246 Life op mohammeo. 



missionaries were less successful with strangers than 

 with the i\rabs, who cherished a national reverence 

 for the religion of Ishmael. The haughty Khoosroo 

 tore the letter in pieces, because the name of " his 

 slave," Mohammed, on the superscription, took pre- 

 cedence of his own. From the Emperor Herachus, 

 if we may believe the Mussulman writers, the sacred 

 messenger had a more kindly reception ; for they 

 assure us, it was only the fear of losing his crovvii 

 that prevented him from making an open profession 

 of his belief in the Koran.* 



With the functions of temporal sovereignty Mo- 

 hammed conjoined that of chief priest or pontiff 

 During his life, he was himself the only minister 

 and expounder of his rehgion. At first, such was 

 the rude simplicity of the age, he used to preach in 

 the mosque at Medina leaning upon a post, the trunk 

 of a palm-tree driven into thi3 ground. Accessions 

 of power and magnificence required more appro- 

 priate accommodation ; and at length he consented 

 to have a stair or pulpit made, three steps in height, 

 —the uppermost of which was occupied by himself • 

 Abu Beker being seated on the second step; and 

 Ulnar on the third, with his feet resting on the 

 gfound. Tradition asserts, that the first time the 

 Prophet ascended the new rostrum, a dismal sound 

 like the lowing of a camel, issued from the deserted 

 beam, expressive of grief and regret ; and that the 

 sympathizing apostle, caressing the disconsolate' 

 trunk in the most endearing language, restored it 

 to good humour, and impressed it with a conviction 

 ot the propriety of their separation. 



Nothing could exceed the respect and veneration 

 in which Mohammed was held by his devoted foU 



* If we may credit Zonaras and other Greek writers Moham- 

 med had a personal interview with Herachus, who was then at 

 Jt-mesa, on his return from his Persian expedition, and ceded to 

 t^!i!o%o ^^'■'^"^■■y If} Syn^i-Menwir.s deVAcadem. des LiscripU 

 tome 32. Gagnier, hb. v. chap. -1. Abulfeda, cap. 1& 



