150 chosen men under Abu Salma, at whose unexpected approach the Bedouins hastily dispersed, leaving a numerous herd of camels in their hands. Abu Salma had received a wound at the battle of Ohod which now re-opened, in consequence of this fresh exposure, and six months later caused his death. His wife, Om Salma, had only been a widow four months, when the Prophet put an end to her widowhood by adding her to the number of his own wives.

A similar danger of invasion also threatened from the Beni Lihyan, near Taif, which the unscrupulous Prophet averted, by sending one of his fanatical tools to assassinate their chief. The assassin first insinuated himself into the confidence of the chief, and one night, when he was alone with him, treacherously murdered him by cutting off his head. This dastardly act earned for him a commendation from his master and an honourable reward in the shape of Mohammed's own staff.

The Bedouins were not slow to repay such treachery in the same coin, and with interest. Instigated by the Lihyanites, a caravan of the Beni Adhl and Kari applied to the Prophet for teachers, pretending that their tribe was inclining towards Islam. Mohammed unsuspectingly sent six or eight of his followers with them; but having reached the well of Raji in the Hejaz, the teachers were suddenly pounced upon and slain. Still more serious was the case when a chief of the powerful Beni Amir of Nejd, who, on a visit to Mohammed was pressed to embrace Islam, declined this for his own person, but said that if teachers were sent to his tribe, they would probably become converts. The Prophet was again taken in. He sent forty, or by some accounts even seventy, Moslems who had learned to read. But when they reached the well of Mauna, belonging to the Beni Soleim, they were surrounded and put to death. Mohammed was so indignant at this cruel perfidy, that for some weeks he, after morning prayer, invoked a solemn malediction on the heads of the guilty and their entire tribe.

According to the mutual engagement after the battle of Ohod, the Meccans and the Moslems were to meet again in hostile array, at the fair of Bedr, in spring 626. But the former, though making a great show of preparation, did not

keep their word, on account of a severe drought which rendered it inadvisable to march with a large body of camels. They only proceeded a day's journey to Majanna, where they attended the fair and then returned. Mohammed, who probably received secret information of this, had therefore a good opportunity of re-establishing his prestige. He duly appeared at Bedr, with 1500 followers, the largest number he had as yet commanded. They had brought with them a rich supply of goods for the fair, and, as no enemy showed himself, they did a good business, realising 100 per cent. or, according to others, 200 per cent. profit.

Abu Sofyan was not remiss in collecting means for another stroke; but for the present the advantage rested with Mohammed. He was prepared, when soon after he learned that the Beni Ghatafan were collecting troops against him. He started with 400 or 800 men, and on reaching the mountains of Rika, found the Bedouin camp in so formidable a position that he did not venture on an attack. The two armies were so near each other that, at the usual time of prayer, the Moslems alternated their service, one portion praying, and the other facing the enemy in battle-array. This mode of worship, in war, was thenceforth denominated 'the service of danger.' Mohammed was contented with this demonstration of religious discipline and courage, and soon withdrew, carrying with him a number of captured women. This whole enterprise occupied only a fortnight.

The next expedition, that against Duma, took up double that time. Duma lay fifteen days' march in a directly northern line from Medina, not far from the borders of Syria; and its annual fair was frequented by many merchants and Bedouins. Mohammed's attempt in this direction was not occasioned so much by a threatening danger, as rather by the hope of plunder and the wish thus to make some impression on Syria and the Roman empire. He was accompanied by 1000 men, travelling at night and resting concealed by day. He did not attack the town of Duma itself, but, on having reached the oasis in which it was situated, he sent out corps in different directions to seize as many camels as they could. With many of the latter, but