to a district, he would ask what his name was: if his name was good and pleasant, he was glad; but if it was the reverse, signs of displeasure arose in his blessed countenance. He said, 'If any of you sees something bad, let him say this prayer, "O God, no one brings good except Thou; and no one keeps off evil besides Thee; and there is no power and strength except in God."'

(8) His Habits as regards the Akika Offerings.

That prince ordained the Akika offering, saying, 'When a boy is born to you, offer two sheep; and if a girl is born to you, then offer one sheep; and it is proper that the sacrifice should be slain on the seventh day; and that the new-born child should likewise receive its name on that day.' When the commanders of the faithful, Hasan and Hosein, were born, he offered for each of them one sheep, or, according to another account, two sheep; and when those infants were born, they were taken to that Excellency that he should open their mouths with his blessed hand, and cause them to taste a little date, and invoke a blessing upon them.

(9.) His Habits in asking Permission and in Saluting.

Of all the habits of that prince one was, that when he went to any one's house, he did not place himself opposite the door, but stood either on the right or on the left hand side of it, asking permission to enter in these words, 'Peace be upon you! Peace be upon you!' He also directed his friends, saying, 'If ye go to any one's house, first give the peace; and do not admit any one into your house, who, in coming, does not first give you the peace.' He also said, 'Greeting is before asking: if any one begins by asking anything of you, without first giving you the peace, then do not answer him.' It is reported that once some one came to that prince's house asking, 'Shall I enter?' But he sent some one out to him, saying, 'Teach that person the way of asking permission, and let him first say, "Peace be upon you!" and afterwards, "May I come in?"' And not till this order had been complied with did that Excellency give the permission

to enter. He likewise said, 'If any one sends you a messenger to invite you, and ye go with that messenger, he is your permission, and ye need not ask permission a second time, on arriving at the house of the host.' It is also established that he declared, 'When God had created Adam, He said to him, "Go to that company of angels, sitting there, and see in what way they will welcome thee: and the mode of their greeting shall be yours and your children's." Then Adam went to them, saying, "Peace be upon you!" They replied, "Peace be on thee and the mercy of God!"'

That Excellency also said, 'Peace be upon you!' or, 'Peace be upon thee!' but did not at first like to say, 'Upon thee be peace!' He also said, 'Ye cannot enter Paradise, except ye believe; and ye cannot believe, except ye make friendship with each other. Mark therefore the means I indicate to you for securing mutual friendship, namely, the open declaration of peace both to the known and to the unknown.' He also said, 'Give peace to the little and to the great; to the few and to the many; to the standing and to the sitting!' It is also recorded that that prince once entered into a company of boys, and another time into a company of women, and on both occasions he saluted by giving the peace. He also gave the peace when he met a mixed company consisting of Mussulmans and polytheists. ¹ Most times it was impossible to anticipate that Excellency in saluting; but if any one saluted him first, he would return the salutation in the same or in a still better way. He returned the salutation anon, without any delay, except for some special reason. He saluted in an audible voice, and did not content himself with a mere sign with his finger. In returning a salutation, he said, 'And upon thee be peace!' When he went to a house at night, he saluted in a manner that those who were awake could hear him, but that those asleep were not awakened. He also enjoined not to give the salutation of peace to Jews and Christians.