Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-06-23

wen appear 10 moSlem TRADITION IN just.
ilication of her use of such powers.
| When Mahomet was strnck 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-kceping back the enemy until she
herself was disabled by Il severe wound
in the shoulder. Still it must be OBJ.
served that among the very famous
warrior-women of Islam who appeared
after the death of the Prophet, all did moi
fight in strictly orthodox cause. We
need not refer to the prophetesses libs
Sedjah, or female leaders of schsmatio
movements-som of whom displayed
great personal bravery and were treated
with shocking cruelty-but will confint
ourselves to 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 Hegira two
remarkable women fell, sword in hand.
in great battle-Diahizah and Raza
lab, respectively the mother and tn,
young wife of Chebib, who aspired tc
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 II 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 2S6 verses; the third 200. Razalah
and seventy companions unexpectedly
forced passage through the gates OF
Kuta, 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 lrak, the ferocious Hadd.
jadi, and put him to flight. The army
of the Caliph finally overcame Chebit
in Il bloody engagement by mere weight
of numbers, and Razalah and Dia,
h!lah 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 siege or battle during the
three reigns or FL Mandy, FL Hady, and
of Haroun-al-Raschid in which she did
not take part. Joan of Are could
scarcely be compared with her; the huge
work in which her deeds are recorded
pictures her rather as a rival of that
wonderful type in the Nibelungen,
Bruneiild 1t does not appear that
the men to whom such women
were opposed always lacked the true
spirit of chivalry. When, during the
reign of El-Raschid, the Chief of the
Kharejites, El-Wady, was killed in bat.
tie, his young sister, Alfarea-famou.
for her grace, her beauty, and her poet.
zeal talentS-buckled on her dead broth.
er's armor, and charged, all alone the
conquering army. Yezid. the Chief,
shouted to his cavalry, LET no man
lay finger on her!' but, riding up tc
her, he struck her horse with the stat
Of his lance to stay its course, and ex.
claimed, Shame! VIII you disgrace
your tribe?" 1t was not death she had
to fear, but ill-treatment if captured
alive. The rough but kindly observa
ton effected its purpose, and she rode
away in safety,
1t is not very likely that the women
of the Arabs about Suallim-a mixed
and Swarthy race-possess such physi-
cal charms as might disarm the English
soldiers, much less the Indian contin.
gent expected. But they might certain.
ly in battle win the respect of those
against whom Osman Digma promises
to lead them by the same warrior.
qualities which once distinguished the
women of these ancient tribes to which
the Arabs of the Soudan are related BY
blood.-LondOn Standard.