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OMAR'S CHARACTERISTICS.

and his followers. Originally an enemy of the prophet, he set out for Medina to murder him: but, chancing to read what is now the twentieth chapter of the Koran, he changed his course of life, and became a zealous supporter of the Moslem faith. He rendered valuable aid to the prophet in all his warlike expeditions.

When Mohammed died, A.D. 632, Omar resigned his claim to the supreme rule in behalf of another; but in the year 634 he came to the head as calif. Though of a fiery and enthusiastic temperament, he was sagacious and careful. During his reign, the Moslems were everywhere victorious. He was summoned to Jerusalem in 637, to receive the keys of that city; and, before leaving, he gave orders to build a mosque on the site of the Temple of Solomon. The mosque was built, — the one that we have been describing. took command of a portion of the army, and reduced the other chief cities of Palestine.

Omar now

Omar's only food was barley-bread and dates; his only drink, water; and his garment, an old coat, torn in a dozen places. He regularly distributed the contents of his treasury among his soldiers and followers, and supported himself by the work of his own hands, manufacturing and selling leather belts. In 644 he was assassinated. in the mosque of Medina by a Persian slave, from motives of revenge. He languished five days after receiving the wound, but refused to appoint his

MOHAMMEDAN BELIEF.

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son, or any one else, as his successor. He named, however, six commissioners, who were to choose one for themselves. He was inurned in the mosque of Medina, near the prophet; and his tomb is still visited by many pilgrims.

Mohammedanism is the religion founded by Mohammed, who was born about the year A.D. 570, at Mecca in Arabia. The Mohammedan doctrine of God's nature and attributes coincides with the Christian, in so far as he is by both taught to be the Creator of all things in heaven and earth, who rules and preserves all things, without beginning, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and full of mercy. Yet, according to the Mohammedan belief, he has no offspring. Nor is Jesus called any thing but a prophet and apostle, although his birth is held to have been due to a miracle; and, as the Koran superseded the gospel, so Mohammed, Christ.

Mohammedans believe that the Bible was given by inspiration, but that it has suffered so many corruptions, that the copies in the hands of Jews and Christians are of very little credit, and that the Koran is the only safe guide. They believe that the original copy of this has been, from everlasting, inscribed on a vast tablet on God's throne, and that Gabriel was sent to the lowest heaven with a copy on paper, which was transferred to Mohammed, and by him given to the faithful.

Their year begins with the Hegira, or anniver

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FIVE PRAYERS A DAY.

sary of the flight of Mohammed from Mecca, A.D. 622. They believe in the resurrection of the dead, both soul and body, and that, in the judgment, mankind will be divided into three classes: first, those who creep, groveling with their faces to the ground; second, those who walk; third, those who ride, for whom white-winged camels will be in readiness.

Every Mohammedan is required to utter five prayers a day, first washing, and turning his face toward Mecca. In our travels in the Oriental countries, we frequently saw the devotees of this religion uttering their prayers while on their knees on the ground, their faces turned toward Mecca, and they, at short intervals, bending their faces Fasting is held to be of the During one whole monththey believe the Koran was they are required to fast from sunrise to sunset. The pilgrimage to Mecca Mohammed declared to be of such consequence, that he who fails to perform it may as well die a Jew or a Christian.”

clear to the earth. utmost importance. the month in which sent from heaven

The Mohammedans have another belief. Projecting from near the top of the high city-wall, where it overhangs the valley of Jehosaphat on the eastern slope of Mount Moriah, is a horizontal column, appearing much like a mounted cannon. The belief to which I refer is, that Mohammed will sit astride this column at the last great day.

THE DANGER-LINE.

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A line, finer than a hair and sharper than a razor, will reach from it to the tower on the Mount of Olives, stretching over this dreadful valley of the dead. This is the line Al Sirât. Mohammed

will superintend the passage over. In that day all who ever lived, risen to judgment, must walk this razor-line. The good will cross in safety: the bad will fall into hell; that is, into Gehenna, this accursed gulf below, thickly sown with departed Jews. It is in view of this perilous passage that the Moslem every day, during the ablution of his feet, prays, "Oh, make my feet not to slip on Al Sirât on that day when feet shall slip!"

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CENTER OF ATTRACTION.

CHAPTER XI.

CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHER. THE VIA DOLOROSA. THE SITE OF CALVARY.—WAILING-PLACE OF THE JEWS.—THE POOL OF BETHESDA. TOWER OF HIPPICUS. — URIAH'S WIFE.-STREETS, HOUSES, MARKETS. OUR CONSUL. OLIVET.

To most tourists the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is the center of attraction at Jerusalem. To this place all pilgrims hasten, and one may see here the strange faces and costumes and manners of many and distant races. This church is a Byzantine building, in the center of a spacious, inclosed court. The pavement of this court is occupied by small traders, men and women, whose goods, consisting of every species of holy fancywork, beads, shells, etc., are scattered about over the open space. No such clamorous and impudent persons can be found anywhere else in the Orient as these small merchants are.

The history of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher may be told in a very few sentences. Founded by the Emperor Constantine, it was dedicated A.D. 335; Eusebius, the father of ecclesiastical history, taking part in the consecration service. It was destroyed by the Persians in 614, and rebuilt sixteen years afterwards, on a new