ButitwasinvainthatthecamelsofAbuSophianexploredanewroadthroughthedesertandalongtheEuphrates:theywereovertakenbythediligenceoftheMussulmans；andwealthymusthavebeentheprize，iftwentythousanddramscouldbesetapartforthefifthoftheapostle。TheresentmentofthepublicandprivatelossstimulatedAbuSophiantocollectabodyofthreethousandmen，sevenhundredofwhomwerearmedwithcuirasses，andtwohundredweremountedonhorseback；threethousandcamelsattendedhismarch；andhiswifeHenda，withfifteenmatronsofMecca，incessantlysoundedtheirtimbrelstoanimatethetroops，andtomagnifythegreatnessofHobal，themostpopulardeityoftheCaaba。ThestandardofGodandMahometwasupheldbyninehundredandfiftybelievers:thedisproportionofnumberswasnotmorealarmingthaninthefieldofBeder；andtheirpresumptionofvictoryprevailedagainstthedivineandhumansenseoftheapostle。ThesecondbattlewasfoughtonMountOhud，sixmilestothenorthofMedina；^132theKoreishadvancedintheformofacrescent；andtherightwingofcavalrywasledbyCaled，thefiercestandmostsuccessfuloftheArabianwarriors。ThetroopsofMahometwereskilfullypostedonthedeclivityofthehill；
andtheirrearwasguardedbyadetachmentoffiftyarchers。Theweightoftheirchargeimpelledandbrokethecentreoftheidolaters:butinthepursuittheylosttheadvantageoftheirground:thearchersdesertedtheirstation:theMussulmansweretemptedbythespoil，disobeyedtheirgeneral，anddisorderedtheirranks。TheintrepidCaled，wheelinghiscavalryontheirflankandrear，exclaimed，withaloudvoice，thatMahometwasslain。Hewasindeedwoundedinthefacewithajavelin:twoofhisteethwereshatteredwithastone；yet，inthemidstoftumultanddismay，hereproachedtheinfidelswiththemurderofaprophet；andblessedthefriendlyhandthatstanchedhisblood，andconveyedhimtoaplaceofsafetySeventymartyrsdiedforthesinsofthepeople；theyfell，saidtheapostle，inpairs，eachbrotherembracinghislifelesscompanion；^133theirbodiesweremangledbytheinhumanfemalesofMecca；andthewifeofAbuSophiantastedtheentrailsofHamza，theuncleofMahomet。Theymightapplaudtheirsuperstition，andsatiatetheirfury；buttheMussulmanssoonralliedinthefield，andtheKoreishwantedstrengthorcouragetoundertakethesiegeofMedina。Itwasattackedtheensuingyearbyanarmyoftenthousandenemies；andthisthirdexpeditionisvariouslynamedfromthenations，whichmarchedunderthebannerofAbuSophian，fromtheditchwhichwasdrawnbeforethecity，andacampofthreethousandMussulmans。
TheprudenceofMahometdeclinedageneralengagement:thevalorofAliwassignalizedinsinglecombat；andthewarwasprotractedtwentydays，tillthefinalseparationoftheconfederates。Atempestofwind，rain，andhail，overturnedtheirtents:theirprivatequarrelswerefomentedbyaninsidiousadversary；andtheKoreish，desertedbytheirallies，nolongerhopedtosubvertthethrone，ortochecktheconquests，oftheirinvincibleexile。^134
[Footnote128:AlJannabiapudGagnier，tom。ii。p。9allowshimseventyoreightyhorse；andontwootheroccasions，priortothebattleofOhud，heenlistsabodyofthirtyp。10andof500p。66troopers。YettheMussulmans，inthefieldofOhud，hadnomorethantwohorses，accordingtothebettersenseofAbulfeda，inVit。Moham。c。xxxi。p。65。IntheStonyprovince，thecamelswerenumerous；butthehorseappearstohavebeenlessnumerousthanintheHappyortheDesertArabia。]
[Footnote129:BedderHouneene，twentymilesfromMedina，andfortyfromMecca，isonthehighroadofthecaravanofEgypt；
andthepilgrimsannuallycommemoratetheprophet\'svictorybyilluminations，rockets，&c。Shaw\'sTravels，p。477。]
[Footnote130:TheplacetowhichMahometretiredduringtheactionisstyledbyGagnierinAbulfeda，c。27，p。58。ViedeMahomet，tom。ii。p。30，33Umbraculum，unelogedeboisavecuneporte。ThesameArabicwordisrenderedbyReiskeAnnalesMoslemiciAbulfedae，p。23bySolium，Suggestuseditior；andthedifferenceisoftheutmostmomentforthehonorbothoftheinterpreterandofthehero。IamsorrytoobservetheprideandacrimonywithwhichReiskechastiseshisfellow—laborer。Saepisicvertit，utintegraepaginaenequeantnisiunalituracorrigiArabicenonsatiscallebat，etcarebatjudiciocritico。J。J。
Reiske，ProdidagmataadHagjiChalisaeTabulas，p。228，adcalceroAbulfedaeSyriaeTabulae；Lipsiae，1766，in4to。]
[Footnote131:ThelooseexpressionsoftheKoranc。3，p。124，125，c。8，p。9allowthecommentatorstofluctuatebetweenthenumbersof1000，3000，or9000angels；andthesmallestofthesemightsufficefortheslaughterofseventyoftheKoreish，Maracci，Alcoran，tom。ii。p。131。Yetthesamescholiastsconfessthatthisangelicbandwasnotvisibletoanymortaleye，Maracci，p。297。Theyrefineonthewordsc。8，16\"notthou，butGod，\"&c。D\'Herbelot。Bibliot。Orientalep。600，601。]
[Footnote132:Geograph。Nubiensis，p。47。]
[Footnote133:IntheiiidchapteroftheKoran，p。50—53，withSale\'snotes，theprophetallegessomepoorexcusesforthedefeatofOhud。
Note:Dr。Weilhasaddedsomecuriouscircumstances，whichhegivesasongoodtraditionalauthority，ontherescueofMahomet。TheprophetwasattackedbyUbeijjIbnChallaf，whomhestruckontheneckwithamortalwound。Thiswastheonlytime，itisadded，thatMahometpersonallyengagedinbattle。p。
128。—M。1845。]
[Footnote134:ForthedetailofthethreeKoreishwars，ofBeder，ofOhud，andoftheditch，peruseAbulfeda，p。56—61，64—69，73—77，Gagniertom。i。p。23—45，70—96，120—
139，withtheproperarticlesofD\'Herbelot，andtheabridgmentsofElmacinHist。Saracen。p。6，7andAbulpharagius，Dynast。
p。102。]
ChapterL:DescriptionOfArabiaAndItsInhabitants。
PartVI。
ThechoiceofJerusalemforthefirstkeblaofprayerdiscoverstheearlypropensityofMahometinfavoroftheJews；
andhappywouldithavebeenfortheirtemporalinterest，hadtheyrecognized，intheArabianprophet，thehopeofIsraelandthepromisedMessiah。Theirobstinacyconvertedhisfriendshipintoimplacablehatred，withwhichhepursuedthatunfortunatepeopletothelastmomentofhislife；andinthedoublecharacterofanapostleandaconqueror，hispersecutionwasextendedtobothworlds。^135TheKainokadweltatMedinaundertheprotectionofthecity；heseizedtheoccasionofanaccidentaltumult，andsummonedthemtoembracehisreligion，orcontendwithhiminbattle。\"Alas!\"repliedthetremblingJews，\"weareignorantoftheuseofarms，butwepersevereinthefaithandworshipofourfathers；whywiltthoureduceustothenecessityofajustdefence?\"Theunequalconflictwasterminatedinfifteendays；anditwaswithextremereluctancethatMahometyieldedtotheimportunityofhisallies，andconsentedtosparethelivesofthecaptives。Buttheirricheswereconfiscated，theirarmsbecamemoreeffectualinthehandsoftheMussulmans；
andawretchedcolonyofsevenhundredexileswasdriven，withtheirwivesandchildren，toimplorearefugeontheconfinesofSyria。TheNadhiritesweremoreguilty，sincetheyconspired，inafriendlyinterview，toassassinatetheprophet。Hebesiegedtheircastle，threemilesfromMedina；buttheirresolutedefenceobtainedanhonorablecapitulation；andthegarrison，soundingtheirtrumpetsandbeatingtheirdrums，waspermittedtodepartwiththehonorsofwar。TheJewshadexcitedandjoinedthewaroftheKoreish:nosoonerhadthenationsretiredfromtheditch，thanMahomet，withoutlayingasidehisarmor，marchedonthesamedaytoextirpatethehostileraceofthechildrenofKoraidha。
Afteraresistanceoftwenty—fivedays，theysurrenderedatdiscretion。TheytrustedtotheintercessionoftheiroldalliesofMedina；theycouldnotbeignorantthatfanaticismobliteratesthefeelingsofhumanity。Avenerableelder，towhosejudgmenttheyappealed，pronouncedthesentenceoftheirdeath；sevenhundredJewsweredraggedinchainstothemarket—placeofthecity；theydescendedaliveintothegravepreparedfortheirexecutionandburial；andtheapostlebeheldwithaninflexibleeyetheslaughterofhishelplessenemies。TheirsheepandcamelswereinheritedbytheMussulmans:threehundredcuirasses，fivehundredpiles，athousandlances，composedthemostusefulportionofthespoil。Sixdays\'journeytothenorth—eastofMedina，theancientandwealthytownofChaibarwastheseatoftheJewishpowerinArabia:theterritory，afertilespotinthedesert，wascoveredwithplantationsandcattle，andprotectedbyeightcastles，someofwhichwereesteemedofimpregnablestrength。TheforcesofMahometconsistedoftwohundredhorseandfourteenhundredfoot:inthesuccessionofeightregularandpainfulsiegestheywereexposedtodanger，andfatigue，andhunger；andthemostundauntedchiefsdespairedoftheevent。
TheapostlerevivedtheirfaithandcouragebytheexampleofAli，onwhomhebestowedthesurnameoftheLionofGod:perhapswemaybelievethataHebrewchampionofgiganticstaturewascloventothechestbyhisirresistiblecimeter；butwecannotpraisethemodestyofromance，whichrepresentshimastearingfromitshingesthegateofafortressandwieldingtheponderousbucklerinhislefthand。^136Afterthereductionofthecastles，thetownofChaibarsubmittedtotheyoke。Thechiefofthetribewastortured，inthepresenceofMahomet，toforceaconfessionofhishiddentreasure:theindustryoftheshepherdsandhusbandmenwasrewardedwithaprecarioustoleration:theywerepermitted，solongasitshouldpleasetheconqueror，toimprovetheirpatrimony，inequalshares，forhisemolumentandtheirown。UnderthereignofOmar，theJewsofChaibarweretransportedtoSyria；andthecaliphallegedtheinjunctionofhisdyingmaster；thatoneandthetruereligionshouldbeprofessedinhisnativelandofArabia。^137
[Footnote135:ThewarsofMahometagainsttheJewishtribesofKainoka，theNadhirites，Koraidha，andChaibar，arerelatedbyAbulfedap。61，71，77，87，&c。andGagnier，tom。ii。p。61—
65，107—112，139—148，268—294。]
[Footnote136:AbuRafe，theservantofMahomet，issaidtoaffirmthathehimself，andsevenothermen，afterwardstried，withoutsuccess，tomovethesamegatefromtheground，Abulfeda，p。90。AbuRafewasaneye—witness，butwhowillbewitnessforAbuRafe?]
[Footnote137:ThebanishmentoftheJewsisattestedbyElmacinHist。Saracen，p。9andthegreatAlZabari，Gagnier，tom。ii。
p。285。YetNiebuhrDescriptiondel\'Arabie，p。324believesthattheJewishreligion，andKaraitesect，arestillprofessedbythetribeofChaibar；andthat，intheplunderofthecaravans，thedisciplesofMosesaretheconfederatesofthoseofMahomet。]
FivetimeseachdaytheeyesofMahometwereturnedtowardsMecca，^138andhewasurgedbythemostsacredandpowerfulmotivestorevisit，asaconqueror，thecityandthetemplefromwhencehehadbeendrivenasanexile。TheCaabawaspresenttohiswakingandsleepingfancy:anidledreamwastranslatedintovisionandprophecy；heunfurledtheholybanner；andarashpromiseofsuccesstoohastilydroppedfromthelipsoftheapostle。HismarchfromMedinatoMeccadisplayedthepeacefulandsolemnpompofapilgrimage:seventycamels，chosenandbedeckedforsacrifice，precededthevan；thesacredterritorywasrespected；andthecaptivesweredismissedwithoutransomtoproclaimhisclemencyanddevotion。ButnosoonerdidMahometdescendintotheplain，withinaday\'sjourneyofthecity，thanheexclaimed，\"Theyhaveclothedthemselveswiththeskinsoftigers:\"thenumbersandresolutionoftheKoreishopposedhisprogress；andtherovingArabsofthedesertmightdesertorbetrayaleaderwhomtheyhadfollowedforthehopesofspoil。
Theintrepidfanaticsunkintoacoolandcautiouspolitician:hewaivedinthetreatyhistitleofapostleofGod；concludedwiththeKoreishandtheiralliesatruceoftenyears；engagedtorestorethefugitivesofMeccawhoshouldembracehisreligion；
andstipulatedonly，fortheensuingyear，thehumbleprivilegeofenteringthecityasafriend，andofremainingthreedaystoaccomplishtheritesofthepilgrimage。AcloudofshameandsorrowhungontheretreatoftheMussulmans，andtheirdisappointmentmightjustlyaccusethefailureofaprophetwhohadsooftenappealedtotheevidenceofsuccess。ThefaithandhopeofthepilgrimswererekindledbytheprospectofMecca:
theirswordsweresheathed；seventimesinthefootstepsoftheapostletheyencompassedtheCaaba:theKoreishhadretiredtothehills，andMahomet，afterthecustomarysacrifice，evacuatedthecityonthefourthday。Thepeoplewasedifiedbyhisdevotion；thehostilechiefswereawed，ordivided，orseduced；andbothKaledandAmrou，thefutureconquerorsofSyriaandEgypt，mostseasonablydesertedthesinkingcauseofidolatry。ThepowerofMahometwasincreasedbythesubmissionoftheArabiantribes；tenthousandsoldierswereassembledfortheconquestofMecca；andtheidolaters，theweakerparty，wereeasilyconvictedofviolatingthetruce。Enthusiasmanddisciplineimpelledthemarch，andpreservedthesecrettilltheblazeoftenthousandfiresproclaimedtotheastonishedKoreishthedesign，theapproach，andtheirresistibleforceoftheenemy。ThehaughtyAbuSophianpresentedthekeysofthecity，admiredthevarietyofarmsandensignsthatpassedbeforehiminreview；observedthatthesonofAbdallahhadacquiredamightykingdom，andconfessed，underthecimeterofOmar，thathewastheapostleofthetrueGod。ThereturnofMariusandScyllawasstainedwiththebloodoftheRomans:therevengeofMahometwasstimulatedbyreligiouszeal，andhisinjuredfollowerswereeagertoexecuteortopreventtheorderofamassacre。Insteadofindulgingtheirpassionsandhisown，^139thevictoriousexileforgavetheguilt，andunitedthefactions，ofMecca。Histroops，inthreedivisions，marchedintothecity:
eight—and—twentyoftheinhabitantswereslainbytheswordofCaled；elevenmenandsixwomenwereproscribedbythesentenceofMahomet；butheblamedthecrueltyofhislieutenant；andseveralofthemostobnoxiousvictimswereindebtedfortheirlivestohisclemencyorcontempt。ThechiefsoftheKoreishwereprostrateathisfeet。\"Whatmercycanyouexpectfromthemanwhomyouhavewronged?\"\"Weconfideinthegenerosityofourkinsman。\"\"Andyoushallnotconfideinvain:begone!youaresafe，youarefree\"ThepeopleofMeccadeservedtheirpardonbytheprofessionofIslam；andafteranexileofsevenyears，thefugitivemissionarywasenthronedastheprinceandprophetofhisnativecountry。^140ButthethreehundredandsixtyidolsoftheCaabawereignominiouslybroken:thehouseofGodwaspurifiedandadorned:asanexampletofuturetimes，theapostleagainfulfilledthedutiesofapilgrim；andaperpetuallawwasenactedthatnounbelievershoulddaretosethisfootontheterritoryoftheholycity。^141
[Footnote138:ThesuccessivestepsofthereductionofMeccaarerelatedbyAbulfedap。84—87，97—100，102—111andGagnier，tom。ii。p。202—245，309—322，tom。iii。p。1—58，
Elmacin，Hist。Saracen。p。8，9，10，Abulpharagius，Dynast。p。
103。]
[Footnote*:ThispeacefulentranceintoMeccatookplace，accordingtothetreatythefollowingyear。Weil，p。202—M。
1845。]
[Footnote139:AftertheconquestofMecca，theMahometofVoltaireimaginesandperpetuatesthemosthorridcrimes。Thepoetconfesses，thatheisnotsupportedbythetruthofhistory，andcanonlyallege，queceluiquifaitlaguerreasapatrieaunomdeDieu，estcapabledetout，OeuvresdeVoltaire，tom。xv。
p。282。Themaximisneithercharitablenorphilosophic；andsomereverenceissurelyduetothefameofheroesandthereligionofnations。IaminformedthataTurkishambassadoratPariswasmuchscandalizedattherepresentationofthistragedy。]
[Footnote140:TheMahometandoctorsstilldispute，whetherMeccawasreducedbyforceorconsent，Abulfeda，p。107，etGagnieradlocum；andthisverbalcontroversyisofasmuchmomentasourownaboutWilliamtheConqueror。]
[Footnote141:InexcludingtheChristiansfromthepeninsulaofArabia，theprovinceofHejaz，orthenavigationoftheRedSea，ChardinVoyagesenPerse，tom。iv。p。166andRelandDissertat。Miscell。tom。iii。p。61aremorerigidthantheMussulmansthemselves。TheChristiansarereceivedwithoutscrupleintotheportsofMocha，andevenofGedda；anditisonlythecityandprecinctsofMeccathatareinaccessibletotheprofane，Niebuhr，Descriptiondel\'Arabie，p。308，309，VoyageenArabie，tom。i。p。205，248，&c。]
TheconquestofMeccadeterminedthefaithandobedienceoftheArabiantribes；^142who，accordingtothevicissitudesoffortune，hadobeyed，ordisregarded，theeloquenceorthearmsoftheprophet。IndifferenceforritesandopinionsstillmarksthecharacteroftheBedoweens；andtheymightaccept，aslooselyastheyhold，thedoctrineoftheKoran。Yetanobstinateremnantstilladheredtothereligionandlibertyoftheirancestors，andthewarofHonainderivedaproperappellationfromtheidols，whomMahomethadvowedtodestroy，andwhomtheconfederatesofTayefhadsworntodefend。^143FourthousandPagansadvancedwithsecrecyandspeedtosurprisetheconqueror:theypitiedanddespisedthesupinenegligenceoftheKoreish，buttheydependedonthewishes，andperhapstheaid，ofapeoplewhohadsolatelyrenouncedtheirgods，andbowedbeneaththeyokeoftheirenemy。
ThebannersofMedinaandMeccaweredisplayedbytheprophet；acrowdofBedoweensincreasedthestrengthornumbersofthearmy，andtwelvethousandMussulmansentertainedarashandsinfulpresumptionoftheirinvinciblestrength。TheydescendedwithoutprecautionintothevalleyofHonain:theheightshadbeenoccupiedbythearchersandslingersoftheconfederates；theirnumberswereoppressed，theirdisciplinewasconfounded，theircouragewasappalled，andtheKoreishsmiledattheirimpendingdestruction。Theprophet，onhiswhitemule，wasencompassedbytheenemies:heattemptedtorushagainsttheirspearsinsearchofagloriousdeath:tenofhisfaithfulcompanionsinterposedtheirweaponsandtheirbreasts；threeofthesefelldeadathisfeet:\"Omybrethren，\"herepeatedlycried，withsorrowandindignation，\"IamthesonofAbdallah，Iamtheapostleoftruth!Oman，standfastinthefaith!OGod，senddownthysuccor!\"HisuncleAbbas，who，liketheheroesofHomer，excelledintheloudnessofhisvoice，madethevalleyresoundwiththerecitalofthegiftsandpromisesofGod:theflyingMoslemsreturnedfromallsidestotheholystandard；andMahometobservedwithpleasurethatthefurnacewasagainrekindled:hisconductandexamplerestoredthebattle，andheanimatedhisvictorioustroopstoinflictamercilessrevengeontheauthorsoftheirshame。FromthefieldofHonain，hemarchedwithoutdelaytothesiegeofTayef，sixtymilestothesouth—eastofMecca，afortressofstrength，whosefertilelandsproducethefruitsofSyriainthemidstoftheArabiandesert。Afriendlytribe，instructedIknownothowintheartofsieges，suppliedhimwithatrainofbattering—ramsandmilitaryengines，withabodyoffivehundredartificers。ButitwasinvainthatheofferedfreedomtotheslavesofTayef；thatheviolatedhisownlawsbytheextirpationofthefruit—trees；thatthegroundwasopenedbytheminers；thatthebreachwasassaultedbythetroops。Afterasiegeoftwenty—days，theprophetsoundedaretreat；butheretreatedwithasongofdevouttriumph，andaffectedtoprayfortherepentanceandsafetyoftheunbelievingcity。Thespoilsofthisfortunateexpeditionamountedtosixthousandcaptives，twenty—fourthousandcamels，fortythousandsheep，andfourthousandouncesofsilver:atribewhohadfoughtatHoinanredeemedtheirprisonersbythesacrificeoftheiridols；butMahometcompensatedtheloss，byresigningtothesoldiershisfifthoftheplunder，andwished，fortheirsake，thathepossessedasmanyheadofcattleasthereweretreesintheprovinceofTehama。InsteadofchastisingthedisaffectionoftheKoreish，heendeavoredtocutouttheirtongues，hisownexpression，andtosecuretheirattachmentbyasuperiormeasureofliberality:AbuSophianalonewaspresentedwiththreehundredcamelsandtwentyouncesofsilver；andMeccawassincerelyconvertedtotheprofitablereligionoftheKoran。