Hormouzan you have given me my Pardon and don 't you keep your word Omar being surpriz'd and asking how he understood it You have said answer'd the Prisoner I had nothing to fear till I had drank and I have not drank yet The Company confess'd Hormouzan was in the right and Omar granted him his Life Observations It has been observed before me that Schouschter is the antient Suza where the Kings of Persia used to winter it being situated in a very warm Climate as well as the whole Province of Khousistan which is still one of the Provinces of the Kingdom of Persia bordering to the West on the Persian Gulf. 〈◊〉 forgot the gracious Pardon of Omar and was one of his Murderers 3. Taher the Founder of the Empire of the Taherians in the Province of Khorassan had killed the Calife Emin and by that Murder raised Mamoun Emin's Brother to the same Dignity But Mamoun who trusted not Taher notwithstanding he was so much beholden to him sent him into Khorassan as his Governour in order to remove him from Court Whilst he was in that Station Mamoun declared for Calife after him Ali Riza the 8th amongst the 12 Imams Successors of Ali and sent him into Khorassan where Taher perform'd the Ceremony of the Coronation in the City of Merou and taking the Oath to him he said My Right-hand has raised Mamoun and my Left pays the same Duty to you Ali Riza answer'd The Left-hand that raises an Imam to the Throne may be call'd the Right Observations This Action of Taher and the Murder of Calife Emin gave occasion to the calling him Two-handed He died in the Year of the Hegyra 210. that is 825 of our Lord having taken the Title of King sometime before his Death The Saying of Ali Riza is grounded upon this that being Ali's Issue and consequently Mahomet's Off-spring by reason of Fatima Daughter to Mahomet whom Ali had married he thought himself worthier of the Califâ—ship than Mamoun and his Predecessors whom he and all the Abettors of Ali look'd upon as Usurpers His Authority as Calife was acknowledg'd and Money coined with his Name but his Power that was then equal to that of Mamoun lasted only about two Years for Mamoun repenting of his Gift caused him to be poison'd at Tous in Kâ—orassan where he died After his Death his Corps was carried and buried in a Place call'd Senabad belonging to the same Town where a Tomb was erected for him Since that time the Mahometan Superstition has drawn thither such vast Numbers of People that a Town has been built there with the Name of Mesched signifying the Tomb of a Person that has been put to Death or rather of a Martyr because the Mahometans look upon Ali Riza as such For amongst them those that are put to Death by the Prince's Command or killed in the War are call'd Martyrs and believed to be such The Devotion at the Tomb of Ali Riza does still continue and the Mahometan Pilgrims do yet resort thither especially those of Khorassan and the Neighbouring Provinces Khorassan of which mention will be yet made in this Book is a great Province or rather a considerable Kingdom on this Side the River Oxus comprehending the Provinces of Ariana Bactriana and the Paropamisades of the Antient The Vzbees are at this time Masters of that Kingdom together with that of Maveâ—amahar that is of the Transoxiana or Sogdiana of which Samarcand named by Q. Curtius Maracande is the Capital 4. Jacoub the Son of Leits who having seized upon the City of Sistan and the Dominions depending upon it had made himself Soveraign enter'd the Province of Khorassan to subdue it and went to attack Mehemmed the 5th Successor of Taher in the Town of Nisabor which he had chosen for the Capital of his Kingdom Mehemmed hearing of his Approach sent to assure him that he was ready to submit if he brought Letters with the Seal of the Calife but that he was very much surprized he should come against him in an hostile Manner without Order Jacoub who acknowledg'd not the Authority of the Calife drew his Scimiter out of the Scabbard saying Here 's my Order and so enter'd Nisabor where he made Mehemmed Prisoner with 160 Persons more of his Family and sent them to the Town of Sistan under a strong Guard Observation Leits the Father of Jacoub of whom we speak here was call'd Leits Saftar that is the Copper-Merchant because of his Profession and from that Name Saffar Jacoub together with his Brother Amrou and Mehemmed Son to Taher who ran after him were sirnamed Saffarans Jacoub from his Youth had such a strong Inclination to bear Arms that his Father endeavoured in vain to bind him to his Trade and was forced to leave him to himself When he was Master of his own Actions he turn'd Highway-Man but was still so honest as to leave something to those he robbed Upon a time he broke into the Treasury of Dirhem Governour of Sistan for the Calife and in the Dark laying his Hand upon something that glitter'd he put what he laid hold of into his Mouth believing it was precious Stones but finding it was Salt he went out without carrying any thing away The next day the Governor hearing that his Treasury had been broken up and nothing diminished made a Proclamation that the Robber might safely discover himself and that he should not only not be punished but that he would do all he could to oblige him Upon this Jacoub appear'd and the Governor asking him why he carry'd nothing away Jacoub told him this Story and added I thought I was become your Friend by eating of your Salt and that by the Laws of Friendship I was not allow'd to diminish any thing belonging to you Dirhem gave him some Employment which he discharged with so much Valour and Conduct that at last by degrees he made him General of his Army But after the Death of Dirhem Jacoub laying hold of his Power expell'd the Sons of Dirhem seized upon Sistan and after that conquer'd Khorassan Persia and several other States of which he made a vast and powerful Empire He died in the Year of the Hegyra 262. of our Lord 875. 5. Amrou Leits considerably inlarg'd the Kingdom left to him by his Brother Jacoub and to do it yet more he resolved to destroy the Calife and proclaim'd War against him But the Calife opposed to him Ismail the first King of the Family of the Samanians and Ismail taking him Prisoner sent him to the Calife Amrou was a very magnificent and liberal Prince so that no less than 300 Camels were employ'd in carrying his Kitchin Utensils when he was in the Field The Day he was overcome and taken Prisoner by Ismail he saw near him his chief Cook who had stuck to him and he ask'd him whether he had any thing to eat The Cook that had yet some Flesh left put it presently on the Fire in a Pot and went to look
for something to treat his Master in his Misfortune the best way he could In the mean while a Dog came by chance and put his Head in the Pot to take away the Meat but by reason of the Violence of the Fire he could not do it but lifting up his Head the Pot-hook fell on his Neck and being not able to disintangle himself ran away with Pot and all Amrou could not forbear laughing and as one of his chief Keepers wonder'd how a King bâ—ing Prisoner could laugh he answer'd This Morning 300 Camels were scarce enough to carry what belong'd to my Kitchin and this Afternoon you see a Dog running away with it all about his Neck Observ The Calife mention'd here was Mutadad who kept Amrou Prisoner two Years But after the Death of the Calife Amrou was slighted and starved in his Prison Mutadad died in the Year of the Hegyra 289. of our Lord 901. 6. A Slave of Amrou Leits ran away but being pursu'd was brought back and that King 's Grand Vizier who hated the Slave solicited Amrou to put him to Death suggesting to him it would be an Instance to deter others Hereupon the Slave casting himself on the Ground before the King said Whatever your Majesty will be pleased to order as to my Destiny it must be done for a Slave cannot find fault with the Judgment of his Lord and Master but because I have been brought up in your Palace as a Mark of my Gratitude I could wish you might not answer for my Blood at the Day of Judgment And therefore if you desire I should be kill'd let it be under a Pretence of Justice Amrou ask'd him what he meant by that Pretence Suffer me answer'd the Slave to kill the Vizier and then you will be in the Right in taking away my Life to revenge his Death Amrou laugh'd at the Conceipt and ask'd the Vizier what he thought of it The Vizier answer'd I desire your Majesty to forgive the Wretch he might draw some Misfortune upon me I have deserv'd that Answer not considering that when we design to kill another we expose our selves to be kill'd as much as him whom we intend to murder 7. In the first Ages of Mahometism a Mahometan said he was God A Year ago said some body to him such a One who pretended to be a Prophet was put to Death are you not afraid of the like Treatment O answered he they did well to put him to Death for I had not sent him Observ As to that false Prophet put to Death 't is observable that the Mahometans hold Mahomet for the last of Prophets after whom God is not to send any other so that they are perswaded they may safely kill as Disturbers of the Publick Society all those that pretend to that Quality 8. A Calender who observ'd not the Fast of Ramazan and took besides the Liberty of drinking Wine was advised that since he did not fast he ought at least to forbear drinking Wine Whereupon he answer'd I have forsaken the Practice of a Precept will you have me also to forsake the Practice of this Tradition Observations The Calenders amongst the Mahometans are a sort of People who forsake Father Mother Wife Children Relations and all things running through the World and living on the Alms that are given them but for all that they are not better Observers of their Religion as may be seen by this Instance Calender is also the Chief of a Nation Tribe or People For Instance In the History of Scharah and other Sons and Issue of Tamerlan Heads of 20 or 30000 Turcomans that had pass'd from Persia into Khorassan to settle themselves there are call'd Calenders The Armenians of Ispahan who inhabited the Ward of Julfa have also a Chief named Calender who in that Quality represents the Grievances of his Nation to the King of Persia or his Ministers and causes the Will of the Court to be put in Execution by those of his Nation 9. At a certain time a pretended Prophet was presented to the Calife Haroun Errâ—schid whose Subject he was The Calife not doubting but the supposed Prophet had his Brains crack'd sent for his Physicians to advise for a proper Remedy The Physicians did all agree that bad Food was the Cause of his Lunacy and said that a good Diet might conduce to his Cure Hereupon the Calife order'd they should take him into his Kitchin and feed him well during 40 Days After which time the Calife caused him to be brought to him and ask'd him Whether he was yet a Prophet and whether the Angel Gabriel still came to declare him God's Will The false Prophet answer'd Because I am in the Favour of God he has procur'd me such a good Kitchin and commands me not to leave it Observations Haroun Erreschid was the 5th Calife of the Family of the Abbassides and died in the Year of the Hegyra 193. of our Lord 808. The Mahometans hold that God sends the Angel Gabriel on all his Errands wherefore they believe he has dictated the Alcoran to Mahomet and call all the Dreams contained in that Book the Word of God 10. A good harmless Man of Sivri-Hissar complain'd to one of his Neighbours of a great Pain in his Eye and ask'd him whether he knew any Remedy for it The Neighbour answer'd Last Year having a great Tooth-ach I caused the Tooth to be drawn and I was cur'd I advise you to use the same Remedy Observation Sivri-Hissar is a small Town of Natolia the Inhabitants of which are reputed very simple 11. In the same Town of Sivri-Hissar a Man lock'd up every day his Ax in his Chest and his Wife asking the Reason of it he answered I am afraid lest the Cat should eat it You jest replied she Cats don't eat Axes The Rogue says the Husband has eaten a Liver that cost an Asper and a half why should not she eat this Ax that cost twenty Observation An Asper is a small silver Coin of the value of two Farthings that goes current through the Ottoman Empire and is called by the Turks Akgeh that is Half-penny and the Greeks have translated that word into their Tongue by that of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that signifies the same whence our Franck Merchants and Travellers have made the word Asper which is more in use than that of Half-penny 12. A Mahometan Woman extream ugly ask'd her Husband by whom of her Relations he would allow her to be seen He answered by whomsoever you please provided I never see you Observation That Woman being so ugly it might be asked how the Husband came to marry her But 't is easy to answer that amongst the Mahometans as well as amongst us Wives are often taken because Parents will have it so Besides they are almost ever taken without being seen on the Face and when they are married they may not discover their Face before any body but by their Husband 's Leave it being reckoned a Sin in a
plunder and rob to Day whatever pleases me and am ready to enter to Morrow into Hell to keep company with Pharaoh Observation The Turk mention'd here is not a Turk of Constantinople nor of the Empire of the Grand Signior but one of those of Turkestan in Great Tartary who live upon Plunder and from time to time make Excursions out of their Country into others on this Side the River Oxus or list themselves Souldiers under other Princes Though the Turks of Constantinople draw their Original from one of those Excursions yet they will not own that Name and give it only to the Mahometan Clowns of Natolia and Romelia so that amongst them a Turk is as much as a clownish rustical uncivil and ill-bred Person 39. A poor Man asking an Alms at the Door of a great House the Porter told him Go your ways there 's no body at home The poor Man reply'd I ask for a Bit of Bread and not for the People of the House 40. As the Son of a Mahometan was a dying the Father order'd the Washer to come His Servants told him he is not yet dead you must wait a little The Father answer'd That 's no matter he 'll be dead before they have half wash'd him Observation The Mahometans are very careful in washing the Bodies of the Deceased before they bury them it being an indispensable Ceremony of their Religion 41. A Handicraft Man being ask'd Who was the elder his Brother or he I am the elder answer'd he but when my Brother shall be a Year older he shall be as old as I am 42. A Mahometan being at the point of Death a Bigot that had a stinking Breath breath'd under his Nose his dull Admonitions wishing him to pronounce their Profession of Faith and the more the dying Man turn'd his Head aside the more the other was offensive At last the dying Man not knowing how to free himself told him Pray give me leave to die purely and no longer infect me with your poisonous Breath more intolerable to me than Death it self Observation Every one knows that this Confession of Faith consists in these words La ilah illa-llah Mehemmed resoul-ullah There is no other God but God Mahomeâ— is his Messenger The Mahometans endeavour as much as possible to have them pronounced by the dying Persons as believing those Words necessary to enter into their Paradise 43. A hunch-back'd Fellow being ask'd What he would choose rather either that God should make him as streight as other Men or all other Men as crooked as himself He answer'd I would rather have them hunch-back'd that I might have the Pleasure to look upon them with as much Contempt as they have done upon me 44. Some Friends went to walk into the Country with very good Provisions and rested to eat them under a Shade in a very pleasant Place A Dog coming near them one of the Company threw him a Stone as if it had been a Piece of Meat the Dog smelt to it and went his way and though afterwards they call'd never so often yet he would not come Whereupon one of the Company said Do you know what the Dog fancies with himself these are covetous miserable Wretches thinks he hang them they eat nothing but Stone a Dog would not live with ' em 45. A Son was ask'd Whether he wished the Death of his Father that he might have his Estate he answer'd No but I could wish some-body would kill the old Chuff that with the Inheritance I might also get the Price of his Blood Observation Amongst the Mahometans the Blood of one that has been kill'd is always paid for either at the Cost of the Murderer or of the Neighbours of the Place where the Murder has been committed or in some other manner 46. A Persian Poet read very indifferent Verses of his own to a Man of Sense telling him he had made them in the Necessary House I don't question that answer'd the Gentleman for they smell on 't 47. A Poet came to a Physician and told him he had something at his Heart which from time to time caused Faintings and Tremblings and all the Hair of his Body to stand an end The Physician being of a pleasant Humour and knowing his Man ask'd him Whether he had not wrote Verses which he had not yet rehearsed The Poet own'd it Out with them then said the Physician so the Poet recited and then the Doctor said Now go home those Verses lay at your Heart but at last the Obstruction is remov'd 48. A Preacher that made very scurvy Verses affected to quote them in his Sermons and sometimes said I have made these at Prayers At last one of his Hearers offended at his Pride and Vanity interrupted him and said Verses made at Prayers are as inconsiderable as the Prayers during which they were made 49. A Persian Scribler read to the famous Poet Giami a wretched Gazel of his composure and made him observe how artfully he had avoided the Letter Elif through the whole Poem You would still do better reply'd Giami should you take out of it all the Letters of the Alphabet Observations A Gazel is a Piece of Poetry much in fashion amongst the Persians and Turks The two first Verses rhime together and the first Verse of the following Distichs terminate on the Rhime of the first Distich but the second Verse does not rhime at all This Piece consists at least of 5 Distichs and I have seen some of 11 12 and 13. Commonly the Poet inserts his Name in the last Distich or the last but one when the Gazel is somewhat long All the Poets of any note amongst them make a Series of Gazels rhimed by Alphabetical Order which when brought to a Body is call'd Divan The very same word signifies likewise a Body of People that make up a Council and withal the Place where they assemble Thus at the Port they say the Grand Vizier presides at the Divan the Grand Vizier the other Viziers the two Cadileskers the Reis Kitteb and the Nischanga meet thrice a Week in the Divan where they have each his Place Love is the ordinary Subject of Gazels However Hasis Giami and other Persian Poets treat of the most sublime Matters of mystical Divinity in their Gazels under the Allegorical Terms of Love and Voluptuousness Giami is one of the greatest Persian Poets It appears by his Baharistan that he was most famous in the Reign of Mirza Sultan Hussein the last of Tamerlan's Race who possess'd the Kingdoms of Khorassan and Persia He died in the Year 898 of the Hegyra of our Lord 1483. being 81 Years of Age according to the History of the Persian Poets written by Sami a Prince of the Family of the present Sophies of Persia He has composed a great Number of Works in Verse and Prose and there are amongst his Pieces of Poetry five Divans that is five perfect Collections of Gazels by Alphabetical Order He is commonly call'd Mevlana
to forget what was pâ—st and restored him to his former Dignity This King was one of the Kings of Persia that reigned before the Birth of Mahoâ—â—t Which joined to other Testimonies shows that there were Histories of those Kings that might be lost in the Time of Kikiaous but of which many things were still known by Tradition 57. In the Reign of Sultan Mahmoud Sebecteghin the Governour of the Town of Nisa in Khorassan ruin'd a very rich Merchant and imprison'd him The Merchant making his Escape went to Gaznin the Seat of the Sultan where he cast himself at his Feet asking Justice Sultan Mahmoud order'd a Letter should be given him directed to the Governour enjoining him to restore whatever he had taken from the Merchant The Governour read the Letter but thinking the Merchant would ne're take the Trouble to go again to Court did nothing of what was enjoin'd him But the Merchant was not so easily wearied and went back to Gaznin and watching his Opportunity when the Sultan went out of his Palace ask'd Justice a second time with Sighs and Tears against the disobedient Governour The Sultan order'd he should have another Letter But the Merchant represented to him that he had already carried a Letter from his Majesty which the Governour had not obey'd and that it was not likely he should obey this Sultan Mahmoud who was intent upon other things answer'd I cannot help it I can do nothing but write to him but if he obey not put his Head under thy Feet The Merchant reply'd I beg your Majesty's Pardon he himself will trample my Head under his Feet when he receives this second Letter The Sultan came to himself and said I am mistaken 't is my part and not thine to punish him At the same time he dispatch'd Officers to the Provost of the Town of Nisa with Orders to restore to the Merchant what-ever belonged to him and to hang the Governour The Provost executed the Orders and when they brought the Governour to the Gallows the Sultan's Letter was carry'd before him a Crier proclaiming that this was the just Punishment of those that did not obey the Prince their Master's Orders Observations Sultan Mahmoud Sebecteghin was Son to Sebecteghin who was at first a Slave at the Court of the Samanians that promoted him to the chief Offices in their Dominions with such advantageous Circumstances that at last he succeeded them in the Soveraignty of the Province of Khorassan After his Death Sultan Mahmoud succeeded him and inlarg'd his Dominions by great Conquests in the East-Indies He reigned in the 4th Age of the Hegyra that is in our 10th Century and chose Gaznin a Town on the Borders of the East-Indies for the Seat of his Empire preferring it before Bokâ—ara where the Samanians used to reside that he might be nearer his Conquests and still at hand to assist them Nisa is a considerable Town of Khorassan famous for its excellent Pasture-ground and good Horses 58. Sultan Masoud Son to Sultan Mahmoud Sebecteghin was a brave Warrier but understood not the Art of Governing like his Father Whilst he indulg'd himself in Pleasures charm'd with Consorts of Musick amidst the Ladies of his Palace the Governours of his Provinces and his Troops liv'd with the utmost Licentiousness and committed great Violences A Woman that had been misus'd came to make her Complaint and he gave her a Letter to the Governour of whom she complain'd But the Governour performing nothing of what was commanded him she went again to the Sultan and crowding through a Throng of Petitioners repeated her Complaint Sultan Masoud order'd her a second Letter and as she represented that the Governour had not obeyed the first and the Sultan said he could not help it she replied with great Boldness Give your Provinces to be govern'd to such as will obey your Letters and spend not your time in Diversions whilst your Subjects the Creatures of God groan under the Tyranny of your Governours 59. The Physician Hâ—â—â—th said Though this Life be always too sâ—ort yet to live long we must â—at in the Morning wear light Clothes and use Women soberly By the Lightness of Clothes he understood that we ought to avoid being loaded with Debts or being â—as'd up within a Stone-Doublet Observation This Physician was an Arabian of the Town Taief who practised Physick first in Persia and then in his own Country in the Time of Mahomet However 't is not sure that he was a Mahometan but 't is certain he was born a Heathen 60. The Calife Mansour had for his Physician George Son to Bachtjeschoua whom he lov'd though he was a Christian because he had cur'd him of a very dangerous Disease George being already pretty old fell sick The Calife would needs see him and order'd he should be brought to him the most convenient Way which was done The Calife ask'd him How he did And the Physician having satisfied him in that entreated him to grant him Leave to return to his Country urging his Desire to see his Family before his Death especially his only Son and to be buried with his Ancestors after his Death The Calife said Doctor fear God and turn Mussulman I promise you Paradise The Physician answer'd 'T will be Paradise to me to be where my Fathers are Observatiâ—ns Abul-pharage who relates this Story aâ—ds that the Calife having laugh'd at the Physician 's Answer did what he could to detain him but at last granted him his Request and sent him back with a Present of 10000 Pieces of Gold each the Value of a French Gold-Crown Which shows that the Gift was not inconsiderable This Physician was originally of Giondi Sabor a Town of Peâ—sia whither he was conducted by an Eunuch that had Orders to cause his Corps to be carried thither if he chanced to die by the way that he might be interr'd according to his â—esire but he got thither alive The Calife Mansour was call'd Abougiafar Mansour and was the Tenth of the Family of the Abbassides He dy'd not far from Mecca whither he was gone in Pilgrimage in the Year of the Hegyra 15â— of our Lord 774. 61. John Son to Mesue Physician to the Calife Haroun Erreschid was given to Jesting yet Gabriel another Physician was too hard for him in the Presence of Ibrahim the Calife's Brother for Gabriel having said to him You are my Brother the Son of my Father Mesue said to the Calife's Brother My Lord I beg of your Lordship to bear witness for I intend to share his Father's Estate with him But Gabriel answer'd Hold Brother this cannot be remember that Bastards are no Heirs Observations Mesue was of Syria and Haroun Erresâ—hid who had call'd him to his Court caused him to translate into Arabick the Antient Physicians and other Greek Works And being very Learned he set up a School at Bagdat where he taught all sorts of Sciences Gabriel was Grandson to George Son of Bachtjeschoua mention'd in the foregoing History and
Physician to the Court of Haroun Erreschid near whom he got in great Credit on occasion of a Lady of his Palace This â—ady stretching her self her arm remained stiff so that she could not use it All the Unctions and Fomentations the Physicians could think of were applied in vain At last Gabriel was call'd and being told after what Manner the Rigidity had seiz'd her assur'd the Calife he knew an infallible Means to cure her only he desired he would not take amiss what he was to do before him and the whole Company when the Lady should come She came by the Calife's Order and assoon as she appear'd Gabriel ran to her and stooping took hold of the lower end of her Coat as though he would have taken it up The Lady surpriz'd at it her Colour chang'd and she stretch'd down that Arm which was stiff before to the very bottom of her Coat lest the Physician should take it up Presently he cried out to the Calife that she was cur'd And indeed from that Moment the Lady mov'd her Arm as freely as if it had never been hurt The Calife was so pleased with it that he order'd 500000 Drachms to the Physician Those Drachms were a Silver Coin of the Value of about a Shilling so that the whole Sum amounted to 350000 Livers that is 26923 Pounds one Shilling and six Pence 62. The Calife Vathek Billa angled upon the River Tygris and Mesue his Physician was near him The Calife sorry he could catch nothing said to Mesue Thou unlucky Wretch be gone thou marrest my good Fortune Mesue incensed at this hard Usage said to the Calife Emperor of the Faithful accuse me not unjustly I own my Father was no more than a common Citizen of Khouz and my Mother Recala had been a Slave yet I have attain'd to the Happiness of being the Favourite of many Califes of Eating and Drinking with them and being a Sharer in their Pleasures and by their Kindness I am grown rich even beyond my Expectation Now such a Man cannot be call'd unlucky But if you 'll be pleased to give me leave I will tell you who may truly be call'd unhappy The Calife declaring he might explain himself he added 'T is a Lord descended from four Califes whom God has made Calife too but who regardless of his Dignity Grandeur and Palace sits in a poor Cottage of 20 Cubits compass exposed to a Blast of Wind that may drown him and does the Work of the poorest and vilest sort of Men. Observatiâ—ns Abul-pharage observes that the Calife was highly incensed at the Boldness of Mesue but that the Presence of Mutevekkel ala-llah his Brother and Successor hindred him from showing his Resentment The Calife Vathek Billah died in the Year of the Hegyra 232 of our Lord 846. 63. The Physician Bachtjeschoua went to attend the Calife Mutevekkel ala-llah and found him alone He sate down by him as he us'd to do and his Gown being somewhat unstitched at the lower end the Calife discoursing with him insensibly rip'd it up to the Girdle Now the Matter of which they discours'd caused the Calife to put this Question to the Doctor By what Token they knew it to be high time to bind a Mad-man Bachtjeschoua answer'd We bind him when he 's so mad as to rip up his Physician 's Gown to the very Girdle Observations Abul-pharage relates that the Calife laugh'd so heartily at the Physician 's Answer that he fell back on the Carpet on which he sate and at the same time order'd him a very rich Gown and a considerable Sum of Money This Bachtjeschoua was Son to that Gabriel whom we have lately mention'd but notwithstanding this great Familiarity with the Calife a Treat which he presum'd to give that Prince was fatal to the Giver for the Calife was so highly offended at his Sumptousness and Wealth that sometime after he banish'd him from Court and extorted great Sums of Money from him 'T is observ'd that the Sale only of the Wood Wine Coals and other Provisions of his House amounted to very near 3000 Pounds Sterling 64. Mehemmed Son of Zekeria or rather Razis of whom we have already spoke being grown blind in his old Age a Quack profâ—er'd to couch him and so restore him his Sight Razis ask'd him how many Tunicles the Eye was made of The Empirick answer'd he knew not however he was sure he could cure him Razis replied He that knows not how many Tunicles the Eye is composed of shall never touch my Eyes His Friends and Relations urg'd him to it alledging that he ventur'd nothing though the Operation should not succeed and that he might recover his Sight if it were successful But he still excus'd it saying I have seen the World so long that I desire not to see it any more 65. The Calife Caher Billah having entrusted Sinan the Son of his Physician Thabet with the Examination of those that would profess Physick a comely grave old Man happen'd to come to him and was received with all the Honour due to his Age and Appearance He had no sooner desired him to â—it down but he declared he would listen with pleasure to the good things he expected from him and ask'd him of whom he had learned Physick Upon that Question the old Man pull'd out of his Sleeve a Paper full of Pieces of Gold which he put on the Carpet before Sinan desiring him to accept of them Then he added I must freely own I can neither read nor write but I have a Family and I must maintain them which obliges me to entreat you not to hinder me from that Way of living I have hitherto followed Sinan smiled and said You shall provided you visit no Patients whose Disease is unknown to you and prescribe neither Bleeding nor Purging but in those Diseases which you are very well acquainted with The old Man answer'd It was his Method and that he never order'd any thing besides Oxymel and Juleps The next Day a brisk and handsom young Man well accoutred came to him upon the same account Sinan ask'd him of whom he had learned Physick He answer'd of his Father who was the old Man to whom he had given Power the Day before to practise Physick Sinan reply'd He 's a brave Man do you use his Method The young Man answer'd Yes so Sinan having charg'd him to observe it well sent him back with Power to practise Physick as he had done his Father Observations The Calife Caher Billah was call'd Abou Mansour before his coming to the Throne and succeeded Muctseder Billa in the Year of the Hegyra 320 of our Lord 932. He reigned a Year and seven Months The first Physician of the Grand Signior has as well as this Physician of the Calife the Power of examining those who take upon them to profess Physick at Constantinople 66. A Greek Quack of Antiochia had agreed for a Sum of Money to cure a Man of a Tertian Ague but instead of