200 



sily," to whom his discourses, under the Divine benediction, had 

 brought peace, comfort, and joy ! 



I have been requested by valuable friends not to suppress 

 those quotations of scripture, first written in foreign lands and 

 distant shores; and which they are pleased lo think may now be 

 a word in season : 



Simul et jucunda et idonea discere vitae. Horace. 



And join both profit and delight in one. 



I shall take leave of Cambay, and the various entertainments 

 I met with on my journey to Ahmedabad, with an extract bom 

 a Persian story, by Feridd'eddin Attar, inserted in the oriental 

 collections, describing a magnificent banquet, which must cer- 

 tainly include every thing that can enter the warmest imagi- 

 nation. 



" The painted representation of Persian feasts, which are to 

 be found in some of their manuscripts, agrees with this poetical 

 description. The prince, seated on a raised sofa or cushion, re- 

 ceives either from the hand of his princess, or of the young cup- 

 bearer, a goblet of wine; the guests in turn are served round, the 

 musicians are seated in a corner, and dancing women are repre- 

 sented in A r arious attitudes. These feasts are sometimes celebrated 

 during the hours of nocturnal coolness, on the flowery bank of a 

 refreshing stream; where a thousand nightingales in the border- 

 ing rose-trees, join their voices lo the melody of the chenk and 

 barbut. Perfumes are scattered all around; and lovely nymphs, 

 with faces bright as the moon, and ringlets black and fragrant 



