^170Withtheselimitations，Othman，thesecretaryofMahomet，acceptedthegovernment；norwasittillafterthethirdcaliph，twenty—fouryearsafterthedeathoftheprophet，thatAliwasinvested，bythepopularchoice，withtheregalandsacerdotaloffice。ThemannersoftheArabiansretainedtheirprimitivesimplicity，andthesonofAbuTalebdespisedthepompandvanityofthisworld。Atthehourofprayer，herepairedtothemoschofMedina，clothedinathincottongown，acoarseturbanonhishead，hisslippersinonehand，andhisbowintheother，insteadofawalking—staff。Thecompanionsoftheprophet，andthechiefsofthetribes，salutedtheirnewsovereign，andgavehimtheirrighthandsasasignoffealtyandallegiance。
[Footnote*:Abubeker，thefatherofthevirginAyesha。St。
Martin，vol。XL，p。88—M。]
[Footnote168:Ockley，Hist。oftheSaracens，vol。i。p。5，6，
fromanArabianMs。，representsAyeshaasadversetothesubstitutionofherfatherintheplaceoftheapostle。Thisfact，soimprobableinitself，isunnoticedbyAbulfeda，AlJannabi，andAlBochari，thelastofwhomquotesthetraditionofAyeshaherself，Vit。Mohammed，p。136ViedeMahomet，tom。iii。