' great calamity to Islam. Their fears were not unfounded, for the conquest of the Holy City by the Crusaders fol lowed not many years this incident. This period seems to have been especially fertile in volcanic disturbances, for again, in the year 1068, a fearful earthquake convulsed all Palestine. On this occasion, the Sakhrah is said to have been rent asunder by the shock, and the cleft miraculously reclosed. Another event of evil omen, but of doubtful authen ticity, is related by the Arab historians as having happened about the same period. The sea, they declare, suddenly receded for the distance of a day's journey ; but on the inhabitants of the neighbourhood taking possession of the reclaimed land, it suddenly returned and overwhelmed them, so that an immense destruction of life ensued. The conflict between the Abbasside and Fatimite caliphs had been from time to time renewed ; but fortune seemed at length to have decided the struggle in favour of the latter family, and the name of El Mostanser Billah was formally introduced into the Khotbah (or Friday " bidding prayer ") , in the sacred mosques of Mecca and Jerusalem—a proceeding which was tantamount to recog nising the Fatimite monarch as the legitimate successor of the Prophet, and sovereign of the whole Mussulman empire. But scarcely had they attained the summit of their ambition when the fall came, and events happened which resulted in the total overthrow of the Fatemite dynasty, and the restoration, in name at least, of the au thority of the Abbasside caliphs. The nomad tribe of Turkomans had made themselves masters of Khorassan, and determined upon the election of a king. Toghrul Beg, a grandson of a noble chief named Seljuk, was chosen by lot for the office, and in a short time extended his conquests over the whole of Persia ; and, being a rigid Mohammedan of the orthodox sect, compelled the revolted lieutenants of the Abbasside caliphs to