ABSTRACT
Tigre. . .. Then he learnt that the idolaters had assembled near the church called Lalibala; he marched against them across mountains, and by a very difficult road, during continuous rain; he travelled even by night, and hastened his march. Many of his men died of cold. They reached the church, where the monks were collected to die in its defence. The Imam examined the church, and found that he had never seen the like. It was cut from the rock, as were the columns that supported it. There was not a piece of wood in all the construction, save the idols and their shrines. There was also a cistern hewn out of the rock. The Imam called together the monks, and ordered them to collect and bring wood. They lighted a fire, and when the fire was hot Ahmad said to them: 'Now, let one of you and one of us enter:' wishing to see what they would do, and to test them. Then their Chief said, 'Willingly; I will go in;' but a woman, who had adopted a religious life, arose and said: 'It is he who expounds to llS the Gospel. Shall he die there before my eyes?' and threw herself into the fire. The Imam cried, 'Drag her out.' They dragged her out; but part of her face was burnt. Then he burned their shrines, broke their stone idols, and appropriated all the gold plates and silk textures he found" (Basset, Histoire, p. 409).
