Note 450 — ABU AL-HUSN AND HIS SLAVE-GIRL TAWADDUD.[281] (continued 2)

Arab. “Baydak” or “Bayzak”; a corruption of the Persian “Piyádah” = a footman, peon, pawn; and proving whence the Arabs derived the game. The Persians are the readiest backgammon-players known to me, better even than the Greeks; they throw the dice from the hand and continue foully abusing the fathers and mothers of the “bones” whilst the game lasts. It is often played in the intervals of dinner by the higher classes in Persia.