Page:History of Mahomet, that grand impostor.pdf/30

 without any mediation. This was the reason of their placing of the images of angels and holy men in their temples, to which they directed their worship and devotions, and in this consisted the whole of the Arabian idolatry, which Mahomet totally abolished.

The success of Mahomet’s arms, and his innovations in matters of religion united the Pagan tribes of the Arabians against him; who assembling their forces gave him battle, and drove him to the very walls of Mecca; but he having rallied his troops, and renewed the engagement, he gained such a complete victory over his enemies, that he took from them their baggage, their wives and children, and all their substance; which consisted chiefly in flocks of sheep and herds of cattle. The remaining part of the year was spent in demolishing the temples and images of the Arabians wherever he came: and having reduced most part of Arabia under his power, the following year he turned his arms towards Syria, and made himself master of Tobuc, a town belonging to the Greek Emperor; after which he forced several petty princes to become tributaries to him and then returned with his victorious army to Medina.

Mahomet’s empire and religion became now to be established throughout all Arabia; and he sent his lieutenants to different parts of the country to govern in his name, who made it their first business to destroy the Pagan temples and images, and all the remains of the Arabian idolatry. Towards the conclusion of the year, Mahomet undertook a pilgrimage to Mecca, where a vast concourse of people resorted to him from all parts of Arabia, whom he instructed in his new law, and then returned to Medina. Soon