ell into the conqueror's hands. It contained his helmet,
breastplate, greaves, and arm-pieces, all of solid gold adorned with
pearls, six "cuirasses of Solomon," and ten costly scimitars. The works
of art, and a fifth part of the entire booty, were set apart for the
Caliph Omar, and sent by trusty messengers to Medina; the value of the
remainder was so enormous that when Sa'ad divided it among his 60,000
soldiers the share of each amounted to 12,000 dirhems (L312.).

It is said that Sa'ad, after capturing Ctesiphon, was anxious to set out
in pursuit of Isdigerd, but was restrained by dispatches received from
Omar, which commanded him to remain at the Persian capital, and to
employ his brother Hashem, and the experienced general, El Kakaa, in the
further prosecution of the war. Hashem was, therefore, sent with 12,000
men, against the fugitive monarch, whose forces, said to have exceeded
100,000 men, and commanded by a Mihran, were drawn up at Jalula, not
far from Holwan. The disparity of numbers forced Hashem to condescend
to maneuvering; and it was six months before he ventured on a general
engagement with his antagonist. Again the Mohammedans proved victorious;
and this time the carnage was excessive; 100,000 Persians are said to
have lain dead on the battle-field; the commander was himself among the
slain. Jalula at once surrendered; and fresh treasures were obtained.
Among other precious articles, a figure of a camel, with its rider,
in solid gold, was found in one of the tents. Altogether the booty is
reckoned at about four millions of our money--the share of each soldier
engaged being 10,000 dirhems, or about L260. sterling.

Isdigerd, on learning the result of the battle of Jalula, quitted
Holwan, and retired to Rei, a large town near the Caspian sea, at a
short distance from the modern Teheran, thus placing the entire Zagros
range between himself and his irresistible foes. A general named
Khosru-sum was left behind with a large body of troops, and was bidden
to defend Holwan to the last extremity. Instead of remaining, however,
within the walls of the stronghold, Khosru-sum rashly led his force to
meet that of El Kakaa, who defeated him at Kasr-i-Shirin and entirely
dispersed his army. Holwan, being left without protection, surrendered;
the conquest of Shirwan, Mahsabadan, and Tekrit followed; and by the
close of the year A.D. 637 the banner of the Prophet waved over the
whole tract west of Zagros, from Nineveh a