And in the present day, when, for the most part,
every one, whether educated or uneducated, is content
to adopt the thoughts of anonymous writers, how can
it be possible to " see with the eyes " and " feel with
the hearts " of those old-world giants of thought and
research .' In European history, moreover, the vast
change which has taken place even during the last
few centuries, not only in the physical and religious
distribution of power amongst nations, but in customs
and habits of thought, and even language itself, raises
a barrier against the assimilation of the modern with
the ancient mind. In Oriental history, however,
particularly the history of the Arabs, this barrier
need not stand in the way of an earnest student.
Language, habits, mode of life, amongst the Arabs
of the desert are little changed from what history
represents them to have been more than twelve



TRANSLA TOR'S PRE FA CE.
centuries ago. This fact may possibly create an
interest in a record of those times.
When, at the instance of my kind friend Mr.
Frederick Ayrton, of Cairo, I undertook the transla-
tion of the following tales and anecdotes, it was with
no idea of appending historical notes. But when, in
connection with the translation, I studied the history
of the times to which these tales refer, I felt that in
submitting them to the public, it would be advisable to
add such explanatory notes as might possibly induce
some of my readers themselves to engage in researches
into the history of that. interesting period.
