in-chief at the battle of Honein, who on his defeat had taken refuge in Taif, was induced by promises and presents to quit his asylum and, after turning Mussulman, to place himself at the head of the recently converted Hawazins. He was enjoined to harass the population of Taif in every possible way, till they should be ready to submit. This method proved successful. The Thakifites, tired of the incessant warfare, and despairing of ultimate success against the rapidly increasing power of their enemy, sent a deputation to the Prophet, offering to accept his rule and his religion, in return for the protection of their persons and their possessions: a proposal he had confidently anticipated and with which he gladly complied.

(14.) Mohammed starts with a military expedition against the Roman empire; but only reaches as far as Tabuk, whence he despatches some troops against Duma and then returns.

The deputations from numerous Arab tribes, anxious to secure treaties of amity, by surrendering their liberty and faith — as we shall see in the next paragraph — had already commenced to arrive, when the ostentatious march to and from Tabuk was carried out. This was nothing less than a military enterprise, on a large scale, against the Christian empire of Rome, from which it became afresh manifest what bold and vast designs Mohammed entertained, whilst trying to melt the disunited Arab tribes into one compact nation. Two years had already passed since his despatch of special ambassadors to neighbouring rulers, amongst them the Emperor Heraclius, summoning them to submit to Islam. But the subsequent military expedition under Zeid, intended to be helpful in giving effect to that summons, only showed how much more difficult it was to make headway against the Emperor of Rome, than to subdue undisciplined Bedouin tribes; for Zeid, as we have seen, instead of conquering, was completely routed at Muta, and, with many of his companions, remained slain on the battle-field. Mohammed could not allow himself thus to be turned from his great object, an attack on the Roman empire, but kept it steadfastly in view, and placed it prominently before the eyes of the Moslem community,

determined to carry it out as soon as circumstances presented a fair chance of success. The Emperor Heraclius had likewise been shown by the affair of Muta what serious danger was menacing his empire from the south. It was, therefore, natural for him to keep considerable bodies of troops near the southern borders, ready to meet the Mussulman hordes, in the not unlikely event of a renewed incursion.

Mohammed, though probably not unaware of this, yet was resolved, by planning a war-expedition on the largest scale, to try the attempt afresh, of forcing open the southern gate of the Roman empire, strongly guarded though it was. The contemplated enterprise was indeed one of no common magnitude and difficulty; but his followers and allies had now swelled into an immense multitude, and so he lost no time in publicly making known his intention and ordering the extensive preparations requisite. Ibn Ishak says, 'When Mohammed undertook a war, he usually concealed his true object, by feigning another; but, in the case of the Tabuk expedition, he mentioned it at once; because of the great distance, the difficulty of the season, and the strength of the enemy to be encountered. In order that they might make the necessary preparation, he told them openly that they were to prepare for an expedition against the Romans.' He intended to raise a vast army with which he might overwhelm the Emperor's forces; and, if all the Bedouin tribes who were already brought under his suzerainty, had responded to his call and joined his standard, he might have commanded an armed host of a hundred thousand followers.

But the recently and superficially converted Bedouins showed no great disposition to be pitted against the Roman legions who had so gallantly defeated the flower of the Moslem warriors at Muta; and even in Medina itself, many searched for excuses to justify them in stopping at home. Some pretended that the heat of the season was too great for them; others, that the fruits of their gardens had to be gathered in; and some even, that they were afraid the beautiful Roman women might prove too great a temptation for them. To the latter Mohammed answered, that the temptation to desert the Prophet was worse than the temptation of the Roman women. The whole party known as 'hypocrites,'