upon the roof, and saw a cloud overshadowing that caravan, moving when it moved, and resting when it rested. When Bahira observed this, he wondered, saying, "This can only be, if, the Prophet is in this caravan; to all appearance he whom I have so long desired and expected is now there." Another account informs us that when the caravan came to a hilly and stony spot, Bahira heard the trees and stones of the monastery calling with a loud voice, "Peace be unto thee, O Apostle of God;" and, when the Prophet and his uncle alighted under a tree, the said cloud, overshadowed it, and its branches multiplied, became green, young, and fresh, and bore fruit. When the monk saw these things, he knew for certain that the Prophet of the latter time was there; and he ordered his disciples and servants to prepare a dinner and lay the table for that caravan. The people of the caravan accepted his invitation; but after they had come, he still saw the cloud in its former place. He therefore inquired which of their number had been left behind; and, hearing it was the lad Mohammed, he at once caused him to be sent for; and when he came, the overshadowing cloud came with him.

'Another account is this, that when the caravan had encamped near the monastery, Bahira came and searched it, till he arrived where Abu Talib sat, and there saw the blessed beauty of Mohammed, the chosen one, whose blessed hand he took, saying, "This the Lord of both worlds. God has sent him out of compassion for both worlds." The old men of the Koreish said, "O Bahira, whence knowest thou that this one will be a prophet?" Bahira answered, that it was from those signs and tokens which he had witnessed; and he declared unto them all, that the noble form and proportioned figure of that prince had become known to him from the heavenly books, adding, "I know the prophetic seal to his being the prophet of the latter days; it is between his shoulder-blades, and is of the size of an apple." Then he returned to his convent, and prepared the dinner, as narrated before. After dinner, when the other chief men had left, Bahira said to Abu Talib, "What relationship is there between thee and this youth?" Abu Talib answered, "He is my son." Bahira, "It is impossible that his parents are still living." According to, Ibn Ishak's account Bahira said, "He is not thy son: this boy

no longer needs a father." Abu Talib replied, "Thou hast rightly spoken; he is my nephew, but is to me like a son." After this, Bahira, for the purpose of trying that prince and making known his true state, turned to Mohammed, saying, "I adjure thee by Lat and Ozza!" to which the Prophet replied, "O Bahira, do not adjure me by Lat and Ozza, to whom I am a greater enemy than to anything else in the world." Bahira continued, "Then I adjure thee, by the Most High God, to tell me whether there is not a certain sign and mark of such a form and nature between thy shoulder-blades." That Excellency answered, "Yes, there is." Then Bahira jumped up, kissed that prince-between his eyes, and said, "I testify that he is the Apostle of God in truth;" and it is said that he also kissed the feet of the Lord of the world. Another account adds that, on Bahira's entreaty, that prince took off his mantle from his blessed shoulders, so that Bahira could see the seal of prophetship between his two shoulder-blades, and he found it to be such as he had ascertained it from the heavenly books; and he kissed that place.

'It is recorded that some Jews, or, according to another account, some Greeks, amongst whom were three distinguished priests, came to kill that prince. They entered Bahira's convent that day, saying, "O Bahira, we have learned from the heavenly books that to-day Mohammed is to come with a caravan of the Koreish and to encamp near this monastery; we have come in order to kill him." But Bahira, instead of assisting them in their purpose, demonstrated to them by clear proofs that this youth was the Prophet of the latter time, and thus induced them to desist from their design. It is recorded that Bahira said to Abu Talib, "This youth is to be the Prophet of the latter days, and his law is to spread over the whole world, and his religion is to abrogate all other religions; if thou lovest this youth, beware, do not take him to Syria, for the Jews are his enemies; God forbid that they, recognising him, should do him any harm." Upon this, Abu Talib sold his merchandise with a good profit in Bosra, and returned to Mecca. But there is also another account, according to which Abu Talib sent the Prophet back to Mecca with another company, whilst he himself went to Syria, and there completed his mercantile transactions.' (R)