The first treatise at the head of
this Article, professes to be a direct step towards the object we have in
view. It is a Life of Mohammed intended by the Bombay Tract Society
for translation into "the vernacular tongues." The preface, after
dwelling on the inapplicability of European biographies to the
"Asiatic public," thus states the object of the treatise: "It
was, therefore, thought advisable to prepare another Life of Mohammed,
with special reference to the state of mind and circumstances of the people
of this country. This is now presented." We looked to see advantage
taken in this Biography of the investigations regarding the rise of Islam
which have been prosecuted with such success in France, Germany, Austria, as
well as here in India. But our expectation was speedily disappointed by the
following statement: "Many works have been consulted, "but the
following, and especially the first three, are those which "have been
most copiously used, viz:—