bian literature. An empire so widely diffused, must, if it encouraged letters at all, have had a beneficial influence on almost every country. Europeans, whether subject to their sway, or only contemplating it from a distance, copied or emulated their acquirements. Gerbert, who subsequently occupied the papal chair as Silvester II., acquired the Arabic method of computation in his travels in Spain, previously to his elevation; but others were permitted to profit but little from his discovery. Leonardo, a Pisan merchant, acquired the same art in his intercourse with Mahometans on the coast of Africa, and by him it was introduced into his own native republic, from whence it was soon communicated to the western world. In the city of Salernum, a port of Italy, Mussulmans and Christians so intermixed as to communicate insensibly the literature of the Saracens to the Italians, and in the schools of that city, students were collected from every quarter of Europe. Arabic books, by command of Charlemagne, were translated into Latin for the use of learned men throughout his vast empire, and without exaggerating the merits of the followers of the prophet, it may be acknowledged, that we are indebted to them for the revival of the exact and physical sciences, and for many of those useful arts and inventions that have totally changed the aspect of European literature; and are still contributing to the civilization, the freedom, and the best interests

of man.

CHAPTER XVI.

The present condition of Mahometanism.-In Turkey.The doctrines believed there.-Their forms of devotion.-Lustrations. Prayer.-Mahometan Sabbath.-Fast of Ramadan. Meccan Pilgrimage.-Proselytism.-Mahometan hierarchy.Islamism in Tartary.-In Hindustan.-In China.-In Persia.-In Africa.-In the Indian Archipelago.-The Sooffees. -The Wahabees.

THE present condition of the Mahometan faith with some account of the standing it maintains in the world will not be deemed an inappropriate subject for the closing pages of this volume. Its votaries have long ceased to spread alarm through the nations by their victorious and devastating progress; the fire of its fanaticism is almost extinct, nevertheless its doctrines prevail over a larger number of mankind than any other system of false religion: they are professed in nations and countries remote from each other, and having no other mutual resemblance than that involved in their common superstition. In Spain, indeed, Christianity has triumphed over Islamism; and in the inhospitable regions of Siberia, a part of the ancient Tartary, its advance has been somewhat checked, but in middle and lower Asia, and in Africa, the number of Mahomet's followers has increased. We cannot state with accuracy the number of either Mahometans, or of nominal Christians; but looking at religion geographically, while Christianity has almost entire dominion in Europe; in Asia, Islamism is the dominant faith; in America, the cross is rapidly becoming the symbol of faith

throughout both its vast continents; but in Africa, the crescent waves to the almost entire exclusion of all other emblems.

It is in Turkey that Mahometanism exists at the present day in its most perfect form. To this country, therefore, both on this account, and because it is nearer to our own than any other under the Moslem power, our attention shall be first directed.

The attempts upon Constantinople, and the conquest by Saracen arms, of almost the whole of those countries over which the emperors residing in that city, anciently called Byzantium, had reigned, have been already recorded. The powerful caliphs of Bagdad made themselves masters of these regions, while those of Spain and the west were endeavouring to push their conquests over the fairest parts of Europe. The situation of Constantinople and the surrounding empire, lay especially open to the eastern Mahometans, whose warlike incursions were incessant. Tartars from Asia overran the empire. Othman, in the early part of the thirteenth century, laid the foundation of Turkish greatness. Orchan, Amurath, and Bajazet, his successors, amidst both foreign and domestic wars greatly contributed to its establishment and increase. The children of the last of these conquerors, threw the empire into a frightful state of commotion by their unnatural quarrels, till, at last, the youngest of them, named after the prophet, restored its unity, and established something like domestic tranquillity. Under a grandson of his, Mahomet II., whom Bayle describes as one of the greatest men recorded in history, the Morea was subjugated, and the Greek empire, so

long shaken by internal dissensions, and tottering to dissolution by its luxury, was trampled in the dust by Moslem conquerors. Constantinople at last yielded to their power, and a palace for the conqueror was erected on the very spot where Constantine had chosen his magnificent abode.

From this time to that of Solyman the magnificent, to whom the Turks owe their laws and police, the empire continued to prosper, but immediately afterwards its fall commenced. Letters and science have advanced less among that people, than among Europeans, and their Sultans possessed none of the martial enterprise and energy of their predecessors. Still the faith of Mahomet maintained, and down to this day continues to maintain, a hold which it enjoys in almost no other country.

The Turks generally repose the most implicit faith in the two leading articles of the Mahometan creed; and since, in the opinion of Moslems, a simple assent to these doctrines comprises all that is valuable in religion, and will be followed by the possession of heaven, either immediately, or remotely, it is readily conceivable that infidelity will be exceedingly rare. In religious matters the heart opposes not so much what is to be believed, as what is to be done.

Minor points of their theology have been from time to time disputed, but generally these may now be regarded as settled. Predestination is one

of the chief on which the faith of the Turk is fixed, on a basis equally firm, with that which sustains the most momentous article in his creed. Fatalism was the great engine employed by Mahomet in establishing his religion. Since his time,

this doctrine has been affirmed to have no relation to the present, moral, civil, and political state of man; but the Turks it is received as reguamong lating their destiny, controlling their events, and limiting the results of every individual's exertion; and, as may be supposed, this doctrine unnerves the soul for generous and manly enterprize, and casts a lethargy on the whole nation. In every thing the exertions of reason are checked, and even wait for the sensible operations of Deity. According to the creed of the Turks, not only is every thing foreknown to God, every thing is predetermined, and brought about by his positive agency.

The Turk is keen and wise in his ordinary transactions; in promoting his own interests, he knows how to exercise the powers of his mind, but when difficulty or doubt overtakes him, he makes no effort. The thick cloud of his misfortunes is suffered to remain; it is yielded to with sullen indifference,-he considers it impious to oppose the determinations of the Most High. To all improvement such a doctrine is a decided and invincible foe; in some circumstances, however, it appears to have its advantages. Does a Mahometan suffer by calamity? Is he plundered or ruined? He does not fruitlessly bewail his lot. His answers to all murmuring suggestions is, 'It was written,' and to the most unexpected transition from opulence to poverty, he submits without a sigh. The approach of death does not destroy his tranquillity; he makes his ablution, repeats his prayers, professes his belief in God and his prophet, and in a last calm appeal to the aid of affection, he says to his child, "turn my head towards Mecca," and dies in peace.