110 



LITERATURE OF THE ARABS. 



this simple and natural method ; and their original 

 numerals, of which the Arabic ciphers are merely 

 an abridgment,, may be considered as primitive 

 words or characters. Their use and general diffu- 

 sion in Europe must be ascribed to the persevering 

 industry of the famous Gerbert, afterwards Pope 

 Sylvester II., who is the first philosopher known to 

 have visited Spain in the pursuit of knowledge. On 

 his return he founded two schools ; one at Bobbio 

 in Italy, and another at Rheims in France, both of 

 which were numerously attended, and contributed 

 to give a new turn to the study of philosophy. 



Their mathematical and mechanical knowledge 

 the Arabs turned to various purposes for multiply- 

 ing and improving the conveniences of life ; such 

 as the construction of aqueducts, baths, cisterns, 

 and canals. Their acquaintance with hydrau- 

 lics is manifest from the number of mills and other 

 waterworks employed in the useful process of irri- 

 gation. Accustomed to an arid and sultry climate, 

 they considered the command of water to be a ma- 

 terial requisite in every country where they set- 

 tled. The pontanos or reservoirs in Spain, and the 

 tanks in Africa, were either erected or restored by 

 them. Their palaces and mosques were furnished 

 with capacious cisterns. The gardens of the Al- 

 hambra contained sheets of water, in the surface of 

 which the buildings were reflected ; and in most 

 of the principal cities fountains played in the streets, 

 as well as in the courts of the houses, by which the 

 atmosphere was attempered during summer. In 

 the famous palace of Toledo was a pond, in the 

 midst of which rose a vaulted room of stained "glass 

 adorned with gold. Into this apartment the caliph 



