I.IFK OF MOHAMMED. 255 



tended to his two sons and all the other chiefs of 

 distinction, and the wavering faith of the new pros- 

 ehies was confirmed by the lucrative religion of the 

 Koran. Various gi-atuities were dispensed to several 

 strangers belonging to other Arab tribes ; and to 

 conciliate the affections of the avaricious troops 

 who were deprived of their prisoners, Mohammed 

 was content to resign his fifth of the plunder, and 

 wished, for their sake, that the cattle he had to 

 bestow\vere as numerous as the trees in the prov- 

 ince of Tehama.* The submission of the Koreish, 

 to whom all Arabia looked with veneration as the 

 genuine descendants of Ishmael, was a signal to 

 those tribes who still remained hostile that resist- 

 ance was useless. INIost of them offered their vol- 

 untary homage, and the more refractor}^ were glad 

 to preserve their lives and effects by yielding a re- 

 luctant allegiance. 



The sceptre of Mohammed was triumphant, and 

 all the petty chiefs from the shores of the Red Sea 

 to the Persian Gulf, acknowledged his regal and 

 priestly supremacy. His arms Avere now powerful 

 enough to attempt foreign conquests, and cope with 

 the strength of neighbouring empires. The wealth 

 and fertility of Syria had attracted his cupidity; 

 and, under pretence of anticipating the warlike pre- 

 parations of Heraclius, he resolved to march with- 

 out delay into that province. An army of 30,000 

 troops was assembled, and a holy war solemnly pro- 

 claimed against the Romans. The harassed Mos- 

 lems entered on this expedition with reluctance. It 

 was the season of harvest, and a time of scarcity, 

 when their labour was imperiously demanded in 

 collecting their vintage. But in vain did they beg 

 a dispensation, and urge their different excuses,— 



♦ A difficulty with regard to married captives had startled the 

 conscientious Moslems ; but the casuistic knot was solved by the 

 Koran, which pronounced it lawful for believers to make concu- 

 binea.of the wives of infidtl h\isba.nds.— GagmeT, lib. vi. chap. 5. 



