lmost to Susa, or from the
Kurnib to the Kuran river.

Another short pause in the Arabian aggressions upon Persia now occurred;
but in the year A.D. 639 their attacks were resumed, and the Persians
had to submit to further losses. Otba, governor of Busrah, sent an
expedition across the Shat-el-Arab into. Susiana, and, supported by
the Arab population of the province, which deserted the Persian side,
engaged Horrmuzan, the satrap, in two battles, defeated him, and forced
him to cede a portion of his territory, including the important city of
Ahwaz. Soon afterwards, Ala, governor of Bahrein, conducted in person an
expedition into Persia Proper, crossing the Gulf in the rude vessels of
the time, and attacking Shehrek, the Persian satrap, who acknowledged
the authority of Isdigerd. Here, the Arabs were for once unsuccessful.
Shehrek collected a force which Ala was afraid to encounter; the Arab
chief retreated to the coast, but found his fleet engulfed by the waves;
and it was only with great difficulty that he made his escape by land
from the country which he had ventured to invade. He owed his escape
to Otba, who sent troops from Busrah to his aid, defeated Shehrek, and
rescued his fellow governor from the peril which threatened, him.

In the next year (A.D. 640) Hormuzan, incited by Isdigerd, made a
desperate attempt to recover the territory which he had been compelled
to cede. Assisted by Shehrek, governor of Persia Proper, he attacked the
Arabs unawares, but was speedily met, driven from Ram-Hormuz to Shuster,
and there besieged for the space of six months. As many as eighty
engagements are said to have taken place before the walls, with no
decided advantage to either side. At length Al-Bera, son of Malik, one
of the companions of the Prophet, and believed by many to possess the
prophetic spirit, announced that victory was about to incline to the
Moslems, but that he himself would be slain. A chance arrow having
fulfilled one-half of the prediction, the Arabs felt an assurance that
the other half would follow, and fought with such fanatic ardor that
their expectations were soon fulfilled. The town was won; but Hormuzan
retired into the citadel, and there successfully maintained himself,
till Abu-Sabra, the Mohammedan general, consented to spare his life, and
send him to Medina, where his fate should be determined by the Caliph.
Hormuzan, on obtaining an audience, pretended thirst and asked for a cup
of water, which was