But these, replied the Genius, are not all; and yet they will be intolerant!

Then, as the groups advanced to take their stations, he pointed out to me their distinctive marks, and thus began to explain their characters: 

That first group, said he, with a green banner bearing a crescent, a bandage, and a sabre, are the followers of the Arabian prophet.  To say there is a God, without knowing what he is; to believe the words of a man, without understanding his language; to go into the desert to pray to God, who is everywhere; to wash the hands with water, and not abstain from blood; to fast all day, and eat all night; to give alms of their own goods, and to plunder those of others; such are the means of perfection instituted by Mahomet—­such are the symbols of his followers; and whoever does not bear them is a reprobate, stricken with anathema, and devoted to the sword.

A God of clemency, the author of life, has instituted these laws of oppression and murder:  he made them for all the world, but has revealed them only to one man; he established them from all eternity, though he made them known but yesterday.  These laws are abundantly sufficient for all purposes, and yet a volume is added to them.  This volume was to diffuse light, to exhibit evidence, to lead men to perfection and happiness; and yet every page was so full of obscurities, ambiguities, and contradictions, that commentaries and explanations became necessary, even in the life-time of its apostle.  Its interpreters, differing in opinion, divided into opposite and hostile sects.  One maintains that Ali is the true successor; the other contends for Omar and Aboubekre.  This denies the eternity of the Koran; that the necessity of ablutions and prayers.  The Carmite forbids pilgrimages, and allows the use of wine; the Hakemite preaches the transmigration of souls.  Thus they make up the number of seventy-two sects, whose banners are before you.* In this contestation, every one attributing the evidence of truth exclusively to himself, and taxing all others with heresy and rebellion, turns against them its sanguinary zeal.  And their religion, which celebrates a mild and merciful God, the common father of all men,—­changed to a torch of discord, a signal for war and murder, has not ceased for twelve hundred years to deluge the earth in blood, and to ravage and desolate the ancient hemisphere from centre to circumference.**

* The Mussulmen enumerate in common seventy-two sects, but I read, while I resided among them, a work which gave an account of more than eighty,—­all equally wise and important.

** Read the history of Islamism by its own writers, and you will be convinced that one of the principal causes of the wars which have desolated Asia and Africa, since the days of Mahomet, has been the apostolical fanaticism of its doctrine.  Caesar has been supposed to have destroyed three millions of men:  it would be interesting to make a similar calculation