I heard then, that the other began to mock, telling him that his idols were deaf, and dumb, and blind, and could not help him; nay, that if he continued to worship them, he would be cast into hell, and never come forth from its fire. (Koraun, chap. ii.)

"And is this certainly the case?" said Goonah Purist.

66

Assuredly," replied the other.

Then cried Goonah Purist, "If this be so, what must I do to be saved?"

Mussulmaun.-Believe in God, and in our

prophet.

Goonah Purist.-If your prophet can save me, I will gladly renounce these idols, and all my merits as a Hindoo, to follow him: for I have long had my doubts respecting these idols, and have begun to fear that they can do nothing for me. But I do not know your prophet, neither can I tell how to please him, nor do I understand in what your religion consists.

Mussulmaun.-If you are willing to leave your idols, and conform to our customs, I will lead you to one who will teach you our holy faith, putting you in a way speedily to get rid of your burden, and to obtain purification from

your sin for if you receive our holy faith, and do that which is right, God will bring you into gardens watered by rivers, wherein you shall remain for ever; where you will have spotless wives, and will be led in perpetual shades. (Koraun, chap. iv.)

I saw then, in my dream, that Goonah Purist was pleased when he heard these words, and said, "Now have I found that which I sought, even deliverance from my transgressions." Saying thus, he plucked off his iron sandals, and, casting them from him, hastened to follow the banner of Mahommed.

So Goonah Purist followed the company of the Mussulmauns, till they brought him to their dwelling-place in the 'City of the Wrath of God.' And in the street which they occupied, there was a building held sacred by them, called Caaba, standing within a square piazza, at the four corners of which were minarets. The Mussulmauns, however, brought not Goonah Purist within the walls of this building, because he was not yet purified from his idolatries, but led him to the abode of the Sheik Olislam, or high-priest of their tribe.

The Sheik Olislam was at that time seated

on a musnud in the porch of his house, and many elders were sitting round him. His head was covered with an ample turban, his white beard reached down to his girdle, and the Koraun was respectfully placed on a rich cushion before him.

Now when Goonah Purist was brought into the presence of this man, he, at first, looked scornfully upon the stranger: but being informed that the miserable idolater was willing to leave his abominations, and to adopt the faith of Islam, he answered, that he would gladly give him instruction; congratulating him, at the same time, upon his having found out the true religion, and manifested a desire to become acquainted with the true Prophet of God.

So he caused him to sit on the ground, at his feet, while he entered into discourse with him. And first, he questioned him concerning his name, his former life, the manner of his education, and the religion of his ancestors; on which subjects being satisfied, he proceeded to address him thus: :

"I perceive, by what thou hast related to me of thyself, child of idolatry, that the dark covering of ignorance is over thy heart, and it

will be necessary to explain to thee, as to one knowing nothing, what have been the dealings of God with man, from the beginning of the world, respecting the revelation of his righteous will."

Goonah Purist bowed himself to the ground, and kissed the feet of the Sheik Olislam, who thus proceeded :

"Be it known unto thee, then, Goonah Purist, thou slave of sin, and servant of idolatry, that there is but one God, Ali Ol Salam; and that this one great and eternal God has, from time to time, sent messages to men, by means of his holy servants and prophets—Adam and Seth, Noah, Abraham, and Ismael, Moses and David, Huzrut Esau, Ali Ol Salam, and our holy prophet Ali Ol Salam. All these prophesied in their days, and through them the will of God was revealed unto men. But the sacred books which were delivered unto them are now lost, and their contents unknown.

"Four sacred books have been successively delivered to mankind: the Toreet,' the Zuboor,2 the Engel, and the Foorcan. In the three

1 Pentateuch.

3 The Gospels.

2 Psalms of David.

4 The Koraun.

first," added the Sheik, "were many notices of the coming of our great prophet: but the wicked Jews and Christians, who had the charge of these books, most impiously erased from them every thing that had relation to his mission, except one or two solitary passages, where he is spoken of as the Comforter which was to come after the departure of Jesus.

"But the fourth holy book remains pure, as it was delivered by the angel Gabriel to our mighty prophet, Ali Ol Salam," continued the Sheik: "this, therefore, is the book which thou must receive and believe, if thou wouldst be saved."

Then answered Goonah Purist, "I am willing, my Lord, to receive it; and I pray that God may give me a heart to believe those things which are written therein."

The Sheik Olislam appeared to be satisfied with the answers of Goonah Purist, and proceeded to give him further instructions, in order to qualify him for the reception of the faith of Islam.

He told him that every prophet who had appeared on earth, with the exception only of the last and greatest, to wit, the prophet of the