recognise their natural claim to his jurisdiction? The tendency towards Islam now assumed the form of a national movement, swaying the current of public opinion; and the cause which long had been the source of heart-burnings, violence, and bloodshed, was now rapidly becoming the strongest bond of union, the universally acknowledged authority amongst the countless tribes and clans of the Arab nation.

The Moslem historians delight in enumerating the different deputations, consisting of a few individuals, or of tens, or of hundreds, flocking to Medina, to profess faith in their prophet and submission to his laws. They arrived from every quarter: from the confines of Syria; from the provinces of Bahrein and Oman, on the Persian Gulf; from Mahra and Hadramaut, on the shores of the Indian Ocean; from Yemen in the south-west; from the widespread area of the central districts; and, in fact, from every part where the power of Islam had not as yet been established.

These deputations from distant tribes were generally presented to Mohammed in the mosque, after the public service, with the view of favourably impressing them; and, in their reception, he strove to fascinate and attach them by much affability and kindness, never forgetting to supply them with rich presents at their departure. He often granted special privileges of a worldly nature to those who solicited them, and showed an inclination to render the new order of things as little irksome as possible, provided always, that his authority as a prophet was accepted, idol-worship abolished, and the tithes and taxes regularly paid. Sometimes he despatched armed parties to destroy idols and shrines; and to the Thakifites he conceded, as a special favour, that their idol should be destroyed, not by their own hands, but by men whom he would send for the express purpose. Chiefs, as a rule, were continued in office, if they readily submitted to Islam; and to induce them to do so, the Prophet did not hesitate to unroll before their minds pictures of a most attractive worldly character. According to Ibn Hisham, the Tay-chief Adi, a professed Christian, took flight, when Moslem hordes seized his land, but afterwards was persuaded to visit Mohammed, who addressed him in these words:

'Perhaps thou declinest our Faith, because its professors are so poor; but, by Allah! the time is not distant when money will become so abundant that people will be wanted to receive it. Or art thou frightened by the great number of their enemies and their own fewness; but, by Allah! thou wilt soon hear that a woman can travel safely on a camel from Kadesia to visit the holy temple. Or dost thou refuse our Faith because empire and dominion are with others; but, by Allah! thou wilt soon hear that the white castles of Babylon have been taken by conquest.' Whether this conversation took place exactly as recorded by Ibn Hisham, or not, the fact, that Mohammed had already given a tangible form to his plan of conquering the northern countries, quite justifies him in not considering its substance improbable or unhistorical. He also narrates that Adi used to say in later times, 'Two of these prophecies are already fulfilled: I have seen that the white castles of Babylon have been taken, and that a woman can, without fear, perform her pilgrimage to this temple, riding from Kadesia on a camel; and the third, I hope, will also soon come to pass: such abundance of money that none will any more care to take it.'

(16.) The superficiality of the Conversions and Compacts, effected by those Deputations, is illustrated by the instances of two Arab Tribes and of two Rival Prophets.

That Mohammed, in seeking to make converts, gave so much prominence to purely secular considerations, argues ill for the spirituality of his own character, and throws light on the unsatisfactory nature of the conversions he aimed at, which plainly consisted of a mere outward change, or a substitution of one sort of religious forms and formulas, in the place of others. Heart-religion was of little moment to him, if only he obtained the profession of the mouth and submission to his legal enactments. Hence the conversions to Islam could be so rapid and so general.

What Ibn Ishak reports of the Beni Saad is very instructive, in this respect. They sent Dhimam Ibn Thalaba as their deputy, to bring about an arrangement with the Prophet. On arriving in Medina, he found him sitting in the mosque,