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In giving a retrospective view of the rise and progress of the Saracens in Africa, which we have now endeavoured to describe, we find nothing but fanaticism, tyranny, villany, intrigue, and bloodshed. One tyrant succeeds another; one mode of government is subverted by another, which is either equally bad or worse: and all this is the effect of the spirit of their religion. In beholding the propagators of Mohammedanism, one is inclined to exclaim with Milton,

O! what are these,

Death's ministers, not men? who thus deal death

Inhumanly to men, and multiply

Ten thousand fold the sin of him who slew

His brother; for of whom such massacre

Make they, but their brethren; men of men?

How different is the spirit of Christianity! Its genius is peace. Its Founder was predicted as the Prince of Peace. He was ushered into this world by heavenly beings, announcing, "Peace on earth, and good-will towards men." His apostles propagated the gospel of peace with peace. He himself was, and still is, a peace-maker between an offended Creator and a rebellious world."

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Bishop Sherlock draws a beautiful contrast between the character of Jesus and Mohammed :"Go to your natural religion," says the learned prelate, "lay before her Mahomet and his disciples, arrayed in armour and in blood, riding in triumph over the spoils of thousands, who fell by his victorious sword. Show her the cities which he set in flames, the countries which he ravaged and de

stroyed, and the miserable distress of all the inhabitants of the earth. When she has viewed him in this scene, carry her into his retirements, show her the Prophet's chamber, his concubines and his wives, and let her see his adulteries, and hear him allege revelation and his divine commission to justify his lusts and his oppressions. When she is tired with this prospect, then show her the blessed Jesus, humble and meek, doing good to all the sons of men, patiently instructing the ignorant and the perverse. Let her see him in his most retired privacies; let her follow him to the Mount, and hear his devotions and supplications to God. Carry her to his table, to view his poor fare, and hear his heavenly discourse. Let her see him injured, but not provoked; let her attend him to the tribunal, and consider the patience with which he endured the scoffs and reproaches of his enemies. Lead her to his cross, and let her view him in the agonies of death, and hear his last prayer for his persecutors, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.' When natural religion has viewed both, ask which is the prophet of God? But her answer we have already had, when she saw part of this scene through the eyes of the centurion who attended at the cross; by him she said, 'Truly this was the Son of God.''

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It must, however, be confessed, and that to our shame, that the name of Christ has been blasphemed amongst the Gentiles by the actions of those who bear his name. Often has the injured Jew, the

bereaved negro, and the bigoted Mohammedan, too justly asked,

"Christians! who's the God you worship?

Is he cruel, fierce, or good?

Does he take delight in mercy?

Or in spilling human blood?"

But those who have been the cause of such inquiries, have no part nor lot in the matter; they have never been partakers of the peace of which we have spoken. Let all who have a portion in it, and know how to appreciate it, pray that it may be proclaimed to the ends of the world, and that that time may soon draw nigh, when "the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."

CHAPTER I.

John Gottlieb Krüger enlists in the Prussian army.—Is enticed to desert, and to proceed to Algiers.-Finds himself disappointed.-Badly treated in the French service.-His regiment ordered to Bugia.-Engagements with the Arabs. -Many desert.-Krüger does the same. His mode of travelling. Is obliged to enter a village in order to procure some food.—Is frightened, and goes away.-Spends the night upon a tree. Is surprised by two Arabs.-They treat him kindly, and take him to a market-place.—A true description of the Arabs.-The people's astonishment at Krüger's appearance.

ONE of those cities, situated along that beautiful part of the Rhine which belongs to the kingdom of Prussia, is the native place of Johann Gottlieb Krüger, or, as we shall hereafter have to call him, Mohammed Ibn Abdallah Shareef. He was born of poor but respectable parents, and followed a common profession till his twentieth year, when he enlisted in the army of his native country, and served it faithfully for two years. At this time several French agents arrived at the place where his regiment was stationed, and entrapped him, with some other young men, by holding out to them glaring fortunes in Africa. Houses, gardens, and vineyards, were promised to them, and plenty of gold and silver, they were told, were lying in abundance in Africa; and it was only necessary for them

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to cross the Mediterranean to become possessors of these fortunes.

Young and inexperienced, Krüger believed all this. To his great misfortune, he accepted the money which was offered him, and made the best of his way to Toulon; thence, with some others, he proceeded to Algiers.

On his arrival at Algiers, he soon found out his mistake: instead of the many fine promises made to him, he could hardly find provisions for the money he had; whilst he found himself no longer a free agent, but a slave.

Badly fed, clothed, and lodged, he lamented continually his misfortune, reproaching himself for the step he had taken, and only wished to return to his native country-a wish, alas! which he saw was not so easily to be effected.

A few months after the capture of Bugia, the Foreign Legion, in which Krüger served, consisting of Poles, Prussians, and Austrians, was sent off to this city. He had now some hope of bettering his condition; but in this, also, he found himself greatly disappointed.

On their arrival at Bugia, after having been exposed to the rain and cold, with little food, they found the whole town in ruins; not one inhabitant in it, except the garrison soldiers, who were almost starved. Here Krüger, with his companions, took up their quarters in the empty and deserted houses, where they procured some wood, and lit fires to dry their clothes, which were as if soaked in the water. After this, they were obliged to lie down on the

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