170 A CHINESE LIFE OF MOHAMMED 



should afterwards become, it must not be cut down, as it 

 would revive when visited by the final prophet. The monk 

 therefore knew that the expected one had arrived, and it is 

 added that in the eighth year of the Hegira this monk entered 

 the Moslem Faith. On entering the city to which the 

 travellers were going, a fortune-teller who saw the hand of 

 Mohammed, declared him to be the final prophet, and added 

 that he should take precautions and hide, as Jews and 

 Christians would seek to injure him. 



Having disposed of their wares to great advantage, the 

 party returned, and according to their custom when three 

 night's journey from Mecca, they planned to send one ahead 

 with a letter announcing their approach; the lot fell upon 

 Mohammed, but some said he ought not to go as he could 

 not endure the hard ride on a fleet camel, and besides he 

 would not know the way. In the early morning, while some 

 were beginning to prepare the breakfast, Mohammed mount- 

 ed his camel, and was carried along miraculously, arriving at 

 Mecca almost immediately. Khadija was glad to have the 

 letter so soon, and by the hand of her favourite. She gave 

 him a letter in return to take to the party, and he arrived 

 while they were still at breakfast ! they, supposing that he 

 had lost his way and had come back to ask, were much 

 annnoyed. When Mohammed gave them the reply letter they 

 were astounded and thought there was some sorcery in the 

 matter, as the whole six stages had been covered while they 

 were busy about their breakfast. 



The report of the observers being favourable, Khadija 

 set about planning to marry Mohammed, who' at first declined 

 the honour, but finally yielded. A great wedding ceremony 

 was arranged; drums and trumpets were used to meet the 

 bride, but since that occasion, Moslems have not used these 

 instruments at weddings. Several children were born of this 

 marriage, but only daughters survived, the most famous of 

 these being Fatima, who. became the wife of Ali, the nephew 

 of Mohammed. 



For some years Mohammed seems to have lived a quiet 

 life, on good terms with those around him and esteemed by 

 many for his probity, as may be judged by an incident which 

 occurred during the rebuilding of the Kaaba, which had 

 become necessary because of damage done by floods. At that 

 time the Koreish clan consisted of ten great families, and 

 these all agreed to share in the work, lots being cast to see 

 what share each should have. Mohammed also lent a hand 

 in the work. When the building had progressed to a certain 

 point, it was necessary to place the sacred Black Stone in 

 position, and the families vied among themselves for the 



