1852.] Mohammad's Journey to Syria. 583 



shaded by a cloud whilst the others were not shaded. Then they 

 approached and encamped under a tree near BaAyra and he witnessed 

 how the cloud shaded the tree, and how the leaves became green over 

 the prophet so as to afford him shade. When BaAyra saw this, he 

 went down from his hermitage whilst the repast, which he had previ- 

 ously ordered, was being prepared, and went to them and said I have 

 prepared a repast for you, O Qorayshites, and I wish that you may all 

 be present small and great, free men and slaves. One of them said, 

 You are coming out in grand style to-day, O BaAyra, you have never 

 done any thing like it, though we frequently passed you, what are you 

 about to-day ? " It is true," replied BaAyra, " but you are my guests. 

 I wish to honour you and have prepared a repast for you, come and 

 pertake all of it." When the others assembled, the prophet stayed 

 away remaining with the baggage under the tree, he being the young- 

 est. When the Rahib looked about among them he did not observe 

 the signs which were known to him, and which he had found on him, 

 and he said O Qorayshites, has not some one stayed away from my 

 repast 1 They answered, none has stayed away of those who ought to 

 have come except a boy who being the youngest among us remained 

 with the baggage. BaAyra said, do not do so, call him and let him be 

 present at this repast. One of them said By al-Lat and al'ozza, he 

 blames us for not having brought the son of J abd Allah b. 'abd al- 

 Mottalib to this repast with us. He took him by the hand and made 

 him sit down with the others. When BaAyra saw him he looked very 

 attentively at him, and he continued to look at certain peculiarities of his 

 which he had found on him until the repast was over and the people 

 dispersed. BaAyra, went now to him and said, I conjure you by al-Lat 

 and al'ozza, that you will give me the information which I ask you.- 

 BaAyra used this expression because he had heard his countrymen 

 swear by those two idols. It is supposed that the prophet answered, 

 Do not ask me by al-Lat and al'ozza for nothing is more odious to me 

 than these two idols. BaAyra said, Then by God give me the informa- 

 tion I ask you for. Yes, said MoAammad ask me by God. BaAyra 

 now questioned him regarding his circumstances in sleeping and walk- 

 ing, and the prophet answered his questions, and all agreed with the 

 description which BaAyra had of him. Then he examined his back 

 and he saw the seal of prophecy between his two shoulders, precisely 



