1844.] Notice of the Ajaib-aL Mukhlukat 659 



the sumach, sandarach, fir, jujube, pepper, vine, the clove, the cane, 

 apricot, rose, jasmin, &c. 



In the second class we find the cotton plant, squills, saffron, 

 oldenlandia, sesame, coloquintida, endive, spinage, turnips, cucumber, 

 Egyptian and China beans, lentils, mustard, radish, onions, ginger, 

 the violet, wild rose, southernwood, sweet basil, the tulip, lily, nar- 

 cissus, &c. Like the minerals, the trees and shrubs are usually classed 

 alphabetically. 



Animals, (Al-Hywan, jL^s I) 



Divided into seven classes ; viz. man, genii, the horse, the ass, mule, 

 camel ; cows ; sheep and deer, beasts of prey, birds, reptiles and insects. 



The author states, that animals were created with limbs best adapted 

 to their wants : among animals man ranks first ; the author enters into 

 a dissertation on the faculties of man, the prophets, saints, &c. ; produc- 

 tion and generation of man ; his anatomical structure and physiology. He 

 supposes the difference of colour among the human tribes to be occa- 

 sioned by the sun ; that the Arabs rank highest among the races of the 

 earth's descendants of Ismail, whose residence is West of the second 

 clime. The religion of the Arabs was originally that of Abraham.* 

 They lapsed into idolatry ; the worship of the stars, angels, &c. The 

 chief of Arabs, Omar Bindahi, is said to have been the introducer of idola- 

 try among these followers of Abraham, which he imported from the 

 land of Balka, (Balkh?). The Arabs according to the author, were the 

 most eloquent of the nations on earth. 



The Persians. 



The Persians are described as descendants of Tamiiras, inhabiting 

 Iran in the 3rd clime, and rank next to the Arabs. 



They were idolaters and adored the stars (Sabians,) till the time of 

 Gushtasp, son of Zohrab ; when instructed by Zoroaster, the descendant 

 of Manochehr Malek, they with their monarch, became worshippers of 

 fire. 



* Abraham is said to have been originally an idolater, like his father Azer, the idol- 

 maker, and son-in-law of Nimrod ; and worshipped the stars, moon, and planets ; but 

 who afterwards, according to the Koran, directed his face to Him who created the 

 heavens and the earth, and overthrew idolatry. 



4 U 



