PAGE 197. _Assist him to complete the tower_ The Genii, who were styled by the Persians _Peris_ and _Dives_, were famous for their architectural skill. The pyramids of Egypt have been ascribed to them. The Koran relates, that the Genii were employed by Solomon in the erection of his magnificent temple.--BAILLY, _Sur l’Atlantide_, p. 146. D’HERBELOT, p. 8. _Al Koran_, ch. 34. PAGE 198. _... the stranger displayed such rarities as he had never before seen_ In the _Tales of Inatulla_, we meet with a traveller who, like this, was furnished with trinkets and curiosities of an extraordinary kind. That such were much sought after in the days of Vathek, may be concluded from the encouragement which Haroun al Raschid gave to the mechanic arts, and the present he sent by his ambassadors to Charlemagne. This consisted of a clock, which, when put into motion, by means of a clepsydra, not only pointed out the hours in their round, but also, by dropping small balls on a bell, struck them, and, at the same instant, threw open as many little doors, to let out an equal number of horsemen. Besides these, the clock displayed various other contrivances.--_Ann. Reg. Franc. Pip. Caroli, etc._, _ad ann._ 807. WEIDLER, p. 205. PAGE 198. _... characters on the sabres_ Such inscriptions often occur in Eastern romances. We find, in the _Arabian Nights_, a cornelian, on which _unknown characters_ were engraven; and, also, a sabre, like those here described. In the French king’s library is a curious treatise, entitled _Sefat Alaclam_; containing a variety of alphabets, arranged under different heads; such as the _prophetic_, the _mystical_, the _philosophic_, the _magical_, the _talismanic_, etc., which seems to have escaped the research of the indefatigable Mr. Astle.--_Arabian Nights_, vol. ii, p. 246; vol. i, p. 143. D’HERBELOT, p. 797. PAGE 201. _... beards burnt off_ The loss of the beard, from the earliest ages, was accounted highly disgraceful. An instance occurs, in the _Tales of Inatulla_, of one being _singed off_, as a mulct on the owner, for having failed to explain a question propounded; and, in the _Arabian Nights_, a proclamation may be seen similar to this of Vathek.--Vol. i, p. 268; vol. ii, p. 228. PAGE 202. _The old man put on his green spectacles_