and shaded by groves of date-trees. Amongst its animal productions, the most beautiful is the gazelle, which, properly speaking, is only to be found in Arabia; a delicate and lovely creature, with the soft black eye which has been from time immemorial the theme of poets. The gazelle is easily tamed, becoming in a short time very familiar, and being much more gentle, as well as more graceful, than the common antelope. Its movements are the most airy and elegant imaginable. It is fond of describing a circle in a succession of bounds, jumping off the ground on four legs, and touching it lightly as it wheels round and round. At other times, it pirouettes upon the two fore-feet, springing round at the same time like an opera-dancer; in fact, it would appear as if Taglioni, and all our most celebrated artistes, had taken lessons from the gazelle, so much do their chefs-d'œuvre resemble its graceful motions. When domesticated, the gazelle loves to feed upon roses, delighting apparently in the scent as well as the taste. It is the fashion in the East to add perfume to the violet, and I found these gazelles would eat with much zest roses that had been plentifully sprinkled with their extract, the goolabce-paanee, so greatly in request. The gazelle is also very fond of crisply-toasted bread, a taste which must be acquired in domestication. It is a courageous animal, and will come readily to the assault, butting fiercely when attacked. In taking a gazelle away from Arabia, it should be carefully guarded against cold and damp, and if not provided with water-proof covering to its feet, would soon die if exposed to the wet decks of a ship.

We had lost at Aden our fellow-passenger, whom I have mentioned as having assumed the Turkish dress for the purpose of penetrating into the interior of Abyssinia. He depended, in a great measure, for comfort and safety, upon two native priests, whom he had brought with him from Cairo, and who, in return for his liberality, had promised all the protection and assistance in their power. He left us with the good wishes of all the party, and not without some fears in the breasts of those who contemplated the hazards which he ran. Young and good-looking, he had, with pardonable, but perhaps dangerous vanity, studied the becoming in his costume, which was composed of the very finest materials. His long outer garment, of a delicate woollen texture, was lined throughout with silk, and the crimson cap, which he wore upon his head, was converted into a turban by a piece of gold muslin wound round it. He expected nothing less than to be plundered and stripped of this fine apparel, and it will be well for him should he escape with life. The adventure and the romance of the undertaking possessed great charms, and he talked, after spending some years in a wild and wandering career, of sitting down quietly in his paternal halls, introducing as many of the Egyptian customs as would be tolerated in a Christian country. A short residence in Cairo proves very captivating to many Englishmen; they like the independent sort of life which they lead; their perfect freedom from all the thralls imposed by society at home, and, when tired of dreaming away existence after the indolent fashion of the East, plunge into the surrounding deserts, and enjoy all the excitement attendant upon danger. Numerous anecdotes were related to me of the hardships sustained by young English travellers, who, led by the spirit of adventure, had trusted themselves to the Bedouins, and though escaping with life, had suffered very severely from hunger, thirst, and fatigue. I have no reason to doubt the veracity of one of these enterprising tourists, who assured me that he had passed through the holy city of Mecca. According to his account, he had made friends with an Arab boy, who offered to afford him a glimpse of the city, provided he would consent to pass rapidly through it, at an early hour in

the morning. Accordingly, disguised in Mohamedan garb, and mounted upon a camel, they entered, and quitted it at opposite ends, without exciting curiosity or remark. Of course, he could see nothing but the exterior of the houses and mosques, only obtaining a partial view of these; but, considering the difficulty and peril of the undertaking, the pleasure of being able to say that he had succeeded in an achievement which few would be daring enough to attempt, was worth running some risks. Notwithstanding the intolerant spirit generally manifested by the Arabs, those English strangers who embrace their way of life for a time frequently attach them very strongly to their persons, obtaining concessions from them which could scarcely be expected from a people so bigoted in their religious opinions, and entertaining so contemptible an opinion of those who are followers of other creeds. In spite of the faults of his character-for he is frequently deceitful, treacherons, cruel, and covetousthe Arab of the desert is usually much respected by the dwellers in towns. His independent spirit is admired by those who could not exist without the comforts and conveniences of life, which he disdains. It is no uncommon sight, either at Cairo or Alexandria, to see a handsome young Bedouin, splendidly attired, lodging in the open street by the side of his camel, for nothing will persuade him to sleep in a house; he carries the habits of the desert into the city, and in the midst of congregated thousands, dwells apart. We, who merely crossed the desert from Cairo to Suez, could form little idea of the pleasures which a longer sojourn and more extended researches would afford— the poetry of the life which the Arab leads. Nothing, I was told, could exceed the enjoyments of the night, when, after a day of burning heat, the cool breezes came down from elevated valleys, occurring between the ranges of hills which I had observed with so much interest. This balmy air brings with it perfumes wafted from sweet-scented flowers, which spring spontaneously in the green spots known to the gazelle, who repairs to them to drink. Although the dews are heavy, the Arab requires no more protection than that afforded by his blanket, and he lies down under the most glorious canopy, the broad vault of heaven with its countless spangles, no artificial object intervening throughout the large circle of that wide horizon. Here, his ablutions, pray ers, and eveningmeal concluded, he either sinks into profound repose, or listens to the tales of his companions of daring deeds and battles long ago, or the equally interesting though less exciting narratives of passing events; some love-story between persons of hostile tribes, or the affection of a betrothed girl for a stranger, and its melancholy consequences. Notwithstanding the slight estimation in which the sex is held by the fierce and jealous Arab-jealous more from self-love than from any regard to the object that creates this feelingthere is still much of the romantic to be found in his domestic history. English travellers, who have acquired a competent knowledge of the language, may collect materials for poems as tragical and touching as those which Lord Byron loved to weave. I could relate several in this place, picked up by my fellowtravellers, but as they may at some period or other desire to give them to the public themselves, it would be scarcely fair to anticipate their intention.

We now began to look out with some anxiety for the arrival of the steamer at Bombay, speculating upon the chances of finding friends able to receive us. As we drew nearer and nearer, the recollection of the good hotels which had opened their hospitable doors for us in the most unpromising places, caused us to lament over the absence of similar establishments at the scene of our destination. Bombay has been aptly denominated the landing-place of India ; numbers of persons who have no acquaintance upon the island pass through

it on their way to Bengal, or to the provinces, and if arriving by the Red Sea, are totally unprovided with the means of making themselves comfortable in the tents that may be hired upon their landing. A tent, to a stranger in India, appears to be the most forlorn residence imaginable, and many cannot be reconciled to it, even after long custom. To those, however, who do not succeed in obtaining invitations to private houses, a tent is the only resource. It seems scarcely possible that the number of persons who are obliged to live under canvas on the Esplanade, would not prefer apartments at a respectable hotel, if one should be erected for the purpose; yet it is said that such an establishment would not answer. Bombay can never obtain the pre-eminence over Calcutta, which it is so anxious to accomplish, until it will provide the accommodation for visitors which the City of Palaces has afforded during several years past. However agreeable the overland journey may be, it cannot be performed without considerable fatigue. The voyage down the Red Sea, in warm weather especially, occasions a strong desire for rest; even those per sons, therefore, who are so fortunate as to be carried off to friends' houses, immediately upon their arrival, would much prefer the comfort and seclusion of a hotel, for the first day or two at least. The idea of going amongst stran gers, travel-soiled and travel-worn, is anything but agreeable, more particularly with the consciousness that a week's baths will scarcely suffice to remove the coal-dust collected in the steamers of the Red Sea: for my own part, I contemplated with almost equal alarm the prospect of presenting myself immediately upon the termination of my voyage, or of being left, on the charge of eight rupees per diem, to the tender mercies of the vessel.

moon.

We entered the harbour of Bombay in the evening of the 29th of October, too late to contemplate the beauty of its scenery, there being unfortunately no As soon as we dropped anchor, a scene of bustle and excitement took place. The boxes containing the mails were all brought upon deck, the vessel was surrounded with boats, and the first news that greeted our ears—news that was communicated with great glee-was the damage done by fire to the Atalanta steamer. This open manifestation, by the officers of the Indian navy, of dislike to a service to which they belong, is, to say the least of it, illjudged. A rapid increase in the number of armed steam-vessels may be calculated upon, while the destruction of half of those at present employed would scarcely retard the progress of this mighty power-a power which may alter the destinies of half the world. The hostility, therefore, of persons who cannot hope by their united opposition to effect the slightest change in the system, becomes contemptible. It is a wise proverb which recommends us not to show our teeth unless we can bite. To expose the defects of steamers, may produce their remedy; but to denounce them altogether, is equally useless and unwise, since, however inconvenient they may be, no person, with whom despatch is an object, will hesitate to prefer them to a sailing-vessel; while every officer, who takes the Queen's or the Company's pay, should consider it to be his duty to uphold the service which tends to promote the interests of his country.

ANALYSES OF EASTERN WORKS.

No. XIII. HISTORY OF SOLOMON AND THE SIMORG.*

THE story forming the subject of this article is founded upon the fame of Solomon, universal, throughout the Mohamedan part of the East, as a master of the secrets of nature and of the knowledge of futurity, and as the monarch not only of men, but also of animals and of genii.

The records of the Old Testament, our only authentic source of information as to the history of this gifted and powerful monarch, content themselves with a brief notice of the two most interesting points of his character -his heaven-given wisdom, and his apostacy from the worship of the true God. Written as it was for higher purposes than to minister to mere curiosity, that book dwells less upon the brilliant talents of the wisest of men, than upon the repentance which his later writings exhibit for the aberrations of his earlier years, and upon that pregnant proof which they evince, that "man in his best estate is altogether vanity." The Talmudists, however, have availed themselves of the brief hints thus supplied, and have reared, according to their custom, upon the small basis of truth, an immense edifice of fable. The Arabs, borrowing from them, have added to the mass of fiction, and thus the Arabian history of Suleiman Bin Daoud, received as we have just said throughout all Mohamedan countries, now forms one of the most splendid of their many cycles of fiction. To him are attributed ancient buildings, whose ruins still remain to perplex antiquaries less bold than the unscrupulous Moslem. His name is given to talismans, whether at present existing, or only objects of tradition. The splendid table of emerald, set round with precious stones, which was taken at Toledo by Musa or his freedman Tarik, on the first invasion of Spain by the Arabs, was the tablet of Solomon; and the genii, shut up for their rebellion in brazen vases, sealed with the magic seal of the prophet, and cast into the sea, are familiar to every reader of the Arabian Nights, more especially to such as have seen, in Von Hammer's addition to these stories, the tale of the Brazen City. The post of command which the prophet held over the rebellious spirits seems, however, to have partaken largely of the anxieties usually attached to pre-eminence over beings of whatever order, heightened certainly in this case by the superior power and intelligence of the beings who were to be kept in check. On one occasion, the monarch asked an unlawful question of one of his subject spirits, which the wily demon refused to answer unless the querist would deliver up to him his signet, the instrument whereby he retained his power. On receiving this, the evil spirit literally ejected Solomon from his palace, and for many months he wandered in poverty, repeating the words which form part of the beginning of Ecclesiastes (ch. i. v. 12): "I, the preacher, was king over Israel;" for the rabbins always contrive in some way to connect their wildest stories, generally by some verbal subtlety, with a text of Scripture. The constant repetition of this phrase at last excited the attention of the learned; the demon, who had

• MS, in East-India Company's library, No. 1,255.

meanwhile usurped the place of his master at bed and board, was detected much in the same manner as the Magian Smerdis, by his wives, and Solomon was eventually restored to his place; but ever after this he lived in fear, and had round him by night, as a guard against his ghostly enemies, "three score valiant men-every man with his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night." (Canticles, ch. iii. vv. 7, 8). One of the most magnificent imaginations regarding this monarch is, perhaps, that in which he is represented as superintending the building of the temple; in which work, besides all the Jewish labourers, and the hired help of the Tyrians, Mohamedan tradition states that he was assisted by vast numbers of subject ginns, working for fear of his magic power. During the building of this edifice, says the story, the monarch-prophet died; but his body remained propped upon his staff, and the demons, unaware that the spirit had forsaken the body, continued to labour, awed by the sternness of the eye which had controlled them during his life. When the building was finished, a worm gnawed its way through the staff, and the corpse fell to the ground; then the tribes of demon-workmen took their flight in confusion and anger at the mistake which had so long subjected them to the power of a mortal, and him a mere clod of the valley.

Of the other great actor in this story, the simorg, we have already made some mention in former papers. The simorg is an immense bird, the king (or queen) of all flying things, living in the mountain of Kaf, which surrounds the world, and though not immortal, existing alone for 1,500 years, when the solitary individual of the race is succeeded by another, its offspring, and is itself immolated, very much as the ancients described the death of the phoenix. Indeed there is little doubt that this classical fiction was first derived from the fable of the simorg, or of its Arabic equivalent the 'anka; and this latter again may be plausibly identified with the wonderful rokh, so conspicuous in the stories of Sindbad and Aladdin. The parent of the whole family has been not unreasonably supposed to be the Sanscrit garuda, the bearer of Vishnu, produced from a twin-egg with that from which was hatched Aruna, the beautiful charioteer of the sun; but who, from his mother's haste to exclude him from the enveloping shell, was born without thighs; a defect with which he is always represented. The fiction of an immense bird, whose egg was taken for the dome of a building, as in the story of Sindbad, harmonizes perfectly with the Sanscrit mythology, the objects of which are often of tremendous grandeur; but it is little in keeping with either the Arabic style of fiction, or such remnants as we possess of the old Persian popular superstitions. At the same time, it is probable that this was an ante-Mohamedan importation into the Persian mythology, as the simorg plays an important part in the Shah Nameh, a poem composed upon Parsee and Pahlavee traditions. It is she who brings up the famous Zal, the father of the still more famous Rustam; and being called to assist at the birth of the latter, by burning one of her feathers, which she had given to Zal to be used in extremity, she performs the Cæsarean operation upon the future hero's mother, having first