He exclaimed, "The tempest has brought us so far out of our course
that to-morrow about noon we shall be near the black mountain, or mine
of adamant, which at this very minute draws all your fleet toward it
by virtue of the iron in your ships; and when we approach within a
certain distance the attraction of the adamant will have such force
that all the nails will be drawn out of the sides and bottoms of the
ships, and fasten to the mountain, so that your vessels will fall to
pieces and sink. This mountain," continued the pilot, "is
inaccessible. On the summit there is a dome of fine brass, supported
by pillars of the same metal, and on the top of that dome stands a
horse, likewise of brass, with a rider on his back, who has a plate of
lead fixed to his breast, upon which some talismanic characters are
engraved. Sir, the tradition is, that this statue is the chief cause
why so many ships and men have been lost and sunk in this place, and
that it will ever continue to be fatal to all those who have the
misfortune to approach, until it shall be thrown down."
The pilot having finished his discourse, began to weep afresh, and all
the rest of the ship's company did the same, and they took farewell of
each other.
The next morning we distinctly perceived the black mountain. About
noon we were so near that we found what the pilot had foretold to be
true; for all the nails and iron in the ships flew toward the
mountain, where they fixed, by the violence of the attraction, with a
horrible noise; the ships split asunder, and their cargoes sank into
the sea.
All my people were drowned, but God had mercy on me and permitted me
to save myself by means of a plank, which the wind drove ashore just
at the foot of the mountain. I did not receive the least hurt; and my
good fortune brought me to a landing place where there were steps that
led up to the summit of the mountain.
At last I reached the top, without accident. I went into the dome,
and, kneeling on the ground, gave God thanks for His mercies.
I passed the night under the dome. In my sleep an old grave man
appeared to me, and said, "Hearken, Agib; as soon as thou art awake
dig up the ground under thy feet: thou wilt find a bow of brass, and
three arrows of lead. Shoot the three arrows at the statue, and the
rider and his horse will fall into the sea; this being done, the sea
will swell and rise to the foot of the dome. When it has come so high,
thou wilt perceive a boat, with one man holding an oar in each hand;
this man is also of metal, but different from that thou hast thrown
down; step on board, but without mentioning the name of God, and let
him conduct thee. He will in ten days' time bring thee into another
sea, where thou shalt find an opportunity to return to thy country,
provided, as I have told thee, thou dost not mention the name of God
during the whole voyage."
When I awoke I felt much comforted by the vision, and did not fail to
observe everything that the old man had commanded me. I took the bow
and arrows out of the ground, shot at the horseman, and with the third
arrow I overthrew him and the horse. In the meantime the sea swelled
and rose up by degrees. When it came as high as the foot of the dome
upon the top of the mountain, I saw, afar off, a boat rowing toward
me, and I returned God thanks.
When the boat made land I stepped aboard, and took great heed not to
pronounce the name of God, neither spoke I one word. I sat down, and
the man of metal began to row off from the mountain. He rowed without
ceasing till the ninth day, when I saw some islands, which gave me
hopes that I should escape all the danger that I feared. The excess of
my joy made me forget what I was forbidden: "God is great! God be
praised!" said I.
I had no sooner spoken than the boat and man sank, casting me upon the
sea. I swam until night, when, as my strength began to fail, a wave
vast as a mountain threw me on the land. The first thing I did was to
strip, and to dry my clothes.
The next morning I went forward to discover what sort of country I was
in. I had not walked far before I found I was upon a desert, though a
very pleasant island, abounding with trees and wild shrubs bearing
fruit. I recommended myself to God, and prayed Him to dispose of me
according to His will.
Immediately after, I saw a vessel coming from the mainland, before the
wind, directly toward the island. I got up into a very thick tree,
from whence, though unseen, I might safely view them. The vessel came
into a little creek, where ten slaves landed, carrying a spade and
other instruments for digging up the ground. They went toward the
middle of the island, where they dug for a considerable time, after
which they lifted up a trapdoor. They returned again to the vessel,
and unloaded several sorts of provisions and furniture, which they
carried to the place where they had been digging; they then descended
into a subterranean dwelling.
I saw them once more go to the ship, and return soon after with an old
man, who led a handsome lad of about fifteen years of age. They all
descended when the trapdoor had been opened. After they had again come
up, they let down the trapdoor, covered it over with earth, and
returned to the creek where the ship lay; but I saw not the young man
in their company. This made me believe that he had stayed behind in
the subterranean cavern.
The old man and the slaves went on board, and steered their course
toward the mainland. When I perceived they had proceeded to such a
distance that I could not be seen by them, I came down from the tree,
and went directly to the place where I had seen the ground broken. I
removed the earth by degrees, till I came to a stone two or three feet
square. I lifted it up, and found that it covered the head of a
flight of stairs, also of stone. I descended, and at the bottom found
myself in a large room, brilliantly lighted, and furnished with a
carpet, a couch covered with tapestry, and cushions of rich stuff,
upon which the young man sat.
The young man, when he perceived me, was considerably alarmed; but I
made a low obeisance, and said to him, "Sir, do not fear. I am a king,
and I will do you no harm. On the contrary, it is probable that your
good destiny may have brought me hither to deliver you out of this
tomb, where it seems you have been buried alive. But what surprises me
(for you must know that I have seen all that hath passed since your
coming into this island) is, that you suffered yourself to be entombed
in this place without any resistance."
The young man, much assured at these words, with a smiling countenance
requested me to seat myself by him. As soon as I was seated he said:
"Prince, my story will surprise you. My father is a jeweler. He has
many slaves, and also agents at the several courts, which he furnishes
with precious stones. He had been long married without having issue
when he dreamed that he should have a son, though his life would be
but short. Some time after, I was born, which occasioned great joy in
the family. My father, who had observed the very moment of my birth,
consulted astrologers about my nativity, and was answered, 'Your son
shall live happily till the age of fifteen, when his life will be
exposed to a danger which he will hardly be able to escape. But if his
good destiny preserve him beyond that time, he will live to a great
age. It will be,' said they, 'when the statue of brass, that stands
upon the summit of the mountain of adamant, shall be thrown into the
sea by Prince Agib, and, as the stars prognosticate, your son will be
killed fifty days afterward by that prince.'
"My father took all imaginable care of my education until this year,
which is the fifteenth of my age. He had notice given him yesterday
that the statue of brass had been thrown into the sea about ten days
ago. This news alarmed him much; and, in consequence of the prediction
of the astrologers, he took the precaution to form this subterranean
habitation to hide me in during the fifty days after the throwing down
of the statue; and therefore, as it is ten days since this happened,
he came hastily hither to conceal me, and promised at the end of forty
days to return and fetch me away. For my own part, I am sanguine in my
hopes, and cannot believe that Prince Agib will seek for me in a place
under ground, in the midst of a desert island."
He had scarcely done speaking when I said to him, with great joy:
"Dear sir, trust in the goodness of God, and fear nothing. I will not
leave you till the forty days have expired, of which the foolish
astrologers have made you apprehensive; and in the meanwhile I will do
you all the service in my power; after which, with leave of your
father and yourself, I shall have the benefit of getting to the
mainland in your vessel; and when I am returned into my kingdom, I
will remember the obligations I owe you, and endeavor to demonstrate
my gratitude by suitable acknowledgments."
This discourse encouraged the jeweler's son, and inspired him with
confidence. I took care not to inform him I was the very Agib whom he
dreaded, lest I should alarm his fears. I found the young man of ready
wit, and partook with him of his provisions, of which he had enough
to have lasted beyond the forty days though he had had more guests
than myself. In short, madam, we spent thirty-nine days in this
subterranean abode in the pleasantest manner possible.
The fortieth day appeared; and in the morning, when the young man
awoke, he said to me, with a transport of joy that he could not
restrain, "Prince, this is the fortieth day, and I am not dead, thanks
to God and your good company. My father will not fail to make you,
very shortly, every acknowledgment of his gratitude for your
attentions, and will furnish you with every necessary for your return
to your kingdom. But," continued he, "while we are waiting his
arrival, dear prince, pray do me the favor to fetch me a melon and
some sugar,[23] that I may eat some to refresh me."
Out of several melons that remained I took the best, and laid it on a
plate; and as I could not find a knife to cut it with, I asked the
young man if he knew where there was one.
"There is one," said he, "upon this cornice over my head." I
accordingly saw it there, and made so much haste to reach it that,
while I had it in my hand, my foot being entangled in the carpet, I
fell most unhappily upon the young man, and the knife pierced his
heart.
At this spectacle I cried out with agony. I beat my head, my face, my
breast; I tore my clothes; I threw myself on the ground with
unspeakable sorrow and grief.
[Footnote 23: Sugar has been traced to the Arabic "succar," which is
the Persian "shachar." The sugar-cane is a jointed reed, crowned with
leaves or blades; it contains a soft, pithy substance, full of sweet
juice. The people of Egypt eat a great quantity of the green
sugar-canes, and make a coarse loaf-sugar, and also sugar-candy and
some very fine sugar, sent to Constantinople to the Grand Signor,
which is very dear, being made only for that purpose.--Dr. Richard
Pocock, _Travels_, Vol. I, p. 204.]
I would have embraced death without any reluctance, had it presented
itself to me. "But what we wish, whether it be good or evil, will not
always happen according to our desire." Nevertheless, considering that
all my tears and sorrows would not restore the young man to life, and,
the forty days being expired, I might be surprised by his father, I
quitted the subterranean dwelling, laid down the great stone upon the
entrance, and covered it with earth. I again ascended into the tree
which had previously sheltered me, when I saw the expected vessel
approaching the shore.
The old man with his slaves landed immediately, and advanced toward
the subterranean dwelling, with a countenance that showed some hope;
but when they saw the earth had been newly removed, they changed
color, particularly the old man. They lifted up the stone, and
descended the stairs. They called the young man by his name, but no
answer was returned. Their fears redoubled. They searched about, and
at last found him stretched on his couch, with the knife through his
heart, for I had not had the courage to draw it out. On seeing this,
they uttered such lamentable cries that my tears flowed afresh. The
unfortunate father continued a long while insensible, and made them
more than once despair of his life; but at last he came to himself.
The slaves then brought up his son's body, dressed in his best
apparel, and when they had made a grave they buried it. The old man,
supported by two slaves, and his face covered with tears, threw the
first earth upon the body, after which the slaves filled up the grave.
This being done, all the furniture was brought up, and, with the
remaining provisions, put on board the vessel. The old man, overcome
with sorrow, was carried upon a litter to the ship, which stood out to
sea, and in a short time was out of sight.
After the old man and his slaves were gone I was left alone upon the
island. I lay that night in the subterranean dwelling, which they had
shut up, and when the day came, I walked round the island.
I led this wearisome life for a whole month. At the expiration of this
time I perceived that the sea had sunk so low that there remained
between me and the continent but a small stream, which I crossed, and
the water did not reach above the middle of my leg. At last I got upon
more firm ground. When I had proceeded some distance from the sea I
saw a good way before me something that resembled a great fire, which
afforded me some comfort; for I said to myself, I shall here find some
persons, it not being possible that this fire should kindle of itself.
As I drew nearer, however, I found my error, and discovered that what
I had taken for a fire was a castle of red copper, which the beams of
the sun made to appear at a distance like flames. As I wondered at
this magnificent building, I saw ten handsome young men coming along;
but what surprised me was that they were all blind of the right eye.
They were accompanied by an old man, very tall, and of a venerable
aspect.
As I was conjecturing by what adventure these men could come together,
they approached, and seemed glad to see me. After we had made our
salutations, they inquired what had brought me thither. I told them my
story, which filled them with great astonishment.
After I had concluded my account, the young men prayed me to accompany
them into the palace, and brought me into a spacious hall, where there
were ten small blue sofas set round, separate from one another. In the
middle of this circle stood an eleventh sofa, not so high as the rest,
but of the same color, upon which the old man before mentioned sat
down, and the young men occupied the other ten. But as each sofa could
only contain one man, one of the young men said to me, "Sit down,
friend, upon that carpet in the middle of the room, and do not inquire
into anything that concerns us, nor the reason why we are all blind of
the right eye."
The old man, having sat a short time, arose, and went out; but he
returned in a minute or two, brought in supper, distributed to each
man separately his proportion, and likewise brought me mine, which I
ate apart, as the rest did; and when supper was almost ended, he
presented to each of us a cup of wine.
One of the young men observing that it was late, said to the old man,
"You do not bring us that with which we may acquit ourselves of our
duty." At these words the old man arose, and went into a closet, and
brought out thence upon his head ten basins, one after another, all
covered with black stuff; he placed one before every gentleman,
together with a light.
They uncovered their basins, which contained ashes and powdered
charcoal; they mixed all together, and rubbed and bedaubed their faces
with it; and having thus blackened themselves, they wept and lamented,
beating their heads and breasts, and crying continually, "This is the
fruit of our idleness and curiosity."
[Illustration: _These ladies vied with each other in their eager
solicitude to do me all possible service Page 91_]
They continued this strange employment nearly the whole of the
night. I wished a thousand times to break the silence which had been
imposed upon me, and to ask the reason of their strange proceedings.
The next day, soon after we had arisen, we went out to walk, and then
I said to them, "I cannot forbear asking why you bedaubed your faces
with black--how it has happened that each of you has but one eye. I
conjure you to satisfy my curiosity."
One of the young men answered on behalf of the rest, "Once more we
advise you to restrain your curiosity; it will cost you the loss of
your right eye."
"No matter," I replied; "be assured that if such a misfortune befall
me, I will not impute it to you, but to myself."
He further represented to me that when I had lost an eye I must not
hope to remain with them, if I were so disposed, because their number
was complete, and no addition could be made to it. I begged them, let
it cost what it would, to grant my request.
The ten young men, perceiving that I was so fixed in my resolution,
took a sheep, killed it, and after they had taken off the skin,
presented me with a knife, telling me it would be useful to me on an
occasion, which they would soon explain. "We must sew you in this
skin," said they, "and then leave you; upon which a bird of monstrous
size, called a roc, will appear in the air, and, taking you for a
sheep, will pounce upon you, and soar with you to the sky. But let not
that alarm you; he will descend with you again, and lay you on the top
of a mountain. When you find yourself on the ground, cut the skin with
your knife, and throw it off. As soon as the roc sees you, he will fly
away for fear, and leave you at liberty. Do not stay, but walk on
till you come to a spacious palace, covered with plates of gold, large
emeralds, and other precious stones. Go up to the gate, which always
stands open, and walk in. We have each of us been in that castle, but
will tell you nothing of what we saw, or what befell us there; you
will learn by your own experience. All that we can inform you is, that
it has cost each of us our right eye; and the penance which you have
been witness to, is what we are obliged to observe in consequence of
having been there; but we cannot explain ourselves further."
When the young man had thus spoken, I wrapped myself in the sheep's
skin, holding fast to the knife which was given me; and after the
young men had been at the trouble to sew the skin about me, they
retired into the hall, and left me alone. The roc they spoke of soon
arrived; he pounced upon me, took me in his talons like a sheep, and
carried me up to the summit of the mountain.
When I found myself on the ground I cut the skin with the knife, and
throwing it off, the roc at the sight of me flew away. This roc is a
white bird of a monstrous size; his strength is such that he can lift
up elephants from the plains, and carry them to the tops of mountains,
where he feeds upon them.
Being impatient to reach the palace, I lost no time, but made so much
haste that I got thither in half a day's journey; and I must say that
I found it surpassed the description they had given me of its
magnificence.
The gate being open, I entered a square court, so large that there
were around it ninety-nine gates of sandalwood and wood of aloes, and
one of gold, without reckoning those of several superb staircases
that led to apartments above, besides many more which I could not see.
I saw a door standing open just before me, through which I entered
into a large hall. Here I found forty young women, of such perfect
beauty as imagination could not surpass; they were all most
sumptuously appareled. As soon as they saw me they arose, and without
waiting my salutations, said to me, with tones of joy, "Welcome!
welcome! We have long expected you. You are at present our lord,
master, and judge, and we are your slaves, ready to obey your
commands."
After these words were spoken, these ladies vied with each other in
their eager solicitude to do me all possible service. One brought hot
water to wash my feet; a second poured sweet-scented water on my
hands; others brought me all kinds of necessaries and change of
apparel; others again brought in a magnificent collation; and the rest
came, with glasses in their hands, to pour me delicious wines, all in
good order, and in the most charming manner possible. Some of the
ladies brought in musical instruments, and sang most delightful songs;
while others danced before me, two and two, with admirable grace. In
short, honored madam, I must tell you that I passed a whole year of
most pleasurable life with these forty ladies. At the end of that time
I was greatly surprised to see these ladies with great sorrow
impressed upon their countenances, and to hear them all say, "Adieu,
dear prince, adieu! For we must leave you."
After they had spoken these words, they began to weep bitterly.
"My dear ladies," said I, "have the kindness not to keep me any longer
in suspense. Tell me the cause of your sorrow."
"Well," said one of them, "to satisfy you, we must acquaint you that
we are all princesses, daughters of kings. We live here together in
the manner you have seen; but at the end of every year we are obliged
to be absent forty days, for reasons we are not permitted to reveal;
and afterward we return again to this palace. Before we depart we will
leave you the keys of everything, especially those of the hundred
doors, where you will find enough to satisfy your curiosity, and to
relieve your solitude during our absence. But we entreat you to
forbear opening the golden door; for if you do, we shall never see you
again; and the apprehension of this augments our grief."
We separated with much tenderness; and after I had embraced them all
they departed, and I remained alone in the castle.
I determined not to forget the important advice they had given me, not
to open the golden door; but as I was permitted to satisfy my
curiosity in everything else, I took the first of the keys of the
other doors, which were hung in regular order.
I opened the first door, and entered an orchard, which I believe the
universe could not equal. I could not imagine anything to surpass it.
The symmetry, the neatness, the admirable order of the trees, the
abundance and diversity of unknown fruits, their freshness and beauty,
delighted me. Nor must I neglect to inform you that this delightful
garden was watered in a most singular manner; small channels, cut out
with great art and regularity, and of different lengths, carried
water in considerable quantities to the roots of such trees as
required much moisture. Others conveyed it in smaller quantities to
those whose fruits were already formed; some carried still less; to
those whose fruits were swelling; and others carried only so much as
was just requisite to water those which had their fruits come to
perfection, and only wanted to be ripened. They far exceeded in size
the ordinary fruits in our gardens. I shut the door, and opened the
next.
Instead of an orchard, I found here a flower garden, which was no less
extraordinary in its kind. The roses, jessamines, violets, daffodils,
hyacinths, anemones, tulips, pinks, lilies, and an infinite number of
flowers, which do not grow in other places except at certain times,
were there flourishing all at once; and nothing could be more
delicious than the fragrant smell which they emitted.
I opened the third door, and found a large aviary, paved with marble
of several fine and uncommon colors. The trellis work was made of
sandalwood and wood of aloes. It contained a vast number of
nightingales, goldfinches, canary birds, larks, and other rare singing
birds, and the vessels that held their seed were of the most sparkling
jasper or agate. The sun went down, and I retired, charmed with the
chirping notes of the multitude of birds, who then began to perch upon
such places as suited them for repose during the night. I went to my
chamber, resolving on the following days to open all the rest of the
doors, excepting that of gold.
The next day I opened the fourth door. I entered a large court,
surrounded with forty gates, all open, and through each of them was an
entrance into a treasury. The first was stored with heaps of pearls;
and, what is almost incredible, the number of those stones which are
most precious, and as large as pigeon's eggs, exceeded the number of
those of the ordinary size. In the second treasury,[24] there were
diamonds, carbuncles, and rubies; in the third, emeralds; in the
fourth, ingots of gold; in the fifth, money; in the sixth, ingots of
silver; and in the two following, money. The rest contained amethysts,
chrysolites, topazes, opals, turquoises, agate, jasper, cornelian, and
coral, of which there was a storehouse filled, not only with branches,
but whole trees.
[Footnote 24: These tales were written shortly after the conquest of
Persia, the riches of which country may be reflected in these
narratives. "The naked robbers of the desert were suddenly enriched,
beyond the measure of their hope and knowledge. Each chamber revealed
a new chamber secreted with art, or ostentatiously displayed; the gold
and silver, the various wardrobes and precious furniture, surpassed
(says Abulfeda) the estimate of fancy or numbers, and another
historian defines the untold and almost infinite mass by the fabulous
computation of thousands of thousands of pieces of gold."--Gibbon's
_Decline and Fall._]
Thus I went through, day by day, these various wonders. Thirty-nine
days afforded me but just as much time as was necessary to open
ninety-nine doors, and to admire all that presented itself to my view,
so that there was only the hundredth door left, which I was forbidden
to open.
The fortieth day after the departure of those charming princesses
arrived, and had I but retained so much self-command as I ought to
have had, I should have been this day the happiest of all mankind,
whereas now I am the most unfortunate. But through my weakness, which
I shall ever repent, and the temptations of an evil spirit, I opened
that fatal door! But before I had moved my foot to enter, a smell,
pleasant enough but too powerful for my senses, made me faint away.
However, I soon recovered; but instead of taking warning from this
incident to close the door and restrain my curiosity, I entered, and
found myself in a spacious vaulted apartment, illuminated by several
large tapers placed in candlesticks of solid gold.
Among the many objects that attracted my attention was a black horse,
of the most perfect symmetry and beauty. I approached in order the
better to observe him, and found he had on a saddle and bridle of
massive gold, curiously wrought. One part of his manger was filled
with clean barley, and the other with rose water. I laid hold of his
bridle, and led him out to view him by daylight. I mounted, and
endeavored to make him move; but finding he did not stir, I struck him
with a switch I had taken up in his magnificent stable. He had no
sooner felt the whip than he began to neigh in a most horrible manner,
and, extending wings, which I had not before perceived, flew up with
me into the air. My thoughts were fully occupied in keeping my seat;
and, considering the fear that had seized me, I sat well. At length he
directed his course toward the earth, and lighting upon the terrace of
a palace, without giving me time to dismount, he shook me out of the
saddle with such force as to throw me behind him, and with the end of
his tail he struck out my eye.
Thus it was I became blind of one eye. I then recollected the
predictions of the ten young gentlemen. The horse again took wing, and
soon disappeared. I got up, much vexed at the misfortune I had brought
upon myself. I walked upon the terrace, covering my eye with one of my
hands, for it pained me exceedingly, and then descended, and entered
into a hall. I soon discovered, by the ten sofas in a circle and the
eleventh in the middle, lower than the rest, that I was in the castle
whence I had been carried by the roc.
The ten young men seemed not at all surprised to see me, nor at the
loss of my eye; but said, "We are sorry that we cannot congratulate
you on your return, as we could wish; but we are not the cause of your
misfortune."
"I should do you wrong," I replied, "to lay it to your charge; I have
only myself to accuse."
"If," said they, "it be a subject of consolation to the afflicted to
know that others share their sufferings, you have in us this
alleviation of your misfortune. All that has happened to you we also
have endured; we each of us tasted the same pleasures during a year;
and we had still continued to enjoy them had we not opened the golden
door when the princesses were absent. You have been no wiser than we,
and have incurred the same punishment. We would gladly receive you
into our company, to join with us in the penance to which we are
bound, the duration of which we know not. But we have already stated
to you the reasons that render this impossible; depart, therefore, and
proceed to the court of Bagdad,[25] where you will meet with the
person who is to decide your destiny."
[Footnote 25: Bagdad was founded in the 145th year of the Hejira or
flight of Mohammed to Medina, 767. It was destroyed by Hulakoo,
grandson of Gengis Khan, in the 656th of the Hejira, A.D. 1277, when
the dynasty of the Ambassides was terminated.]
After they had explained to me the road I was to travel, I departed.
On the road I caused my beard and eyebrows to be shaven, and assumed a
calender's habit. I have had a long journey, but at last I arrived
this evening, and met these my brother calenders at the gate, being
strangers as well as myself. We were mutually surprised at one
another, to see that we were all blind of the same eye; but we had not
leisure to converse long on the subject of our misfortunes. We have
only had time enough to bring us hither, to implore those favors which
you have been generously pleased to grant us.
* * * * *
The third calender having finished this relation of his adventures,
Zobeide addressed him and his fellow-calenders thus: "Go wherever you
think proper; you are at liberty."
But one of them answered, "Madam, we beg you to pardon our curiosity,
and permit us to hear the stories of your other guests who have not
yet spoken."
Then the lady turned to the caliph, the vizier Giafar, and Mesrour,
and said to them, "It is now your turn to relate your adventures;
therefore speak."
The grand vizier, who had all along been the spokesman, answered
Zobeide: "Madam, in order to obey you, we need only repeat what we
have already said to the fair lady who opened for us the door. We are
merchants come to Bagdad to sell our merchandise, which lies in the
khan[26] where we lodge. We dined to-day with several other persons of
our condition, at a merchant's house of this city; who, after he had
treated us with choice dainties and excellent wines, sent for men and
women dancers and musicians. The great noise we made brought in the
watch, who arrested some of the company, but we had the good fortune
to escape. But it being already late, and the door of our khan shut
up, we knew not whither to retire. We chanced, as we passed along this
street, to hear music at your house, which made us determine to knock
at your gate. This is all the account that we can give you, in
obedience to your commands."
[Footnote 26: "Khan, or caravansary, a large building of a
quadrangular form, being one story in height. The ground floor serves
for warehouses and stables, while the upper is used for lodgings. They
always contain a fountain, and have cook shops and other conveniences
attached to them in town. The erection of them is considered
meritorious both among Hindus and Mussulmans. They are erected on the
sides of public highways, and are then only a set of bare rooms and
outhouses."--_Popular Cyclopedia_, Vol. II, p. 108.]
"Well, then," said Zobeide, "you shall all be equally obliged to me; I
pardon you all, provided you immediately depart!"
Zobeide having given this command, the caliph, the vizier, Mesrour,
the three calenders, and the porter, departed; for the presence of the
seven slaves with their weapons awed them into silence. As soon as
they had quitted the house, and the gate was closed after them, the
caliph said to the calenders, without making himself known, "You,
gentlemen, who are newly come to town, which way do you design to go,
since it is not yet day?"
"It is this," they replied, "that perplexes us."
"Follow us," resumed the caliph, "and we will convey you out of
danger."
He then whispered to the vizier: "Take them along with you, and
to-morrow morning bring them to me."
The vizier Giafar took the three calenders along with him; the porter
went to his quarters, and the caliph and Mesrour returned to the
palace.
On the following morning, as the day dawned, the sultan Haroun al
Raschid arose and went to his council chamber, and sat upon his
throne. The grand vizier entered soon after, and made his obeisance.
"Vizier," said the caliph, "go, bring those ladies and the calenders
at the same time; make haste, and remember that I impatiently expect
your return."
The vizier, who knew his master's quick and fiery temper, hastened to
obey, and conducted them to the palace with so much expedition that
the caliph was much pleased.
When the ladies had arrived the caliph turned toward them and said, "I
was last night in your house, disguised in a merchant's habit; but I
am at present Haroun al Raschid, the fifth caliph of the glorious
house of Abbas, and hold the place of our great prophet. I have sent
for you only to know who you are, and to ask for what reason one of
you, after severely whipping the two black dogs, wept with them. And I
am no less curious to know why another of you has her bosom so full of
scars."
Upon hearing these words, Zobeide thus related her story: