Page:History of Mahomet, that grand impostor.pdf/3

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was born at Mecca in Arabia, in the year of our Lord 571. He was of the tribe of the Korashites, esteemed the noblest in all that country, and was descended in a direct line, from Pher Koraish, the first founder of it. Hence it appears, that Mahomet was not of such mean parentage as some have asserted, being of the noblest tribe of all Arabia, and his family the most considerable of that tribe, as having had the chief rule over it for several descents together. However, in the beginning of his life, he was in a very poor and despicable condition; for his father dying before he was two years old, and while his grandfather was still living, all the power and wealth of his family devolved on his uncles, who afterwards bore the chief sway in Mecca, under whose protection he first vented his delusions, and was supported against all his opposers.

He lived with his mother till he was eight years of age; when she died, his grand father took him; but he dying soon after, Mahomet was committed to the care of one of his uncles, who being a great merchant, brought him up in the mercantile way.

He continued with his uncle till twenty-five years of age, when one of the principal men of the city died and left all his stock, which was Rh