeared
after the death of the Prophet, all did not
fight in a strictly orthodox cause. We
need not refer to the prophetesses like
Sedan, or female leaders of schismatic
movements of whom displayed
great personal bravery and were treated
with shocking cruelty but will confne
ourselves to a brief mention of some
other renowned female warriors who
went into battle to engage in hard hand
to-hand fighting.
In the first century Of the Hegra two
remarkable women fell, sword in hand.
in great battle-Djahizah and Raza-
lab, respectively the mother and the
young wife of Chebib, who aspired to
win the Caliphate by force of arms in
the days of Abdel Melik. Chebib was
perhaps the finest soldier of his time; he
won many victories, and his mother
and wife fought always by his side.
Razalah on one. occasion actually
made VOW to recite the second and
third chapters of the Koran in the
Mosque of Kufa while that city was in the
possession of the imperial troops The
second chapter (Sura of the Cow CON
tains 286 verses; the third POO Razalah
and seventy companions unexpectedly
forced a passage through the gates OF
kufa, galloped to the mosque and,
after the VOW had been accomplished.
cut their way out again. Several times
in battle the young woman attacked the
Governor of Irak, the ferocious Hadd-
jadj, and put him to flight. The army
Of the Caliph finally overcame ChebiE
in bloody engagement by mere weight
of numbers, and Razalah and Dia.
hizah died fighting to the last. In the
second century of the Hegira lived the
famous Delhemeh, or Zat-el-Hemmeh,
whose name signifies "Lion-heart'
The most renowned warrior woman in
The history of Islam, and the heroine OF
an enormous Arabian epic. There was
scarcely a siege or battle during the
three reigns or FL Mandy, FL Hady, and
If Haroun- al-Raschid in which she did
lot take part. Joan of Arc could
scarcely be compared with her; the huge
work in which her deeds are recorded
pictures her rather as rival of that
wonderful type in the Nibelungen,
Brunehild. 1t does not appear that
he men to whom such women
we're opposed always lacked the true
pirit of chivalry. When, during the
'eign of ElRaschid, the Chief of the
Sharejites, El-Wady, was killed in bat
4e, his young sister, Alfarea-famous
or her grace, her beauty, and her poet.
cal talents-buckled on her dead broth.
rs armor, and charged, all alone the
onquering army. Yezid, the Chief
houted to his cavalry, LET no MAJ
ay finger on hertz but, riding up tc
ter, he struck her horse with the stat
# his lance to stay its course, and ex
laimed, "Shame! viii you disgrace
our tribe?" 1t was not death she haG
fear, but Entertainment if captured
dive. The rough but kindly observa
ion effected its purpose, and she rode
way in safety.
1t is not very likely that the women
# the Arabs about Suakim-a mixed
md swarthy race-possess such physi-
val charms as might disarm the English
oldiers, much less the Indian contin.
gent expected. But they might certain,
| y in battle win the respect of those
lgainst whom Osman Digma promises
% lead them by the same warrior.
| qualities which once distinguished the
women of these ancient tribes to which
he Arabs of the Soudan are related by
Dlood.-LondOn Standard.