as if about to leave my mutilated body, which was quite prostrated by
the infliction. I was obliged to be carried to my ass, and it was many
days before I could set my feet to the ground. When I had recovered a
little, I recollected all the details of the strange adventure which
had brought upon me the acute anguish that I felt in every part of my
body; and the more I reflected on the matter, the more vividly I saw
the fatal consequences that would follow from too much confidence in
the suggestions inspired by the haschich. I cursed the hateful ideas
produced by the vapours of this drug, and promised myself that I would
amend my ways, and repair, as far as possible, my injustice to my
wife. But at the very moment when this praiseworthy resolution arose
in my brain and diffused its odours there, like a fresh-opening
flower, my hand, from the strength of habit, sought for the tin box
that lay under my pillow, and drew from it a white particle, which I
placed in my mouth, as if to mock all the weak efforts of my will. In
fact, while my mind was occupied in planning a final rupture with the
perfidious hempen-seed, my enemy stole in on me like a midnight robber
by night, imposed his yoke, and overthrew completely all my good
intentions. Unwittingly I found myself again in the power of the
enemy. 'Well, Abou-Kalif,' he said, 'arise. The precautions you have
taken are sufficiently severe; it is time to set to work, and not
allow the favourable moment to escape, otherwise you may repent it.'
In this manner spake the delusive poison working within me, and I was
wholly in its power, incapable of resistance. I rose from my bed with
a frightful pain in my back and sides, dragged myself along towards
the mysterious flag-stone, and with my heart beating violently, and my
brain cloudy and obscured, I set to work to raise the stone, which
speedily yielded to my efforts. In a state of the highest excitement,
I sat down on the edge of the cavern with my legs hanging down into
it, and my hands leaning on its sides; I scarcely dared to look
downwards. The haschich, however, pushed me forwards, and seemed to
press on my shoulders. My hands at last yielded, and I fell down. O my
sovereign and master, do not ask where I found myself; enough that I
felt myself stifled. The noisome matter into which I had fallen up to
the chin, being disturbed and agitated, had emitted exhalations which
fairly suffocated me. I strove to cry out, but in vain. I fainted, and
lost all consciousness.
"Meanwhile, whilst I, pursued by the fatal influence of the haschich,
had fallen over the edge of the precipice, where I was now struggling,
my disconsolate wife had begged her father to allow her to make
inquiry respecting me. 'I know,' she said, weeping, 'that a sudden
attack of madness has seized him, and that the real cause of his
sending me away, as well as of all the evil that has just befallen us,
is the haschich. Let no curse fall upon him. No doubt my husband will
change his conduct with regard to me, as I cannot reproach myself with
any thing; I will therefore go and see what has happened to him.'
'Well, my child, you may go,' replied her father; 'I shall not seek to
hinder you.' She went, and knocked at the door, but no one replied.
She then inquired of the neighbours if Abou-Kalif was at home; they
said they had not seen him leave the house for the last week. On being
told this, she had the door burst open, and, followed by a crowd of
neighbours of both sexes, searched for me for a long time in vain. At
last, however, I was discovered, half dead and stifled. They pulled me
out, cleansed and sweetened me, and attired me in a fresh suit of
clothes; after which I left the house to breathe the fresh air and
recover myself. It was not long, however, before the haschich regained
its old dominion over me, and led me to the coffee-house, where you
saw me, and condescended to honour me with your greeting."
"Not quite so soon," exclaimed the bey, holding his sides with
laughter; "your story is also a very good one, but before I award to
you the honour of my salutation, I must hear what your other companion
has got to say."
THE THIRD STORY-TELLER.
"Sovereign and master," commenced the third eater of haschich, "no
longer ago than a week I was so happy and satisfied with my lot, that
in truth I would not have exchanged it even for your own. I had a
house filled with every comfort, plenty of money, and a wife who was a
miracle of beauty. One day this charming better half of myself, after
having passed all the day in the bath, returned from it looking so
clean, fresh, and rosy, that my head, where the haschich which I had
been taking for the last hour and a half was breeding disorder, became
on fire and was lost. My eyes grew intoxicated with my wife, as if I
had then beheld her beauty for the first time, and my heart bounded
like the holy waves of the Nile during a storm.
"'Dear cousin,' I cried, for she was my cousin as well as my wife,
'how captivating you are to-day! I am over head and ears in love with
you again!'
"At this instant the haschich suggested to me to divorce her
immediately in order to contract a new marriage and taste again the
bliss of a first union. No sooner said than done; I pronounced the
prescribed phrase, and the next day I celebrated a new marriage with
her[7]. When the festivities were over, I conducted my relations and
guests to the door, which, from absence of mind, I had forgotten to
shut.
"'Dear cousin,' said my wife to me when we were alone, 'go and shut
the street door.'
"'It would be strange indeed if I did,' I replied. 'Am I just made a
bridegroom, clothed in silk, wearing a shawl and a dagger set with
diamonds, and am I to go and shut the door? Why, my dear, you are
crazy; go and shut it yourself!'
"'Oh indeed!' she exclaimed; 'am I, young, robed in a satin dress,
with lace and precious stones, am I to go and shut the court-yard
door? No, indeed, it is you who have become crazy, and not I. Come,
let us make a bargain,' she continued; 'and let the first who speaks
get up and bar the door.'
"'Agreed,' I replied, and straightway I became mute, and she too was
silent, while we both sat down, dressed as we were in our nuptial
attire, looking at each other, and seated on opposite sofas. We
remained thus for one--two--hours. During this time thieves happening
to pass by, and seeing the door open, entered and laid hold of
whatever came to their hand. We heard footsteps in the house, but
opened not our mouths; the robbers came even into our room, and saw us
seated, motionless and indifferent to all that took place. They
continued therefore their pillage, collecting together every thing
valuable, and even dragging away the carpets from beneath us; they
then laid hands on our own persons, which they despoiled of every
article worth taking, while we, in the fear of losing our wager, said
not a word.
"Having thus cleared the house, the thieves departed quietly, but we
remained on our seats, saying not a syllable. Towards morning a police
officer came round on his tour of inspection, and, seeing our door
opened, walked in. Having searched all the rooms and found no one, he
entered the apartment where we were seated, and inquired the meaning
of what he saw. Neither my wife nor I would condescend to reply. The
officer became angry, and ordered our heads to be cut off. The
executioner's sword was just about to perform its office, when my wife
cried out, 'Sir, he is my husband, spare him!'
"'Oh, oh!' I exclaimed, overjoyed and clapping my hands, 'you have
lost the wager; go, shut the door.'
"I then explained the whole affair to the police officer, who shrugged
his shoulders and went away, leaving us in a truly dismal plight.
Immediately after I went to a coffee-house, where you deigned to
honour me with a salutation."
* * * * *
At the conclusion of this story the bey, who was ready to die with
laughter, exclaimed, "This time it is you who are in the right; you
are truly entitled to my respects."
FOOTNOTES:
[2] An intoxicating drug, like opium.
[3] Personages who figure in Arabian legends.
[4] This is the legal form of pronouncing a divorce among the
Mahometans.
[5] A small coin, in circulation in Turkey, about the value of
eighteenpence of our money. It is probably from the same root as the
German _groschen_.
[6] The public executioner.
[7] The Mahometans may immediately take back the woman whom they had
divorced, but a fresh marriage ceremony must take place.
III.
THE STORY OF PRINCE KHALAF AND THE PRINCESS OF CHINA.
Prince Khalaf was the son of an aged khan of the Nagaei-Tartars. The
history of his time makes honourable mention of his name. It relates
that he surpassed all the princes of the age in beauty, in wisdom, and
in valour; that he was as learned as the greatest doctors of his age;
that he could fathom the deepest mysteries of the commentaries on the
Koran; and that he knew by heart the sayings of the prophet: it speaks
of him, in short, as the hero of Asia and the wonder of the East.
This prince was the soul of the councils of his father Timurtasch.
When he gave advice, the most accomplished statesmen approved it, and
could not sufficiently admire his prudence and wisdom. If, moreover,
it were necessary to take up arms, he was immediately seen at the head
of the troops of the state, seeking out the enemy, engaging them and
vanquishing them. He had already won several victories, and the Nagaeis
had rendered themselves so formidable by their repeated successes,
that the neighbouring nations did not venture to quarrel with them.
Such was the prosperous state of affairs in the khan's dominions, when
an ambassador from the sultan of Carisma arrived at the court of
Timurtasch, and demanded in the name of his master that the Nagaeis
should henceforth pay him a yearly tribute; he added that in default
he would come in person, with an overwhelming force, and compel them
to submit, at the same time depriving their sovereign of his crown as
a punishment for his refusal. On hearing this arrogant message, the
khan immediately assembled his council in order to decide whether to
pay the tribute rather than risk a war with so powerful an enemy, or
whether to treat his menaces with contempt and prepare to repel the
invaders. Khalaf, with the majority of the council, were of the latter
opinion, and the ambassador being dismissed with a refusal, took his
departure for Carisma.
The khan lost no time in sending deputies to the neighbouring nations,
in order to represent to them that it was to their interest to unite
with him against the sultan of Carisma, whose ambition now exceeded
all bounds, and who would undoubtedly exact the same tribute from them
if he should succeed in conquering the Nagaeis. The deputies succeeded
in these negotiations; the neighbouring nations and tribes, and
amongst them the Circassians, engaged to join in the proposed
confederation, and to furnish among them a quota of fifty thousand
men. On this promise, the khan proceeded to raise fresh troops, in
addition to the army which he already had on foot.
While the Nagaeis were making these preparations, the sultan of Carisma
assembled an army of two hundred thousand men, and crossed the
Jaxartes at Cogende. He marched through the countries of Ilac and
Saganac, where he found abundance of provisions; and had advanced as
far as Jund, before the army of the khan, commanded by prince Khalaf,
was able to take the field, in consequence of the Circassians and the
other auxiliary troops not having been able sooner to join him. As
soon as these succours arrived, Khalaf marched direct towards Jund,
but he had scarcely passed Jenge Kemt, when his scouts informed him
that the enemy was close at hand, and was advancing to attack him. The
young prince immediately ordered his troops to halt, and proceeded to
arrange them in order of battle.
The two armies were nearly equal in numbers, and the men who composed
them equally courageous. The battle which ensued was bloody and
obstinate. The sultan did all that a warrior skilled in the conduct of
armies could do; and the prince Khalaf, on his side, more than could
be expected from so young a general. At one time the Nagaei-Tartars had
the advantage, at another they were obliged to yield to the
Carismians; at last both parties, alternately victors and vanquished,
were obliged by the approach of night to sound a retreat. The combat
was to have recommenced in the morning; but, in the mean time, the
leader of the Circassians went secretly to the sultan, and offered to
abandon the cause of the Nagaeis, provided the sultan would pledge
himself, on oath, never to exact tribute from the Circassians upon any
pretence whatever. The sultan having consented, the treaty was
confirmed, and the Circassian leader, instead of occupying his place
next day in the army of the khan, detached his troops from the Nagaeis,
and took the road back to his own country.
This treachery was a terrible blow to prince Khalaf, who, seeing
himself now much weakened in numbers, would have withdrawn for the
time from the conflict; but there was no possibility of retreat. The
Carismians advanced furiously to the charge, and taking advantage of
the ground which allowed them to extend their lines, they surrounded
the Nagaeis on all sides. The latter, notwithstanding that they had
been deserted by their best auxiliaries, did not lose their courage.
Animated by the example of their prince, they closed their ranks, and
for a long time firmly sustained the terrible onset of their enemies.
At last, however, resistance became hopeless, and Khalaf, seeing all
hope at an end, thought of nothing but his escape, which he
fortunately succeeded in effecting. The moment the sultan was apprised
of his flight, he sent six thousand horsemen to endeavour to capture
him, but he eluded their pursuit, by taking roads that were unknown to
them; and after a few days' hard riding through unfrequented and
unknown tracts, arrived at his father's court, where he spread sorrow
and consternation, by the disastrous tidings he brought.
If this piece of news deeply afflicted Timurtasch, the intelligence he
next received drove him to despair. An officer who had escaped from
the battle, brought word that the sultan of Carisma had put to the
sword nearly all the Nagaeis, and that he was advancing with all
possible speed, fully resolved to put the whole family of the khan to
death, and to absorb the nation into his own kingdom. The khan then
repented of having refused to pay the tribute, but he fully recognized
the force of the Arab proverb, "When the city is in ruins, what is the
use of repentance?" As time pressed, and it was necessary to fly, for
fear of falling into the hands of the sultan, the khan, the princess
Elmaze (diamond), his wife, and Khalaf, made a selection of all their
most precious treasures, and departed from the capital, Astracan,
accompanied by several officers of the palace, who refused to abandon
them in their need, as well as by such of the troops as had cut their
way through the ranks of their enemies with the young prince.
They directed their march towards Bulgaria; their object being to beg
an asylum at the court of some sovereign prince. They had now been
several days on their journey, and had gained the Caucasus, when a
swarm of some four thousand suddenly poured down upon them from that
range. Although Khalaf had scarcely a hundred men with him, he
steadily received the furious attack of the robbers, of whom numbers
fell; his troops, however, were by degrees overpowered and
slaughtered, and he himself remained in the power of the bandits, some
of whom fell upon the spoil, whilst others butchered the followers of
the khan. They only spared the lives of that prince, his wife, and
his son, leaving them, however, almost naked in the midst of the
mountains.
It is impossible to describe the grief of Timurtasch when he saw
himself reduced to this extremity. He envied the fate of those whom he
had seen slain before his eyes, and giving way to despair, sought to
destroy himself. The princess burst into tears, and made the air
resound with her lamentations and groans. Khalaf alone had strength to
support the weight of their misfortunes; he was possessed of an
indomitable courage. The bitter lamentations which the khan and his
wife uttered were his greatest trouble. "Oh, my father! Oh, my
mother!" said he, "do not succumb to your misfortunes. Remember that
it is God who wills that you should be thus wretched. Let us submit
ourselves without a murmur to his absolute decrees. Are we the first
princes whom the rod of justice has struck? How many rulers before us
have been driven from their kingdoms, and after wandering about for
years in foreign lands, sharing the lot of the most abject of mortals,
have been in the end restored to their thrones! If God has the power
to pluck off crowns, has He not also the power to restore them? Let us
hope that He will commiserate our misery, and that He will in time
change into prosperity the deplorable condition in which we now are."
[Illustration: Prince Khalaf holding back his father, p. 63.]
With such arguments he endeavoured to console his father and mother,
and to some extent succeeded; they experienced a secret consolation,
and at last allowed themselves to take comfort. "So be it, my son,"
said the khan, "let us bow to Providence; and since these evils which
encompass us are written in the book of fate, let us endure them
without repining." At these words the royal party made up their minds
to be firm under their misfortunes, and proceeded to continue their
journey on foot, the robbers having taken their horses. They wandered
on for a long time, living upon the fruits they found in the valleys;
but at length they entered upon a desert, where the earth yielded
nothing upon which they could subsist, and now their courage deserted
them. The khan, far advanced in years, began to feel his strength fail
him; and the princess, worn out with the fatigue of the journey she
had made, could scarcely hold out any longer. In this predicament,
Khalaf, although wofully tired himself, had no resource but to carry
them by turns on his shoulders. At last all three, overwhelmed by
hunger, thirst, and weariness, arrived at a spot abounding with
frightful precipices. It was a hill, very steep, and intersected with
deep chasms, forming what appeared to be dangerous passes. Through
these, however, seemed to be the only way by which to enter upon the
vast plain which stretched out beyond; for both sides of the hill were
so encumbered with brambles and thorns, that it was impossible to
force a way through. When the princess perceived the chasms, she
uttered a piercing cry, and the khan at length lost his patience. He
rushed furiously forward. "I can bear this no longer," said he to his
son; "I yield to my hard destiny; I succumb to so much suffering. I
will throw myself headlong into one of these deep gulfs, which,
doubtless, Heaven has reserved for my tomb. I will escape the tyranny
of wickedness. I prefer death to such a miserable existence."
The khan, yielding himself up to the frenzy which had taken possession
of him, was on the point of throwing himself down one of the
precipices, when prince Khalaf seized him in his arms and held him
back. "Oh, my father!" said he, "what are you doing? Why give way to
this transport of fury? Is it thus that you show the submission you
owe to the decrees of Heaven? Calm yourself. Instead of displaying a
rebellious impatience of its will, let us endeavour to deserve by our
constancy its compassion and favour. I confess that we are in a
deplorable state, and that we can scarcely take a step without danger
amidst these abysses; but there may be another road by which we can
enter the plain: let me go and see if I can find one. In the mean
time, my lord, calm the violence of your transports, and remain near
the princess; I will return immediately."
"Go, then, my son," replied the khan, "we will await you here; do not
fear that I will any longer give way to despair."
The young prince traversed the whole hill without being able to
discover any path. He was oppressed with the deepest grief; he threw
himself on the ground, sighed, and implored the help of Heaven. He
rose up, and again searched for some track that would conduct them to
the plain. At length he found one. He followed it, returning thanks to
Heaven for the discovery, and advanced to the foot of a tree which
stood at the entrance of the plain, and which covered with its shade a
fountain of pure transparent water. He also perceived other trees
laden with fruit of an extraordinary size. Delighted with this
discovery, he ran to inform his father and mother, who received the
news with the greater joy, since they now began to hope that Heaven
had begun to compassionate their misery.
Khalaf conducted them to the fountain, where all three bathed their
faces and their hands and quenched the burning thirst which consumed
them. They then ate of the fruits which the young prince gathered for
them, and which, in their state of exhaustion from want of food,
appeared to them delicious. "My lord," said Khalaf to his father, "you
see the injustice of your complaints. You imagined that Heaven had
forsaken us; I implored its succour, and it has succoured us. It is
not deaf to the voice of the unfortunate who put their whole trust in
its mercy."
They remained near the fountain two or three days to repose and
recruit their wasted strength. After that they collected as much of
the fruit as they could carry, and advanced into the plain, hoping to
find their way to some inhabited place. They were not deceived in
their expectations; they soon perceived before them a town which
appeared large and splendidly built. They made their way to it, and
having arrived at the gates, resolved to remain there and wait for
night, not wishing to enter the town during the day, covered with dust
and perspiration, and with what little clothing the robbers had left
them, travel-worn and rent with brambles. They selected a tree which
cast a delicious shade, and stretched themselves upon the grass at its
foot. They had reposed there some time, when an old man came out of
the town and directed his steps to the same place, to enjoy the cool
shade. He sat down near them after making them a profound obeisance.
They in turn saluted him, and then inquired what was the name of the
town. "It is called Jaic," replied the old man. "The king,
Ileuge-Khan, makes it his residence. It is the capital of the country,
and derives its name from the river which flows through it. You must
be strangers since you ask me that question." "Yes," replied the khan,
"we come from a country very far from here. We were born in the
kingdom of Chrisnia, and we dwell upon the banks of the Caspian Sea;
we are merchants. We were travelling with a number of other merchants
in Captchak; a large band of robbers attacked our caravan and pillaged
us; they spared our lives, but have left us in the situation in which
you see us. We have traversed mount Caucasus, and found our way here
without knowing where we were directing our steps."
The old man, who had a compassionate heart for the distress of his
neighbour, expressed his sympathy for their misfortunes, and, to
assure them of his sincerity, offered them shelter in his house. He
made the offer with such cordiality, that, even if they had not needed
it, they would have felt some difficulty in refusing.
As soon as night set in he conducted them to his home. It was a small
house, very plainly furnished; but every thing was neat, and wore the
appearance rather of simplicity than of poverty. As the old man
entered he gave some orders in an undertone to one of his slaves, who
returned in a short time followed by two boys, one of whom carried a
large bundle of men's and women's clothes ready made, the other was
laden with all sorts of veils, turbans, and girdles. Prince Khalaf and
his father each took a caftan of cloth and a brocaded dress with a
turban of Indian muslin, and the princess a complete suit. After this
their host gave the boys the price of the clothes, sent them away, and
ordered supper. Two slaves brought the table and placed upon it a tray
covered with dishes of china, sandal, and aloe-wood, and several cups
of coral perfumed with ambergris. They then served up a repast,
delicate, yet without profusion. The old man endeavoured to raise the
spirits of his guests; but perceiving that his endeavours were vain,
"I see clearly," said he, "that the remembrance of your misfortunes is
ever present to your minds. You must learn how to console yourselves
for the loss of the goods of which the robbers have plundered you.
Travellers and merchants often experience similar mishaps. I was
myself once robbed on the road from Moussul to Bagdad. I nearly lost
my life on that occasion, and I was reduced to the miserable condition
in which I found you. If you please I will relate my history; the
recital of my misfortunes may encourage you to support yours." Saying
this, the good old man ordered his slaves to retire, and spoke as
follows.
THE STORY OF PRINCE AL ABBAS.