THE KORAN. 289 



delights to which the voluptuous Mussulman looks 

 forwai-d as his chief felicity in another world. 



The most exquisite and artificial pleasures of tliis 

 life become insipid from long possession, or super- 

 fluous from the limited capacities of their mortal 

 owner. Mohammed has made provision against 

 both contingencies. At Avhatever period believers 

 may die on earth, in heaven they shall never exceed 

 the" potent and animated age of thirty. A moment 

 of happiness will be prolonged to 1000 years, and 

 the enjoyment will be enhanced by an increase of 

 abilities to the extent of a hundred fold. Amid the 

 endless varieties of flavour and fragrance their appe- 

 tites will never cloy ; and they shall be exempted 

 from those troublesome secretions which nature 

 has made so indispensable to the health and comfort 

 of the human animal. The eye of the enraptured 

 possessor, so strong will be its vision, will wander 

 over his gardens and groves, and descry the beauties 

 of his wives and his wealth at the distance of 1000 

 years' journey. Should any of the faithful desire 

 children (for without the wish the end would be 

 unaccomplished), the space of one hour will suffice 

 for the birth and growth of a young beUever sixty 

 cubits high, — the alleged stature of Adam, and the 

 standard height of paradise. Or should his fancy 

 turn to the rustic pleasures of agriculture, a moment 

 of time will see his luxuriant crops spring up and 

 come to maturity. 



Women, so conspicuous in the Koran as incen- 

 tives to religious zeal, have, by some, not only been 

 •excluded from heaven, but deprived of the attribute 

 of immortality — a soul. This opprobrium must be 

 ascribed to the misrepresentation of the Christians, 

 or the ignorance of the Mohammedans, since its 

 contradiction may be clearly inferred from their 

 creed. Notwithstanding the prevalence of this vul- 

 gar error, the gates of paradise will be open to both 

 sexes ; but whether they shall inhabit the same or 



Vol. I.— Bb 



