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made a body of one hundred and sixty thousand men. His state 

 officers, the favourite slaves, stood near him in splendid apparel, 

 their bells glittering with gold and gems. Near them were seven 

 thousand eunuchs; four thousand of them white, the remainder 

 black. The porters or doorkeepers were in number seven hun- 

 dred. Barges and boats, with the most superb decorations, were 

 seen swimming upon the Tigris. Nor was the palace itself less 

 splendid, in which were hung up thirty thousand pieces of tapes- 

 try; twelve thousand five hundred of which were of silk embroi- 

 dered with gold. The carpets on the floor were twenty-two thou- 

 sand. A hundred lions were brought out, with a keeper to each 

 lion. Among the other spectacles of rare and stupendous luxury, 

 was a tree of gold and silver, spreading into eighteen large 

 branches; on which, and on the lesser boughs, sat a variety of 

 birds, made of the same precious metals, as well as the leaves of 

 the tree : while the machinery affected spontaneous motions, the 

 several birds warbled their natural harmony. Through this scene 

 of magnificence the Greek ambassador was led by the vizier to the 

 foot of the caliph's throne." 



The reflection, if not the magnificence of Abdalrahman, is inte- 

 resting ; and each of these anecdotes not only merit their place in 

 the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, but illustrate oriental 

 manners and customs at the present day. — " Abdalrahman's build- 

 ings at Zehra were sustained or adorned by twelve hundred 

 columns of Spanish and African, of Greek and Italian marble. 

 The hall of audience was incrusted with gold and pearls, and a 

 preat bason in the centre was surrounded with the curious and 

 costly figures of birds and quadrupeds. In a lofty pavilion in the 



