others received lance blows and fell off their horses and died, and still others received lance blows which fell on their horses and became footmen. The sword was also a high status weapon. Usama describes how his father's sword cut through his groom's outfit while it was still in its sheath: The sword cut through the outfit, the silver sandal, a mantle and a wooden shawl which the groom had on, and then cut through the bone of his elbow. The whole forearm fell off. The sword was subsequently named after his father's groom. Hunting Usama devotes a section of his book to his hunting experiences. He describes the hunting practice of Zengi: The falconers would proceed ahead of us with the falcons which would be flown at the waterfowl. The drums would be beaten in accordance with the prevailing custom. The falcons would catch whatever birds they could. .. He also describes hunting partridges with his father: My father would draw near the sleeping partridge and throw at it a stick from his hand. The moment the Partridge was flushed he would throw off al- Yahshiir (the falcon), who would seize it. ..The falconer would then descend to it, slay the bird... The falconer had to slay the bird himself as it was forbidden by the Qur'an to eat anything which is killed by a blow. Usama also describes a system of hunting using sakers: At first should be sent the leader which, striking a gazelle, binds on its ear. The auxiliary is sent after the leader, and hits another gazelle...The leader, now clutching the gazelle by its ear, isolates it from the herd. Conclusion Usama's autobiography can tell us a lot about various aspects of Islamic society during the 12th century. It can tell us about the material culture as well as the political and religious customs of the time. It reveals the fragmented and disunited nature of the Muslim world and the internal divisions and rivalries. See also Usama ibn Munqidh Zengi Fatimid Fulk of Jerusalem Nur ad-Din Zangi Notes External links Excerpts from Usama's Autobiography Further reading Usamah ibn-Munqidh An Arab-Syrian Gentleman and warrior in the period of the Crusades: Memoirs of Usamah ibn-Munqidh (Kitab al-I'tibar); translated by Philip K. Hitti (Columbia University, New York, 2000), A PDF of 1929 edition. Alternative: Irwin, Robert (1998) 'Usamah ibn Munqidh: an Arab-Syrian Gentleman at the time of the