Note 202 — Chapter XIII
Reading edition
During my visit to the Viceroy of Suse, Mohammed ben Delemy, he introduced me to four Arabs of the Woled Abbusebah tribe, who conversed in our presence on various subjects, in this poetic manner, and it is astonishing what accuracy in measure and expression is acquired by a long habit in this mode of entertainment. The old Emperor, Seedy Mohammed, encouraged this poetic conversation, and when any one excelled, he never failed to reward him munificently; for although no scholar himself, he encouraged every one who contributed to diffuse a knowledge of the Arabic language.