246 CHAPTER XV. Daniel is made first president of the kingdom of Darius—His prayer—He is visited by the angel Gabriel, who reveals fufttre eve/2łS. * ON the arrival of Cyrus and Cyaxares at Babylon, they arranged the management of the empire, by dividing it into one hundred and twenty provinces. In each of these provinces they placed a governor, who was selected from among the principal officers in the army of Cyrus. Three presidents were appointed over these governors, who were to reside at the court of king Darius. It was their business to receive from the governors accounts of the state of their provinces; to give them such advice and directions as they thought proper, and to forward to the orders of their king. Darius heard that Daniel had interpreted dreams, and explained the hand-writing on the wall, that he was skilful and faithful in the affairs of government, and the wisest man in the whole empire. He therefore appuinted him one of the presidents, and gave him power over both the
