CHAPTER III
The Battle of Ḳuss an-Nâṭif, or the Battle of al-Jisr
Dhu-l-Ḥâjib. Hearing that the Arabs were massing their forces, the Persians sent dhu-l-Ḥâjib [the eye-browed] Mardânshâh who was nicknamed by Anûshirwân "Bahman" [potent, endowed with great means] because he augured good from him.[1] He was called dhu-l-Ḥâjib because, in his pride, he tied up his brows, to lift them above his eyes. His name, it is said, was Rustam.[2]
The elephant. Abu-ʿUbaid ordered that the bridge [on the Euphrates] be erected; and it was, the people of Bâniḳiya helping in the construction. It is said that this bridge once belonged to the people of al-Ḥîrah on which they crossed over to their farms. Being in ruins, abu-ʿUbaid ordered it repaired. Over this bridge, abu-ʿUbaid and the Moslems crossed from al-Marwaḥah[3] and met dhu-l-Ḥâjib who was accompanied by 4,000 men armed from head to foot, and one elephant—others say many elephants. A fierce fight ensued, in the course of which many wounds were inflicted on the Moslems. At this, Salîṭ ibn-Ḳais said to abu-ʿUbaid, "I have warned thee against crossing this bridge and advised thee to withdraw to some quarter and write for reinforcements to the 'Commander of the Believers'; but thou hast refused." Salîṭ fought until he was killed. Abu-ʿUbaid asked, "Which is the vulnerable point in this creature?" and he was told that it was its trunk, upon which he made a rush and struck the trunk of the ele-
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