Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XII THE DYNASTY OF EL IKSHID A.d. 884 Ahmed Ebn Todloun left thirty living children behind him, A DEGREESr. GOO, -TM .,, -., . A.ii. 270 * whom Khamarayeh, the second son, succeeded him; Abbas, the eldest, having forfeited his natural rights by his rebellion. It is said that his father forgave him before his death and released him from prison, though confirming the succession to his second son. It is certain, however, that Abbas was put to death almost immediately after, but most authorities agree that the warrant for his death was extorted with great difficulty from Khamarayeh by his councillors. The new Sultan immediately conciliated the National Church by remitting the 10,000 gold pieces still due of the sum demanded from Michael, and returning to him the bond. Khamarayeh paid a regular tribute to the Kaliph, but was absolutely independent master of Egypt, Syria, and a great part of Asia Minor during his reign, which lasted barely twelve years. He built a second palace for himself in the new town commenced by his father, the Arab accounts of which surpass all belief. Among other wonders they relate that statues of the Sultan and his wives were placed in the gardens of the palace, and that a basin of nearly twenty-nine metres in diameter was filled with a lake of quicksilver. The first point is noteworthy because u p to this time no Christian architect had been allowed to introduce statues or paintings of human beings in the buildings which they erected for their Moslem masters. A few years afterwards the Kaliph Mutamid died, and the Sultan of Egypt thought to strengthen bis alliance with the new Kaliph, who might prove a less feeble man, by offering his daughter in marriage to the Kaliph's son. The Kaliph..."
