She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Queen
continued:—Iblis served God and became chief of Cherubim. When, however,
the Lord created Adam (with whom be peace!), He commanded Iblis to
prostrate himself to him, but he drew back; so Allah Almighty expelled
him from heaven and cursed him.[528] This Iblis had issue and of his
lineage are the devils; and as for the other six males, who were his
elders, they are the ancestors of the true-believing Jann, and we are
their descendants. Such, O Bulukiya is our provenance.[529] Bulukiya
marvelled at the King’s words and said, “O King, I pray thee bid one of
thy guards bear me back to my native land.” “Naught of this may we do,”
answered Sakhr, “save by commandment of Allah Almighty; however, an thou
desire to leave us and return home, I will mount thee on one of my mares
and cause her carry thee to the farthest frontiers of my dominions,
where thou wilt meet with the troops of another King, Barákhiyá hight,
who will recognize the mare at sight and take thee off her and send her
back to us; and this is all we can do for thee, and no more.” When
Bulukiya heard these words he wept and said, “Do whatso thou wilt.” So
King Sakhr caused bring the mare and, setting Bulukiya on her back, said
to him, “Beware lest thou alight from her or strike her or cry out in
her face; for if thou do so she will slay thee; but abide quietly riding
on her back till she stop with thee; then dismount and wend thy ways.”
Quoth Bulukiya, “I hear and I obey;” he then mounted and setting out,
rode on a long while between the rows of tents; and stinted not riding
till he came to the royal kitchens where he saw the great cauldrons,
each holding fifty camels, hung up over the fires which blazed fiercely
under them. So he stopped there and gazed with a marvel ever increasing
till King Sakhr thinking him to be anhungered, bade bring him two
roasted camels; and they carried them to him and bound them behind him
on the mare’s crupper. Then he took leave of them and fared on, till he
came to the end of King Sakhr’s dominions, where the mare stood still
and Bulukiya dismounted and began to shake the dust of the journey from
his raiment. And behold, there accosted him a party of men who,
recognising the mare, carried her and Bulukiya before their King
Barakhiya. So he saluted him, and the King returned his greeting and
seated him beside himself in a splendid pavilion, in the midst of his
troops and champions and vassal Princes of the Jann ranged to right and
left; after which he called for food and they ate their fill and
pronounced the Alhamdolillah. Then they set on fruits, and when they had
eaten thereof, King Barakhiya, whose estate was like that of King Sakhr,
asked his guest, “When didst thou leave King Sakhr?” And Bulukiya
answered, “Two days ago.” Quoth Barakhiya, “Dost thou know, how many
days’ journey thou hast come in these two days?” Quoth he, “No,” and the
King rejoined, “Thou hast come a journey of threescore and ten
months.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
permitted say.
Now when it was the Four Hundred and Ninety-fifth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Queen
continued:—Barakhiya said to Bulukiya, “In two days thou hast come a
journey of threescore and ten months; moreover when thou mountest the
mare, she was affrighted at thee, knowing thee for a son of Adam, and
would have thrown thee; so they bound on her back these two camels by
way of weight to steady her.” When Bulukiya heard this, he marvelled and
thanked Allah Almighty for safety. Then said the King, “Tell me thy
adventures and what brought thee to this our land.” So he told him his
story from first to last, and the King marvelled at his words, and kept
Bulukiya with him two months. Upon this Hasib Karim al-Din after he had
marvelled at her story, again besought the Serpent-queen saying, “I pray
thee of thy goodness and graciousness command one of thy subjects
conduct me to the surface of the earth, that I may return to my family;”
but she answered, “O Hasib, I know that the first thing thou wilt do,
after seeing the face of the earth will be to greet thy family and then
repair to the Hammam-bath and bathe; and the moment thou endest thine
ablutions will see the last of me, for it will be the cause of my
death.” Quoth Hasib, “I swear that I will never again enter the
Hammam-bath so long as I live, but when washing is incumbent on me, I
will wash at home.” Rejoined the Queen, “I would not trust thee though
thou shouldst swear to me an hundred oaths; for such abstaining is not
possible; and I know thee to be a son of Adam for whom no oath is
sacred. Thy father Adam made a covenant with Allah the most High, who
kneaded the clay whereof He fashioned him forty mornings and made His
angels prostrate themselves to him; yet after all his promise did he
forget and his oath violate, disobeying the commandment of his Lord.”
When Hasib heard this, he held his peace and burst into tears; nor did
he leave weeping for the space of ten days, at the end of which time he
said to the Queen, “Prithee acquaint me with the rest of Bulukiya’s
adventures.” Accordingly, she began again as follows:—Know, O Hasib,
that Bulukiya, after abiding two months with King Barakhiya, farewelled
him and fared on over wastes and deserts nights and days, till he came
to a high mountain which he ascended. On the summit he beheld seated a
great Angel glorifying the names of God and invoking blessings on
Mohammed. Before him lay a tablet covered with characters, these white
and those black,[530] whereon his eyes were fixed, and his two wings
were outspread to the full, one to the western and the other to the
eastern horizon. Bulukiya approached and saluted the Angel, who returned
his salam adding, “Who art thou and whence comest thou and whither
wendest thou and what is thy story?” Accordingly, he repeated to him his
history, from first to last, and the Angel marvelled mightily thereat,
whereupon Bulukiya said to him, “I pray thee in return acquaint me with
the meaning of this table and what is writ thereon; and what may be
thine occupation and thy name.” Replied the Angel, “My name is Michael,
and I am charged with the shifts of night and day; and this is my
occupation till the Day of Doom.” Bulukiya wondered at his words and at
his aspect and the vastness of his stature and, taking leave of him,
fared onwards, night and day, till he came to a vast meadow over which
he walked observing that it was traversed by seven streams and abounded
in trees. He was struck by its beauty and in one corner thereof he saw a
great tree and under it four Angels. So he drew near to them and found
the first in the likeness of a man, the second in the likeness of a wild
beast, the third in the likeness of a bird and the fourth in the
likeness of a bull, engaged in glorifying Almighty Allah, and saying, “O
my God and my Master and my Lord, I conjure Thee, by Thy truth and by
the degree of Thy Prophet Mohammed (on whom be blessings and peace!) to
vouchsafe Thy mercy and grant Thy forgiveness to all things created in
my likeness; for Thou over all things art Almighty!” Bulukiya marvelled
at what he heard but continued his journey till he came to another
mountain and ascending it, found there a great Angel seated on the
summit, glorifying God and hallowing Him and invoking blessings on
Mohammed (whom Allah assain and save!); and he saw that Angel
continually opening and shutting his hands and bending and extending his
fingers. He accosted him and saluted him; whereupon the Angel returned
his salam and enquired who he was and how he came thither. So Bulukiya
acquainted him with his adventures including his having lost the way;
and besought him to tell him, in turn, who he was and what was his
function and what mountain was that. Quoth the Angel, “Know, O Bulukiya,
that this is the mountain Kaf, which encompasseth the world; and all the
countries the Creator hath made are in my grasp. When the Almighty is
minded to visit any land with earthquake or famine or plenty or
slaughter or prosperity, He biddeth me carry out His commands and I
carry them out without stirring from my place; for know thou that my
hands lay hold upon the roots of the earth,”——And Shahrazad perceived
the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Four Hundred and Ninety-sixth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Queen
continued:—When the angel said, “And know thou that my hands lay hold
upon the roots of the earth,” he asked, “And hath Allah created other
worlds than this within the mountain Kaf?” The Angel answered, “Yes, He
hath made a world white as silver, whose vastness none knoweth save
Himself, and hath peopled it with Angels, whose meat and drink are His
praise and hallowing and continual blessings upon His Prophet Mohammed
(whom Allah bless and keep!). Every Thursday night[531] they repair to
this mountain and worship in congregation Allah until the morning, and
they assign the future recompense of their lauds and litanies to the
sinners of the Faith of Mohammed (whom Allah assain and save!) and to
all who make the Ghusl-ablution of Friday; and this is their function
until the Day of Resurrection.” Asked Bulukiya, “And hath Allah created
other mountains behind the mountain Kaf?”; whereto he answered, “Yes,
behind this mountain is a range of mountains five hundred years’ journey
long, of snow and ice, and this it is that wardeth off the heat of
Jahannam from the world, which verily would else be consumed thereby.
Moreover, behind the mountain Kaf are forty worlds, each one the bigness
of this world forty times told, some of gold and some of silver and
others of carnelian. Each of these worlds hath its own colour, and Allah
hath peopled them with angels, that know not Eve nor Adam nor night nor
day, and have no other business than to celebrate His praises and hallow
Him and make profession of His Unity and proclaim His Omnipotence and
supplicate Him on behalf of the followers of Mohammed (whom Allah bless
and keep!). And know, also, O Bulukiya, that the earths were made in
seven stages, one upon another, and that Allah hath created one of His
Angels, whose stature and attributes none knoweth but Himself and who
beareth the seven stages upon his shoulders. Under this Angel Almighty
Allah hath created a great rock, and under the rock a bull, and under
the bull a huge fish, and under the fish a mighty ocean.”[532] God once
told Isa (with whom be peace!) of this fish, and he said, “O Lord show
me the fish, that I may look upon it.” So the Almighty commanded an
angel to take Isa and show him the fish. Accordingly, he took him up and
carried him (with whom be peace!) to the sea, wherein the fish dwelt,
and said, “Look, O Isa, upon the fish.” He looked but at first saw
nothing, when, suddenly, the fish darted past like lightning. At this
sight Isa fell down a-swoon, and when he came to himself, Allah spake to
him by inspiration, saying, “O Isa, hast thou seen the fish and
comprehended its length and its breadth?” He replied, “By Thy honour and
glory, O Lord, I saw no fish; but there passed me by a great bull, whose
length was three days’ journey, and I know not what manner of thing this
bull is.” Quoth Allah, “O Isa, this that thou sawest and which was three
days in passing by thee, was but the head of the fish;[533] and know
that every day I create forty fishes like unto this.” And Isa hearing
this marvelled at the power of Allah the Almighty. Asked Bulukiya, “What
hath Allah made beneath this sea which containeth the fish?”; and the
Angel answered, “Under the sea the Lord created a vast abyss of air,
under the air fire, and under the fire a mighty serpent, by name Falak;
and were it not for fear of the Most Highest, this serpent would
assuredly swallow up all that is above it, air and fire and the Angel
and his burden, without sensing it.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn
of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
Now when it was the Four Hundred and Ninety-seventh Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the angel said to
Bulukiya when describing the serpent, “And were it not for fear of the
Most Highest, this serpent would assuredly swallow up all that is above
it, air, and fire, and the Angel and his burden, without sensing it.
When Allah created this serpent He said to it by inspiration:—I will
give thee somewhat to keep for me, so open thy mouth. The serpent
replied:—Do whatso Thou wilt; and opened his mouth and God placed Hell
into his maw, saying:—Keep it until the Day of Resurrection. When that
time comes, the Almighty will send His angels with chains to bring Hell
and bind it until the Day when all men shall meet; and the Lord will
order Hell to go open its gates and there will issue therefrom sparks
bigger than the mountains.” When Bulukiya heard these things he wept
with sore weeping and, taking leave of the Angel, fared on westwards,
till he came in sight of two creatures sitting before a great shut gate.
As he drew near, he saw that one of the gatekeepers had the semblance of
a lion and the other that of a bull; so he saluted them and they
returned his salam and enquired who and whence he was and whither he was
bound. Quoth he, “I am of the sons of Adam, a wanderer for the love of
Mohammed (whom Allah assain and save!) and I have strayed from my way.”
Then he asked them what they were and what was the gate before which
they sat, and they answered, “We are the guardians of this gate thou
seest and we have no other business than the praise and hallowing of
Allah and the invocation of blessings on Mohammed (whom may He bless and
keep!).” Bulukiya wondered and asked them, “What is within the gate?”;
and they answered, “We wot not.” Then quoth he, “I conjure you, by the
truth of your glorious Lord, open to me the gate, that I may see that
which is therein.” Quoth they, “We cannot, and none may open this gate,
of all created beings save Gabriel, the Faithful One, with whom be
peace!” Then Bulukiya lifted up his voice in supplication to Allah,
saying, “O Lord, send me thy messenger Gabriel, the Faithful One, to
open for me this gate that I may see what be therein;” and the Almighty
gave ear unto his prayer and commanded the Archangel to descend to earth
and open to him the gate of the Meeting-place of the Two Seas. So
Gabriel descended and, saluting Bulukiya, opened the gate to him,
saying, “Enter this door, for Allah commandeth me to open to thee.” So
he entered and Gabriel locked the gate behind him and flew back to
heaven. When Bulukiya found himself within the gate, he looked and
beheld a vast ocean, half salt and half fresh, bounded on every side by
mountain-ranges of red ruby whereon he saw angels singing the praises of
the Lord and hallowing Him. So he went up to them and saluted them and
having received a return of his salam, questioned them of the sea and
the mountains. Replied they, “This place is situate under the Arsh or
empyreal heaven; and this Ocean causeth the flux and flow of all the
seas of the world; and we are appointed to distribute them and drive
them to the various parts of the earth, the salt to the salt and the
fresh to the fresh,[534] and this is our employ until the Day of Doom.
As for the mountain-ranges they serve to limit and to contain the
waters. But thou, whence comest thou and whither art thou bound?” So he
told them his story and asked them of the road. They bade him traverse
the surface of the ocean which lay before him: so he anointed his feet
with the juice of the herb he had with him, and taking leave of the
angels, set out upon the face of the sea and sped on over the water
nights and days; and as he was faring, behold, he met a handsome youth
journeying along like himself, whereupon he greeted him and he returned
his greeting. After they parted he espied four great Angels wayfaring
over the face of the sea, and their going was like the blinding
lightning; so he stationed himself in their road, and when they came up
to him, he saluted them and said to them, “I ask you by the Almighty,
the Glorious, to tell me your names and whither are ye bound?” Replied
the first Angel, “My name is Gabriel and these my companions are called
Isráfíl and Míká’íl and Azrá’íl. There hath appeared in the East a
mighty dragon, which hath laid waste a thousand cities and devoured
their inhabitants; wherefore Allah Almighty hath commanded us to go to
him and seize him and cast him into Jahannam.” Bulukiya marvelled at the
vastness of their stature and fared on, as before, days and nights, till
he came to an island where he landed and walked about for a while,——And
Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Four Hundred and Ninety-eighth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Bulukiya landed on
the island and walked about for a while, till he saw a comely young man
with light shining from his visage, sitting weeping and lamenting
between two built tombs. So he saluted him and he returned his
salutation, and Bulukiya said to him, “Who art thou and what are these
two built tombs between which thou sittest, and wherefore this wailing?”
He looked at him and wept with sore weeping, till he drenched his
clothes with his tears; then said, “Know thou, O my brother, mine is a
marvellous story and a wondrous; but I would have thee sit by me and
first tell me thy name and thine adventures and who thou art and what
brought thee hither; after which I will, in turn, relate to thee my
history.” So Bulukiya sat down by him and related to him all that had
befallen him from his father’s death,[535] adding, “Such is my history,
the whole of it, and Allah alone knoweth what will happen to me after
this.” When the youth heard his story, he sighed and said, “O thou
unhappy! How few things thou hast seen in thy life compared with mine!
Know, O Bulukiya, that unlike thyself I have looked upon our lord
Solomon, in his life, and have seen things past count or reckoning.
Indeed, my story is strange and my case out of range, and I would have
thee abide with me, till I tell thee my history and acquaint thee how I
come to be sitting here.” Hearing this much Hasib again interrupted the
Queen of the Serpents and said to her, “Allah upon thee, O Queen,
release me and command one of thy servants carry me forth to the surface
of the earth, and I will swear an oath to thee that I will never enter
the Hammam-bath as long as I live.” But she said, “This is a thing which
may not be nor will I believe thee upon thine oath.” When he heard this,
he wept and all the serpents wept on his account and took to interceding
for him with their Queen, saying, “We beseech thee, bid one of us carry
him forth to the surface of the earth, and he will swear thee an oath
never to enter the bath his life long.” Now when Yamlaykhá (for such was
the Queen’s name) heard their appeal, she turned to Hasib and made him
swear to her an oath; after which she bade a serpent carry him forth to
the surface of the earth. The serpent made ready, but as she was about
to go away with him, he turned to Queen Yamlaykha and said, “I would
fain have thee tell me the history of the youth whom Bulukiya saw
sitting between two tombs.” So she said:—Know, O Hasib, that when
Bulukiya sat down by the youth and told him his tale, from first to
last, in order that the other might also recount his adventures and
explain the cause of his sitting between the two tombs——And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
Now when it was the Four Hundred and Ninety-ninth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Queen
continued:—When Bulukiya ended his recount, the youth said, “How few
things of marvel hast thou seen in thy life, O unhappy! Now I have
looked upon our lord Solomon while he was yet living and I have
witnessed wonders beyond compt and conception.” And he began to relate
_THE STORY OF JANSHAH._[536]
Know, O my brother, that my sire was a King called Teghmús, who reigned
over the land of Kabul and the Banu Shahlán, ten thousand warlike
chiefs, each ruling over a hundred walled cities and a hundred citadels;
and he was suzerain also over seven vassal princes, and tribute was
brought to him from the broad lands between East and West. He was just
and equitable in his rule and Allah Almighty had given him all this and
had bestowed on him such mighty empire, yet had He not vouchsafed him a
son (though this was his dearest wish) to inherit the kingdom after his
decease. So one day it befel that he summoned the Olema and astrologers,
the mathematicians and almanac-makers, and said, “Draw me my horoscope
and look if Allah will grant me a son to succeed me.” Accordingly, they
consulted their books and calculated his dominant star and the aspects
thereof; after which they said to him, “Know, O King, that thou shalt be
blessed with a son, but by none other than the daughter of the King of
Khorásán.” Hearing this Teghmus joyed with exceeding joy and, bestowing
on the astrologers and wizards treasure beyond numbering or reckoning,
dismissed them. His chief Wazir was a renowned warrior, by name ‘Ayn
Zár, who was equal to a thousand cavaliers in battle; so him he summoned
and, repeating to him what the astrologers had predicted, he said, “O
Wazir, it is my will that thou equip thee for a march to Khorasan and
demand for me the hand of its King Bahrwán’s daughter.” Receiving these
orders the Wazir at once proceeded to get ready for the journey and
encamped without the town with his troops and braves and retinue, whilst
King Teghmus made ready as presents for the King of Khorasan fifteen
hundred loads of silks and precious stones, pearls and rubies and other
gems, besides gold and silver; and he also prepared a prodigious
quantity of all that goeth to the equipment of a bride; then, loading
them upon camels and mules, delivered them to Ayn Zar, with a letter to
the following purport. “After invoking the blessing of Heaven, King
Teghmus to King Bahrwan, greeting. Know that we have taken counsel with
the astrologers and sages and mathematicians, and they tell us that we
shall have boon of a boy-child, and that by none other than thy
daughter. Wherefore I have despatched unto thee my Wazir Ayn Zar, with
great store of bridal gear, and I have appointed him to stand in my
stead and to enter into the marriage-contract in my name. Furthermore I
desire that of thy favour thou wilt grant him his request without stay
or delay; for it is my own, and all graciousness thou showest him, I
take for myself; but beware of crossing me in this, for know, O King
Bahrwan, that Allah hath bestowed upon me the Kingdom of Kabul, and hath
given me dominion over the Banu Shahlan and vouchsafed me a mighty
empire; and if I marry thy daughter, we will be, I and thou, as one
thing in kingship; and I will send thee every year as much treasure as
will suffice thee. And this is my desire of thee.” Then King Teghmus
sealed the letter with his own ring and gave it to the Wazir, who
departed with a great company and journeyed till he drew near the
capital of Khorasan. When King Bahrwan heard of his approach, he
despatched his principal Emirs to meet him,[537] with a convoy of food
and drink and other requisites, including forage for the steeds. So they
fared forth with the train till they met the Wazir; then, alighting
without the city, they exchanged salutations and abode there, eating and
drinking, ten days; at the end of which time they mounted and rode on
into the town, where they were met by King Bahrwan, who came out to
greet the Wazir of King Teghmus and alighting, embraced him and carried
him to his citadel. Then Ayn Zar brought out the presents and laid them
before King Bahrwan, together with the letter of King Teghmus, which
when the King read and understood, he joyed with joy exceeding and
welcomed the Wazir, saying, “Rejoice in winning thy wish; and know that
if King Teghmus sought of me my life, verily I would give it to him.”
Then he went in forthright to his daughter and her mother and his
kinsfolk, and acquainting them with the King of Kabul’s demand, sought
counsel of them, and they said, “Do what seemeth good to thee.”——And
Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundredth Night,