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why she attempted to poison the prophet. She answered that she was determined to try his powers as a prophet. "If he were a true prophet," said she, "he would know that the meat was poisoned; if not, it would be a favor to the world to rid it of such a tyrant." But Mohammed was still able to proceed in his enterprizes. He subdued three other Jewish tribes, compelling them to pay him a yearly tax.

QUESTIONS.

What did Abu Sophyan and the citizens of Mecca do? Who gained the victory in this battle? What effect had this upon Mohammed's followers? How did he quiet them? What did he forbid to his followers? What happened in the fifth year of the Hejira? How did Mohammed treat the Jews? What did Mohammed do in the five following years? What did he do in the sixth year of the Hejira? What happened at Mecca? What happened not long after this? What happened to

Mohammed at Chaibar?

CONVERSATION IX.

Mohammed takes Mecca, Defeats the neighboring Tribes,-His death,-His Character.

Caroline. Come, mother, will you sit down now, and tell us more about Mohammed?

Mother. Yes, my dear; I am glad you feel interested with the history.

Samuel. Mother, did Mohammed keep the truce which he made with the people of Mecca?

Mother. About two years after the truce or treaty was made, he accused them of breaking it. This furnished him with a pretext for making war upon them, and he led an army of ten thousand men against the city. Since the conclusion of the treaty, he had, by his arts, gained over to his party a number of the principal citizens of Mecca. He now marched his army so rapidly that they arrived at the city. before the inhabitants heard that he was com

ing. They saw that they must give themselves up to him or be destroyed.

Abu Sophyan, Mohammed's bitterest enemy, and his uncle Abbas, brought him the keys of the city. They both acknowledged him as the Apostle of God, and embraced his religion.

Samuel. I think they didn't care much about their religion, if they could give it up and embrace another, which they did not believe, from fear of death.

Mother. They were Pagans; and the difference between the old religion and the new was not worth suffering for. The chief men of the Koreish tribe fell down before Mohammed, and asked for mercy. "What mercy can you expect from the man you have wronged," exclaimed Mohammed. "We confide in the generosity of our kinsman," said they. "You shall not confide in vain," replied Mohammed. "Be gone; you are safe; you are free." After entering into the city, he went to the temple and took out of it three hundred aud sixty idols, which the Pagan Arabs had worshiped. He then consecrated it to the services of his religion. He also set apart the whole city as holy ground, and

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made a law that no unbeliever should set his foot upon it. The day that he entered the city, he ordered his crier to go up to the top of the temple, and call the people to prayer.

Samuel. Mother, did the other tribes who had opposed Mohammed now surrender to him? Mother. No; when they heard that Mecca was taken, they collected an army of four thousand men, and marched against Mohammed. He met them three miles from the city. His men were so much superior in number that they thought they were certain of victory. But the enemy rushed upon them in such a desperate manner as to put to flight nearly the whole army. Mohammed sat on a white mule. With a few of his faithful followers by his side, he maintained his ground. It was only by main force that one of his uncles and a cousin prevented him from rushing alone into the midst of the enemy. "O my brethren," he exclaimed, "I am the son of Abdallah! I am the Apostle of truth! O men, stand fast in the faith! God, send down thy succor!" His uncle Abbas called out with a loud voice to the flying troops, and they gradually returned to their duty. Mo

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hammed then charged the enemy anew, and gained a complete victory. But he pretended that the angels assisted him.

Samuel. Well, I suppose this victory brought all the Arabs under him, didn't it?

Mother. Yes; he now became the sovereign of all Arabia.

Elizabeth. What use did he make of his power, mother? I should suppose, from what you have told us about him, that he would oppress and abuse the people.

Mother. He employed the rest of the year in destroying all the idols throughout Arabia.

Samuel. Why, that was a good thing, I am sure, mother.

Mother. Yes, my son; it was a good thing in itself, but although he destroyed idolatry, he gave the people nothing better. His system is just as absurd, as the religion of the heathen. But his ambition was not satisfied with all Arabia. In the ninth year of the Hejira, he began to make preparations for conquering Syria. he did not live to carry it fully into execution. However, he entered upon it, and became master of several places of importance. The fame

But

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