In the morning the Wazir arose and went to the Sultan and said to him,
"Give me help, for my youngest child wants a vessel built for her."
The Sultan brought out nine lakhs of rupees and gave them to his Wazir.
Then the Wazir sought for workmen, and told them to build a ship and
have it ready in three years' time.
Now that child, Binti Ali, was very beautiful, more beautiful than all
her sisters. Many men had come to seek her in marriage, but she had
refused them, saying, "I am poor; my father has not wealth to suffice
for my wedding."
At the end of three years the ship was ready, and her father called her,
"Eh, my child, Binti Ali." And she answered him, "Lebeka, father," which
means "Here I am" in the language of to-day; but long, long ago, Lebek
was the name of the god worshipped by the Phoenicians at the temple of
Baal-lebek (Bal bek).