History of Arabia, Ancient and Modern:: Containing a Description of the Country - an Account of ...

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Preface To The Work

In undertEking to describe lo extensive and celebrated a region ei tbe Persian empire« tbe Author is by no means insensible to tbe difficulty of the task on which he enters. The subject is wide and intricate, while the sources of information are frequently imperfect or obscure; but it has been his study, by adopting a distinct arrangement, and by consulting the best authorities, to present his readers with a correct and complete picture of that interesting portion of Western Asia.

His personal acquaintance with many parts of the country has afibrded him material assistance in describing its aspect, productions, and inhabitants ; and he has availed himself of the observations of the greater num. ber of modern traveUers, both to correct his own opinions. End to supply additional fiicts.

The advantage of this actual knowledge has beoi especially important in construcUng the Map; and, it is proper to remark, a very considerable diflference wiU be found between the positions of many of the principal places, as given in that now submitted to tbe Public, compared with all other geogxapbical delineations of Persia. These corrections have been made in accordance with a series of astronomical observations taken by the Author, the details of which may be found in his ** Travels in Khorasan" and ** On the Banks of the Caspian Sea }** and every precaution has been adopted to lay down the whole of the countries described in this Work with the greatest possible accuracy. The route which the Author pursued is distinctly marked, and may be satisCiu^ry to some readers, as showing the districts to which such of his descriptions as are founded on personal survey more particularly apply.

The fountains from which the ancient history of Persia is derived are generally well known; but, in drawing from them on this occasion, the most earnest endeavours have been made to elucidate tbe subject, by examining into tbe opinitms of every distinguished writer down to the present time. The greater part of the narrative, subsequently to the Mohammedan invasion, is taken from the pages of Sir John Malcolm, whose volumes are now every where regardol as a standard authority in this departUMDl*

2 EDINBURGH CABINET LIBRARY.

In bis account of the religion of Zoroaster, the Author has trusted principally to three sources ; first. To the works of Anquetil du Perron, whose persevering zeal has accomplished a translation of those curious relics of Magian lore entitled the Zendavesta, and explored every source of ancient and modem literature calculated to throw light upon the subject; secondly, To the writings of the ingenious Abb^ Foucher, who has examined it with great critical ability ; and, thirdly. To the less voluminous, but most perspicuous and conclusive disquisitions of Mr William Ersklne, who, in addition to his accurate knowledge of European learning, has brought to the investigation an intimate acquaintance with Oriental languages, and the advantage of a familiar intercourse with some very intelligent Parsee doctors. The labours of these three gentlemen appear to have exhausted the subject, so far as materials for inquiry or conjecture are considered.

In describing the antiquities of Persia, the Author has corrected and enlarged bis own observations by the accounts of other travellers ; among whom, Chardin and Niebuhr at an earlier period, and Sir Robert Ker Porter and Morier in our own day, will be found to give the amplest and most accurate details.

In all that relates to the nature and resources of the government, the classification and character of the people, to the wandering tribes, and, in short, the substance of the Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Chapters, the Author has not trusted to his own researches alone, but has converted to his use many original materials, Aimished upon the spot by persons in every way qualified to afibrd the best information. For this reason he believes that these chapters will be found to contain a considerable mass of new and very interesting matter.

For the account of Afghanbtan, be is principally indebted to the valuable yroxk of Mr Elphinstone, the correctness of which, so far as he had it in his power to inquire, was in every instance confirmed. The latter part of the history, from the dethronement of Shah Sujah ul Mulk, including the adventures of Futeh Khan, the vizier, is abridged from a statement of fiu:ts communicated to the Author while in Khorasan.

The scientific notice contained in the Twelfth Chapter is entirely furnished from observations made by him'while he employed his leisure in collecting a number of specimens for the Geological Society of London. A more extended account of the geognostical relations and mineralogy of Persia is greatly to be desired. In a climate so little dififerent from that of contiguous countries no great novelty was to be expected in the natural productions. But a short account of the principal animals and vegetables is given, in which such as are in any respect remarkable have received particular notice.

It remains to speak of the decorations of the volume. These, with one exception,— the portrait of Abbas Mirza, which by permission was taken ttom the excellent picture by Sir Robert Ker Porter,— are engraved from drawings taken on the spot by the Author. They were chosen from an extensive collection, more wiUi the view of illustrating the text and conveying characteristic ideas of the country, than for producing a merely picturesque efi'ect. He, however, hopes that neither of these objects has been overlooked, and that they will in no respect fall short of any hitherto presented to the readers of the Edinburgh Cabinet Library.

ARABIA.

VOL. II.

OLIVES ft BOYD, EDINBUBGH.

HISTORY

OF

ARABIA,

ANCIENT AND MODERN:

CONTAINING

A DBSCBIPTIOir or THB COUMTKT— AN ACCOUNT OW ITS INHABITANTS, ANTIQUITIBS, POLITICAL CONDITION, AND BABLT COMMBBCB— THB LIFB AND RBLIOION OV MOHAMMBO— THB CONQUBSTS, ABTS, AND LITBBATPBB OF THB 8ABACBN8— THB CALIPHS OP DAMASCUS, BAGDAD, APBICA, AND SPAIN— THB CITIL OOTBBNMBNT AND BBUOIOUS CBBBMONIKS OP THB MODBRN ARABS— OBIOIN AND SUPPBBSSION OP THB WAHABBB»— THB INSTITUTIONS, CHABACTBB, MANNBBS, AND CUSTOMS OP THB BBDOUINS;

AND A COMPBBHBNSITB

VIEW OF ITS NATURAL HISTORY.

BY ANDREW CRICHTON.

WITH A MAP, AND TBN BNOBATINGS BT JACKSON.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. II.

EDINBURGH : OLIVER & BOYD, TWEEDDALE COURT ;

AND 8IMPKIN 6t MARSHALL^ LONDON.

MDCCCXXXIII.

Printed by OUver & Boyd, Tweeddale Court, High Street, Edinburgh.

CONTENTS OF VOL. II.

Chapter I. The Abba8sides, Or Caliphs Of Bagdad

Accession of the Abbessides — Caliphs of that Dynasty — Almansor — Haroun al Raschid — Ahnamoon — Motassem — Capricious Cruelty of Motawakkel — Magnificence of the Caliphs — Weakness and Corruption of their Government — ^Their Military Operations — Wars of Haroun al Raschid and his Successors with the Romans — ^Victories of Nicephorus Phocas and John Zimisces over the Moslems — Causes of the Downfal of the Abbassides — Despotic Power of the Turkish Guards — Ravages and Cruelties of the Karmathians — Dismemberment <^' the Empire into independent Principalities — Persia usurped by petty Dynasties — Conquests of Mahmoud of Ghizni in India — Irruptions of the Tartars — Ti^rul Beg appointed Viceroy of the Mohammedan Dominions — Hoolaku lays Siege to Bagdad— Surrender and Pillage of that Ca{Htal — Death of Mostasem and Extinction of the Caliphate, Page 13

CHAPTER XL

CALIPHS OF AFBICA, EOTPT^ AND SPAIN.

The Aglabites or Caliphs of Cairoan — Military Exploits of the Western Arabs — Reduction of Crete — Conquest of Sicily — Invasion of Italy — Pillage of Rome — Siege of Gaeta — ^Naval Victory oi the Christians — Subjugation of Corsica and Sardinia by the Saracens — Expubion of the Aglabites — Moorish Kingdom of Timbuctoo — Dynasty of the Fatimites in Egypt— Their Subversion by Saladin, Founder of the Ayubites— •D^ii&fi^.^ o^ ^^v«

8 CONTENTS.

Ommiades in Spain founded by Abdalrahman — Their Power and Magnificence — Extinction of the Caliphate — Conquest of Granada by Ferdinand — ^Wealth and Population of the Moorish Cafutak) — ^The Government, Armsj and Military Tactics of the Arabs — Reyenue, Trade, and Marine of Spain under the Saracens — Reduction of Sicily by the Normans, and final Overthrow of the Mohammedan Power in Europe, Page 47

Chapter III. Literatuke Of The Ababs

The Arabs tnm their Attention to Learning — Their rapid Progress — Literary Ardour and Patronage of the Caliphs — Haroun al Raschid — Afanamoun — ^Vathek — College of Mostanser at Bagdad-~Academies and Libraries founded in Persia, Syria* Egypt, Afirica* and Spain — ^Course of Study in the Saracen Schools — Grammar-— Rhetoric — Poetry — ^Tales — Arabian Nights' Entertainments — Storytellers — History — Bi(^raphy — Numismatics — Gec^praphy-.- Statistics — Meti4)hysics — Medicine and Medical Authors — Rhazes — ^Avicenna — Pharmacy — Anatomy and Surgery~.Botany — Chemistry — Astrdogy — Astronmny — Optics — Mathematics — Trigonometry — Algelna— Arithmetic — Architecture — ^The Fine Arts — Paintiog — Calligraphy — Music— Agriculture — ^Manufactures in Steel, Porcelain, and Leather — Claims of the Arabs as the Restorers of Letters and the Importers of useful Arts and Inventions into Europe^ 7i

CHAPTER IV. CIVIL HISTOBY AND GOVEHyMENT OF ABABIA

Extinction of the Saracen Power — Formation of new Kingdoms in the East — Victories and Dominions of Timur — Conquests of the Turks and Portuguese in Arabia — Selim I. obtains the Investiture of the Caliphate — Expulsion of the Turks by the independent Arab Chiefs — Dominions of the Imam of Sanaa— His Government, Revenues, and Military Force — Description of Sanaa- Visits of European Travellers to that Capital — Principal Towns in Yemen-JBeit el Fakih^-Taas.— Mocha — Aden— Government

CONTENTS. 9

of Hadnunant — Of Oman — Description of Muflcat — Court, Revenues, and Commercial Enterprise of the Imam — Islands of Bahrein — Pearl Fisheries — Depredations of the Joassamee Pirates in the Persian Gulf— Various Expeditions from India to suppress them — Reduction of Ras el Khyma and their principal Fortresses — Arab Settlers on the Persian Fnmtier — Classification o£ the wandering Bedouin Tribes — ^Thev migratory Habits and military Strength — Government of their Sheiks — ^Their haws and Judicial Triak — Reflections on their Political Institutions,. Page 1 25

Chapter V. He Jaz, Or Holy Land Of The Moslem

Government of Hejaz — Succession and Powor of the Sheriffs — Reign of Ghaleb — Sheriff Families at Mecca — Cities and Towns in Hejaz— Jidda — ^Yembo — TaJtf — Mecca — Description of the Beitullah or Grand Temple — The Court and Colonnades — The Kaaba— The Black Stone— The Tob or Covering of the Kaaba— The Zemzem Well — Servants and Revenues of the Mosque — Inhabitants of Mecca — ^Their Character, DomesticManners, and Employments— Low State <^ Arts and Learning in Hejaz,... 191

CHAPTER VL

THE MOHAMMEDAK PILORTMAOE.

The Pilgrim-caravans — ^Their different Routes — Descripticm and Number of Pilgrims — The Mahmal — The Ihram — Duties <^' the Pilgrims on arriving at Mecca — Walk to Safra and Omra— Journey to Arafitt — Sermon of the Cadi — Curious Appearance of the Scene — Stoning of the Devil — ^The Feast of Sacrifice — Return of the Proces8i(» to Mecca — Visit to the Interior of the Kaaba —Departure of the Caravans — Altered Appearance of the City — Holy Places round Mecca — Pilgrimage to Medina — Description of the City — Its Inhabitants — Their Character and Occupation — ^The Mosque of the Prophet — ^The lamous Tomb of Mohammed — Ceremonies required of the Hajjis ^Servants and Revenues of the Mosque — Sacred Places near Medina — Return of the Pilgrims — Bedr — Suez — Convent of St Catherine — Re^l-ar>

VOL. II. a ^

10 CONTENTS.

tions and Hospitality of the Monks-^PIaces of superstitious Resort about Mount Sinai^The Cave of Elijah— The Rock of Meribah — Gebel Mokkatebor the Written Mountain — The Convent near Tor — Gebel Narkous or Mountain of the Bell, Page 232

Chapter VII. History Of The Wahabees

Origin of the Wahabees — Their Founder, Abdel Wahab — Account of their Doctrines — Success of Ibn Saoud and Abdelazeez in Nejed — Siege and Plunder of Kerbela — Submission of Mecca and Medina — Destruction of religious Monuments — Murder of Abdelazeez — ^Accession of Saoud — His Character — Government — Revenues— Military Tactics^Revival of the Pilgrimage — Predatory Incursions of the Wahabees — Attempts of the Turkish Government to suppress them — Expedition from Egypt lands at Yembo — ^Defeat of Toussoun Bey at Jedeida — Recapture of Medina by the Turks — ^Thomas Keith, a Native of Edinburgh, made Governor of the City — Recovery of Mecca and Hejaz — Mohammed Ali takes the Command in Person — Arrest and Death of Gha-

leb Repulse of the Turks at Taraba — Capture of Gonfode —

Death of Saoud — Accession of Abdallah — Strength of the Turkish Army — Defeat of the Wahabees at Bissel — Surrender of Taraba and Beishe — Cruelties of Ali — His Return to Egypt — Campaign of Toussoun in Nejed — Treaty of Peace with Abdallah — Treachery of Ali and Renewal of Hostilities — Expedition under Ibrahim Pasha — His Success in Nejed — Siege and Surrender of Deraiah — Death of Abdallah — Suppression of the Wahabees and Destruction of their Capital — Reflections on the Character of their Gk)vemment and Religion,. 288

Chapter VIII. Social State Of The Arabs

National Character of the Arabs — Their Family.pride — Orders of Nobility — Their Domestic Life — Their Tents — Furniture — Mode of Encamping — Dress— Personal Appearance— Acute-

CONTENTS. 11

ness of their Senses — Sagacity in tracing Footsteps — Their Arms — Food and Cookery — Mannerof Eating — Diseases — Wealth and Industry — Marriage — Divorce — Education of their Children—. Funerals — Modes of Salutation — Hospitality — Warfare — Robbery and Thefl^— The Blood-revenge — Amusements — Poetry and Music — Learning — Medidne — Superstitions — . Language — Arts — Commerce — Proposed Steam Routes by the Euphrates and the Red Sea — Population — Concluding Reflections^ Page 346

Chapter IX. Natural Histoby Of Ababia

Want of Information on the Natural History of Arabia — Scientific Discoveries of the Danish Travellers — Geolooy — Mount Sinai — Hills of Hejaz and Yemen — Volcanic Rocks — Hot Springs — Soil — Agriculture — Crops — Harvest— Comparative Fertility of different Districts— JVIine&aloot — No Gold or Silver Mines in Arabia — Precious Stones^BOTANY — Vegetables — Plants — Coloquintida — Tobctcco— Hemp — ^Trees akd Shrubs — Fruit-trees — The Palm — Date^oves — Manna — Gum- Arabic — Honey —Shrubs— The Nebek— Tamarisk— Balsam of Mecca— The Gharkad — Henna — Acacia— Incense-tree — Cofiee — Zoology— Wild Animals— Hyenas — Monkeys — Rock-goats — Hares— Jerboas — Domestic Animals — Cows — Buffaloes — Asses — Horses — Camels — Dromedaries — Sheep — Goats — Dogs — Mice — Birds —Poultry— Birds of Game— Birds of Prey— The Ostrich— The Lapwing — ^The Snmarman — Field-sports of the Arabs — Reptiles — Tortoises — Scorpions — Serpents — Fishes — Insects— The Locust — Ants — Tenebriones — Shells — Cortil Banks, 391

ENGRAVINGS IN VOL. II.

Vignette — View of the South Quarter of Mocha*

An Arab of Rank in the Costume of Yemen, Page 146

Mecca and the Grand Temple during the Pilgrimagp^ 210

Conventof Saint Catherine, Mount Sinai, 274

Convent of ElBourg near Tor, 286

Abdallah ibn Saoud, Chief of the Wahabees, 341

A young Female of the Coffee Mountains, 352

ARABIA,

ANCIENT AND MODERN.

CHAPTER I. The Ahbassides, or Caliphs of Bagdad

Accessioii of the Abbasndea — Caliphs of that Dynasty — Almansor — Haromi al Raschid — Aknamoon— Motassem — Capricions Cnielty of Motawakkel — Magnificence of the Caliphs — Weakness and Corruption of their GoTemment — Their Military Operations — Wars of Haroun al Raschid and his Successors with the Romans — Victories of Nicephorus Phocas and John Zimisces oyer the Moslems — Causes of the Downfal of the Abbassides — Despotic Power of the Turkish Guards— Ravages and Cruelties of the Karmathians — Dismemberment of the Empire into independent Principalities — Persia usurped by petty Dynasties — Conquests of Mahmoud of Ghizni in India— Irruptions of the Tartars — ^Togrul Beg appointed Viceroy of the Mohammedan Dominions — Hoolaku lays Si^pe to Bagdad— Surrender and Pillage of that Capital — Death of Mostasem and Extinction of the Caliphate.

With the elevation of the house of Abbas the fa« mOy of Mohammed ascended once more the pulpit and the throne of their ancestor ; and so long as the Saracen power continued to exist they ruled the greater part of the Moslem world. The Arabs have marked the several dynasties with different degrees of reverence and respect. The reigns of Abu Beker, Omar^ Othman^ and Ali^ are distinguished by the title of the Perfect Caliphate^ as that of their successors is called the Imperfect. The Ommladi^^x^

VOL. II. A.

generally styled Caliphs of Syria, their capital being Damascus ; while the Abbassides are known in history as the Caliphs of Bagdad, the city to which they transferred their court. In the rise of the Mohammedan monarchy, the empire, however me* naced by revolt, was still one and undivided ; but in its decline and fall this indivisibility ceased, and the Moslems beheld three independent sovereignties erected, towards the close of the eighth century, within different parts of their dominions, — one seated at Bagdad, another in Egypt and Africa, and a third in Spain.

The house of Abbas, whose accession to the throne was attended with circumstances of such unparaU leled cruelty as to procure for its first caliph the epithet of Al Saffah or the Sanguinary, ruled over the Eastern World with various degrees of authority for a period of five hundred years. The first century beheld their power undiminished ; though the dismemberment of several provinces showed that their government was inherently weak, and that the unwieldy fabric could not long maintain its stability. Like other great nations of antiquity, the policy of the Saracens seemed better adapted for the acquisition of empire than for its preservation ; and though, by a surprising effort of arms, they had compelled the world to acknowledge the might of the Commander of the Faithful, they could not infuse into their system those principles of wholesome and vigorous administration essential to its perpetuity. The incessant workings of Action made it necessary to invest the lieutenants of provinces with absolute command; and these, as the monarchy grew feeble and degenerate, were enabled to make

CALIPHS OF BAOSAD. 15

their (^OTemments hereditary, and to aasnme every thing except the name of kings. The seedi of dis. Mlution were slowly matured by foreign wan and domestic revolts, and the first twenty reigns are all that can be assigned as the prosperous era of the Ab. bassides. In Arabia their authority was nominally maintained by their viceroys; though the sheiki (rf the desert gradually resumed their ancient independence, and regarded the successors of Mohammed merdy as the chieb of their religion. As their power commenced in blood, so it will be found in the sequel to have terminated its career in the most dreadful scenes of cruelty aad carnage. The middle (rf the thirteenth century brought Uie tragic history of their ftJlcai race to a close, when the proud ca. pital of Islam fell into the hands of the Tartars.

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than for their love and encouragement of science. The reigns of Saflfah and his successor were chiefly occupied in extirpating the race of Ommiah^ whose hapless adherents were persecuted with unsparing vengeance. Almansor had established his court at Hashemiah^ a city founded by his brother on the site or in the vicinity of Anbar ; but an insurrec tion compelled him to resort to the erection of a new capital^ and in the 145th year of the Hejira the foundation of Bagdad was laid. The aid of astrology was called in to ascertain a propitious season for commencement ; and in a short time rose the City of Peace^ a splendid metropolis^ on the banks of the Tigris^ which continued the seat of imperial luxury for nearly five centuries. The rural scenery was beautiful ; the spacious river had a width of 250 yards^ and a depths when the waters were at the highest, of forty-six feet. The neighbourhood was rich in gardens and villages ; and some idea of its ancient population may be formed, when we learn that 800,000 men and 60,000 women could attend the funeral of Hanbal their popular saint Yet all this magnificence seemed but ill adapted to the temper of Almansor, whose extraordinary penury obtained for him the nickname of Abu Dawanek or Father Halfpenny. After his wars and buildings, he left behind him 600,000,000 drachms and 24,000,000 dinars of gold (about £24,850,000 sterling), a treasure which the vices or the munificence of his children scattered in a few years. In a single pilgrimage to Mecca^ Mahadi expended 6,000,000 dinars (£2,775,000), and distributed 150,000 dresses to the poor.

Haroun al Raschid (Aaron the Just), whose name Eastern romance has made so ^miliar to European eALIPfl» OF BAODAI>. 17

. ears^ yielded to none of his predecessors in the fame and splendour of his reign. He was eminently liberal and humane ; and excelled as a warrior^ a statesman^ and a scholar. He conversed familiarly with all classes of his subjects ; and from these adventures sprang numerous anecdotes which historians have been careful to preserve. To obviate the jealousies and collisions likely to arise from the nomination of a successor^ he had proposed an equal division of the empire among his sons ; — a scheme which created the very evils it was intended to avert. One trait contrary to the general complexion of his character, was his unrelenting cruelty to the Barmecides, especially Yahia and his son Jaa&r, who had served him long, and given the most distinguished proofis of zeal and fidelity. To this illustrious family, well known to the Western World through the same enchanting tales that have celebrated their royal master, Haroun had in. trusted the entire administration of his extensive dominions. But court favour is precarious ;— <dr* cumstances confirmed and exasperated the caliph's aversion, and death or imprisonment extirpated the unhappy race of Barmec The ingratitude of Haroun in this instance inflicted its own punishment; for with their destruction his aflfairs fell into immediate and irretrievable confusion.

The reign of Alamin was one continued scene of insurrection, revolt, and firatemal discord. His treasures were exhausted ; and to supply the deficiency he was obliged to commit to the crucible his gold and silver plate. The precious contents of his warehouses were openly exposed to sale, that he might have wherewithal to stimulate his soldkt^Aic^

18 €ALIPHS OF BAGDAD^

exert themselves in defence of the capital, then besieged by his hrother Almamoon^ who was proclaimed caliph in Khorasan. A body of 5000 mercenary troops had joined his standard; but, as he had neither rich dresses nor pecuniary rewards to be« stow, they were compelled to rest satisfied with a fumigation of their beards over pans of civet^ which w^re supplied in great profusion by the caliph's orders ; and from this species of luxury the inhabitants of Bagdad gave them in ridicule the appellation of the Civet-corps. The head of this unfortu. nate monarch, who was assassinated by a slate, exhibited on the walls of Bagdad, announced to his brother that he enjoyed an undivided throne.

Almamoun, who, but for his own imprudence, might have rendered his government as peaceful as it was splendid, is generally regarded as the most magnificent of the Abbassidan caliphs. At his nuptials a thousand pearls of the largest size were showered on the head of the bride, while gifts of lands and houses, scattered in lottery-tickets among the populace, announced to the astonished holders the capricious pro^i. fusion of the royal bounty. Before drawing his foot from the stirrup, he gave away 2,400,000 gold dinars (£1,110,000), being four-fifths of the income of a province. In the encouragement of literature he was the Maecenas of the East. Learned men from all j[)arts of the world were invited to resort to the court of Bagdad, where their talents and their works re- <!eived the most distinguished tokens of imperial favour ; and in return, these happy scholars laboured to the utmost of their power in extolling the glory of their generous patron, and gratifying his taste by collecting and presenting to him the most rare and curious productions of Oriental genius. Notwithstanding his many eminent virtues and endowments^ his panegyrists complain that he evinced a favourable disposition to that heretical doctrine of the Motazalites which denies to the Koran the authority of a divine revelation; and the last years of his life were spent iki ^iforcing on his subjects^ by severe persecution^ the acknowledgment that it was of human origin. His capital and his army he threw into commotion^ by commanding them to assume the green uniform instead of the blacky — the symbol of his family. His military talents^ which were greats found exercise in making incursions against the Greeks^ or in quelling insurrections in Persia^ Arabia^ and various parts of his dominions ; for in one year not fewer than four usurpers made their appearance in Syria^ Palestine^ £gypt> and Western Africa.

The errors of Almamoun^ both political and spiritual^ devolved on his brother and successor Motassem. The name of the Octonaryy by which he is designated in history^, originated from the remarkable coincidences^ that he was the eighth caliph of his family ; the eighth in descent from Abbas ; he gained eighi distinguished victories ; eight sons of princes were enrolled in his service ; he possessed eight thousand male^ and as many female slaves ; he had eight sons and eight daughters ; he was master of eighty thousand horses ; and left in his coffers eight millions of gold dinars^ with eighteen millions of drachms of silver. His strength was so prodigious that he is said to have carried a burden of 1000 pounds weight ; and^ such was the muscular power of his arm^ that he Qould hold a sheep in each hand until his attendants flayed them alive. Among other luxuries he ke^\»

20 CAIiIPHB OF BAGDAD.

130^000 piebald horses in his stables at Samarra^ and maintained 50^000 boys at courts to each of whom he furnished a satchel or little bag for provisions. He was the first caliph that added to his name the title of BiHah, or B'AHak, equivalent to the Dei Gratia of Christian sovereigns.

Vathek was a liberal patron of learned men^ and 80 charitable to the poor^ that not a single beggar^ through the whole course of his reign^ was to be met with in his dominions. His brother Motawakkel displayed all the caprice and cruelty of a tyrant. He evinced his displeasure against the Jews and Christians by compelling them to use wooden instead of iron stirrups^ to wear leathern girdles^ to have bad. ges on their clothes^ and to paint the figures of devils or hogs and apes on their door^ to distinguish them from the Mussulmans. Among other instances of his folly and depravity^ it is recorded that one of the amusements in which he chose to indulge him. self was to give a magnificent entertainment^ and in the moment of convivial gayety to turn a lion loose among the terrified guests. Sometimes he would introduce a snake into the sleeve of an unfor. tunate courtier^ or cast leathern jars full of scorpions into a crowded assembly^ or in the middle of the hall where he had prepared a banquet for his favour, ites^ without suffering any one to rise from the table or change his place. Besides these mischievous di. versions he exercised great severity on his subjects, of whom not less than 80^000 perished in the Ar. menian rebellion. Persons of distinction, who had the misfortune to incur his displeasure, he enclosed in an iron stove lined with pointed nails, which he caused to be heated in proportion to the enormity of

CALIPHS OF BAOBAD. 31

^e crime he intended to punish. But the tyrant met with his deserts, having fallen by the hands of his own slaves, who employed against his life those scimitars which he had recently distributed among them for the defence of his person and throne. From the death of this prince the destination of the crown was usually fixed by the fierce and mercenary chieft of the Tartar slaves or guards, and in their power it continued for twelve successions, including a pe» riod of about eighty-four years.

Yet with all this weakness a show of external strength and magnificence was maintained. Of Moktader's court and camp at Bagdad (a. d. 917) we find a curious picture in Abulfeda, little accordant with the declining state of his authority. '^ The caliph's whole army," says he, *' both horse and foot, was under arms, which together made a body of 160,000 men. His state-officers, the favourite slaves, stood near him in splendid apparel, their belts glittering with gold and gems. Near theni were 7000 eunuchs ; 4000 of them white, the re. mainder black. The porters or doorkeepers were in number 700. Barges and boats with the most su* perb decorations were seen floating upon the Tigris. Nor was the palace itself less splendid, in which were hung up 38,000 pieces of tapestry; 12,500 ^f which were of silk, embroidered with gold. The carpets on the floor were 22,000. A hundred lions were brought out, with a keeper to each. Among the other spectacles of rare and stupendous luxury, was a tree of gold and silver, spreading into eighteen larger branches, on which, and on the lesser boughs, sat a variety of birds, made of the same precious metals, as well as the leaves of the tree. The b\s^ warbled their natural harmony^ each in its own ^trains ; the whole being effected by the spontaneous motions of machinery." Such was the marvellous Itixury of the Abbassides^ seated amidst the riches of the East. The ambassadors of the Greek Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus^on whose account such courtly grandeur was displayed^ were led by the ▼izier^ himself splendidly dressed^ through all this magnificence^ to the foot of the caliph's throne.