85 Shaddukian and Ambreabad. These were two cities of the Peries, in the imaginary region of Ginnistan, the former signifies pleasure and desire, the latter the city of Ambergris. See Richardson’s Dissertat. p. 169.

86 a spoon of cocknos. The cocknos is a bird whose beak is much esteemed for its beautiful polish, and sometimes used as a spoon. Thus, in the History of Atalmulck and Zelica Begum, it was employed for a similar purpose:—“Zelica having called for refreshment, six old slaves instantly brought in and distributed Mahramas, and then served about in a great bason of Martabam, a salad made of herbs of various kinds, citron juice, and the pith of cucumbers. They served it first to the Princess in a cocknos’ beak: she took a beak of the salad, eat it, and gave another to the next slave that sat by her on her right hand; which slave did as her mistress had done.”

87 Goules. Goul, or ghul, in Arabic, signifies any terrifying object, which deprives people of the use of their senses. Hence it became the appellative of that species of monster which was supposed to haunt forests, cemeteries, and other lonely places; and believed not only to tear in pieces the living, but to dig up and devour the dead. Richardson’s Dissert. p. 174. 274.

88 feathers of the heron, all sparkling carbuncles. Panaches of this kind are amongst the attributes of Eastern royalty. Tales of Inatulla, vol. ii. p. 205.

89 the carbuncle of Giamschid. This mighty potentate was the fourth sovereign of the dynasty of the Pischadians, and brother or nephew to Tahamurath. His proper name was giam or gem, and sched, which in the language of the ancient Persians denominated the sun: an addition, ascribed by some to the majesty of his person, and by others to the splendour of his actions. One of the most magnificent monuments of his reign was the city of Istakhar, of which Tahamurath had laid the foundations. This city, at present called Gihil-, or Tchil-minar, from the forty columns reared in it by Homai, or (according to our author and others) by Soliman Ben Daoud, was known to the Greeks by the name of Persepolis: and there is still extant in the East a tradition, that, when Alexander burnt the edifices of the Persian kings, seven stupendous structures of Giamschid were consumed with his palace.

90 the torches were extinguished. To the union here prefigured, the following lines may be applied:

Non Hymenaeus adest illi, non gratia lecto;

Eumenides tenuere faces de funere raptas:

Eumenides stravere torum.

91 She clapped her hands. This was the ordinary method in the East of calling the attendants in waiting. See Arabian Nights, vol. I. p. 5. 106. 193, &c.

92 Funeral vestments were prepared; their bodies washed, &c. The rites here practised had obtained from the earliest ages. Most of them may be found in Homer and the other poets of Greece. Lucian describes the dead in his time as washed, perfumed, vested, and crowned, with the flowers most in season; or, according to other writers, those in particular which the deceased were wont to prefer.