A Voice from North Africa; Or, A Narrative Illustrative of the Religious Ceremonies, Customs, and Manners of the Inhabitants of that Part of the World

and from the account of the people amongst whom he now resides, the reader will have ample opportunity to form a fair estimate. To read the Koran through, and study other works on Mohammedan theology, in order to obtain a knowledge of that religion, (which, if we consider that it has at this day nearly 150,000,000 of professors, it is so necessary to possess,) is more than can be required of any one. I never met with a person yet who had the patience to read the whole Koran through in a translation. In this work, however, the principal doctrines of the Arabian impostor are interwoven in a narrative which cannot but be interesting, and which serves as a kind of relish to his dry and carnal doctrines.

According to the best writers on prophecy, the religion of the grand apostate has been plainly foretold by the prophet Daniel, and by St John in the Revelation; and as, with all works of darkness, a time is fixed to its duration: its fall* is certain, and the result of it will prove glorious to the Church of Christ.

"O goodness infinite, goodness immense !
That all this good of evil shall produce,
And evil turn to good!"

*Bishop Newton says, "If this interpretation be true, the religion of Mohammed will prevail in the East the space of 1260 years, and then a great and glorious revolution will

As the principal scene which I here describe is connected with the Regency of Tunis, or its vicinity, I have endeavoured, in the Introduction, to trace its history, from the time the Saracens first entered Africa to the present day. This, the reader will find, I have partly done from Arabic sources, hitherto unknown in England, or at least not translated into the English language. The history of Tunis is, to a very great extent, the history of North Africa.* The spirit of Mohammedanism will be found greatly developed in this historical sketch.

In the adventures of Abdallah there is nothing imaginary. He is to this day in the service of His Highness the Bey of Tunis; and as he may, perhaps, not wish to trouble the public with his present affairs, the author can have no inclination to interfere with them.

Should this work excite the attention of those who pray for the establishment of the Redeemer's Kingdom, and lead them to interest themselves in behalf of Barbary, I shall consider

follow; perhaps the restoration of the Jews, perhaps the destruction of Antichrist, but another still greater and more glorious will succeed: and what can this be so probably as the full conversion of the Gentiles to the Church of Christ, and the beginning of the Millennium, or reign of the saints upon earth?"-Dissertation xvii. See also Habershon.

*The religious ceremonies, customs, and manners of the Tunisians may also, with very few exceptions, be considered as those of the whole of North Africa.

myself richly rewarded for my trouble. As to the performance itself, I shall only add, “If I have done well, and as is fitting the story, it is that which I desired; but if slenderly and meanly, it is that which I could attain to," and, therefore, I trust charity will be exercised towards me by those into whose hands it may

come.

THE AUTHOR.

9, ST ANDREW SQUARE, EDINBURGH, July, 1844.S

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.

Reason why the Saracens did not extend their conquests

sooner.-Mohammed's and Abubaker's injunctions.—

Caliph Othmaan sends Abdallah to conquer Africa.—

Battle and victory at Tripoli.-Constrained to return

to Egypt.-Expedition renewed under Okba.-His

conquests. Builds Kairwan.-Okba recalled by the

Caliph, and Dinar, one of his freedmen, obtains the