OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. 315

“ I lie loss of his most faithful friend.” After chap.

the conquest of Mecca the sovereign of Arabia .

affected to prevent the hostile preparations ofII eraclius; and solemnly proclaimed waragainstthe Romans, without attempting to disguise thehardships and dangers of the enterprise.* TheMoslems were discouraged ; they alleged thewant of money, or horses, or provisions ; theseason of harvest, and the intolerable heat ofthe summer; “ Hell is much hotter,” said theindignant prophet. He disdained to compeltheir service ; but on his return he admonishedthe most guilty, by an excommunication of fiftydays. Their desertion enhanced the merit ofAbubeker, Othman and the faithful companionswho devoted their lives and fortunes ; and Ma-homet displayed his banner at the head of tenthousand horse and twenty thousand foot.

Painful indeed was the distress of the marchjlassitude and thirst were aggravated by thescorching and pestilential winds of the desert;ten men rode by turns on the same camel : andthey were reduced to the shameful necessity ofdrinking the water from the belly of that usefulanimal. In the mid way, ten days journey fromMedina and Damascus , they reposed near thegrove and fountain of Tabuc. Beyond thatplace, Mahomet declined the prosecution ofthe war: he declared himself satisfied withthe peaceful intentions, he was more probably

* 'Pbe expedition of Tabuc is recorded by our ordinary historian*,

Abu 1 fed a (Vit. Moham. p, 123-127) and Gaguier (Vie de Mahomet,tom. iii, p. 147-103); but we have the advantage of appealing to theoriginal evidence of the Koran, (c. 9, p. 151, 105) with Sale’s learnedand rational