Again, slavery must, by some means, be made illegal; and a stricter interpretation of the Koranic permission be put on marriage, concubinage, and divorce.  That all these changes might be logically effected by a process of reasoning from the traditions, and expanding or minimising the interpretation of the Koran, no one need doubt who remembers what fetwas have already been given on these very points by some of the Azhar Ulema.  At present these decisions are unsatisfactory to the faithful at large, because those issuing them have no recognized authority to strain the law, but with authority the same decisions would meet with general approval.  At least such is the impression of modern Mohammedan opinion made on me by my conversation with Mohammedans.  It would be interesting to work out these points; and I hope some day to have an opportunity of doing so, but for the present I have neither the time nor the knowledge sufficient for the purpose.  I must be content with having suggested the method; I cannot work out the details of a reformation.

It may, however, give an idea of the kind of material in tradition which reformers are looking for, if I quote a document which was being circulated last spring among the Ulema of the Azhar.  It purports to be the text of the Prophet’s first treaty with the Christians of Arabia, though I do not vouch for its authenticity, and runs as follows:—­

     “Covenant of God’s Apostle, Mohammed, with the Christian people,
     their monks and their bishops.”—­(A.D. 625.)

     “Mohammed, the Apostle of God, sent with a message of peace to all
     mankind, dictateth the words of this covenant that the cause of God
     may be a written document between him and the people of Christ.

     “He who keepeth this covenant, let him be called a true Moslem
     worthy of the religion of God, and he who departeth from it let him
     be called an enemy, be he king or subject, great or small.

“To this have I pledged myself:  I will fence in their lands with my horsemen, and my footmen, and my allies, throughout the world; and I will care for their safety and the safety of their temples, their churches, their oratories, and their convents, and the places of their pilgrimage, wheresoever I shall find them, whether by the land or by the sea, in the east or in the west, on the mountain or in the plain, in the desert or in the city.  There will I stand behind them that no harm shall reach them, and my followers shall keep them from evil.  This is my covenant with them.  I will exempt them in all matters wherein the Moslems are exempt.  I command also that no one of their bishops be expelled from his see, nor shall any Christian be forced from his religion, nor shall a monk be forced from his convent, nor a hermit from his cell.  It is my will that none of their holy buildings be destroyed or taken from them for Mosques by my people or for their