An anonymous writer declares: "The most probable conjecture is that Chess descended from the Brahmins, through Persia, to Arabia, about the sixth century, and passed into Europe two or three hundred years later." Continuing, the writer says: "A mathematician named Seffa originated the game for his master, Ravan, King of Ceylon, who was so pleased with the device that he asked the inventor to name his own reward. The cunning sage demanded enough wheat to cover the board, starting with a single grain for the first square, two for the second, and so on, doubling the grains until the sixty-four squares were covered, finally adding the whole amount together, so when computed, it was found that more wheat would be required than the world produced in ten years." The Persians claim that Chess was invented in their country, pointing out the retention of some of their names and expressions in the English game, such as "Check," from the Persian Sciack or King, and "Mat," signifying "dead," hence "Checkmate," or "The King is dead." These words may well have their derivation from the Persian or Arabic, but they are not universally employed, although Chess is of ancient origin and has been played for centuries in Africa, Asia, and Europe. The term Rook, that is sometimes used instead of Castle, is undoubtedly of Indian origin, derived from Rokh, and signifying dromedary. In China this piece is called Ku, and in Korea Tcha, words in no way connected with the Arabic. There are many historical descriptions of Chess in Europe too well known to be repeated; besides which, there are numerous copper, steel, and wood engravings showing persons playing Chess. In "A History of the Moorish Kings" (1396), there is an account of a game played when Jussef, the heir to the throne, was ordered to be beheaded by his usurping brother. An alcade was sent to the prison for the purpose of carrying out the command, but, finding Jussef playing Chess, and becoming interested in his skill, he waited until the game terminated to dispatch the prince. However, before it was finished, the usurper, Mehemed, was murdered, so Jussef succeeded to the throne and rewarded the kindly executioner with money and honours. One of the earliest descriptions of Chess in the English language was written by Thomas Hyde in 1694, at about the time that Cotton's "Complete Gamester," on the subject of gambling and its tools, appeared. There is a rare book, entitled "The Game and Playes of the Chess," that, strange to say, contains little or nothing concerning the game beyond its title.