every Englishman that has been wrecked on the coast of
Wedinoon, and to forward them hither without delay, and diligently
365 to succour and attend to them, and may the eye of God be upon
thee!" [207]

[Footnote 207: When they write to any other but Muhamedans,
they never salute them with the words, "Peace be with thee,"
but substitute--"Peace be to those who follow the path of the
true God," _Salem ala min itaba el Uda_.]

"26th of the (lunar), month Saffer, year of the Hejra 1221. (May,
1806.)"

The accuracy of punctuation in the Arabic language is a matter that
ought to be strictly attended to.

The foregoing observations will serve to prove the insufficiency of
a knowledge of this language, as professed or studied in Great
Britain when unaccompanied with a practical knowledge. These
observations may apply equally to the Persian language.[208]

[Footnote 208: "One of the objects I had in view in coming to
Europe, was to instruct young Englishmen in the Persian
language. I however met with so little encouragement from
persons in authority, that I entirely relinquished the plan. I
instructed, however, (as I could not refuse the recommendations
that were brought to me,) an amiable young man, Mr. S------n,
and thanks be to God, my efforts were crowned with success! and
that he, having escaped the instructions of _self-taught_
masters, has acquired such a knowledge of the principles of
that language, and so correct an idea of its idiom and
pronunciation, that I have no doubt, after a few years'
residence in India, he will attain to such a degree of
excellence, as has not yet been acquired by any other
Englishman." Vide Travels of Mirza Abu Taleb Khan, vol. i. p.
200.]

If the present ardour for discovery in Africa be persevered in, the
learned world may expect, in the course of a few years, to receive
366 histories and other works of Greek and Roman authors, which were
translated into the Arabic language, when Arabian literature was in
its zenith, and have ever since been confined to some private
libraries in the cities of the interior of Africa, and in Arabia.

Having said thus much with regard to the Arabic of the western
Arabs, which, with little variation,