of his work, honestly tells us what, in his opinion, led up to so decisive a result, and unconsciously admits that it was not religious conviction, but political calculation and fear, which moved these tribes, one after another, to proffer their submission to the redoubtable prophet and accept the faith he pressed upon them with so much zeal. He says, 'When Mohammed had conquered Mecca, and come back from Tabuk, and when the Thakifites had been converted and taken the oath of allegiance, then deputations arrived from all parts of Arabia. For the Arabs had waited to see what turn matters would take between Mohammed and the Koreish, because the latter were the guides and directors of the people, the lords of the sacred temple, and the declared descendants of Ishmael, the son of Abraham. This was well known to the chief men of the Arabs, as also that it had been the Koreish who first gainsaid Mohammed and kindled war against him. As soon, therefore, as Mecca was conquered, and the Koreish had submitted to him, being humbled by Islam, the Arabs, understanding that they themselves had not the power to oppose Mohammed and make war against him, professed the faith of Allah.'

It is undeniable that the vaunted Deputations, recorded in honour of the attractive nature of Islam, mainly resulted from fear and from the secular pressure brought to bear on the different Arab tribes. Moslem bands of daring horsemen, under leaders like the irresistible Khalid, scoured the country in every direction, so that all the tribes who had not yet bowed to the new authority were in constant danger of sudden attacks, and could not lie down to sleep, without the harassing consciousness that prowling Moslems might pounce upon them during the darkness of the night, dealing death to the men, and carrying away the women, children, and flocks. Moreover, at the pilgrimage-festival in the 9th year of the Hegira, the existing covenant, that no one should be prevented from visiting the temple or be molested during the holy month, was formally annulled, as regards non-Moslems; and the believers received the injunction, 'When the holy months, granted for a respite, are over, then slay the idolaters where you find them, or take them captive, or shut them up, and lie in wait for them on every road; but if they

believe, say the prayers, and give the alms to the poor, then let them go free.' Mohammed, who but a few years ago had himself been excluded from the temple, and pleaded the common right of all to visit it, naturally did not care to give so unexpected and intolerant a message in person, to the collected heathen pilgrims, but preferred to stay at home and convey the declaration by deputy. Abu Bekr, who this year headed the caravan of pilgrims to Mecca, was already far advanced on the way, when Ali was sent after him, with the direction to accompany him to the holy city, and there publicly to proclaim the unwelcome message.

The disbelieving Arabs now could not help seeing that if they continued any longer in their old religion, they would thenceforth be excluded from their national sanctuary and have to bear the active hostility of the united and irresistible Moslem power. The only alternative before them was, either to embrace the offered new religion, with all its concomitant advantages, or to accept a mortal contest, with the certain prospect of defeat and galling subjugation. The choice could, therefore, not appear difficult to them. So, in like manner, the isolated Christian and Jewish communities, still surviving in distant parts of the land, could only avoid an exterminating war, by accepting Islam, or submitting to a vexatious capitation tax and other humiliating conditions. Individual conversions, mostly from interested motives, had been of frequent occurrence among many tribes; and the fanaticism of these neophytes, who fancied they possessed a Divine sanction for breaking all the ties of kindred, honour, and duty towards those of another faith, had caused a widespread distrust, a radical unsettlement of the notions of right and wrong, of honour and shame, hitherto prevailing in Arab society. Ancient bonds and bases being thus entirely dissolved, the need of a new stay and reuniting power was all the more generally felt; and such a centralising authority was now offering, or rather obtruding, itself in victorious Islam and its iron laws. What wonder, then, that during the last few years of Mohammed's life, deputations from the shrewd, keen-sighted Arabs all over the Peninsula, should crowd to Medina, as anxious to strike a profitable bargain with the compatriot prophet, as he was willing to