75 objects of pity were sure to swarm around him. Ludeke mentions the practice of bringing those who were suffering under any calamity, or had lost the use of their limbs, &c. into public, for the purpose of exciting compassion. On an occasion, therefore, of this sort, when Fakreddin, like a pious Mussulman, was publicly to distribute his alms, and the commander of the faithful to make his appearance, such an assemblage might well be expected. The Eastern custom of regaling a convention of this kind is of great antiquity, as is evident from the parable of the king, in the Gospels, who entertained the maimed, the lame, and the blind; nor was it discontinued when Dr. Pocock visited the East. Vol. I. p. 182.

76 small plates of abominations. The Koran hath established several distinctions relative to different kinds of food, in imitation of the Jewish prescriptions; and many Mahometans are so scrupulous as not to touch the flesh of any animal over which, in articulo mortis, the butcher had omitted to pronounce the Bismillah. Relig. Cerem. vol. VII. p. 110.

77 Sinai. This mountain is deemed by Mahometans the noblest of all others, and even regarded with the highest veneration, because the divine law was promulgated from it. D’Herbelot, p. 812.

78 Peries. The word Peri, in the Persian language, signifies that beautiful race of creatures which constitutes the link between angels and men.—See endnote 9.

79 butterflies of Cachemire. The same insects are celebrated in an unpublished poem of Mesihi. Sir Anthony Shirley relates, that it was customary in Persia “to hawke after butterflies with sparrows, made to that use, and stares.”—It is, perhaps, to this amusement that our Author alludes in the context.

80 Megnoun and Leilah. These personages are esteemed amongst the Arabians as the most beautiful, chaste, and impassioned of lovers; and their amours have been celebrated with all the charms of verse in every Oriental language. The Mahometans regard them, and the poetical records of their love, in the same light as the Bridegroom and Spouse, and the Song of Songs are regarded by the Jews. D’Herbelot, p. 573.

81 dart the lance in the chace. Throwing the lance was a favourite pastime with the young Arabians; and so expert were they in this practice (which prepared them for the mightier conflicts, both of the chace and war) that they could bear oft’ a ring on the points of their javelins. Richardson’s Dissertat. p. 198. 281.

82 The two brothers had mutually engaged their children to each other. Contracts of this nature were frequent amongst the Arabians. Another instance occurs in the Story of Noureddin Ali and Benreddin Hassan.

83 Nouronihar loved her cousin, more than her own beautiful eyes. This mode of expression not only occurs in the sacred writers, but also in the Greek and Roman. Thus Catullus says: Quem plus illa oculis suis amabat.

84 the same long languishing looks. So Ariosto:

————negri occhi,————

Pietosi a riguardare, a mover parchi.