And el-Mansur always said, " I never in my life saw
any one like this old man, nor one possessing greater
firmness of mind, nor one who could overcome me
in argument as did he ; nor have I ever seen clemency
and generosity equal to his.
EL-MAHDY AND THE ARAB. 287



K THE WAY IN WHICH EL-MAHDY WAS
ENTERTAINED BY THE ARAB.
TRANSLATOR'S PREFATORY NOTE.
El-Mdhdy, the third Khalifah of the Abbasside dynasty, suc-
ceeded his father, Abu-Ja'afar, el-Mansur, a.h. 158 (a.d.
774). He died A.H. 169 (A.D. 786), in the forty-second year
of his age, having reigned ten years, one month, and fifteen
days. Some writers affirm that his death was caused by
an accident while hunting ; but the more received opinion
is that it was in consequence of eating a poisoned pear
which was given to him by one of his favourite mistresses,
for whom it had been prepared by a rival. He was a
liberal and munificent, not to say prodigal, prince, as he
dissipated in a short time the immense treasures left him
by his father. He applied himself diligently to affairs of
state ; and was greatly beloved by his subjects on account
of his impartial administration of justice and aversion to
bloodshed.
TT is recorded that one day el-Mahdy went out
■^ hunting, and his horse ran away with him until
he came to the hut of an Arab. And el-Mahdy cried,
" O Arab ! hast thou wherewith to feast a guest .' "

The Arab replied, " Yes," and produced for him a
barley loaf, which el-Mahdy ate. Then he brought



288 'ILAM-EN-NAS.
