are more deeply tinctured with the pharisaical spirit of ostentation, or love better to pray in the marketplaces, and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men, and obtain their praise. Among the Turks especially it is said that wherever they find the greatest concourse of spectators, particularly if they be Christians, there they are ever sure to spread their handkerchiefs, whatever inconveniences may attend the location, and begin their adorations. In these petitions, a very prominent object of request is, that God would grant the blessing of dissensions, wars, and tumults to be enkindled among Christians; and the rumours of such joyful events are hailed as tokens of his gracious answers to their prayers..

On the same year the prophet introduced into his religion the holy fast of Ramadan, or Ramazan, so called from its being continued through the whole of this month, which is the ninth in the order of the months of the Arabic year. Of this duty Mohammed used to say, it was "the gate of

religion," and that "the odour of the mouth of him who fasted is more grateful to God than that of musk." An acceptable fast, according to the Moslem doctrine, includes abstinence from food, the restraining all the senses and members from their accustomed gratifications, and the withdrawment of the thoughts from every thing but God. The institution is thus announced in the Koran: “0 true believers, a fast is ordained you, as it was ordained unto those before you, that ye may fear God. A certain number of days shall ye fast;

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but he among you who shall be sick, or on a journey, shall fast an equal number of other days. And those who can keep it and do not, must redeem their neglect by maintaining of a poor man. But if ye fast, it will be better for you, if ye knew it. The month of Ramadan shall ye fast, in which the Koran was sent down from Heaven, a direction unto men."* By the law of their religion, therefore, the disciples of Islam are required to fast, while the sun is above the horizon, during the entire month of Ramadan, from the time the new moon first appears, till the appearance of the next new moon. Throughout that period they abstain wholly from the pleasures of the table, the pipe, and the harem; they neither eat, drink, nor receive any thing into their mouths during the day, till the evening lamps, hung around the minarets, are lighted by the Imam, or priest of the mosque, when they are released from the obligations of abstinence. They then give themselves, without restraint, to the pleasures of the palate, and compensate in full measure for the penance of the day by the indulgence of the night. This is continued, according to the law of the prophet, "till they can plainly distinguish a white thread from a black thread by the daybreak," when the season of self-denial commences again for the ensuing day. As most of the Mohammedans, however, are not too scrupu lous to quell the annoyance of appetite by sleeping away the hours of the day, the observance of the

fast of Ramadan is little more than turning day into night, and night into day. As the Arabic year is lunar, each month in a period of thirty-three years, falls into all the different seasons of the solar year, and consequently the observance of the fast, when the month of Ramadan occurs in summer, is rendered, by the length and heat of the days, extremely rigorous and trying; especially as the poor are still compelled to labour during the day; and yet are forbidden, upon pain of death, to assuage their thirst by a drop of water. L 2

CHAPTER XI.

The Koreish undertake a new Expedition against the Prophet-The Battle of Ohod-Mohammed and his Army entirely defeated-His followers murmur-The Prophet's poor devices to retrieve the disgrace incurred in this action-Resolves it mainly into the doctrine of Predestination-Wine and Games of chance forbidden-Sophyan, son of Caled, slain-War of the Ditch.

THE resentment of Abu Sophyan and the citi zens of Mecca, for the loss and the disgrace sustained the preceding year, stimulated them to undertake a new expedition against the warlike apos. tle. The Koreish accordingly assembled an army of three thousand men under the command of Abu Sophyan, and proceeded to besiege their enemy in the city of Medina. Mohammed, being much in, ferior in numbers to the invading army, determined at first to await and receive their attack within the walls of the city. But the ardour of his men, enkindled by the recollection of their former success, could not brook restraint; they clamorously demanded to be led out to battle; and he unwisely yielded to their request. Impelled, also, himself, by the same spirit of rash confidence, he unwarily promised them certain victory. The prophetic powers of the apostle were to be estimated by the Mohammed, in every encounter, seems to have manifested, in a high degree, the talents of a general. In the present instance his army, con

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sisting of about one thousand men, was advantageously posted on the declivity of the mountain Ohod, four miles to the north of Medina. Three standards were confided each one to a separate tribe, while the great standard was carried before the prophet, and a chosen band of fifty archers were stationed in the rear, with peremptory orders to remain there till commanded to the attack by Mohammed himself. The Koreish advanced in the form of a crescent; Caled, the fiercest of the Arabian warriors, led the right wing of the cavalry; while Hinda, the wife of Abu Sophyan, accompanied by fifteen matrons of Mecca, incessantly sounded timbrels to animate the troops to the approaching conflict. The action commenced by the Moslems charging down the hill, and breaking through the enemy's ranks. Victory or paradise was the reward promised by Mohammed to his soldiers, and they strove with frantic enthusiasm to gain the expected recompense. The line of the enemy was quickly disordered, and an easy victory seemed about to crown the spirit and valour of the Moslem troops. At this moment, the archers in the rear, impelled by the hope of plunder, deserted their station and scattered themselves over the field. The intrepid Caled, seizing the favourable opportunity, wheeled his cavalry on their flank and rear, and exclaiming aloud, "Mohammed is slain!" charged with such fury upon the disordered ranks of the Moslems, as speedily to turn the fate of the day. The flying report of the death of their leader so dispirited the faithful, that they gave way