THE KORAN. 287 



out the snaallest hope of deliverance. This eternity 

 of damnation, however, is reserved for infidels alone ; 

 for the Prophet has judiciously promised that all his 

 disciples, whatever be their sins, shall be ultimately 

 saved by their own faith and his intercession. When 

 the wicked Moslems drop from the narrow bridge, 

 they fall only into the uppermost and mildest of the 

 seven hells. The term of their expiation will vary 

 from 900 to 7000 years ; at the end of which, when 

 " the crimes done in their days of nature are purged 

 away," and their skin burnt black, they will be re- 

 leased ; the infernal soot and filth being washed 

 off in the river of life till their bodies become whiter 

 than pearls. 



With the structure of the Mohammedan paradise, 

 and the peculiar nature of its felicities, the reader 

 is somewhat acquainted. Before entering, the be- 

 lievers will be refreshed by drinking at the pond of 

 their Prophet, which is supplied by two pipes from 

 Al Kawther, one of the celestial rivers. Distinctions 

 will be observed as to the time of admission ; Mo- 

 hanmied, who will enter first, having declared that 

 the poor (forming the majority of its inhabitants) 

 will gain admittance 500 years before the rich. At 

 the gate each person will be saluted by those beau- 

 tiful youths appointed to serve and wait upon him, 

 who will be the heralds of his arrival. 



The measure of felicity will be proportioned to 

 the deserts of the individual, — the most eminent 

 degree being reserved for the prophets ; the second 

 for the doctors and teachers of the mosques ; the 

 next for the martyrs ; and the last for the common 

 herd of behevers. The celestial joys of Moham- 

 med were addressed chiefly to the indulgence of 

 luxury and appetite. Rivers of water, trees of gold, 

 tents of rubies and emeralds, beds of musk, gar- 

 ments of the richest brocades, crowns set with pearls 

 of matchless lustre, silken carpets, couches and pil- 

 lows of delicate embroidery, are among the rare 



