16 CALIPHS OF BAGDAD. 



he would introduce a snake into the sleeve of an un- 

 fortunate courtier, or cast leathern jars full of scor- 

 pions into a crowded assembly, or in the middle of 

 the hall where he had prepared a banquet for his 

 favourites, without suffering any one to rise from 

 the table or change his place. Besides these mis- 

 chievous diversions, he exercised great severity on 

 his subjects, of whom not less than 80,000 perished 

 in the Armenian rebellion. Persons of distinction, 

 who had the misfortune to incur his displeasure, he 

 enclosed in an iron stove lined with pointed nails, 

 which he caused to be heated in proportion to the 

 enormity of the crime he intended to punish. But 

 the tyrant met with his deserts, having fallen by the 

 hands of his own slaves, who employed against his 

 life those scimitars which he had recently distrib- 

 uted among them for the defence of his person and 

 throne. From the death of this prince the destina- 

 tion of the crown was usually fixed by the fierce 

 and mercenary chiefs of the Tartar slaves or guards, 

 and in their power it continued for twelve succes- 

 sions, including a period of about eighty-four years. 

 Yet with all this weakness a show of external 

 strength and magnificence was maintained. Of 

 Moktader's court and camp at Bagdad (A. D. 917) 

 we find a curious picture in Abulfeda, little accord- 

 ant with the declining state of his authority. " The 

 caliph's whole army," says he, " both horse and 

 foot, was under arms, which together made a body 

 of 160,000 men. His state-officers, the favourite 

 slaves, stood near him in splendid apparel, their 

 belts glittering with gold and gems. Near them 

 were 7000 eunuchs ; 4000 of them white, the re- 

 mainder black. The porters or doorkeepers were 

 in number 700. Barges and boats with the most 

 superb decorations were seen floating upon the Ti- 

 gris. Nor was the palace itself less splendid, in 

 which were hung up 38,000 pieces of tapestry; 

 12,500 of which were of silk, embroidered with gold. 



