SENT TO COVENTRY. 263 



patriarchs returned and said, " What is it that you 

 want Mahomet ? Do you wish for riches ? we will 

 make you rich. Do you wish for honour ? we will 

 make you the mayor of the town. Mahomet replied 

 with a chapter of the Koran. They then assembled 

 in the town-hall, and entered into a solemn league 

 and covenant, to keep apart from the family of Abu 

 Talib. It was sent to Coventry. None would buy 

 with them nor sell with them, eat with them, nor 

 drink with them. This lasted for three years ; but 

 when as people passed by the house they heard the 

 cries of the starving children from behind the walls, 

 they relented, and sold them grain. There was one 

 member of the family, Abu Laheb, who withdrew from 

 it at that juncture, and became Mahomet's most in- 

 veterate foe. 



Each family agreed also to punish its own Mahomet- 

 ans. Many were exposed to the glow of the mid-day 

 sun on the scorching gravel outside the town, and to 

 the torments of thirst. A mulatto slave was tortured 

 by a great stone being placed on his chest, during 

 which he cried out continually, " There is only one 

 God ! There is only one God !" Mahomet recom- 

 mended his disciples to escape to Abyssinia, " a land 

 of righteousness, a land where none were wronged." 

 They were kindly received by the Negus, who refused 

 to give them up in spite of the envoys with presents 

 of red leather, who were sent to him from Mecca with 

 that request. 



During the period of the sacred months, Mahomet used 

 often to visit the encampments of the pilgrims outside the 

 town. He announced to them his mission, he preached 

 on the unity of God, and on the terrors of the judg- 

 ment-day. " God has no daughters," said he, " for 



