much celebrity.――(_Herbelot after Khondemir._) [13] In the translation of this obscure passage between the two asterisks (edit. of Calcutta, p. 375, l. 17, 18) I followed the manuscript of Oude, which reads a little differently: وپر اکندہ نکردند اکرچہ ترکیب كالبد کشادہ شود خواہ درنشاء جمادی خواہ نباتی خواہ حیوانى یا نشانی SECTION III.――UPON SOME OF THE SAYINGS OF VáHED.――The _Mizán_, “balance,” is a book which Váhed composed with many others; it is distinguished by the word _naskh_ and “treatise;” and each naskh and treatise has a particular name. In the Mízán, which is reputed among the naskhs, it is stated, that the materials of the world existed from the very beginning, which signifies from the first appearance of _afrád_, “rudimental units (monades?),” which are primordial, that is to say, the root of the before-said state, until the time when these rudimental units, tempered together, became vegetables; thence rose animals, which are called _dabtah ul ares_, “the reptiles of the world.” Thus it existed until man was formed. The first mentioned state might have extended to sixteen thousand years; so that eight thousand years of the said number may be the period of Arabia, which is the superior, and eight thousand years the period of Ajem (Persia), which is the inferior period. In the sequel, when the said world, which is the era of the first mentioned rudimental units, had been so constituted as to admit the formation of man; then the duration of life, comprising the period of man, was to be also sixteen thousand years; of which eight thousand years should revolve for eight perfect prophets of Arabia, and other eight thousand years for eight perfect teachers of Ajem. Further, when the cycle of the two formations shall be completed, then the turn of the fundamental units is to reappear. After twice the said eight thousand, that is, sixteen thousand years, according to simple computation, when a perfect cycle of mankind and the world, in sixty-four thousand years,[14] on conditions exterior and interior, manifest and hidden, shall have been completed, then an entire period shall have received the seal. [14] The period of rudimental units, vegetables, and reptiles 16,000 years. The period of mankind 16,000 ―― ―――――― Both periods 32,000 ―― Multiplied by 2 ―― ―――――― Total 64,000 years.