an ear of corn, with a bird perched upon it, and his performance was very much admired.  This piece, stood exposed to public view as usual, and one day a crooked fellow going past, found fault with the picture, and was immediately conducted to the prince or governor, who sent for the painter that he might hear his piece criticized.  Being asked what fault he had to find, he answered, that every one knew that a bird never settles on an ear of corn, but it must bend under the weight; whereas this painter had represented the ear of corn bolt upright, though loaded with a bird.  The objection was held just, and the painter was dismissed without reward.  By such means, they excite their workmen to aim at perfection, and to be exceedingly nice and circumspect in what they undertake, and to apply their whole genius to any thing that has to go through their hands.

There dwelt at Basra one Ebn Wahab, of the tribe of Koreish, descended from Hebar, the son of Al Asud, who quitted Basra when it was sacked, and came to Siraff, where he saw a ship preparing to sail for China[3].  The humour took him to embark in this ship for China, and he had the curiosity to visit the emperor’s court.  Leaving Canfu, he went to Cumdan, after a journey of two months, and remained a long while at the court, where he presented several petitions to the emperor, setting forth, that he was of the family of the prophet of the Arabs.  After a considerable interval, the emperor ordered him to be lodged in a house appointed for the purpose, and to be supplied with every thing he might need.  The emperor then wrote to the governor of Canfu, to inquire carefully among the Arabian merchants respecting this man’s pretensions; and receiving a full confirmation of his extraction, received him to an audience, and made him rich presents, with which he returned to Irak.

When, we saw him, this man was much advanced in years, but had his senses perfectly.  He told us that the emperor asked him many questions respecting the Arabs, and particularly how they had destroyed the kingdom of the Persians.  Ebn Wahab answered, that they had done it by the assistance of God, and because the Persians were immersed in idolatry, adoring the sun, moon, and stars, instead of the Almighty.  The emperor said, that they had conquered the most illustrious kingdom of the earth, the best cultivated, the most populous, the most pregnant of fine wits, and of the highest fame.  The emperor then asked Ebn Wahab what account the Arabs made of the other kings of the earth; to which he answered that he knew them not.  Then the emperor caused the interpreter to say, we admit but five great kings.  He who is master of Irak has the kingdom of widest extent, which is surrounded by the territories of other kings, and we find him called King of Kings.  After him is the emperor of China, who is styled King of Mankind, for no king has more absolute authority over his subjects, and no people can be more dutiful and submissive than his subjects.  Next is the king of the Turks, whose kingdom borders on China, and who is styled the King of Lions.  Next is the king of the Elephants, who is king of the Indies, whom we call King of Wisdom.  Last of all is the King of Greece, whom we call King of Men, as there are no men of better manners, or comlier appearance, on the face of the earth, than his subjects.