CHAPTER XXI
FAMINE AND PLAGUE
18 A.H. 639 A.D.
The Year of Ashes, 18 A.H. 639 A.D.The fifth year of ʿOmar's Caliphate was darkened by the double calamity of pestilence and famine. It is called "The Year of Ashes," for the dry air of the Ḥijāz was so charged with unslaked dust from the parched and sandy soil as to obscure the light of heaven by a thick and sultry haze.
Famine in Arabia.In the northern half of the Peninsula the drought was so severe that Nature languished. Wild and timid creatures of the desert, tamed by want, came seeking food at the hand of man. Flocks and herds died of starvation, or became too attenuated for human food. Markets were deserted, and the people suffered extremities like those of a garrison long besieged. Crowds of Bedawīn, driven by hunger, flocked to Medīna, and aggravated the distress. ʿOmar, with characteristic self-denial, refused any indulgence not shared with those about him. He swore that he would taste neither meat nor butter, nor even milk, until the people had food enough and to spare. On one occasion his servant obtained at a great price a skin filled with milk, and another with butter. ʿOmar sent both away in alms. "I will not eat," he said, "of that which costeth much; for how then should I know the trouble of my people, if I suffer not even as they?" From coarse fare and oil-olive instead of milk and butter, the Caliph's countenance, naturally fresh and bright, became sallow and haggard.
Grain imported from Syria and elsewhere.Every effort was made to alleviate distress, and effective aid at last came from abroad. Abu ʿObeida brought 4000 beasts of burden laden with corn from Syria, which he
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