Anecdota Oxoniensia. Semitic series.

THE CITY OF FUS TAT MISR.

75

~ 'Amr ibn al-'Asi conquered Egypt on a Friday, on the first day
of the month of Al-Muharram, in the year 20 of the Hegira, and in the
caliphate of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, in a battle which took place near
the fortress known as the Fort of Al-Hammam. The number of the Fol. 22 a
Copts who inhabited the land of Egypt, without counting the decrepit
old men and the children below the age of understanding, amounted to
six millions of souls. 'Amr imposed upon all of them a yearly tax2 of
twenty-six dirhems and two-thirds; but from the rich men, all alike, he
exacted two dinars and three ardebs of wheat a head, in every place
that he occupied. In this way the country produced twelve millions
of dinars, without reckoning the tribute of the Jews in Egypt and its
provinces. All this money was carried to'Umar ibn al-Khattib; and it
was the first money that was taken to him from Egypt. 'Amr ibn
al-'Asl had visited Egypt during the days of ignorance, and knew
the roads leading thither, through trading there together with one of
the tribe of the Kuraish3.
1 See Al-Makrizi, Khi.tat, i. p. rs.
2 See Al-Makrlzl, i. p. i.
3 These words are borrowed from Ibn 'Abd al-Hakam, who relates that 'Amr
went from Arabia to Jerusalem on a trading expedition with some members of the
tribe of Kuraish. In Syria, 'Amr was able to render certain services to a Greek
deacon of Alexandria, who was visiting Jerusalem on a pilgrimage, and who, in
gratitude to 'Amr, invited him, with one of the members of the tribe of Kuraish,
to visit Alexandria, where the two Arabs were much struck by the wealth and
magnificence of the capital of Roman Egypt. See As-Suyuti, Husn al-Muhd.darah,
i. p. on; Al-MIakrizi, Khitat, i. p. I o; Ibn al-Athir, iii. p. vv; Abfi 'l-Mahasin,
i. p. 1.
The words of Al-Makrizl, quoting from Ibn 'Abd al-Hakam, are:
&oJ arm WK lBs L 'ij^ \ in9J Lil9 /He, A.4WU J J=X i Ads O f)
t (JAI baS-J l jS\ ta w1
"'Amr had visited Egypt during the days of ignorance, and knew the roads leading
thither, and had seen the wealth of the country; and the cause of his visit
to Egypt was that he travelled to Jerusalem for purposes of trade, with some
members of the tribe of Kuraish,' &c.
1 2