in our success. The teaching of the Mohammedan religion does not allow that a man whose body has been mutilated can enter into the highest heaven, where only perfect men are admitted. As a consequence of this belief, the white Arabs and other faithful followers of Islam would, after a rebuff, instead of trying to retrieve the fortunes of the day, fly from the field with all possible speed — not so much in order to save their lives, as through fear lest their carcasses, in the event of their falling, should be torn to pieces.

Notwithstanding this, however, on the occasions on which they were practically cornered, the desperate valour generally attributed to the Arabs showed itself in full force.