CALIPHS OF BAGDAD. 25 



ceived at Bagdad amidst an illumination of waxen 

 torches, " which eclipsed the stars, and set the fir- 

 mament in a blaze." Of the luxury or expendi- 

 ture of their nuptial banquet, some estimate may 

 be formed from the assertion, that in the article of 

 sugar alone 500 tons weight was consumed. Such 

 was the vigilant prudence of Mostader, that during 

 the whole of his reign not a single insurrection oc- 

 curred to disturb the tranquillity of his government. 

 His son Mostarshed has obtained a distinguished 

 name among the few latter sovereigns of the house 

 of Abbas, who, in the decline of its power, display- 

 ed some portion of zeal to revive the expiring lustre 

 of the caliphate. Mostanjed was a prince of consi- 

 derable energy, and scrupled not to throw some un- 

 fortunate ladies of the harem into the Tigris, for 

 intriguing against his successor. 



Under Mostanser and Mostasem the taste for 

 expensive magnificence revived. Previous to one 

 of the religious festivals, the former ordered his 

 jeweller to prepare a vast quantity of small golden 

 balls, which he caused to be distributed among his 

 domestics, and shot from pellet-bows over all parts 

 of the city. Mostasem, the last of his line, whose 

 power had dwindled to a mere pre-eminence in dig- 

 nity, affected a higher degree of pomp and ceremony 

 than the most splendid of his predecessors. The 

 greatest princes were with difficulty allowed access 

 to his presence. In imitation of the Kaaba, the 

 gate of his palace was furnished with a stone and a 

 piece of black velvet, to which his subjects paid al- 

 most divine honours ; and when the principal officers 

 of state made their court, they did homage to the 

 proud pontiff, by rubbing their eyes and forehead 



