97. Crinitus quidam, nudus omnia praeter pubem, subraucum et
lugubre strepens. Ammian. xxxi. 16, and Vales. ad loc. The
Arabs often fought naked - a custom which may be ascribed to
their sultry climate and ostentatious bravery. The
description of this unknown savage is the lively portrait of
Derar, a name so dreadful to the Christians of Syria. See
Ockley's Hist. of the Saracens, vol. i. p. 72, 84, 87.