The Law of Civilization and Decay. Adams Brooks

      Various silver household goods, and six thousand gold vases, in which were put narcissus or violets.

      Thirty-six thousand pieces of crystal, among them a box ornamented with figures in relief, weighing 17 roks.

      A large number of knives which, at the lowest price, were sold for 36,000 dynars.

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      A turban enriched with precious stones, one of the most curious and valuable articles in the palace: it was said to be worth 130,000 dynars. The stones which covered it, and whose weight was 17 roks, were divided between two chiefs, who both claimed it. One had in his share a ruby weighing 23 mitqâls, and in the share which fell to the other were 100 pearls each of which weighed 3 mitqâls. When the two generals were obliged to fly from Fostat, all these valuables were given up to pillage.

      A golden peacock enriched with the most valuable precious stones: the eyes were rubies, the feathers gilded enamel representing all the colours of peacock feathers.

      A cock of the same metal, with a comb of the largest rubies covered with pearls and other stones; the eyes also were made of rubies.

      A gazelle whose body was covered all over with pearls and the most precious stones; the stomach was white and composed of a series of pearls of the purest water.

      A sardonyx table, with conical feet of the same substance; it was large enough for several people to eat there at the same time.

      A garden, the soil made of chased and gilt silver and yellow earth. There were silver trees, with fruits made of precious materials.

      A golden palm-tree enriched with superb pearls. It was in a golden chest and its fruit was made of precious stones representing dates in every stage of ripeness. This tree was of inestimable value.105

      About the time the monk Gerbert was accused of sorcery because he understood the elements of geometry, the Caliph Aziz-Billah founded the university of Cairo, the greatest Mohammedan institution of learning. This was two hundred years before the organization of the university of Paris, and the lectures at the mosque of El-Azhar are said to have been attended by twelve thousand students. Munk was of opinion that Arabic philosophy reached its apogee with Averrhoës, who was born about 1120.106 Certainly he was the last of a famous line which began at Bagdad three centuries earlier; and Hauréau, in describing the great period of Saint Thomas at Paris, dwelt upon the debt Western learning owed to the Saracens.