644 Notice of the Ajaib-al-Mukhlukat [No. 152. 



The four Seasons. 



The period of the vernal and autumnal equinoxes, and those of the 

 sun's entrance into hamal and sartan, (Aries and Cancer,) divide the 

 year into four parts. 



The first called (rubbi, **.).) or spring, extends from the vernal 

 equinox until the sun has completed its northerly course, and is on the 

 point of returning towards the equator. The summer, {saif, L o : ^\ 

 commences at this period, and lasts till the autumnal equinox, when 

 autumn begins, and continues till the sun has attained its utmost south- 

 erly declination. The winter, (shita, U<£ ) now sets in, and terminates 

 at the vernal equinox. 



The Cycles of the Prophets. 



Some ulimas have declared, that God, once in a thousand years, in 

 order to manifest his divine power and glory, has sent a prophet among 

 mankind. 



In the first 1000 years appeared Abul-basher, (the father of mankind,) 

 Adam. In the 2nd, Abuna-noh, Noah, the Shaikh of the prophets ; and 

 Abraham, the beloved of God, Khalil Allah, in the third. In the 4th 

 millennium appeared Moses, who spoke with God, Kalm Allah. In the 

 5th, Solomon, the son of David. In the 6th Isa, Jesus, the Spirit of God, 

 Ruh Allah ; and in the 7th, Mahomed, the Seal, or last of the prophets. 



To this succeeds a curious story of the prophet Khizrs appearing to 

 a king, and telling him of the changes the world had undergone. That 

 the sea was formerly dry land, and dry land sea, and that races of 

 strange animals, no longer existing, have been swept from the earth's 

 surface in succession. 



2d Mukdleh, or Discourse on Sublunary Things. 



Al Makalieh ath thanieh fias siftiat, C!jUUuJI<J juiUtty juJUUfl 



The elements, Al andsir, ^LxJJ 



The elements are supposed to be four in number ; viz. fire, air, 

 water and earth, (then thought to be simple bodies,) of which every 

 thing else is composed. 



