Page 5.

Described by one from the Isles of the West, &c. Sir Thomas Roe, Ambassador from James I. to Jehan

guire.

Page 5.

Loves of Wamak and Ezra.

"The romance Wemakweazra, written in Persian verse, which contains the loves of Wamak and Ezra, two celebrated lovers who lived before the time of Mahomet.". Note on the Oriental Tales.

Page 5.

Of the fair-haired Zal, and his mistress, Rodahver. Their amour is recounted in the Shah-Namêh of Ferdousi; and there is much beauty in the passage which describes the slaves of Rodahver, sitting on the bank of the river and throwing flowers into the stream, in order to draw the attention of the young Hero who is encamped on the opposite side.v. Champion's Translation.

Page 5.

The combat of Rustam with the terrible white Dæmon. Rustam is the Hercules of the Persians. For the particulars of his victory over the Sepeed Deeve, or White Demon, v. Oriental Collections, vol. ii. p. 45. - Near the city of Shirauz is an immense quadrangular monument, in commemoration of this combat, called the Kelaat-i-Deev Sepeed, or Castle of the White Giant, which Father Angelo, in his Gazophylacium Persicum, p. 127., declares to have

A A

been the most memorable monument of antiquity which he had seen in Persia. —v. Ouseley's Persian Miscellanies.

Page 6.

Their golden anklets.

"The women of the Idol, or dancing girls of the Pagoda, have little golden bells fastened to their feet, the soft, harmonious tinkling of which vibrates in unison with the exquisite melody of their voices."- Maurice's Indian Antiquities.

"The Arabian courtesans, like the Indian women, have little golden bells fastened round their legs, neck and elbows, to the sound of which they dance before the King. The Arabian princesses wear golden rings on their fingers, to which little bells are suspended, as well as in the flowing tresses of their hair, that their superior rank may be known, and they themselves receive in passing the homage due to them.". v. Calmet's Dictionary, art. Bells.

Page 7.

That delicious opium, &c.

"Abou-Tige, ville de la Thebaïde, ou il croit beaucoup de pavot noir, dont se fait le meilleur opium." -D'Herbelot.

"He and the three Rámas are described as youths of perfect beauty; and the Princesses of Hindustan were all passionately in love with Crishna, who continues to this hour the darling God of the Indian women.". Sir W. Jones, on the Gods of Greece, Italy, and India.

Page 7.

The shawl-goat of Tibet.

The

See Turner's Embassy for a description of this animal, "the most beautiful among the whole tribe of goats." material for the shawls (which is carried to Cashmere) is found next the skin.

Page 7.

The veiled Prophet of Khorassan.

For the real history of this Impostor, whose original name was Hakem ben Haschem, and who was called Mocanna from the veil of silver gauze (or, as others say, golden) which he always wore, v. D'Herbelot.

Page 9.

Flowrets and fruits blush over every stream. "The fruits of Meru are finer than those of any other place; and one cannot see in any other city such palaces, with groves, and streams, and gardens.". · Ebn Haukal's Geography.

Page 10.

For far less luminous, his votaries said,
Were ev'n the gleams, miraculously shed

O'er Moussa's cheek.

"Ses disciples assuroient qu'il se couvroit le visagé, pour ne pas éblouir ceux qui l'approchoit par l'éclat de son visage comme Moyse." - D'Herbelot.

Page 10.

In hatred to the Caliph's hue of night.

"Il faut remarquer ici touchant les habits blancs des

disciples de Hakem, que la couleur des habits, des cöeffures et des étendarts des Khalifes Abassides etant la noire, ce chef de Rebelles ne pouvoit pas choisir une, qui lui fût plus opposée." -D'Herbelot.

Page 11.

Javelins of the light Khathaian reed.

"Our dark javelins, exquisitely wrought of Khathaian reeds, slender and delicate." ·Poem of Amru.

66

Page 11.

Filled with the stems that bloom on Iran's rivers.

The Persians call this plant Gaz. The celebrated shaft of Isfendiar, one of their ancient heroes, was made of it.— Nothing can be more beautiful than the appearance of this plant in flower during the rains on the banks of rivers, where it is usually interwoven with a lovely twining asclepias." Sir W. Jones, Botanical Observations on Select Indian Plants.

Page 11.

Like a chenar-tree grove.

The oriental plane.

"The chenar is a delightful tree; its bole is of a fine white and smooth bark; and its foliage, which grows in a tuft at the summit, is of a bright green." Morier's Travels.

Page 13.

With turban'd heads of every hue and race,
Bowing before that veil'd and awful face,

"The name of tulip is said to be of Turkish extraction,

and given to the flower on account of its resembling a turban."- Beckmann's History of Inventions.

Page 13.

With belt of broider'd crape,

And fur-bound bonnet of Bucharian shape.

"The inhabitants of Bucharia wear a round cloth bonnet, shaped much after the Polish fashion, having a large fur border. They tie their kaftans about the middle with a girdle of a kind of silk crape, several times round the body." Account of Independent Tartary, in Pinkerton's Collection.

Page 13.

War'd, like the wings of the white birds that fan

The flying Throne of star-taught Soliman.

This wonderful Throne was called The Star of the Genii. For a full description of it, see the Fragment, translated by Captain Franklin, from a Persian MS. entitled "The History of Jerusalem:" Oriental Collections, vol. i. p. 235.- When Solomon travelled, the eastern writers say, "he had a carpet of green silk on which his throne was placed, being of a prodigious length and breadth, and sufficient for all his forces to stand upon, the men placing themselves on his right hand and the spirits on his left; and that when all were in order, the wind, at his command, took up the carpet, and transported it, with all that were upon it, wherever he pleased; the army of birds at the same time flying over their heads, and forming a kind of canopy to shade them from the sun." Sale's Koran, vol. ii. p. 214. note.