Kibaraka said, "All ordinary wonders are surpassed by this bird, for it
sings a very beautiful song," and he told his master of the song.
At these words the Sultan's son perceived that this bird was of the
daughters of the Jins, and he fell in love with her.
Then he said to Kibaraka, "See here, I have given you your freedom, you
are no longer a slave, and now you must catch this bird for me."
After that Hasani was seized with a grievous illness because of his
longing for that bird till, on the third day at one o'clock, the Sultan
went out to look for all the wisest of the medicine men to attend to his
son.
Whilst he was gone that bird came and sat by the grain and called,
"Kibaraka! Kibaraka!"
Kibaraka cut a thin pole and made a noose at the end and set it near the
bullrush millet, the grain the bird loved best.
When it had finished eating all the seeds it wished to fly away, but
one of its wings caught in the noose.
Then it said to Kibaraka, "Please let me go and do not touch me, for you
will injure me. Take this feather of mine and carry it to your master,
and let it be my salaams to him."
So Kibaraka brought the feather to the Sultan's son. Hasani was very
pleased. Then he said to him, "Kibaraka, my brother, why did not you
catch the owner of this feather?"
Kibaraka said, "I was not able to catch it. When I saw it I fell down
seven times because of its light, and my wisdom forsook me."
When the Sultan returned, his son said to him, "My father, you must
sound the pallaver-horn, that all the people may come before the
palace." The Sultan loved his son exceedingly, so he gathered all his
people together. Then Hasani said, "Tell the people that they must look
for this bird and bring it to me, and if they do not bring it I shall
die." So the Sultan gave out the order, "There is no leave to weave or
spin, to grind corn or pound grain, until this bird has been brought."
At once all the people of that country went out into the jungles and
deserts to look for that bird. Every one who found a fine bird would
seize it and bring it to the Sultan's son, but to each he said, "This is
not the one."
Till one day, as people were sitting in the Sultan's court holding a
pallaver, just after one o'clock had struck, they looked up and saw a
dustcloud coming like rain.
Behold, it was that bird coming, and Kibaraka recognised its coming.
When it came it sat down by the grain and ate all the seeds till, as it
came to the last, Kibaraka caught it and brought it to his master. When
Hasani looked on that bird, behold, it was a beautiful woman.
He said, "Kibaraka, run quickly, go your way to the audience chamber and
tell my father that he must fire the cannons, for the thing I desired
has come to pass, and the request I made of Allah has been granted."
So Kibaraka came and told the Sultan, and the cannons were fired, and
wedding festivities and feastings were held for nine years.
After that Hasani and the fair Jin had a child, a boy like pearls and
precious stones.
And Hasani loved his wife exceedingly, and the people of that country
saw wonders come to pass, for the second son was like the stars and the
moon.
The house of that Sultan was greatly blessed, and the story ends here.
[Illustration: AFRICAN OKAPI]