down to the
tree and embraced it; after which it remained silent. The Prophet said,
"If I had not embraced it, it would have continued to groan until the
day of the resurrection."'

After faithfully performing all the observances prescribed for the
pilgrim to Mecca, Ibn Batuta left that city and returned to Medineh. He
then crossed the Arabian peninsula in a north-eastern direction, to the
city of Meshed Ali, near the Euphrates, and thence descended that river
to Bassora. Here he gives us two amusing anecdotes, which reflectively
illustrate his shrewdness and the sturdiness with which he maintained
his religious views. 'The inhabitants of Bassora,' says he, 'are gifted
with a generous character. They are familiar with strangers, rendering
them that which is their due, in such a manner that no one finds a
sojourn among them tiresome. They make their Sunday prayers in the
mosque of the Prince of Believers, Ali. I once attended the prayers in
this mosque; and when the preacher arose and began to recite the sermon,
he made numerous and evident faults. I was surprised thereat, and spoke
of it to the judge Hodjat-ed-deen, who answered, "In this city, there is
no longer an individual who has any knowledge of grammar." This is an
instruction for whoever reflects thereon, and let us praise God, who
changes things and reverses the face of affairs! In fact, this city of
Bassora, the inhabitants whereof had obtained preeminence in grammar,
which there had its origin and received its development,--this city,
which gave to the world the master of this noble science, whose priority
no one contests,--does not now possess a single preacher who pronounces
the Sunday sermon according to grammatical rules!

'The mosque has seven minarets, one of which, according to the belief of
the inhabitants, shakes whenever the name of Ali, son of Abou Talib, is
invoked. I ascended to the terrace (roof) of this mosque, accompanied by
one of the men of Bassora. There I saw, at one of the corners, a piece
of wood nailed to the minaret, and resembling the handle of a mason's
trowel. He who was with me took hold of it, saying, "By the head of the
prince of believers, Ali, shake thyself!" Therewith he shook the handle,
and the minaret trembled. In turn, I placed my hand upon it, and I said
to the man, "And _I_ say, by the head of Abou Bekr, successor to the
Ambassador of God, shake thyself!" Therewith I shook the handle, and the
minaret trembled as before