The Days of Mohammed

ding him to do some deed. This hallucination, in turn, becomes an apperceiving organ, i.e., other perceptions and ideas are

ven. Stopping at the house of Cadijah, a stone building having some pretensions to grandeur, they learned that Mohammed had l

as entirely different from that of his Persian home-different perhaps from that of any other spot on the face of the earth; a scene desolate, wild, and barren, yet destined to be the

ing to the Nejd, Syria, Jeddah, and Arabia-Felix, were crowded with people; yet, even their presence did not suffice to remove the air of deadness from the scene. Of one thing only could the beholder be really conscious-desolation, desolation; a desolate

m who was able to restore the

o about the courtyard were quite visible. Yusuf had observed the great system of barter, the buying and selling that went on beneath the roof of that long portico, within the very precincts of the temple set apart for the worship of the Deity, and, as he watched the pigmy creatures, now s

e east, where the blue mountains of Ta

; where rippling streams are heard, and the songs of birds fill the air. There is a tradition that Adam, when driven out of the Garden of Eden, settled at Mecca; and there, on the site of the temple yonder, and immediately beneath a glittering temple of pearly cloud, shimmering dews, and rainbow lights said to be in Paradise above,-the Ba?t-el Maamur of Heaven,-was built, by the help of angels, the first Ca

according to tradition

aired and in part restored by the Amalikah tribe. A sixth Caaba was built by the children of Kahtan, into whose tribe, say the Arabs, Ismail was married. The seventh house was built by Kusay bin Kilab, a forefather of Mohammed, and I have reason to believe that he was the first who filled it with the idols which now disgrace its walls. Kusay's house was burnt, its cloth covering (or kiswah) catching fire from

for some distance northward across the slopes of Mount Hir

ion from the white glare without to the twilight of the cave blinded them, then they saw that the moans proceeded from Mohamme

en vessel of water,

end the holy month of Ramadhan here in prayer and meditation. He has often taken these fits before; but, i

ilepsy," said Yusuf, rather sarcastically.

ing, and his face began t

ehead, and very even, white teeth. There was something commanding and dignified in his appearance. He wore a bushy beard, and was habited

you at once, my mind was so occupied with the wonder of his communications; for, friend, the time is nigh

, and he spoke as one under t

ppeared to you i

a sound as of a silver bell tinkling afar. Then I hear no words, but the truth sin

, has he spoke

Amzi, may I say that Abraham, Moses, Christ, have all been servants of the true God, yet for Mohammed has been reserved the honor of casting out the idolatry with which the worship of our people reeks. For h

on an equality with the Son o

on him, and his face worke

eternal God, Allah above all in earth and heave

with a fanatic, a religious enthus

from heathendom; to teach them to be wise as serpents, harmless as doves, and to show them how

, "did not Jesus teac

n his day upon the earth, but men have fallen away again, a

nt. The color began to rush to his face, and Yusuf, fearing a return of the swoon, deemed it

estore the withered hand stretched forth in fait

uf hastily left the cavern, followed

d, too, in that which M

trust this man. 'Tis an instinct, if you will. What, think you,

or or distinction by dishonest means, one of the last to be a maker of lies. Verily, Yusuf, I know not what to think of

ated Yusuf. "Surely you, Amzi, ha

e said. "But keep your mind easy, friend; I have not accepted Mohammed's claims. I am open to conviction yet, and I am not hasty to believe. In fa

o be a seeker for truth,"

ly to know it for the mere s

itual things-the indifferent, calculating mind, which is more than half satisfied with moral virtue, not realizing

ans than I; yet I am convinced that to me has come a blessing which you lack, and I would fain you had it

e. "Prove to me that these Hebrews are infallible

fallible," returned Yusuf, quietly. "I can only promise tha

the top of a steep cliff, stood Dumah, with his fair hair stre

the noble,

of the mothe

rom the cup

its head in

ing his thoughts as usual. Wha

hildren cling to her gown and weep too. Ah, i

free?" a

to buy bread; but for the sake of th

ealing down in the Jewish qu

hildren should appeal to the heart of Amzi the benevolent.

dge sat on a raised dais; witnesses were below, and the owner of

culprit," wh

en in his face, yet there was patience in it too. His arms were bound, a

udge, "have you aught to

roudly, and looked the J

," he said, in

he crowd, and exclama

d the cup found

Will he not

e is too go

anation to offer?

on

wait our further pleasure. In the mean

rst from some one in the crowd. It was the wife of Nathan, we

aid. "All will yet be well. I, for one, know that h

not forsaken us!" e

sseh's hand. "Here, take your mother

s he slipped another coin into the child's hand. "Now, Yusuf," h

, sadly, "and I fear yon poor woman feels little

So your teacher has proved bu

ve this vile story?" he exclaimed. "Did you

mstances are against him.

d by their machinations ten times as conclusive!

You believe in your Jews, I shall believe in my Mohammed, until the tale tol