118 LITERATURE OF THE ARABS. 



same manner ; the bag is angular, and pressed with 

 the arm. Thegaspah of the Arabs is a common reed 

 open at both ends, like the German flute, with three 

 or more holes in the side, according to the extent of 

 the musician's abilities. The tarr, another of their 

 instruments (the tympanum of the ancients), con- 

 sists of a thin hoop of wood, with a skin of parch- 

 ment stretched over the top like a sieve. This serves 

 for bass in their concerts, and they touch it, like 

 the tambourine, very dexterously with their fingers, 

 knuckles, or palms. Connected with this art was 

 the practice of employing jongleurs, who accompa- 

 nied with their instruments the recitations of the 

 poets. Dancing was a favourite amusement with 

 the Spanish Arabs ; and from them our ancestors bor- 

 rowed the morris-dance which formed a part of their 

 May games. To the diversions of hunting, hawking, 

 and horsemanship, they were passionately addicted. 

 Of all the sciences cultivated by the Arabs, agri- 

 culture is that in which they made the greatest pro- 

 gress. No civilized nation of their times possessed 

 a code of husbandry more judicious or more perfect. 

 Many of their learned men turned their attention 

 to this subject. Kutsami, author of the Naba- 

 thsean Agriculture, Abu Omar, Abu Abdallah, Abu 

 Zacharia, and others, afforded to their country- 

 men valuable instruction in the different branches 

 of rural economy. From these treatises it appears 

 that the Saracens were well acquainted with the 

 nature and properties of soils and manures ; and 

 the proper application of them to every particular 

 species of crops, trees, and plants. They were fa- 

 miliar with the rearing and management of cattle ; 

 and the European horse was greatly improved by 

 a mixture with the Arabian breed. They had a 



