es. The sultan, having dominion over the country through which
the pilgrims must pass, preserves the public ways leading to the
venerated city; the best soldiers of his empire are charged with the
protection of the caravans, which are sometimes numerous; but of his
own subjects, properly so called, few comparatively accompany them;
they are made up of devotees from a greater distance. The sultan, no
doubt, encourages the pilgrimage as much on commercial as on religious
grounds. The Koran has determined it to be very proper to intermingle
commerce and religion: "It shall be no crime in you," it says, "if ye
seek an increase from your Lord by trading during the pilgrimage."
Accordingly, articles of easy carriage and ready sale are brought by
the pilgrims from every country. The productions and manufactures of
India thus find their way into other parts of Asia and throughout
Africa. The muslins and chintses of Bengal and the Deccan, the shawls
of Cashmere, the pepper of Malabar, the diamonds of Golconda, the
pearls of Kilkau, the cinnamon of Ceylon, and the spices of the
Moluccas, are made to yield advantage to the Ottoman empire, and the
luxury of its subjects is sustained by contributions from the most
distant nations.

{277}

Mohammedans of the present day, at least those of Turkey, are less
anxious to make proselytes than were those of a former age. Those of
India and Africa may, to some extent, still retain the sentiment, that
to convert infidels is an ordinance of God, and must be observed by the
faithful in all ages; but in Turkey little desire of this kind is felt,
chiefly because, by a refinement of uncharitableness, the conversion of
the world is deemed unworthy of their endeavours. Now and then a
devout Moslem, instigated by zeal or personal attachment, may offer up
this prayer for a Jew or a Christian: "Great God, enlighten this
infidel, and graciously dispose his heart to embrace thy holy
religion;" and perhaps to a youth, esteemed for his talents or
knowledge, the language of persuasion may occasionally be addressed
with an air of gentleness and urbanity; but the zeal of the missionary
is in such cases commonly subject to what are conceived to be the rules
of good breeding, and a vague reply or silence is regarded as an
indication that the subject is disagreeable, and should not be
continued. A Mussulman may pray for the conversion of infidels, but,
till they are converted, no blessing may be suppli