288 THE KORAW. 



treasures provided for the gratification of the external 

 senses. Other entertainments are on a scale of 

 similar magnificence. Whatever is subject to waste 

 requires sustenance ; and the hungry saints will 

 find abundant supply in a loaf large as the whole 

 globe, in the flesh of oxen, and in the livers of fishes 

 (delicacies among the Arabs), one lobe of which 

 will suffice 70,000 men. While eating, each will be 

 served in golden dishes to the amount of 300, and 

 waited on by as many attendants. Wine, forbidden 

 in this life, will be freely allowed in the next ; and 

 may be drunk to excess without paUing on the taste, 

 or incurring the risk of intoxication. The Tooba, 

 or tree of happiness, so large that the fleetest horse 

 could not gallop in a hundred years from one end 

 of its shadow to the other, — bearing dates, grapes, 

 and all manner of fruits, of surprising bigness and 

 inconceivable relish, will extend its loaded boughs to 

 the couch of every believer, bending spontaneously 

 to his hand, and inviting him to pluck of its vin- 

 tage. And should his capricious desires incline, its 

 branches will yield the flesh of birds or animals, 

 dressed according to his wishes ; while from its 

 expanding blossoms will burst vestures of green silk, 

 and beasts to ride on ready saddled, and adorned 

 with costly trappings. That every sense may have 

 a congenial gratification, the ear will be ravished 

 with the melodious songs of angels and houris, with 

 the vocal harmony of the trees, and the ^Eolian 

 chime of the bells that hang on their branches, 

 moved by the soft winds of heaven. When to this 

 train of gorgeous and sensual luxury are added the 

 seventy-two damsels (the portion of the humblest 

 of the faithful), whose charms shall eclipse all other 

 glories, whose complexions are bright as rubies, 

 and whose eyes, resembling "' pearls hidden in their 

 shells," shall never wander to any but their hus- 

 bands, we maj' form a tolerable conception of those 



