566 A KAZEM-BEG, 
. where he undertook a celebrated expedition to Maverdüun-nehr, and returned with considerable 
spoil and plunder. (See the chronological tables of Katib-tchelebi for that year.) In 119—121 
be undertook, by order of the Khalif, a great and successful expedition to the countries of the 
Khazars; where, it is said, he converted the Khagban of the Khazars to the religion of Islam! 
(See the same chronological tables for the year 119; also Teberi, part VI, under the title 
Jar ps h; déluse ee Lu sys After the death of Hisham, when Velid possessed the throne of the 
Empire, Mervän was appointed viceroy of Armenia and Aderbijàän, where he dwelt till 127 
of the Hiret, when /brahim the son of Velid ascended the throne of the kingdom. — 
No sooner had the information of the domestic disorder reéached Mervän than he left Ar- 
menia and declared bis own rights to the throne. Béing more powerful and: more experienced 
than Ibrahim, he succeeded in his ambitions design; and (according to some), having put Ibrahim 
to death, possessed himself of that throne which was so near to perfect destruction (see 
œil] gels chap. L for the names Ju, velo, plis and et y Use). 
With regard to Mervan's being surnamed 4/-himär among other reasons We find the follo- 
wing curious aneedote in Mir-khond: ççgrs 291 Ulis af 05 15] Ciye es LEA ele > 
SON ses os MT y GE nl, EF Ce ls au SIC Sa, 
Cifs Je LE HE US se let sols us fol ess) + es) J 3/5 te £ DoJie P 
Cr Pro D if nr affa MT 3 Loge Ur C5 p5 515 NE 
Den gs pe A spas ob SEA sd Al 25 nec iusls 
ul bg Ge css COL quels Le EM Ulis fe Saobe ls QT LS 
js Qlaye d23e 5) EL Us Ce Aj up. of PES r J ax) us) CT L Si) 5, a 
Less Le our 5 y ue mo gum geile di) shétriett 
\ Css D > ass (se JL vrge au 
«Muhammed=’ Auni relates in Djamiul-hekaïat, that Mervân was the disciple of Dja’dë (a phi- 
losopher, or rather a deceiver of the age, who was known for his supposed supernatural infor- 
mation and who, in spite of the generality of'the Muhamedan creed, held the opinion 
that the Coran was created), from whom he learned the science of conjurmg the seven planets. 
He had already subjugated one of them, so that its spirit used ‘now and then to come and 
speak with him. One day the spirit came but could not find him (at home); there it saw an 
ass that was put in the stable. The spirit spoke something toit, and having given it water return- 
ed. When Mervân came home and asked whether there had been any one that day, they ans- 
wered that there came a water-carrier with-a jar on his shoulders, who gave water to the Ass 
and went away. Mervân came to the Ass and said: «Did there come the spirit of sueh a planet 
(to day)? » — The Ass nodded his head (as it were to say) «yes». Mervän asked: «Did it 
give thee water? — The motion was repeated. — Mervân related this circumstance to Dja’diÿ 
wHé answered: «It denotes, that as thou hast not been present, we ‘have thrown the rays of 
