o'clock,
226 P.M.; so that throughout the empire they close the gates of all the
towns on this day, at this period of time, till two o'clock, P.M.:
when the prayers are over, and the people go out of the mosques,
the gates are again thrown open. This tradition, which is
universally believed, acts on the minds of the whole community, and
fans the embers of hostility already lighted between Christians and
Muhamedans, bringing to the recollection of the latter the hostile
intentions of the former to invade and take their country from
them, when an opportunity shall offer. On the other hand, what
tends to reconcile the two creeds is, the influence that European
commerce, and the principles of the Christian doctrine, have had on
the muselmen of Africa. This influence extends as far as the
commerce with Europeans extends. Wherever the Europeans negociate
with the Moors, the great principle of the Christian doctrine is
known and discussed,--that principle which surpasses every doctrine
propagated by the Grecian philosophers, or the wise men of the
East,--that truly noble, liberal, and charitable principle, "Do as
you would be done by," influences the conduct of the better
educated muselmen who have had long intercourse and negociations
with Christians; and they do not fail to retort it upon us,
whenever _our conduct_ deviates from it. Thus, the minds of
muselmen, wherever European commerce flows, are tinctured with this
great principle of the Christian doctrine. And, to an accurate
227 observer of mankind, it will appear that this principle, from its
own intrinsic beauty, has in many superseded the muselman
retaliative system of morality, originating in the Mosaic law,--"An
eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth." For I have heard
muselmen, in their individual disputes with one another, advance
this precept as a rule of conduct. If, therefore, this divine
principle be recognised by muselmen, who have had intercourse and
commercial negociations with Europeans, in defiance of the
obstacles to this doctrine suggested by the fakeers and political
men; what might we not expect from the due cultivation of an
extensive commerce, upon a grand national scale, with this
interesting continent? Might we not expect a gradual diffusion of
the principles of Christianity am