'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎253] (318/905)

CHAP. XI.] PRIVILEGES OF THE MUSLIMS. 253
regulations of the Khaliph. Omar became the model in subse- Allotment of
quent times for the adjustment of the tribute to be paid by e
the conquered provinces. Being pressed to apportion such
tribute, this prince replied that, if he were to divide the land
amongst his followers, there would not be any thing left for
those Muslims who should succeed him; whereas, if it remained
with its present possessors, it would furnish munitions of war
in addition to a yearly tribute. And to secure these objects
he made the following arrangements, by which, as will be
seen, the Muhammedans constituted a privileged aristocracy,
whose attention was directed entirely to conquest.
The government laid down by Omar, in agreement with the
conditions of Muhammed, was founded on the Koran and the
traditions of the Prophet; and the original law was, that the
Muslim should not pay any taxes to government: the only
duty of the true believer was to give the alms defined by law,
i. e., the tithes of those products of the land which are not
perishable, as corn, dates, &c.; and one in forty from cattle,
sheep, &c. (but not from horses) ; he was also to pay the toll
for wares imported or exported, which was usually one in forty,
or two and a half per cent, of the value. All these duties were
destined for beneficial purposes; as for the poor, for releasing
Muslim prisoners, keeping up roads, providing for travellers,
&c. The third part of the khams 1 was employed for the same
purposes ; whilst the khaliphs appropriated to themselves, after
some dispute, the two other parts ; these were destined for
God, his Prophet, and the relations of the latter.
Government, and the army, which consisted of volunteers, and of the
were entirely supported by the dzemmis or people under pro
tection, i. e. such nations as refused to accept the Muham-
medan religion at all, or at least not before fighting. To those
the conditions which were made when they capitulated or were
subdued were to be kept sacred. The pay of the soldiers con
sisted of four-fifths of the booty, and sometimes of lands, con
sidered as booty, which were called 'Ikta ah. The unbelievers
who submitted to the flood of conquest were offered the
1 Khams is the fifth part of the booty taken by fighting, also the fifth part of
mines, pearls, and generally of any thing which is not obtained by cultivation.