29 painting the eyes of the Circassians. It was an ancient custom in the East, which still continues, to tinge the eyes of women, particularly those of a fair complexion, with an impalpable powder, prepared chiefly from crude antimony, and called surmeh. Ebni’l Motezz, in a passage translated by Sir W. Jones, hath not only ascertained its purple colour, but also likened the violet to it.

Viola collegit folia sua, similia

Collyrionigro, quod bibit lachrymas die discessus,

Velut si esset super vasa in quibus fulgent

Primæ ignis flammulæ in sulphuris extremis partibus.

This pigment, when applied to the inner surface of the lids, communicates to the eye (especially if seen by the light of lamps) so tender and fascinating a languor, as no language is competent to express. Hence the epithet Ιοβλεφαρος, violet-colour eye-lids, attributed by the Greeks to the goddess of beauty.

30 Rocnabad. The stream thus denominated, flows near the city of Schiraz. Its waters are uncommonly pure and limpid, and its banks swarded with the finest verdure. Its praises are celebrated by Hafez, in an animated song, which Sir W. Jones has admirably translated:—

Boy, let yon liquid ruby flow,

And bid thy pensive heart be glad,

Whate’er the frowning zealots say:

Tell them, their Eden cannot shew

A stream so clear as Rocnabad,

A bower so sweet as Mosella.

Mosella was an oratory on the banks of Rocnabad.

31 Moullahs. Those amongst the Mahometans who were bred to the law, had this title; and the judges of cities and provinces were taken from their order.

32 the sacred Cahaba. That part of the temple at Mecca which is chiefly revered, and, indeed, gives a sanctity to the rest, is a square stone building, the length of which, from north to south, is twenty-four cubits; and its breadth, from east to west, twenty-three. The door is on the east side, and stands about four cubits from the ground, the floor being level with the threshold. The Cahaba has a double roof, supported internally by three octangular pillars of aloes-wood; between which, on a bar of iron, hangs a row of silver lamps. The outside is covered with rich black damask, adorned with an embroidered band of gold. This hanging, which is changed every year, was formerly sent by the caliphs. Sale’s Preliminary Discourse, p. 152.

33 regale these pious poor souls with my good wine from Schiraz. The prohibition of wine in the Koran is so rigidly observed by the conscientious, especially if they have performed the pilgrimage to Mecca, that they deem it sinful to press grapes for the purpose of making it, and even to use the money arising from its sale. Chardin, Voy. de Perse, tom. II. p. 212.—Schiraz was famous in the East, for its wines of different sorts, but particularly for its red, which was esteemed more highly than even the white wine of Kismische.

34 the most stately tulips of the East. The tulip is a flower of eastern growth, and there held in great estimation. Thus, in an ode of Mesihi:—“The edge of the bower is filled with the light of Ahmed: among the plants, the fortunate tulips represent his companions.”