ient Arabians was their belief in fairies or genii.
They thought that these genii attended people through life; that
every man had two of these waiting on him, the one good and the other
evil; that all evil actions were committed at the instigation of the
evil spirit in the absence of the good genii, who sometimes went with
messages to the celestial regions. The Arabians further believed these
genii were continually at war with each other, which, the people
considered, accounted for the contending passions in their minds.
Their principal genius was Hafedhah, to whom the people, on setting
out on a plundering expedition, prayed he would send them a strong
genius to assist them.

In the middle ages conjuration was regularly practised in Europe, and
devils were supposed to appear under decided forms. A devil would
appear either as an angel of light, or as a monster in hideous shape.
An anonymous writer, discussing the subject, says: "A devil would
appear either like an angel seated in a fiery chariot, or riding on an
infernal dragon, and carrying in his right hand a viper, or assuming a
lion's head, a goose's feet, and a hare's tail, or putting on a
raven's head, and mounted on a strong wolf. Other forms made use of by
demons were those of fierce warriors, or old men riding upon
crocodiles, with hooks in hand. A human figure would arise, having the
wings of a griffin; or sporting three heads, one of them being like
that of a toad, the other resembling that of a cat; or defended with
huge teeth and horns, and adorned with a sword; or displaying a dog's
teeth, and a large raven's head; or mounted upon a pale horse, and
exhibiting a serpent's tail; or gloriously crowned, and riding upon a
dromedary; or presenting the face of a lion; or bestriding a bear, and
grasping a viper. There were also such shapes as those of archers or
bowmen. A demoniacal king would ride on a pale horse, assume a
leopard's face and griffin's wings; or put on three heads, one of a
bull, another of a man, and a third of a ram, with a serpent's tail
and the feet of a goose; and in this appearance sit on a dragon, and
bear in his hand a lance and flag; or, instead of being thus employed,
goad the flanks of a furious bear, and carry on his fist a hawk. Other
forms were those of a goodly knight; or of one who bore lance, ensign,
and even sceptre; or of a soldier, either riding on a black horse, and
surrounded with a flame of fire; or wearing on his head a d