splendor, attended by hundreds of courtiers
and slaves.

He was very anxious that his people should be treated justly by
the officers of the government; and he was determined to find out
whether any had reason to complain. So he sometimes disguised himself
at night and went about through the streets and bazaars, listening
to the talk of those whom he met and asking them questions. In
this way he learned whether the people were contented and happy,
or not.

In those times Bagdad in the east and the Mohammedan cities of
Spain in the west were famed for their schools and learned men.
Arabian teachers first introduced into Western Europe both algebra
and the figures which we use in arithmetic. It is for this reason
that we call these figures the "Arabic numerals."

Harun-al-Rashid gave great encouragement to learning. He was a
scholar and poet himself and whenever he heard of learned men in
his own kingdom, or in neighboring countries, he invited them to
his court and treated them with respect.

The name of Harun, therefore, became known throughout the world. It
is said that a correspondence took place between him and Charlemagne
and that, as you have learned, Harun sent the great emperor a present
of a clock and an elephant.

[Illustration: THE PRESENTS FROM HARUN-AL-RASHID]

The tribute of gold that the Empress Irene agreed to pay Harun was
sent regularly for many years. It was always received at Bagdad
with great ceremony. The day on which it arrived was made a holiday.
The Roman soldiers who came with it entered the gates in procession.
Moslem troops also took part in the parade.

When the gold had been delivered at the palace, the Roman soldiers
were hospitably entertained, and were escorted to the main gate of
the city when they set out on their journey back to Constantinople.

II

In 802 Ni-ceph'o-rus usurped the throne of the Eastern Empire.
He sent ambassadors with a letter to Harun to tell him that the
tribute would no longer be paid. The letter contained these words:

"The weak and faint-hearted Irene submitted to pay you tribute.
She ought to have made you pay tribute to her. Return to me all
that she paid you; else the matter must be settled by the sword."

As soon as Harun had read these words the ambassadors threw a bundle
of swords at his feet. The caliph smiled, and drawing his own sword,
or cimeter (_sim'e-ter_), he cut the Roman swords in two with one
stroke without injuring the blade, or e