Arabia and its Religious Systems--The Vale of Mecca and its Former
Uses--The Birth of Mohammed, and his Religious Associations--His
Temperament and Character--The Beginnings of his Prophetic
Mission--Jews and Christians in Arabia and their Influence on
Mohammedanism--Their Errors and Shortcomings a Help to the
Reformer--Strange Doctrines of the Christian Church in Arabia--The
Lost Opportunity of the Early Christian Sects and the Fatal Neglect
of the Surrounding Nations--The Nomads of Arabia specially Prepared
for Conquest by their Manner of Life and their Enlistment as
Mercenary Soldiers--The Question of Mohammed's Real Character--The
Growth of his Ambition and his Increasing Sensuality and
Cruelty--Blasphemous Revelations in Behalf of the Prophet's Own
Lust--Discriminating Judgment Required on his Career as a
Whole--Mohammedan Schools--Noble Characters the Exception--General
Corrupting Influence of the System--Its Conquests in Northern
Africa and in the Soudan--The Early Races of Northern Africa, and
the General Deterioration of the Country--The Piracies of the
Barbary States--Civilization in Modern Egypt Due to Foreigners--The
Bloody Ravages of El Mahdi in the East and the Fanatic Samadu in
the West--The Testimony of a Secular Newspaper
Correspondent--Professor Drummond and Henry M. Stanley on the Slave
Traffic and Mohammedan Civilization--The Alleged Missionary
Operations of Mohammedans in West Soudan--The Account Given of Them
by Bishop Crowther, Schweinfurth, and Others--Canon Taylor and the
Egyptian Pashas--The Effects of European Education--Palgrave on
Mohammedan Intolerance of To-day--Mohammedanism and Temperance;
Exaggerated Accounts of it; Proofs to the Contrary--R. Bosworth
Smith's Protest against Canon Taylor's Extravagant Glorification of
Islam--His Plea for Missions.