s to describe the enchanting atmosphere of the halls
at the Metropolitan Museum where Near Eastern art is installed; and
the same can truly be said of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the
University of Pennsylvania Museum, Philadelphia. These exhibitions
must inevitably contribute to the enjoyment and education of countless
visitors to these institutions, and will continue to do so in
increasing degree to the enjoyment of generations to come.

The present exhibition does not comprise a vast number of objects. Its
claim to attention lies in the fact that it includes an important
series of really first class works which are also of great historical
importance. There will be on view as well some comparatively new types
of objects of aesthetic and archaeological interest, obtained as the
result of recent excavations.

The briefness of time available precluded the possibility of compiling
a catalogue, as was at first intended. The present booklet is issued
to explain the scope of the exhibition, and extend a cordial
invitation to visit it.

H.K.

* * * * *

[Illustration: MUHAMMAD (THE PROPHET) WITNESSES ALI (HIS SON-IN-LAW
AND SUCCESSOR) DEFEAT AMR BEN ABDWAD]

One of the eight illustrations for a XIIIth Century Persian Manuscript
entitled, "HISTORY OF TABARI", compiled A.H. 310 (A.D. 922). The
present copy is a subsequent one of the Persian version, translated by
AL B'ALA'MI, A.H. 352.

It is interesting to note that TABARI records in the book here
referred to, that three messages were sent by MUHAMMAD to KHUSRAW
PARNIZ, imparting the divine warnings. One of the messages, as
recorded in an old Manuscript entitled NIHAYAT UL-IRAB, reads:

"In the name of God, the merciful, the compassionate. From MUHAMMAD
the Apostle of God to KHUSRAW son of HURMAZD. But to proceed. Verily I
extol unto thee God, beside whom there is no other God. He it is who
guarded me when I was an orphan, and made me rich when I was
destitute, and guided me when I was straying in error. Only he who is
bereft of understanding, and over whom calamity triumphs, rejects the
message which I am sent to announce. O KHUSRAW, submit and thou shalt
be safe, or else prepare to wage with God and with his Apostle a war
which shall not find them helpless. Farewell."

* * * * *

[Illustration]

The rise of ISLAM and its rapid advent to power, is perhaps the most
surprising chapter of the h