famous streams, the new settlement was
planted on the western bank: the first colony was composed of eight
hundred Moslems; but the influence of the situation soon reared a
flourishing and populous capital. The air, though excessively hot, is
pure and healthy: the meadows are filled with palm-trees and cattle; and
one of the adjacent valleys has been celebrated among the four paradises
or gardens of Asia. Under the first caliphs the jurisdiction of this
Arabian colony extended over the southern provinces of Persia: the city
has been sanctified by the tombs of the companions and martyrs; and the
vessels of Europe still frequent the port of Bassora, as a convenient
station and passage of the Indian trade.

[Footnote 18: A cycle of 120 years, the end of which an intercalary
month of 30 days supplied the use of our Bissextile, and restored the
integrity of the solar year. In a great revolution of 1440 years this
intercalation was successively removed from the first to the twelfth
month; but Hyde and Freret are involved in a profound controversy,
whether the twelve, or only eight of these changes were accomplished
before the aera of Yezdegerd, which is unanimously fixed to the 16th
of June, A.D. 632. How laboriously does the curious spirit of Europe
explore the darkest and most distant antiquities! (Hyde de Religione
Persarum, c. 14-18, p. 181-211. Freret in the Mem. de l'Academie des
Inscriptions, tom. xvi. p. 233-267.)]

[Footnote 19: Nine days after the death of Mahomet (7th June, A.D. 632)
we find the aera of Yezdegerd, (16th June, A.D. 632,) and his accession
cannot be postponed beyond the end of the first year. His predecessors
could not therefore resist the arms of the caliph Omar; and these
unquestionable dates overthrow the thoughtless chronology of
Abulpharagius. See Ockley's Hist. of the Saracens, vol. i. p. 130. *
Note: The Rezont Uzzuffa (Price, p. 105) has a strange account of an
embassy to Yezdegerd. The Oriental historians take great delight in
these embassies, which give them an opportunity of displaying their
Asiatic eloquence--M.]

[Footnote 20: Cadesia, says the Nubian geographer, (p. 121,) is in
margine solitudinis, 61 leagues from Bagdad, and two stations from Cufa.
Otter (Voyage, tom. i. p. 163) reckons 15 leagues, and observes, that
the place is supplied with dates and water.]

[Footnote 2011: The day of cormorants, or according to another reading
the day of reinforcements. It was the night which