early times. Traces of it in Perfia; in Arabia; in Hindoftan; in Turkey; in Tartary. Apparently introduced into Germany and Scandinavia, by the Tartars, before the irruption of the Goths into the Roman ftates. p. 150 SECT. III. Eaftern notions of Supernatural Beings. Idea of the Peri or Faery Syftem. The doctrine of enchantments originally Perfian. Belief in Guardian Angels. Influence of this belief on their government and private life. Talismans, amulets, fafcination. SECT. IV. Obfervations upon the old Perfian era. p. 165 Every month, every day, and every action of man Supposed to have been under the fuperintendance of particular angels. Short account of the feftivals celebrated by the Perfians in honour of thofe angels. The Afiatics in general ftrongly attached to omens, aftrology, divination, and dreams. SECT. V. P. 181 Traces of Chivalry in the Eaft. Importance of Women among the Arabians, Perfians and Tartars. P. 194 SECT. VI. Conjectures on Eaflern Mufic. P. 208 Private war among the Eastern nations compared with that which prevailed in Europe during the middle ages. Compofitions for bomicide. The holy months of the Arabians contrafted with the Treuga Dei, and Pax Regis of Europe. Captivity and Slavery. p. 212 SECT. VIII. Generofity and Hofpitality of the Afiatics. p. 218 SECT. IX. The Trial by Ordeal apparently of Perfian Ori gin. SECT. X. P. 220 On the dminiftration of Justice in the Eaft. 222 PART II. I. CHAP. I. SECT. Supplemental obfervations on the Greek Hiftorians. Their general merit acknowledged. Their inaccuracies complained of by their greatest admirers: Singular difagreement of chronologers and commentators. Further Strictures upon the expedition of Xerxes. Grounds upon which Afiatic authors might confider the Greeks as tributary or dependent upon the Perfian empire. Obfervations on Mr. Bryant's animadverfions on this head. 289 SECT. II. Of the Importance of women in the Eaft. Their ftation in fociety not justly understood by European travellers. They enjoy in many parts privileges fimilar to thofe of Europe. The rife and progrefs of the Mohammedan religion connected perhaps with those privileges. Inftances of the influence of women in public affairs. Marriage fettlements. Divorces. Nuptial ceremonies. Singular modes of marriage. Drefs of Eaftern women. Many European fashions of great antiquity in the Eaft. P. 330 SECT. III. Of the Paffive Obedience of Afiatics. The dif tinguishing manners of the East and Weft not always attended to by the learned. Mr. Bryant's criticifm, on this head, confidered. Implicit fubmiffion of the Carmathians to their chiefs. And of the Affaffins or fubjects of the Old Man of the Mountain. p. 353 SECT. IV. Freedom of Speech in the Eaft. Inftances of the deference of Afiatic princes to the complaints of their humbleft fubjects. Anecdote of Sultan Mahmoud. Deftruction of a gang of dangerous banditti. Anecdotes of the Khalif Haron Arrafhid. The barbarity of this CHA P. II. SECT. I. A DISSERTATION ON THE LANGUAGES, LITERATURE, AND MANNERS O F EASTERN NATIONS. CHAP. I. OF EASTERN LANGUAGE. SECT. I. The connexion of Language with Manners. The origin of antient tongues involved in darkness. Short hiftory of the Arabic. The character now in use invented in the tenth century, T HE Manners of Mankind must ever form an interesting enquiry. In every age and climate they difplay a wonderful diverfity of character; and exhibit a picture fo variously coloured, that we are convinced by experience alone, that the great original of the whole is Man. In all investiga A |