THE TWELFTH SECTION treats concerning the Shida­bian faith.—Shádíb, who lived about the end of Zohák 's reign, was an eminent physician of Iran, held in great estimation by nobles and princes. He main­tained that the self-existent lord is the same with the earth, from the dry propensity of which was produced fire; and from fire the heavens and stars, as before mentioned; from its frigidity proceeded water; from the humidity of which was formed the air; and when the four elements were mixed together, the three kingdoms of nature were then mani­fested. The physician Mihrán was also of this sect. In the year 1048 of the Hejirah (A. D. 1638) the author joined him, and travelled in his society from Lahore to Kashmir. Among those who held these tenets was one named Khákí, who followed the pro­fession of a merchant and possessed great wealth: him the author met in Lahore. In that same year and in the same place, he became acquainted with a young man named Shír, who excelled in writing the Nishki and Taalik characters, and was one of the chosen followers of Shídáb.