RELIGIOUS DISCUSSION. 267 



mination of the Has ul Kafilah to remain here for 

 the day. I soon got my carpet and mats arranged, 

 borrowed a wooden pillow for my head, and with 

 two or three of the new escort on one side, and 

 Ohmed Medina on the other, had a long conversa- 

 tion, as we lay nnder the trees, npon the subject of 

 religion. I endeavoured to make Ohmed Medina 

 understand what a good Christian his Prophet 

 Mahomed was, which was duly interpreted to the 

 amused Bedouins, who all sat very patiently in an 

 attitude of attention, until sufficient novel matter 

 had been understood by Ohmed Medina, to interest 

 them in the recital. 



There are few interesting subjects, respecting 

 which so little is generally known, as the Maho- 

 medan religion. It professes a belief in one true 

 and only God ; and Islamism, apart from the rule 

 of life instituted by Mahomed, w T as professed by 

 Abraham, by Isaac, and, according to my opinion, 

 which is of no value, but as satisfactory to my 

 own conscience, was also taught by Jesus and his 

 disciples. That our Saviour will appear again, is the 

 cherished hope of every enlightened Mahomedan, 

 and he glories in affirming that all the inhabitants of 

 the world will then become his followers. This is so 

 general an idea, that even -the ignorant Mahomedans 

 of the East, firmly believe that the Amhara, or 

 Christian population, of Abyssinia, will at a 

 future time seize Mecca, and destroy the temple. 

 Something similar to this is the expressed fear 



