20 FEBRUARY 1909, Page 27

In the "Romance of the East" Series, Edited by L.

Cranmer- Byng (John Murray, 2s. 6d. net), we have Tales of the Caliphs, by Claud Field. The Caliphs who appear in this volume are five: All-Mansur (A.D. 754), who was the Henry VII. of Baghdad, and the hero of the famous story of the poem engraved on marble ; Al- Mandi, son of the first (774) ; Haroun al-Raschid,—here we have the excellent story of Abu'l-Kasim of Basra ; Al-Mamonn (Haroun's son) ; and Al-Mansour of Cordova. It was Al-Mamoun who wept at his brother's death, though he had sent to his general in the field a shirt without an opening for the head in answer to the question what he was to do with the captured Prince. Excellent stories these, though probably known to some readers.