Year: 1862

Mr. Muir, in his new 8 Life of Mahom-
ct, thus describes his personal appearance
and habits:


His form, although little above the or
dinary height, was stately and command
ing. The depth of feeling in his black
eyes, and the winning expression Of a face
otherwise attractive, gained the confidence
and love even of a stranger His features
often unbcnded into a smile full of grace
and condescention


He was" says an admiring follower,
" the handsomest and bravcst, the ! right
est faced and most gen, roas of men. 1t
was as though the sunlight beamed in his
co1ntrnance" Yet when anger kindled
in his piercing glance, the object Of his
displeasure might well quail fore it; his
stern frown was the certain augury of
death to many a trembling captive.


In the later years of his life the former
ly erect figure of Mahomet began to stoop
But his step was still firm and quick. His
gait h as been likened to that OF one rapid
" descending a hill When lie made
haste it was hard to keep mp with him
lie never turned round even if his mantle
caug.l on a thorny bush, SO that his ut
tendants might talk and laugh freely be
hind him secure of being unohserved


Thorough and complete in all his a.
tions, he never took in hand any work
without bringing it to Il close. The same
habit pervad I'd his manner in social inter
course If he turned in conversation to
ward friend, he turned not partially,
but with his full face and his whole body.
IA shaking hands he was not tAe first 10
withdraw his own, nor was he first to
break off in converse with stranger nor
to turn away his ear.


\ patriarchal simplicity per,aded his
life. His custom was to do every thine
for himself If he gave an aim he would
place it with his own hands in that of the
petitioner He aided his wives in their
household duties he mended his own
clothes he tied up the goats; &c even cob
bic Ii ) san, ais.


His ordinary dress consisted OF plain
white cotton stuff; but on hi i@h and festive
occasions he wore garments of fine inen
striped or dyed in red


He never reclined at meals He ate
with his fingers; and when he had fin
ished he would lick them before he wiped
his hands


The indulgenccs to which he WIS most
addicted We're women, scents and food
In the first two of these. Avesha tells US





adds that he was Strengthened in the third
we can only attribute the saying to the
vivid contrast between the frugal habit-
prevalent ut the rise Of Islam. and the
luxurious living which rapidly followed
in the wake of conquest and prosperity.


Mahomet, with his wives. lived in Il row
of low and homclv cottages, built Of un-
baken bricks; and the apartments were
separated by walls of palm branches,
rudely daubed with mud Curtains OF
leather, or Of b'a:k hair cloth, Supplied
the place of doors and windows.


His abode was easy Of acccss-'even as
the rivers banks to him that drawcth wa
tsr thercfrom. Yet we have seen that
he maintained the state and dignity oi
real power. No approach WAS suffered to
familiarity of action or speech The
prophet must be addressed in subducd ac-
cents, and in revereniial stvle His
word was absolute. His bidding was law


\ remarkable feature was the urbanity
and consideration with which Mahomet
treated even the most insignificant of his
followers Modesty and kindness, pa
tienee, selfdenial and generosity peryad d
his conduct, and riyeted the affections OF
all around him He dislikcd to say No
If unable to reply in the aflil NATIVE 10 a
petitioner, he preferred to remain 81 ent