diff --git a/MySQLdb/connection.py b/MySQLdb/connection.py
index 96e53a6..f58fa9d 100644
--- a/MySQLdb/connection.py
+++ b/MySQLdb/connection.py
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ class Connection(object):
 
     def __init__(self, host=None, user=None, passwd=None, db=None, port=0,
         client_flag=0, charset=None, init_command=None, connect_timeout=None,
-        sql_mode=None, encoders=None, decoders=None, use_unicode=True):
+        sql_mode=None, encoders=None, decoders=None, use_unicode=True,
+        conv=None):
 
         self._db = libmysql.c.mysql_init(None)
 
@@ -54,8 +55,13 @@ def __init__(self, host=None, user=None, passwd=None, db=None, port=0,
             encoders = converters.DEFAULT_ENCODERS
         if decoders is None:
             decoders = converters.DEFAULT_DECODERS
-        self.encoders = encoders
-        self.decoders = decoders
+        self.real_encoders = encoders
+        self.real_decoders = decoders
+
+        # MySQLdb compatibility
+        if conv is None:
+            conv = converters.conversions
+        self.encoders = dict(conv.iteritems())
 
         if charset is not None:
             res = libmysql.c.mysql_set_character_set(self._db, charset)
@@ -123,9 +129,9 @@ def cursor(self, cursor_class=None, encoders=None, decoders=None):
         if cursor_class is None:
             cursor_class = cursors.Cursor
         if encoders is None:
-            encoders = self.encoders[:]
+            encoders = self.real_encoders[:]
         if decoders is None:
-            decoders = self.decoders[:]
+            decoders = self.real_decoders[:]
         return cursor_class(self, encoders=encoders, decoders=decoders)
 
     def string_literal(self, obj):
@@ -143,5 +149,8 @@ def get_server_info(self):
         self._check_closed()
         return libmysql.c.mysql_get_server_info(self._db)
 
+    def ping(self):
+        return libmysql.c.mysql_ping(self._db)
+
 def connect(*args, **kwargs):
-    return Connection(*args, **kwargs)
\ No newline at end of file
+    return Connection(*args, **kwargs)
diff --git a/MySQLdb/converters.py b/MySQLdb/converters.py
index c17cbc7..50c0239 100644
--- a/MySQLdb/converters.py
+++ b/MySQLdb/converters.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ def datetime_encoder(connection, obj):
     int: literal_encoder,
     bool: lambda connection, obj: str(int(obj)),
     unicode: unicode_to_quoted_sql,
+    str: unicode_to_quoted_sql,
     datetime: datetime_encoder,
 }
 
@@ -98,4 +99,8 @@ def fallback_decoder(connection, field):
 
 DEFAULT_DECODERS = [
     fallback_decoder,
-]
\ No newline at end of file
+]
+
+# MySQLdb compatibility
+conversions = _simple_field_decoders
+conversions.update(_simple_field_encoders)
diff --git a/MySQLdb/cursors.py b/MySQLdb/cursors.py
index c72c51c..0c4f2e5 100644
--- a/MySQLdb/cursors.py
+++ b/MySQLdb/cursors.py
@@ -302,7 +302,9 @@ def fetchmany(self, size):
                     break
                 self.rows.append(row)
         if self.row_index >= len(self.rows):
-            return []
+            # MySQLdb compatbility: There are applications checking for tuple
+            #                       instead of empty lists or even an iterator...
+            return ()
         row_end = self.row_index + size
         if row_end >= len(self.rows):
             row_end = len(self.rows)
diff --git a/MySQLdb/libmysql.py b/MySQLdb/libmysql.py
index fb1bc2a..ccd3cad 100644
--- a/MySQLdb/libmysql.py
+++ b/MySQLdb/libmysql.py
@@ -139,6 +139,9 @@ class MYSQL_FIELD(ctypes.Structure):
 c.mysql_character_set_name.argtypes = [MYSQL_P]
 c.mysql_character_set_name.restype = ctypes.c_char_p
 
+c.mysql_ping.argtypes = [MYSQL_P]
+c.mysql_ping.restype = None
+
 # Second thing is an enum, it looks to be a long on Linux systems.
 c.mysql_options.argtypes = [MYSQL_P, ctypes.c_long, ctypes.c_char_p]
 c.mysql_options.restype = ctypes.c_int
diff --git a/tests/test_connection.py b/tests/test_connection.py
index ad6b6ca..83145a5 100644
--- a/tests/test_connection.py
+++ b/tests/test_connection.py
@@ -38,3 +38,6 @@ def test_closed_error(self, connection):
         with py.test.raises(connection.InterfaceError) as exc:
             connection.rollback()
         assert str(exc.value) == "(0, '')"
+
+    def test_ping(self, connection):
+        connection.ping()