a Persian word, properly signifying the water placed in a basin for washing the hands; but is used to imply the legal purifications practised by the Mahometans before they enter on their religious ceremonies.

ABDIAS of BABYLON, one of the boldest legend-writers, who boasted he had seen our Saviour, that he was one of the 72 disciples, had been eye-witness of the actions and prayers at the deaths of several of the apostles, and had followed into Persia St Simon and St Jude, who, he said, made him the first bishop of Babylon. His book entitled Historia certaminis apologetic, was published by Wolfgang Lazius, at Basil, 1551; and it has since borne several impressions in different places.