244 LIFE OF MOHAMMED. 



hand during the whole assault, though the strength 

 of eight men was found unable to move it from the 

 spot where it lay. Such at least is the declaration 

 of Abu Rafe, whose zeal for his master's glory, we 

 cannot help thinking, has in this exploit rather over- 

 stepped even the modesty of romance. The fall of 

 their champion dispirited the Jews ; they fled in 

 dismay to their castle, pursued by the victorious 

 Moslems, who entered with the fugitives, and took 

 possession of the fort. 



This important conquest was followed by the sur- 

 render of the other castles ; and lastly by the town 

 of Khaibar itself, which being now destitute of its 

 chief supports, was obliged at the end of ten days 

 to capitulate. The conditions were humane, but 

 mercenary ; the inhabitants being permitted to cul- 

 tivate their lands and vineyards as formerly, one- 

 half of the future produce and of their present effects 

 being awarded to the Mussulmans. This grant was 

 coupled with a despotic restriction, that they held 

 . their possessions entirely at the will of the conqueror, 

 who might expel them at his pleasure. Under these 

 severe stipulations, the Jews continued to possess 

 their castles and territories undisputed till the reign 

 of Omar, who transplanted them to Syria ; alleging 

 the dying injunction of the apostle, that one reli- 

 gion only should be tolerated in his native land of 

 Arabia.* 



One event connected with this siege still remains 

 to be noticed, — an attempt to poison the apostle 

 while supping in the fortress with his chiefs on a 



* According to Niebuhr, the Karaite Jews, in his time, were 

 in possession of Khaibar, where they lived independent under 

 their own sheiks.— Descript. de VArabie, p. 326. Burckiiardt 

 informs ns that the Jewish colony once settled at Khaibar has 

 wholly disappeared ; nor are there any Jews in the northern 

 part of the Arabian Desert. There are descendants of the Ka- 

 raites still at Sanaa in Yemen. The Arabs of Khaibar are of a 

 darker complexion than the neighbouring Bedouins. — Travels 

 in Arabia, App. No. vi. p. 464. 



