634 Notice of the Ajaib-M- Mukhlukat [No. 152. 



One of the last descriptions in the Ajaib-al-Mukhlukat, is, that of a 

 strange creature seen on the coast of Arabia Felix, (Yemen,) the legs 

 and lower parts of which were those of a woman, but separating from 

 the hip into two distinct human bodies, with two heads and two pair of 

 arms. These two bodies lived, ate, and drank amicably together, but 

 sometimes they quarrelled. After a space, one of the bodies died, and 

 the traveller who relates the story, states, he was informed that after the 

 lifeless trunk had been cut off, the other trunk survived and went its 

 way. 



The sequel of this story is a little marvellous ; and the whole tale 

 would have been thought excessively Munchausenish by any person 

 who had not seen or read authenticated accounts of the Siamese 

 twins. 



The mermaid I have little doubt has its origin in the exaggerated 

 accounts of the form and habits of that singular inhabitant of the 

 Malayan seas, the Dugong ; Gog and Magog, and a host of other 

 strange beings described by Cazvini, had their origin in the exaggerated 

 accounts of travellers. Anticipating some scepticism on the part of his 

 readers, Cazvini gravely premonishes them that all things are possible 

 to God. 



In describing the wonders of the creation, like the writers of the 

 Bridgewater Treatises, he piously calls attention to the wisdom and 

 beneficence of God in the displayed harmonious design of his works ; 

 and labours to impress on his readers, that the heavens and their starry 

 host ; the earth and encompassing ocean ; and all that therein is, 

 men, angels, genii and animals, were created by God for the manifesta- 

 tion of his glory and greatness. 



The work was evidently intended as a popular exposition of the 

 sciences and natural history, rather than as a class book for students in 

 the many branches on which it touches. 



The geological theories of mutual and periodical changes of sea and 

 land ; the poles ; the successive destruction and reproduction of different 

 races of animals ; the entombment of organic remains ; the degradation 

 of mountains by watery action ; the transport of their debris into the 

 ocean again to become mountains when its bed becomes dry land ; the 

 origin of tides ; springs ; earthquakes ; halos, &c. are curious and worthy 

 of perusal. 



