Fatimid mercenaries

Again in bed with flu (not the swine flu, I hope!), so I post a new set of painted figures from Armand d'Arc's African campaign. This time is the turn for a curious contingent: the Fatimid mercenaries.
The historical Fatimids were an Islamic dynasty that reigned in North Africa, and later in Egypt, from 909 until 1171. The caliphate legitimised its claim through descent from Muhammad by way of his daughter Fātima as-Zahra and her husband Alī ibn-Abī-Tālib, the first Shīˤa Imām, hence the name al-Fātimiyyūn "Fatimid".

In the 'Serenghetti War’, the Fatimids are North African mercenaries fighting for the Allied (British-German) against the Associated (French-Spanish).
The mounted Fatimid unit (a company or half-squadron) is 152 strong and ride camels or horses (50% each). They are very undisciplined but also very fierce in close combat, using scimitar, spear, axe and knives. Some of them wear metal cuirasses and small shields, and their only firearms seem to be one pair of pistols.
The Armand's conversion include many different sets (he does not remember which!) and the camels come from Aifix (Hät release) bedouins. The turbans and plumes are made from plasticine.

The Fatimids mercenaries and the Cazadores of Balbastro compose the respective advance-guards of the Allied and Associated armies, so they will fight in the next Armand´s battle... next July!