Hisbreastisfortifiedbytheausterevirtuesofcourage，patience，andsobriety；theloveofindependencepromptshimtoexercisethehabitsofself—command；andthefearofdishonorguardshimfromthemeanerapprehensionofpain，ofdanger，andofdeath。Thegravityandfirmnessofthemindisconspicuousinhisoutwarddemeanor；hisspeechislow，weighty，andconcise；heisseldomprovokedtolaughter；hisonlygestureisthatofstrokinghisbeard，thevenerablesymbolofmanhood；andthesenseofhisownimportanceteacheshimtoaccosthisequalswithoutlevity，andhissuperiorswithoutawe。^34ThelibertyoftheSaracenssurvivedtheirconquests:thefirstcaliphsindulgedtheboldandfamiliarlanguageoftheirsubjects；theyascendedthepulpittopersuadeandedifythecongregation；norwasitbeforetheseatofempirewasremovedtotheTigris，thattheAbbasidesadoptedtheproudandpompousceremonialofthePersianandByzantinecourts。
[Footnote31:Saraceni……mulieresaiuntineosregnare，ExpositiototiusMundi，p。3，inHudson，tom。iii。ThereignofMaviaisfamousinecclesiasticalstoryPocock，Specimen，p。69，83。]
[Footnote32:ThereportofAgatharcides，deMariRubro，p。63，64，inHudson，tom。i。DiodorusSiculus，tom。i。l。iii。c。47，p。215，andStrabo，l。xvi。p。1124。ButImuchsuspectthatthisisoneofthepopulartales，orextraordinaryaccidents，whichthecredulityoftravellerssooftentransformsintoafact，acustom，andalaw。]
[Footnote33:NongloriabanturantiquitusArabes，nisigladio，hospite，eteloquentiaSephadiusapudPocock，Specimen，p。161，162。ThisgiftofspeechtheysharedonlywiththePersians；andthesententiousArabswouldprobablyhavedisdainedthesimpleandsublimelogicofDemosthenes。]
[Footnote34:ImustremindthereaderthatD'Arvieux，D'Herbelot，andNiebuhr，represent，inthemostlivelycolors，themannersandgovernmentoftheArabs，whichareillustratedbymanyincidentalpassagesintheLifeofMahomet。
Note:See，likewisethecuriousromanceofAntar，themostvividandauthenticpictureofArabianmanners。—M。]
Inthestudyofnationsandmen，wemayobservethecausesthatrenderthemhostileorfriendlytoeachother，thattendtonarroworenlarge，tomollifyorexasperate，thesocialcharacter。TheseparationoftheArabsfromtherestofmankindhasaccustomedthemtoconfoundtheideasofstrangerandenemy；
andthepovertyofthelandhasintroducedamaximofjurisprudence，whichtheybelieveandpractisetothepresenthour。Theypretend，that，inthedivisionoftheearth，therichandfertileclimateswereassignedtotheotherbranchesofthehumanfamily；andthattheposterityoftheoutlawIsmaelmightrecover，byfraudorforce，theportionofinheritanceofwhichhehadbeenunjustlydeprived。AccordingtotheremarkofPliny，theArabiantribesareequallyaddictedtotheftandmerchandise；
thecaravansthattraversethedesertareransomedorpillaged；
andtheirneighbors，sincetheremotetimesofJobandSesostris，^35havebeenthevictimsoftheirrapaciousspirit。IfaBedoweendiscoversfromafarasolitarytraveller，heridesfuriouslyagainsthim，crying，withaloudvoice，"Undressthyself，thyauntmywifeiswithoutagarment。"Areadysubmissionentitleshimtomercy；resistancewillprovoketheaggressor，andhisownbloodmustexpiatethebloodwhichhepresumestoshedinlegitimatedefence。Asinglerobber，orafewassociates，arebrandedwiththeirgenuinename；buttheexploitsofanumerousbandassumethecharacteroflawfulandhonorablewar。Thetemperofapeoplethusarmedagainstmankindwasdoublyinflamedbythedomesticlicenseofrapine，murder，andrevenge。IntheconstitutionofEurope，therightofpeaceandwarisnowconfinedtoasmall，andtheactualexercisetoamuchsmaller，listofrespectablepotentates；buteachArab，withimpunityandrenown，mightpointhisjavelinagainstthelifeofhiscountrymen。Theunionofthenationconsistedonlyinavagueresemblanceoflanguageandmanners；andineachcommunity，thejurisdictionofthemagistratewasmuteandimpotent。OfthetimeofignorancewhichprecededMahomet，seventeenhundredbattles^36arerecordedbytradition:hostilitywasimbitteredwiththerancorofcivilfaction；andtherecital，inproseorverse，ofanobsoletefeud，wassufficienttorekindlethesamepassionsamongthedescendantsofthehostiletribes。Inprivatelifeeveryman，atleasteveryfamily，wasthejudgeandavengerofhisowncause。Thenicesensibilityofhonor，whichweighstheinsultratherthantheinjury，shedsitsdeadlyvenomonthequarrelsoftheArabs:thehonoroftheirwomen，andoftheirbeards，ismosteasilywounded；anindecentaction，acontemptuousword，canbeexpiatedonlybythebloodoftheoffender；andsuchistheirpatientinveteracy，thattheyexpectwholemonthsandyearstheopportunityofrevenge。AfineorcompensationformurderisfamiliartotheBarbariansofeveryage:butinArabiathekinsmenofthedeadareatlibertytoaccepttheatonement，ortoexercisewiththeirownhandsthelawofretaliation。TherefinedmaliceoftheArabsrefuseseventheheadofthemurderer，substitutesaninnocentfortheguiltyperson，andtransfersthepenaltytothebestandmostconsiderableoftheracebywhomtheyhavebeeninjured。Ifhefallsbytheirhands，theyareexposed，intheirturn，tothedangerofreprisals，theinterestandprincipalofthebloodydebtareaccumulated:theindividualsofeitherfamilyleadalifeofmaliceandsuspicion，andfiftyyearsmaysometimeselapsebeforetheaccountofvengeancebefinallysettled。^37
Thissanguinaryspirit，ignorantofpityorforgiveness，hasbeenmoderated，however，bythemaximsofhonor，whichrequireineveryprivateencountersomedecentequalityofageandstrength，ofnumbersandweapons。Anannualfestivaloftwo，perhapsoffour，months，wasobservedbytheArabsbeforethetimeofMahomet，duringwhichtheirswordswerereligiouslysheathedbothinforeignanddomestichostility；andthispartialtruceismorestronglyexpressiveofthehabitsofanarchyandwarfare。^38
[Footnote35:ObservethefirstchapterofJob，andthelongwallof1500stadiawhichSesostrisbuiltfromPelusiumtoHeliopolis，Diodor。Sicul。tom。i。l。i。p。67。UnderthenameofHycsos，theshepherdkings，theyhadformerlysubduedEgypt，Marsham，Canon。Chron。p。98—163&c。
Note:ThisoriginoftheHycsos，thoughprobable，isbynomeanssocertainhereissomereasonforsupposingthemScythians。—M]
[Footnote36:Or，accordingtoanotheraccount，1200，D'Herbelot，BibliothequeOrientale，p。75:thetwohistorianswhowroteoftheAyamalArab，thebattlesoftheArabs，livedinthe9thand10thcentury。ThefamouswarofDahesandGabrahwasoccasionedbytwohorses，lastedfortyyears，andendedinaproverb，Pocock，Specimen，p。48。]
[Footnote37:ThemoderntheoryandpracticeoftheArabsintherevengeofmurderaredescribedbyNiebuhr，Description，p。26—
31。TheharsherfeaturesofantiquitymaybetracedintheKoran，c。2，p。20，c。17，p。230，withSale'sObservations。]
[Footnote38:ProcopiusdeBell。Persic。l。i。c。16placesthetwoholymonthsaboutthesummersolstice。TheArabiansconsecratefourmonthsoftheyear—thefirst，seventh，eleventh，andtwelfth；andpretend，thatinalongseriesofagesthetrucewasinfringedonlyfourorsixtimes，Sale'sPreliminaryDiscourse，p。147—150，andNotesontheixthchapteroftheKoran，p。154，&c。Casiri，Bibliot。
Hispano—Arabica，tom。ii。p。20，21。]
Butthespiritofrapineandrevengewasattemperedbythemilderinfluenceoftradeandliterature。Thesolitarypeninsulaisencompassedbythemostcivilizednationsoftheancientworld；themerchantisthefriendofmankind；andtheannualcaravansimportedthefirstseedsofknowledgeandpolitenessintothecities，andeventhecampsofthedesert。WhatevermaybethepedigreeoftheArabs，theirlanguageisderivedfromthesameoriginalstockwiththeHebrew，theSyriac，andtheChaldaeantongues；theindependenceofthetribeswasmarkedbytheirpeculiardialects；^39buteach，aftertheirown，allowedajustpreferencetothepureandperspicuousidiomofMecca。InArabia，aswellasinGreece，theperfectionoflanguageoutstrippedtherefinementofmanners；andherspeechcoulddiversifythefourscorenamesofhoney，thetwohundredofaserpent，thefivehundredofalion，thethousandofasword，atatimewhenthiscopiousdictionarywasintrustedtothememoryofanilliteratepeople。ThemonumentsoftheHomeriteswereinscribedwithanobsoleteandmysteriouscharacter；buttheCuficletters，thegroundworkofthepresentalphabet，wereinventedonthebanksoftheEuphrates；andtherecentinventionwastaughtatMeccabyastrangerwhosettledinthatcityafterthebirthofMahomet。Theartsofgrammar，ofmetre，andofrhetoric，wereunknowntothefreeborneloquenceoftheArabians；
buttheirpenetrationwassharp，theirfancyluxuriant，theirwitstrongandsententious，^40andtheirmoreelaboratecompositionswereaddressedwithenergyandeffecttothemindsoftheirhearers。Thegeniusandmeritofarisingpoetwascelebratedbytheapplauseofhisownandthekindredtribes。Asolemnbanquetwasprepared，andachorusofwomen，strikingtheirtymbals，anddisplayingthepompoftheirnuptials，sunginthepresenceoftheirsonsandhusbandsthefelicityoftheirnativetribe；thatachampionhadnowappearedtovindicatetheirrights；thataheraldhadraisedhisvoicetoimmortalizetheirrenown。Thedistantorhostiletribesresortedtoanannualfair，whichwasabolishedbythefanaticismofthefirstMoslems；anationalassemblythatmusthavecontributedtorefineandharmonizetheBarbarians。Thirtydayswereemployedintheexchange，notonlyofcornandwine，butofeloquenceandpoetry。Theprizewasdisputedbythegenerousemulationofthebards；thevictoriousperformancewasdepositedinthearchivesofprincesandemirs；
andwemayreadinourownlanguage，thesevenoriginalpoemswhichwereinscribedinlettersofgold，andsuspendedinthetempleofMecca。^41TheArabianpoetswerethehistoriansandmoralistsoftheage；andiftheysympathizedwiththeprejudices，theyinspiredandcrownedthevirtues，oftheircountrymen。Theindissolubleunionofgenerosityandvalorwasthedarlingthemeoftheirsong；andwhentheypointedtheirkeenestsatireagainstadespicablerace，theyaffirmed，inthebitternessofreproach，thatthemenknewnothowtogive，northewomentodeny。^42Thesamehospitality，whichwaspractisedbyAbraham，andcelebratedbyHomer，isstillrenewedinthecampsoftheArabs。TheferociousBedoweens，theterrorofthedesert，embrace，withoutinquiryorhesitation，thestrangerwhodarestoconfideintheirhonorandtoentertheirtent。Histreatmentiskindandrespectful:hesharesthewealth，orthepoverty，ofhishost；and，afteraneedfulrepose，heisdismissedonhisway，withthanks，withblessings，andperhapswithgifts。Theheartandhandaremorelargelyexpandedbythewantsofabrotherorafriend；buttheheroicactsthatcoulddeservethepublicapplause，musthavesurpassedthenarrowmeasureofdiscretionandexperience。Adisputehadarisen，who，amongthecitizensofMecca，wasentitledtotheprizeofgenerosity；andasuccessiveapplicationwasmadetothethreewhoweredeemedmostworthyofthetrial。Abdallah，thesonofAbbas，hadundertakenadistantjourney，andhisfootwasinthestirrupwhenheheardthevoiceofasuppliant，"OsonoftheuncleoftheapostleofGod，Iamatraveller，andindistress!"
Heinstantlydismountedtopresentthepilgrimwithhiscamel，herrichcaparison，andapurseoffourthousandpiecesofgold，exceptingonlythesword，eitherforitsintrinsicvalue，orasthegiftofanhonoredkinsman。TheservantofKaisinformedthesecondsuppliantthathismasterwasasleep:butheimmediatelyadded，"Hereisapurseofseventhousandpiecesofgold，itisallwehaveinthehouse，andhereisanorder，thatwillentitleyoutoacamelandaslave；"themaster，assoonasheawoke，praisedandenfranchisedhisfaithfulsteward，withagentlereproof，thatbyrespectinghisslumbershehadstintedhisbounty。Thethirdoftheseheroes，theblindArabah，atthehourofprayer，wassupportinghisstepsontheshouldersoftwoslaves。"Alas!"hereplied，"mycoffersareempty!buttheseyoumaysell；ifyourefuse，Irenouncethem。"Atthesewords，pushingawaytheyouths，hegropedalongthewallwithhisstaff。
ThecharacterofHatemistheperfectmodelofArabianvirtue:
^43hewasbraveandliberal，aneloquentpoet，andasuccessfulrobber；fortycamelswereroastedathishospitablefeast；andattheprayerofasuppliantenemyherestoredboththecaptivesandthespoil。Thefreedomofhiscountrymendisdainedthelawsofjustice；theyproudlyindulgedthespontaneousimpulseofpityandbenevolence。
[Footnote39:Arrian，inthesecondcentury，remarksinPeriploMarisErythraei，p。12thepartialortotaldifferenceofthedialectsoftheArabs。TheirlanguageandlettersarecopiouslytreatedbyPocock，Specimen，p。150—154，Casiri，Bibliot。
Hispano—Arabica，tom。i。p。1，83，292，tom。ii。p。25，&c。，andNiebuhr，Descriptiondel'Arabie，p。72—36Ipassslightly；I
amnotfondofrepeatingwordslikeaparrot。]
[Footnote40:AfamiliartaleinVoltaire'sZadigleChienetleChevalisrelated，toprovethenaturalsagacityoftheArabs，D'Herbelot，Bibliot。Orient。p。120，121。Gagnier，ViedeMahomet，tom。i。p。37—46:butD'Arvieux，orratherLaRoque，VoyagedePalestine，p。92，deniestheboastedsuperiorityoftheBedoweens。Theonehundredandsixty—ninesentencesofAlitranslatedbyOckley，London，1718affordajustandfavorablespecimenofArabianwit。
Note:ComparetheArabicproverbstranslatedbyBurckhardt。
London。1830—M。]
[Footnote41:PocockSpecimen，p。158—161andCasiriBibliot。Hispano—Arabica，tom。i。p。48，84，&c。，119，tom。ii。
p。17，&c。speakoftheArabianpoetsbeforeMahomet；thesevenpoemsoftheCaabahavebeenpublishedinEnglishbySirWilliamJones；buthishonorablemissiontoIndiahasdeprivedusofhisownnotes，farmoreinterestingthantheobscureandobsoletetext。]
[Footnote42:Sale'sPreliminaryDiscourse，p。29，30]
[Footnote43:D'Herbelot，Bibliot。Orient。p。458。Gagnier，ViedeMahomet，tom。iii。p。118。CaabandHesnusPocock，Specimen，p。43，46，48werelikewiseconspicuousfortheirliberality；
andthelatteriselegantlypraisedbyanArabianpoet:"Videbiseumcumaccesserisexultantem，acsidaresilliquodabillopetis。"
Note:SeethetranslationoftheamusingPersianromanceofHatimTai，byDuncanForbes，Esq。，amongtheworkspublishedbytheOrientalTranslationFund。—M。]
ThereligionoftheArabs，^44aswellasoftheIndians，consistedintheworshipofthesun，themoon，andthefixedstars；aprimitiveandspeciousmodeofsuperstition。ThebrightluminariesoftheskydisplaythevisibleimageofaDeity:theirnumberanddistanceconveytoaphilosophic，orevenavulgar，eye，theideaofboundlessspace:thecharacterofeternityismarkedonthesesolidglobes，thatseemincapableofcorruptionordecay:theregularityoftheirmotionsmaybeascribedtoaprincipleofreasonorinstinct；andtheirreal，orimaginary，influenceencouragesthevainbeliefthattheearthanditsinhabitantsaretheobjectoftheirpeculiarcare。ThescienceofastronomywascultivatedatBabylon；buttheschooloftheArabswasaclearfirmamentandanakedplain。Intheirnocturnalmarches，theysteeredbytheguidanceofthestars:
theirnames，andorder，anddailystation，werefamiliartothecuriosityanddevotionoftheBedoween；andhewastaughtbyexperiencetodivide，intwenty—eightparts，thezodiacofthemoon，andtoblesstheconstellationswhorefreshed，withsalutaryrains，thethirstofthedesert。Thereignoftheheavenlyorbscouldnotbeextendedbeyondthevisiblesphere；
andsomemetaphysicalpowerswerenecessarytosustainthetransmigrationofsoulsandtheresurrectionofbodies:acamelwaslefttoperishonthegrave，thathemightservehismasterinanotherlife；andtheinvocationofdepartedspiritsimpliesthattheywerestillendowedwithconsciousnessandpower。Iamignorant，andIamcareless，oftheblindmythologyoftheBarbarians；ofthelocaldeities，ofthestars，theair，andtheearth，oftheirsexortitles，theirattributesorsubordination。
Eachtribe，eachfamily，eachindependentwarrior，createdandchangedtheritesandtheobjectofhisfantasticworship；butthenation，ineveryage，hasbowedtothereligion，aswellastothelanguage，ofMecca。ThegenuineantiquityoftheCaabaascendsbeyondtheChristianaera；indescribingthecoastoftheRedSea，theGreekhistorianDiodorus^45hasremarked，betweentheThamuditesandtheSabaeans，afamoustemple，whosesuperiorsanctitywasreveredbyalltheArabians；thelinenorsilkenveil，whichisannuallyrenewedbytheTurkishemperor，wasfirstofferedbyapiouskingoftheHomerites，whoreignedsevenhundredyearsbeforethetimeofMahomet。^46Atent，oracavern，mightsufficefortheworshipofthesavages，butanedificeofstoneandclayhasbeenerectedinitsplace；andtheartandpowerofthemonarchsoftheEasthavebeenconfinedtothesimplicityoftheoriginalmodel。^47AspaciousporticoenclosesthequadrangleoftheCaaba；asquarechapel，twenty—fourcubitslong，twenty—threebroad，andtwenty—sevenhigh:adoorandawindowadmitthelight；thedoubleroofissupportedbythreepillarsofwood；aspoutnowofgold
dischargestherain—water，andthewellZemzenisprotectedbyadomefromaccidentalpollution。ThetribeofKoreish，byfraudandforce，hadacquiredthecustodyoftheCaaba:thesacerdotalofficedevolvedthroughfourlinealdescentstothegrandfatherofMahomet；andthefamilyoftheHashemites，fromwhencehesprung，wasthemostrespectableandsacredintheeyesoftheircountry。^48TheprecinctsofMeccaenjoyedtherightsofsanctuary；and，inthelastmonthofeachyear，thecityandthetemplewerecrowdedwithalongtrainofpilgrims，whopresentedtheirvowsandofferingsinthehouseofGod。ThesameriteswhicharenowaccomplishedbythefaithfulMussulman，wereinventedandpractisedbythesuperstitionoftheidolaters。Atanawfuldistancetheycastawaytheirgarments:seventimes，withhastysteps，theyencircledtheCaaba，andkissedtheblackstone:seventimestheyvisitedandadoredtheadjacentmountains；seventimestheythrewstonesintothevalleyofMina；
andthepilgrimagewasachieved，asatthepresenthour，byasacrificeofsheepandcamels，andtheburialoftheirhairandnailsintheconsecratedground。EachtribeeitherfoundorintroducedintheCaabatheirdomesticworship:thetemplewasadorned，ordefiled，withthreehundredandsixtyidolsofmen，eagles，lions，andantelopes；andmostconspicuouswasthestatueofHebal，ofredagate，holdinginhishandsevenarrows，withoutheadsorfeathers，theinstrumentsandsymbolsofprofanedivination。ButthisstatuewasamonumentofSyrianarts:thedevotionoftheruderageswascontentwithapillaroratablet；
andtherocksofthedesertwerehewnintogodsoraltars，inimitationoftheblackstone^49ofMecca，whichisdeeplytaintedwiththereproachofanidolatrousorigin。FromJapantoPeru，theuseofsacrificehasuniversallyprevailed；andthevotaryhasexpressedhisgratitude，orfear，bydestroyingorconsuming，inhonorofthegods，thedearestandmostpreciousoftheirgifts。Thelifeofaman^50isthemostpreciousoblationtodeprecateapubliccalamity:thealtarsofPhoeniciaandEgypt，ofRomeandCarthage，havebeenpollutedwithhumangore:
thecruelpracticewaslongpreservedamongtheArabs；inthethirdcentury，aboywasannuallysacrificedbythetribeoftheDumatians；^51andaroyalcaptivewaspiouslyslaughteredbytheprinceoftheSaracens，theallyandsoldieroftheemperorJustinian。^52Aparentwhodragshissontothealtar，exhibitsthemostpainfulandsublimeeffortoffanaticism:thedeed，ortheintention，wassanctifiedbytheexampleofsaintsandheroes；andthefatherofMahomethimselfwasdevotedbyarashvow，andhardlyransomedfortheequivalentofahundredcamels。