pian who had given me shelter, and showed great favour to the latter who was a surgeon by profession.

Inscription on a Glass.-417th Night.

Fez the son of Khakan, presented a female slave and a crystal cup to the Khalif Motawekkel; the latter bore the following inscription. "Wine is the univeral medicine, it cures the pains of the body and the sorrows of the heart."

The Doctor Johannes happened to be with the Khalif, when the present arrived. He read the inscription, and laughed; and said - Fez -understands more of Physic than I do.

The Marriage of Ibrahim Mehdi, 344-347th night.

One day, related Ibrahim Al Mehdi to the Khalif Mehmoran, his brother, I went out alone, and after walking some time, came to a house whence proceeded a savoury smell, enough to provoke the dullest appetite. On looking up to a window, I observed a beautifully formed white hand; the sight overpowered the smell, and took away my desire to partake of the good things that were in preparation. Presently there came two well dressed men to the house: they entered, and I followed them. They considered me as a guest, and the master of the house concluded I was a friend of theirs, and so no questions were asked. We sat down to dinner, but I could eat nothing, for thinking of the plump white hand: after dinner, we drank and laughed and sang. A beauti ul Slave heightened the pleasures of the entertainment, by the melody of her songs. Suspecting that I was an interloper, she rallied me in some extempore strains to which I replied by singing others in the same style, to the great delight of our host. When the two strangers departed, I made myself known, and the master of the house could not find expressions to acknowledge my confidence in his hospitality. I confessed to him, what had been my temptation to intrude, and he assured me, the white hand should be mine - for this purpose he summoned all his Slaves before us, but I recognised in none of them, the lovely white hand-there are no other women in the house said my host, but I admired his gemy mother and sister, and them you shall even see. nerosity. He introduced his sister,-the hand was hers. She is your Slave exclaimed her brother, and forthwith sent for the K azi, and witnesses to execute the marriage contract- he gave her a portion of 20,000 Ducats, and the marriage was solemnized that very evening; the boy before commander of the faithful, is the fruit of that hap you see, py union. The Khalif highly admired the generous

you,

conduct of his

brother's host, and ever afterwards honoured him with his particular regard.

The Pyramids of Egypt, 396th night.

Mamun, the son of Harun Rashid, instituted after his arrival at Cairo investigations respecting the Pyramids. The ancients believed, that in the large western Pyramids there were thirty Magazines of coloured granite, filled with precious stones, finely sculptured idols, utensils, and wea pons, which prove a high perfection of the arts. A kind of glass it is said was found there, which would bend without breaking, and many sorts of curious stones, and congealed water were discovered. In another Magazine, the tables of the old magicians or priests were preserved, every priest having a table, on which are recorded the truths of wisdom, and the wonders of art. On the walls were sculptured human figures, holding in their hands the implements of different trades, and professions. Every Pyramid has its talisman, which will preserve it for ever. The poets have written many beautiful passages on the Pyramids, as for example.

"Observe the Pyramids, and attend to the testimony they bear of the ages, that are gone-they are the tongues of time-but they speak not of those who were before all time."

"They stand as mountains between heaven and earth, defying time. and fate. Yet must they fear themselves-for what is of the earth must dread fate and time."

"Where are those who built the Pyramids. They are not, but their monuments still shame the works of after ages."

Whatever may be the merit of the preceding anecdotes, they are rather of a different description from the class of narratives of which the "Arabian Nights Entertainments" consist-there are, however, other tales in the additional translations, which are of a similar kind, particularly Ali Shar, and Smaragdine ; Sitteh Badur, and Ibral Mansar; Jamasp, and the Snake Princess, and one or two others--in general they are too long for insertion in this place, but the following will serve as a specimen :

Story of Ali, the son of the Jeweller Hassan,-423-433rd night.

In Cairo lived a very rich dealer in precious stones, well known, as Hassan the Jeweller. He had an only son named Ali, whom he edu

cated with the greatest care.-When he was upon his death-bed, he sent for his son, and gave him these his last admonitions. My son, this world passes away and no one remains, all that lives becomes the prey of death. I feel that he approaches me, and I wish to bestow on you the last counsels, I shall ever offer. I leave you, my dear son, rich-so rich that you may spend 500 Ducats a day, without hurting your fortune. But my son-never forego the fear of God, and his prophet; do good, associate with upright people, avoid bad company, be not avaricious, indulge not in immoral pleasures, and cherish your wife, who is now pregnant-adieu, for the little time that is left me, I will pray to God that he will be pleased to guard you from every obstacle, which may prevent our meeting again before his throne.

Ali wept bitterly-his father embraced him for the last time, and soon afterwards expired. The house resounded with cries of mourning; the corpse was washed and interred with the customary solemnities, and Ali passed 40 days in doors, reading the koran and excluding all visitors.

After this period a party of young men called upon him,-they were the sons of merchants and the companions of his youth-they rallied him for such extreme indulgence of his grief, and persuaded him to mount his mule and take an airing with them-he consented and was easily induced to spend the day in their company in festive enjoyment: another and another day was passed in a similar manner, and Ali was completely immersed in gaiety. His wife reminded him of his father's dying admonitions, that he should avoid bad company-my companions he replied are all respectable men, the sons of merchants, and of sound principle - they are sociable and joyous it is true, but this is not held in fault by men of rigid rectitude.

After some period had elapsed in this manner Ali's companions persuaded him that it was now his turn to be entertainer, and they knew him to be a man of too much spirit to wish to be excused. The logic was irresistible, and precipitated young Ali into excesses which could not fail to bring him to the ground at last. Every day he gave magnificent parties upon the Nile, or at Rauda, or in the island gardens which the Nile forms at Cairo: this was continued for three years, by which time every thing that his father had left was dissipated; money, jewels, houses, gardens, lands, all was gone to wreck, except the mansion in which he dwelt.

Thus destitute of resources he became distressed even to provide sustenance for his wife, and children, a boy, and a girl, whom his wife had borne him since his father's death. She was not sparing of her re

proaches and desired him to go, and solicit the companions of his pleasures for succour. Ali accordingly applied to them, but from every house he was sent away with excuses, and sometimes with contempt. He came home as he went, empty handed. His wife was sorely grieved at the disappointment, but in her turn applied to her friends, and neighbours, and one of these, a woman of benevolence, gave her enough to keep them all for a year. God be praised, said Ali, but this cannot always last. I must bestir myself, and see whether I can get anything by my own exertions. He set out, therefore, he knew not whither, nor for what purpose, and arived at Bulak the depot of Cairo for merchandize; there he found a Jerm bound to Damietta on which he embarked: when he arrived there be repaired to an old friend of his father's, who was about to take a journey to Bagdad. Ali embarked along with him on board a ship bound to Syria, and thence accompanied a Caravan going from Damascus to Bagdad.

When within a few days' march of Bagdad, the Caravan was attacked by Banditti, and completely plundered: the traders escaped as well as they could, and Ali fled to Bagdad. He reached the city at the very moment, when the gates were closed, but prevailed on the warden to give him a lodging for the night: in the morning he went to an eminent merchant, a friend of his father's, and announced himself as Ali the son of Hassan the Jeweller: the merchant received him in a friendly manner, and offered him a house for his residence during his stay in Bagdad. Ali having accepted his offer was led to a handsome street in which there were three empty houses belonging to his friend, who de sired him to take his choice of two of them, and why not of the third said Ali. Because, replied the merchant, it is infested by ghosts, and evil spirits, and they kill such as are fool-hardy enough to pass the night in that mansion. As Ali desired nothing more than to be liberated from a miserable existence, he immediately requested permission to tenant the haunted house, and it was in vain that the merchant laboured to dissuade him from so unreasonable a design. In short he entered upon. possession, taking with him what was necessary for his accommodation. He performed his ablutions with the water of a well in the front court. A slave brought him his evening meal, and a lamp, attended at table, and after removing the dishes wished him well through his adventure, and withdrew. Ali took the lamp, and mounted the staircase to explore the upper apartments, in which he found a magnificent hall, the roof of which was of gold, and the floor of marble; here he spread his bed, trimmed his lamp, and sat down to peruse the koran. He had read but a few chapers when on a sudden he heard a loud voice, saying Ali, son of Hassan

come hither. Come hither yourself, answered Ali. He scarcely uttered the words when a shower of gold fell on every side untill the hall was completely filled. Then Ali, taking the Koran in his hand: I invoke thee, invisible spirit, by the name of God,--declare what this means. This Gold, replied the voice, was enchanted, and thus has been preserved · through many years for you. The words I addressed to you I have addressed all who have come hither, but no one answering to the name, they feared, and I broke their necks: as soon as you commanded me to approach, I knew you to be the true master of the treasure, which I immediately resigned to you. A treasure still more considerable is preserved for you in Yemen. Now give me my liberty, and let me depart. By the power of God, exclaimed Ali, I will not give thee thy liberty till thou shalt have put me in possession of the treasure in Yemen I will bring it you, but swear I shall then be free. I swear it--but I have something else at heart in which thou mayest assist me. Let me hear. I have a wife and children at Cairo, and will that thou bring them to me-your will shall be obeyed, and they shall come to Bagdad suitably provided; give me three days leave-so be it, replied Ali.

Ali then began to collect the gold, and put it into bags which he found near at hand; he next employed himself through the rest of the night in secreting the treasure in a subterraneous chamber which he discovered open, and having done so he locked the door, and put the key in his pocket.

Towards morning the slave of the owner of the house knocked at the door, and was not a little astonished to find Ali alive and whole; he immediately set off to carry the news to his master, who was highly rejoiced to hear it, and repaired to visit his guest. He congratulated Ali on his escape, and asked him what he had seen during the night. Ali assured him he had not been disturbed. I passed the night he continued in reading the Koran, and that probably kept the evil spirits, who assailed your former visitors, at a respectful distance.

At the expiration of three days the genius of the treasure appeared and announced to Ali that he might go and meet his family as they were splendidly arrayed, and travelled in handsome conveyances, taken from the treasure from Yemen which accompanied them. Ali invited all the principal merchants of the city to accompany him, and proceeded with them to a garden in the suburbs, by which passed the high road of Cairo where he awaited the arrival of his wife and children. They had not waited long when a large moving mass made its appearance in the