_The journey of Hatim in search of the pearl._
The narrators of past events have informed us that Hatim, after
leaving Shahabad on his sixth adventure, came to a certain desert,
across which he bent his course. After he had walked two farasangs, he
came to a solitary tree, at the foot of which was a rude seat formed
of stone. As the evening was approaching, he there sat down; and
having passed some time in reflection with his head stooping towards
his knee, the mantle of night began to overspread the world. In the
meantime a brace of fowls, dazzling in all the splendor of the seven
colors, came and perched upon the tree above him. Those birds were of
the species called Natika (having the power of speech), which frequent
the shores of the sea of Kahrmān; and by special providence they
rested on that tree for the night.
The female bird said to the male, “I like not the air of these regions
in which we have halted, and I wish we were safe in our own
country.”--“I agree with you,” said the male; “and though it was my
intention to stay here for some days, yet, as you dislike the place,
we will depart early in the morning.”--“Well,” said the female, “I
only hope you will abide by your resolution, and that to-morrow’s sun
will shine upon us far hence.”--“Why all this anxiety?” rejoined the
male; “you know well that I speak nothing but the truth.”
A short time after, the female natika again broke silence, saying,
“Tell me, my dear mate, who is this wanderer from the haunts of men
who is seated on the stones below, with his head sunk in the lap of
reflection, and his brow stamped with the seal of sorrow?”--“He is the
best of men,” replied the male, “and his anxiety is occasioned because
he knows not whither to direct his course in quest of a pearl of the
size of a Murghab’s[b6.01] egg. Now Murghab is also the name of the
place where these pearls are to be found. But to proceed: this man is
Hatim Taï, the noble and generous prince of Yemen. He is now
wandering in search of this pearl, not for his own sake, but in order
to serve another person. He has left his princely home, and his fond
parents, in order to promote the happiness of his fellow-creatures.”
“But,” rejoined the female, “inexperienced as Hatim is, how can he
ever find the pearl in question?”--“I shall direct him,” replied the
male, “if it is your wish, though it may not be altogether for our
welfare.”--“Nothing is more noble,” said the female, “than to do good
to others, and assuredly we shall ourselves reap the benefit thereof
in the end.”--“Listen to me then, my dear consort,” said the male
natika, “and you shall hear how this rare pearl of the Murghab is to
be procured. You are aware that our species have lived since the
creation of the world on the shores of the sea of Kahrman, and only
once in thirty years our females laid an egg of this kind. But for
some time past our race has been deprived of the virtue of producing
these pearls, and those that have been formerly produced are sunk to
an unfathomable depth in the sea. Of these pearls two only are above
ground, and these originally fell into the hands of Chamchan, the king
of Kahrman. He again gave one of them as a rare present to Shamshân,
a neighboring prince of great wealth and splendor in his time.
Shamshân died without issue; and his splendid capital was soon after
reduced to a lifeless desert, while his wealth passed into the hands
of strangers, and the pearl, after many changes of owner, is now in
the possession of Husn Banu, the daughter of Burzakh the merchant.
“As to the other pearl, it happened that Chamchan, the king of
Kahrman, died in early life, and another took possession of his crown.
Without any warning the widowed queen was forced to fly for her life,
and the pearl of the Murghab was the only part of her property which
she had time to secure. With this rare treasure she left her palace,
and fled through the desert till she reached the sea of Kahrman. There
she sat down exhausted, not knowing whither to proceed, till a
merchant with his ship approached in order to take in fresh water.
When the queen saw the vessel she cried aloud for assistance, and the
merchant himself came to her in a boat, and conveyed her on board.
“The merchant, whose name was Simbar, was a benevolent man, who had
seen much of the world. He treated the queen with the utmost kindness;
and on hearing the cause of her distress, he adopted her as his
daughter, and conveyed her to his own country. A beautiful son was
born to the happy couple during the next year. As Simbar had no
children of his own, he appointed this child sole heir of his wealth.
Meanwhile, the child grew up endowed with princely virtues, and by the
time he came to manhood his generous patron Simbar died.
“Shortly after, the young prince was appointed chief of that province;
and as he was a youth of superior discernment, and had abundance of
wealth at command, he soon raised himself to be king of that country
and the adjacent islands. After his death, his descendants reigned
there for many a generation, till the auspicious era of Sulaiman of
Iram (on whom be peace), who reduced into their possession the whole
extent of the Koh-i-Kāf and the coast of the sea of Kulzum. Since the
reign of the prophet Sulaiman, the race has reigned in those regions,
but then their intercourse ceased with the inhabitants of the earth.
They no longer form a part of the human race, nor dareth a son of Adam
visit their dominions.
“In the course of time the pearl came into the hands of a fairy, in
the possession of whose son it now is. His name is Mahyār Sulaimani,
and his father was of the race of Adam, so that he partakes of the
twofold nature of man and fairy. He reigns in the island of
Barzakh[b6.02], and is on friendly terms with the demons, whose
territories are contiguous to his kingdom; for he knows the powerful
spell of Sulaiman, and no demon dares injure him.
“Mahyar Sulaimani has an only daughter, now seven years old, and
whosoever shall be able to tell the history of the pearl, is to have
the daughter in marriage, with the pearl for her dowry. He is a man of
profound knowledge, having in his possession the books of his
progenitor the great Sulaiman. In these books are many rare secrets;
among others, the method of procuring the pearl of the Murghab, should
the one which he has be lost. Since the reign of Sulaiman (on whom be
peace), our race has not produced a single pearl, nor is it lawful for
us to tell what I have now stated to you, a secret known to Mahyar
alone. But to this generous youth, who has been for years exerting
himself in the cause of his fellow-creatures, it is proper that I
should disclose this much of the subject that now occupies his
thought.”
On hearing this the female said, “How is Hatim to find his way to the
sea of Kahrman? For the coast is infested by the demons who inhabit
those regions, and the perils which await him are insuperable.”--“His
safety,” replied the male, “depends on heaven alone; for if his days
are not yet at an end, he may encounter every danger, and return in
safety. Meanwhile he must proceed to the south, and it will be
necessary that he take with him several of our feathers. When he
arrives at the confines of the mountain Kaf, he will see before him a
wide desert, and ere he enter that wilderness, he must use the
following precaution: let him burn the green feathers and strew the
ashes in water, with which he must wash his whole body. This will have
so strong a scent that no wild beast of the desert can come near him.
Moreover, his appearance will be altogether that of a demon; his color
will be black as night, and his hands and feet will assume an
unnatural size, and he will be able to speak the language of the
demons.
“After he shall have passed through the wilderness, and arrived at the
island of Barzakh, he must burn the white feathers, and having mingled
the ashes with water as before, wash his body with the same. He will
then resume his original shape. When he enters the dominions of Mahyar
Sulaimani, the fairies of those realms will seize him, and take him
before their monarch. Then let Hatim boldly state the object of his
journey; when the king, as a matter of course, will ask of him to give
an account of the pearl, whereupon he shall have both the pearl and
the daughter. Then let Hatim tell all that I have stated, and Mahyar
being of most honorable conduct and of strict integrity, will
assuredly give him his daughter and the pearl.”
Having thus spoken, the male natika flapped his wings, when a shower
of feathers fell around Hatim, who immediately arose and carefully
collected them. When the female bird saw this, she said to her
partner, “He gathers the feathers as if he had understood what you
said; how do you know that Hatim is destined for such important
services, and how have you recollected all the circumstances of the
pearls?”--“The whole history of the two pearls,” replied the male,
“has been preserved by our race from one generation to another; but
you females attend not to such grave subjects, nor are you good for
anything but talking. The time will come, too, when our race shall be
extinct, with the exception of a solitary bird, which is destined to
perish only with the world. But these days are still remote; and at
present let us enjoy the bounty of Providence, of which we have a
greater share than any animal except man. We, like him, are endowed
with the faculty of speech, and the ordinary term of our life is
longer than his; even we two are destined to live together in this
world for the next hundred years.”
By this time the portals of the dawn flew open in the east, and the
two birds took their flight from the tree. Hatim at the same time
arose, and began his journey towards the south. One night, as he lay
down to repose underneath a tree, he heard the cry of some animal in
pain, exclaiming, “Alas! is there no creature at hand who will, for
the sake of God, assist me?” Hatim, ever ready to aid the distressed,
arose and ran towards the spot whence the sound issued. There he saw a
female fox stretched on the ground, beating her head upon the stones.
“Tell me,” said Hatim, “who has caused thy sorrow?”--“A huntsman,”
replied the fox, “has caught in his snares both my husband and
children, and has carried them off to be murdered. This heartrending
separation is the cause of my grief.”--“Knowest thou where the
huntsman resides?” asked Hatim. “His house,” she replied, “is distant
from hence two farasangs.”--“Show me the way thither,” said Hatim,
“and I will endeavor to save thy kindred.”
The fox hesitated, and said, “O man, how can I trust thee? Art thou
not one of the bloodthirsty race of him that has torn my heart
asunder, and will it not be thy delight to lead me also into the
snare? Truly my fate would be like that of the monkey, whose mishap
has become a proverb.”--“Tell me,” said Hatim, “what happened to the
monkey?” The fox began as follows: “Once upon a time a monkey with his
mate took up their abode in a sequestered spot in the desert of
Dāmaghan, where they soon had a family. A huntsman happened to pass
that way, and succeeded in catching all the monkeys except the mother,
who effected her escape. Meanwhile the huntsman conveyed the male with
the young ones to a nobleman’s house, where he disposed of them for a
high price, while the poor mother wandered through the desert in the
agonies of despair. Regardless of her life, she at last ventured among
the haunts of men, and going to the chief of the province, stated the
cause of her woe and implored redress, saying, ‘Noble sir, as you hope
for mercy from God, have pity on my sorrows. A huntsman belonging to
this place has cruelly deprived me of my husband and family.’
“Now it happened that the chief was the very man to whom the huntsman
had sold the monkeys, though he was not then aware of it. He,
therefore, said to the monkey, ‘Go, conduct my attendants to that
huntsman’s house, and bring the parties concerned to my presence.’ The
female monkey accordingly led the way to the house of the huntsman,
who instantly obeyed the order of the chief. When they returned, the
chief said, ‘Is it true, huntsman, that you have deprived this poor
monkey of her partner and young ones; and if so, what have you done
with them?’
“‘It is most true, noble sir,’ replied he, ‘and the very day I caught
them I sold them all to your Highness. If, however, you are disposed
to pity her distress, and restore to her those that are so dear to
her, I am most willing to return to your Highness the price that was
paid for them.’ On hearing this the chief said, in reply to the
huntsman, ‘What you propose seems very fair; yet I do not conceive it
to be the best plan. Now that I have considered the matter seriously,
I think the best thing we can do is to detain the female in the same
cage with her kindred, for I would not give away for any money the
monkeys you sold to me.’
“But the miseries of the monkey did not cease here. After being for
some time confined in the same cage with her young, the prince of
Damaghan having heard that the chief had some young monkeys, expressed
his wish to have them in his palace. Thus the hapless monkey was
doomed to suffer another separation from her young, while her own
liberty was lost at the same time. The male had previously died, and
now being left solitary, she rejected food and drink, and in a few
days escaped from sorrow by death.”
When the fox had finished the story of the monkey, she said to Hatim,
“In like manner, it is natural for me to suppose that you will involve
me in greater misery.”--“Fear not,” said Hatim; “all men are not so
treacherous as those you have mentioned.” At length the fox led the
way in the dark, while Hatim followed to the huntsman’s house, where
they arrived about the third watch[b6.03] of the night. He there
reposed beneath a tree till the approach of day, while the fox
concealed herself in the adjacent forest. When the sun arose, Hatim
went to the huntsman’s door, knocked, and requested to be admitted.
The huntsman opened the door, and was surprised on seeing a handsome
stranger of noble and ingenuous countenance standing before him. “Tell
me,” said he, “sir, who and whence are you? I see you are a stranger;
pray what is your business with me?”--“Worthy sir,” replied Hatim, “I
am by birth an Arab; and the cause of my troubling you so early is
this: I am afflicted with a pain through all my joints; and the
physician has advised me to wash my body all over with the warm blood
of a fox, whereby my recovery will be complete. Now I have been
informed that you have some live foxes, which you lately caught when
hunting. I pray you, then, let me have them all, and I will pay you
any price you may name for them.”--“Truly, sir,” replied the huntsman,
“I am glad that I can supply you with foxes; for here have I not fewer
than seven of them, the old one and six cubs, all alive; take them,
then, at your own price, and I wish you joy of your purchase.”
The huntsman produced the foxes, the male tied by the four feet, and
the cubs enclosed in a basket; and Hatim having paid him a price
beyond his expectation, returned to the desert. There he opened the
basket, and let out the cubs; but when he loosened the strings that
tied the old fox, he found that the wretched animal had not the power
of moving. In fact, it had been strongly fettered by the huntsman, and
confined all the time without food or drink, so that the spark of life
had almost become extinct. Hatim was about to leave the fox to his
fate, saying, “Thy life is at an end, God’s will be done,” when the
female approached him, and said, “Generous Hatim, there is yet one
remedy that will restore him to life.”--“Name it,” replied Hatim,
“and, if possible, I will procure it.”--“A cupful of human blood,”
rejoined the fox, “warm and newly drawn, will be the means of his
complete recovery.” On hearing this, Hatim instantly opened a vein in
his left arm; and having drawn a cupful of his own blood, he
administered the same to the perishing fox, whereby a perfect cure
ensued. He then tied up his wound, while the animals prostrated
themselves at his feet in gratitude for his beneficence.
Hatim then resumed his southward journey, and a few days after arrived
in a barren desert of burning sand. As he wandered in quest of water
beneath the scorching rays of a vertical sun, his eye was refreshed
with the sight of a verdant spot which indicated the presence of a
fountain. Thither he dragged his weary steps, till his eye could see
the gushing spring, when a huge serpent began to uncoil itself from
the brink. Hatim stood aghast, for he expected to be swallowed alive;
but the serpent, far from assailing him, said in a soft voice, “Brave
prince of Yemen, advance and drink; why do you hesitate?” Hatim was
the more astonished on hearing the words of the serpent, and for some
time stood still. Again the serpent said to him, “Fear nothing; the
water of this fountain is free for your use; drink, and follow me.”
Hatim at length ventured to quench his thirst in the fountain, and
resigning himself to his fate, followed the path of the serpent across
the desert. In a short time they came to a beautiful garden, in the
centre of which was a shady grove lined with splendid couches and
cushions. The serpent conducted Hatim to this cool and pleasant
retreat, and said to him, “Noble Arab, sit down on this couch, and
secure from danger rest awhile from your fatigue.” Having thus spoken,
the serpent plunged into a pond of water that ornamented the garden.
Hatim, fatigued with his late journey, sat down on one of the couches,
marvelling much at what had happened. After he had remained here a
short time, admiring the beauty of the scene, a troop of fairies,
beautiful as angels, each bearing a golden tray filled with emeralds,
issued from the lake, made their obeisance, and stood waiting his
commands. “Who are you,” said Hatim, “and what is your business with
me?”--“We are,” replied they, “the faithful subjects of him who
conducted you hither. He sends you these jewels as a present, and
requests that you will do him the favor to accept them.”--“Convey my
thanks to him who sent these jewels,” replied Hatim, “and say that I
desire them not; and even if I did, I am alone, and cannot carry them
away with me.”
Hatim had scarcely done speaking, when another troop of fairies,
bearing trays filled with still more costly jewels, ascended from the
water. “Who are you,” said Hatim, “and what do you bring in these
trays?”--“They are jewels,” replied they, “the most precious that can
be procured, which our sovereign hath sent for your acceptance.”--“I
am beholden to your sovereign,” said Hatim, “but gold and jewels are
at present of no use to me.” Meanwhile another troop emerged from the
lake, carrying trays of gold and silver filled with all sorts of food
and fruits. As Hatim had fasted long, the sight of food made his heart
rejoice; but he would not eat of it till he asked for the hospitable
sovereign of the place, that he might have the pleasure of breaking
his fast with him, and thanking him in person. Ere he had done
speaking, a young man of beautiful countenance, attended by a troop of
fairies, ascended from the crystal lake. When Hatim saw his noble
form, he wondered within himself who this could be, and by what
mystery they issued from the water. The fairy king approached Hatim;
and after mutual salutation, they both sat down on the same couch. His
Majesty then addressed Hatim, saying, “Tell me, noble Hatim, do you
recognize me, for this is not our first meeting?”--“Truly,” replied
Hatim, “I cannot now recollect of having ever seen you before.”--“I
am,” resumed the king, “the serpent that conducted you hither from the
fountain in the desert.”--“How,” said Hatim, “have you so suddenly
passed from a shape so horrible to a form so beautiful?”--“The tale is
long,” replied the king, “and therefore I shall waive the telling of
it till we have broken our fast.”
After they had taken food together, they washed their hands from ewers
of gold, and the attendants presented them with fragrant perfumes
which they applied to their hands. Hatim then addressing his royal
host, said, “I long to hear, sir, by what strange mystery I have
lately seen you in the form of a serpent and behold you now in human
shape.” The fairy king, smiling, replied, “Noble Hatim, know that I am
of the fairy race; and that my name was Shams Shah previous to my
transformation into a serpent. In the reign of Sulaiman the prophet
(on whom be peace), I was one day seated in my garden in the fairy
regions, when thoughts the most diabolical entered my mind. I viewed
with impatience the submission of our race to the powerful Sulaiman; I
therefore resolved to collect my troops from all parts of my
dominions, and next day descend upon earth and slay the whole race of
Adam. This done, it was my intention to occupy for myself and subjects
the terrestrial globe, of which I should become sole monarch.
“Having formed this resolution, I despatched winged couriers to the
utmost bounds of my realms, summoning the choicest of my warriors to
prepare for a dangerous expedition, and to be at the palace gate
completely armed before the dawn of the morrow. When evening came, I
went to sleep as usual; and next morning, when I awoke, I went out to
view my troops. They had repaired to the place of rendezvous, armed as
I had ordered; but, to my astonishment, I beheld that their wings had
been taken from them. Instantly I myself was transformed into a
serpent, and from that period I was doomed to creep the earth, the
terror of every creature that beheld me. Days and nights I spent in
prayer and supplication, but all of no avail; the voice of some
invisible being used to sound in my ears, ‘_Such shall ever be the
fate of him who violates his promise._’ This awful voice made me
tremble in the consciousness of my guilt; and I made vows and prayers
to the Most High that I should never more let such thoughts enter my
mind. The voice at length answered, ‘_Thy doom is fixed; wait with
patience in the desert till the arrival there of Hatim, prince of
Yemen. When he comes, remember that thou administer to his wants, and
serve him with thy whole heart and soul; then shalt thou be restored
to thy original form, and whatsoever prayers he may offer up in thy
behalf before the throne of the Supreme Creator, they shall be
answered._’
“Since the time of Sulaiman I have been doomed to pass my life under
the loathsome form of a serpent; and it is now thirty years since I
removed to this desert, watching night and day for your arrival.
To-day, the moment I saw you, I knew you to be the far-famed prince of
Yemen; and now may I request your prayers in my behalf?”--“Most
willingly,” replied Hatim, “but first tell me, what was the nature of
the promise which you have violated?”--“In the reign of Sulaiman,”
replied the fairy king, “my grandfather entered into a solemn compact
with that mighty monarch, that none of our race should ever injure any
of the race of Adam, or on any pretext invade the dominions of the
latter, on pain of having our forms changed to that of the brute
species. From that day till my reign, when, as I have said, the evil
spirit entered my heart, this agreement was strictly observed on our
part. Now, brave Hatim, I am ready to do what penance you as the
representative of your race may ordain; and I humbly supplicate your
prayers in my behalf.”
On hearing this, Hatim devoutly rose up, and having performed his
ablutions and changed his garments, bowed down his head upon the
prayer-carpet, with his face turned to the sacred Kibla[b6.04], and
prayed for the divine mercy upon him whom heaven had deemed proper to
chastise.
When Hatim had offered up his prayers, the king and his subjects were
restored to their original form. After the fairies had expressed their
gratitude to Hatim, the king said to him, “Providence had long
foreordained that you should visit our distressed race; but may I ask
what has been the object of your toilsome journey hither, and to what
place you are bound?”--“The object of my journey,” replied he, “is to
visit the island of Barzakh, where I expect to procure a pearl similar
to this model”; whereupon he showed the fairy king the model he had in
silver of Husn Banu’s pearl. Shams Shah viewed it for some time, and
said to Hatim, “The prince of Barzakh has indeed a pearl exactly of
this size, but it is to be got from him only on one condition: he who
can tell the history of the pearl, shall have both the pearl and the
daughter. But how will you be able to reach that island? The distance
is great, and the route dangerous.”--“I am prepared for the worst,”
replied Hatim; “therefore let fate take its course.”--“You cannot
escape with life,” said Shams Shah, “for the road is infested with
men-devouring demons.”--“God,” rejoined Hatim, “will be my
protector.”--“True,” said the fairy king, “but to ensure your safety,
some of the boldest of my subjects shall go with you as guides.” The
king having thus spoken, addressed those around him, and said, “Good
friends, you are aware that to this generous man we owe our release
from the bondage in which we have lately been. Now he has an arduous
journey to perform; his business is important, and the road full of
danger. I call upon the bravest of you, as you love your king, to
accompany this noble prince and be his protectors on the way.” The
fairies volunteered their services, saying, “Sire, tell us the nature
of the difficulties which this prince has to encounter, and we will
endeavor with our whole heart and soul to enable him to overcome
them.”
The fairy king minutely detailed the object of Hatim’s journey; on the
hearing of which, the fairies were staggered in their resolution, and
said, “The journey to the island of Barzakh is truly dangerous; but if
your Majesty in person deign to accompany us thither, so that we may
have an experienced leader in case of a war with the demons, we are
ready to go this moment; otherwise, we pray to be excused.”--“Well,”
said the king, “it is but right that I should do all that is in my
power to serve the prince of Yemen. Therefore, I will follow you at a
distance, so that he may come by no harm on the road.” The king made
instant preparation, girded on his armor, and ordered four of his
people to place Hatim on a golden litter and carry him on their
shoulders. The order was speedily executed, and four fairies swift of
wing seizing each a foot of the couch, soared aloft with their burden
into the aerial regions. Three days and nights they traversed the air,
when they found it necessary to alight in order to procure for their
charge food and drink. The place where they halted was within the
territory of the demons, a circumstance of which they were not aware.
Two of the fairies went in quest of food while the other two remained
to guard Hatim. It happened that a troop of demons on a hunting
excursion passed the spot, and on seeing the golden couch on which one
of Adam’s race reclined, with two fairies standing by, they without
ceremony took possession of the prize. The demons were so numerous,
and their arrival so sudden, that the two fairies stood panic-struck,
without offering the least resistance. Their first effort was to fly
away; but despair supplied them with courage, and the next moment they
made a desperate assault upon their enemies, of whom they slew
numbers. At last, however, the demons won the battle, and the two
fairies along with Hatim were made prisoners, and conveyed to the
dwelling of the demon chief. There the fairies were first questioned,
“Who is this man, and whence have you brought him?”--“This is Hatim,
prince of Yemen,” they replied, “to whom we and our gracious monarch
Shams Shah owe our restoration to life. Oh, chief of the demons, spare
our lives for the sake of this brave man; and woe be to you should
aught evil befall him.”
On hearing this, the demon said to them, “What is this I hear? Shams
Shah has not been heard of for many centuries: how dare you say, then,
that he is now alive?” The fairies detailed all the facts connected
with their king; on the hearing of which the demon maintained a long
silence, meditating what course to adopt. At last he formed his
resolution, and said to those near him, “Take the man and the two
fairies to the deepest of our dungeons; there secure them till
to-morrow, when we shall devour them.” The sentence was speedily
executed, and Hatim with his two companions were cast into a dark and
loathsome pit.
Meanwhile the two fairies who had gone in search of food, on returning
to the spot where they had left Hatim, were astonished at seeing the
ground covered with blood, and strewed with the carcases of demons.
They looked everywhere for their charge and their friends, but no
trace of either could they find. They said the one to the other, “Of
what race are these demons, and how came they to be slain here? But
above all, what is become of Hatim and our companions? I fear they
have been attacked and overpowered by the demons that infest these
regions. Let us ascertain the fact and give intelligence of it to our
king.” Having formed this resolution, the two fairies approached the
spot, expecting to find the dead bodies of their companions. In the
course of their search, they found one of the demons grievously
wounded, but not dead. They gave him water to drink, and bound up his
wounds, so that in a short time he recovered.
The fairies questioned him, saying, “Who are you, and to what tribe do
you belong?” He replied, “I am of that race of demons whose chief is
Mukarnas; a party of us were hunting to-day in this neighborhood, when
we chanced to surprise two fairies and a man, with whom we had a
battle in which I received these wounds. The demons conquered, and by
this time they are feasting on the blood of their foes.” The fairies,
on hearing this, bore off the demon to their own country and presented
themselves breathless before Shams Shah. The king said to them, “How
is this? Did I not send you to Barzakh in charge of the prince of
Yemen? How dare you, then, show your faces here?”
The fairies trembling, replied, “Gracious sire, three days and nights
we sped towards Barzakh; but at length hunger and thirst assailed both
us and the prince. We then placed the litter in the shade of a tree,
and two of us went in quest of food, while the other two remained to
protect Hatim. When we returned, we found the spot covered with the
carcases of demons, and from one of the wounded we learned the news of
the capture of the prince and our two companions. Had we known the
dangers of the place, we should not have halted there; but God had
decreed otherwise. On questioning the wounded demon, he informed us
that the country belonged to Mukarnas, to whose presence the prince of
Yemen and the two fairies were conveyed.”
Shams Shah being highly grieved, ordered them to produce the wounded
demon, whom he thus addressed, “How dares your chief Mukarnas lay
violent hands on my subjects? Truly he has forgotten himself; but he
shall feel my resentment.”--“Sire,” said the demon, “my chief had
heard for certain that you had been dead for many centuries; and
though both the two fairies and the man informed him of the contrary,
the tale was so extravagant that he could not believe it.” Shams Shah
turned to his officers, and said, “Prepare the whole of my army for an
instant expedition.”
The order was at once obeyed, and thirty thousand of the choicest
troops stood armed and ready at his gate. The king put himself at
their head, and swift as the lightning they winged their way through
the air. In three days they reached the territories of Mukarnas. There
they halted, and the king despatched scouts to procure intelligence of
the enemy’s quarters. “Be wary,” he said, “and quickly bring me word
where the demon chief holds his court, and in what he is engaged.”
The scouts soon returned, and reported that Mukarnas, accompanied by
his demons, was out hunting; and that they knew the very spot where he
was. Shams Shah then addressed his troops, and made them swear by the
seal of Sulaiman that they would fiercely assail the demons and that
they would slay them without mercy. The fairies one and all took the
solemn oath. So, receiving the signal from their king, they started,
surprised the demons, slew the greater part of them, and made
prisoners of Mukarnas and such of his subjects as survived. Shams Shah
gave orders for their immediate execution; but he first sent for
Mukarnas into his presence, and said to him, “Accursed fiend, hast
thou forgotten me? Hast thou not been well informed that I was alive?
Thou hast treated with violence and oppression both my own subjects
and a man who is under my protection; dost thou not tremble at the
thoughts of my revenge? Tell me this instant, what hast thou done with
the prince of Yemen and his guides?”--“I, along with my friends,
feasted on their carcases,” replied he, “the moment they were brought
before me.”--“False demon,” rejoined the king; “did not your ancestors
swear before the mighty Sulaiman, that neither they nor their
posterity would ever injure one of the human race?”--“Well,” said the
demon, “where is the powerful Sulaiman now, and when did I bow to him
in servitude?”
Shams Shah said no more, but ordered them to pile together a quantity
of dried wood, and when kindled to its height, hurl the demon into the
flames. When the fiend saw that there was no escape, he said to the
fairy king, “Will you give me my life, if I produce the man you
mentioned?”--“If you bring me the man safe,” replied he, “there shall
be no enmity between us.” The demon made the fairy king swear to this
by the soul of Sulaiman, and then said, “Send some of your attendants
to my dungeon, where they will find both the man and his companions
still alive.” The fairies accordingly went and broke open the dungeon,
released Hatim and his guides, and conveyed them before the king.
Shams Shah was overjoyed in once more meeting with Hatim. They sat
down together and ate food; after which, the fairy king said to his
attendants, “It would be a crime to spare the life of such a monster
as this demon, therefore cast him instantly into the fire.”--“How,”
said the demon, darest thou violate thy most sacred oath?”--“What hast
thou to do with oaths?” returned Shams Shah. “Thy whole life has been
a lie; and who can blame me, if for the welfare of my
fellow-creatures, I disregard my promise to you?” In short, the fairy
king destroyed the whole race of demons in that region, and appointed
one of his own officers ruler of the conquered territory. He then
addressed himself to Hatim, and said, “My dearest friend, what do you
now intend to do?”--“I hold the same resolution,” replied Hatim, “as
when I formerly left you.” The king hearing this, selected from among
his troops four fairies of long experience, endowed with superior
skill and bravery, and commanded them to convey Hatim to the end of
his journey. These seized each a foot of the golden couch whereupon
Hatim was seated, and soared aloft towards the sky. Night and day they
continued their course; and when hunger or thirst assailed them, they
took care to select a safe place where to halt. One day they were
resting upon the summit of a mountain, where a fairy prince most
beautiful of countenance had taken up his abode. This was the prince
of the island of Tūmān, who had fallen desperately in love with the
daughter of the king of Barzakh. He had sought for that solitary spot
to give way to his sorrow and anguish. The voice of his lamentation
reached the ear of Hatim, who said to his guides, “My dear friends,
there is some one near us who feels the pangs of sorrow; let us see
what is the cause of his grief.” He started from his couch, and
following the direction of the sound came to the enamoured prince. He
said to him, “Tell me, my friend, who are you; and why do you make the
rocks echo the sound of your lamentation?
The fairy prince raised his eyes, and saw beside him a man of noble
form and pleasant aspect. He said to him, “Tell me first, son of Adam,
who are you, and what is your business here?”--“It has been the will
of God the Supreme,” said Hatim, “that I should visit this
spot.”--“But tell me,” said the fairy, “what is the object of your
journey hither?”--“I have travelled thus far,” replied Hatim, “in
quest of the pearl of the murghab, which I am informed is in the
possession of the prince of Barzakh. He puts a question to every
candidate for the pearl, which no one has yet answered.”--“You say
right,” said the fairy prince, “and even we who are of the fairy race
are unable to tell the history of the pearl; how then do you, a mere
mortal, imagine that you will succeed?”--“For my own part,” replied
Hatim, “my trust is in God; but tell me in the meantime what is the
cause of your sorrow, and why have you chosen for your dwelling this
solitary mountain?” The fairy prince replied, “Alas! I am enamoured of
the beautiful daughter of Mahyar, the prince of the island of Barzakh.
One day in my father’s court I heard my friends speak in the highest
terms of the beauty and excellence of this peerless damsel, whereby I
lost the reins of my heart. I straightway went to the palace of
Mahyar, and informed him by message of my wish to marry his daughter.
He admitted me to an audience; and having produced the pearl of the
murghab, he asked me if I could tell the history of it. As I was quite
unprepared for such a question, and utterly ignorant of the nature of
the pearl, I could of course give no reply. I was then ordered to quit
the court; and as I was coming out at the door, I happened to see the
lady standing in the balcony of her window. The moment I beheld her my
heart was pierced, and I became like one mad. In the agonies of
despair I fled to this mountain, where I spend my nights and days in
lamentation and sighs. I long for death to relieve me of my sorrow,
since the idol of my heart can never be mine.”
When Hatim heard the prince’s history, he said to him, “Despair not,
my friend, for I expect to succeed; and if I gain the prize, the
daughter shall be yours and the pearl mine.”--“Your proposal is
generous,” replied the fairy prince, “but excuse me if I say, that I
doubt your success.”--“Listen,” said Hatim, “and I will tell you the
nature of this pearl, which not only resembles, but is the egg of a
murghab. The island of Barzakh was originally inhabited by the human
species--but the tale is long, and it would be better that you once
more approach the court of Mahyar along with me.” The fairy prince
accordingly rose up; and having thanked Hatim for his good intentions,
accompanied him to the litter. There they both sat; and Hatim said to
his guides, “Will you be able to carry us two to the island of
Barzakh?”--“Yea,” replied they, “we could carry four of you with the
utmost ease.” Without further delay, the fairies lifted the chair and
soared towards the clouds.
It happened that they had to pass over the territory of a demon
prince, whose name was Muhaikal, who, having scented them from afar,
said to his satellites, “I know that some of the fairy race are within
my dominions; seize them instantly and bring them to my presence.” The
demons immediately were on the wing; and after four days of close
pursuit, they overtook the fairies with the golden litter on which
were Hatim and his friend, and brought them all to the presence of
their prince. “Tell me,” said he to the fairies, “who are you, and
whence have you brought this man?”--“We are the subjects of Shams
Shah,” replied the fairies. “Impossible,” rejoined the demon, “it is
more than a thousand years since Shams Shah has been heard of, and the
very place of his abode is overrun with serpents.”--“True,” replied
the fairies, “we had been transformed into serpents; but by the
prayers of this worthy man we have been restored to our original
shape.”--“Well,” resumed the demon, “tell me where you intend to carry
this man.”--“To the island of Barzakh,” they replied. “And who is the
other companion?” asked the demon. The fairy prince himself replied,
“I hope I am not unknown to Muhaikal, to whom my family is distantly
related.”--“Truly, I am much surprised, young prince,” said the demon,
“to find you associate with any of the race of Adam; but fear nothing
from me, my business is with your companion.” The demon then seized
Hatim, and lifted him from the couch; when the fairy prince
interposed, and said, “Beware, Muhaikal: are you not bound by oath to
Sulaiman himself, never to injure any of Adam’s race?” The demon, with
a fiendish smile, said in return, “Where is Sulaiman now, that I
should regard my oath to him? In truth, I mean to devour this son of
Adam; therefore waste not your breath.” The fairy prince well knew the
treacherous nature of the demon; he therefore resolved to meet him on
his own ground, and said to him, “Mighty prince, it is beneath your
dignity to stoop to the devouring of one man; leave him to me then, as
the success of my present undertaking depends upon him, and I promise
to send you ten men in his stead.”
To this proposal the demon readily agreed, and said, “Noble fairy, I
am most willing to accommodate you, as we are in some degree related
to each other. Let this man in the meantime be secured in my castle,
while you go for the ten men you promise, and when you return with
these, I will make him over to you.”--“Agreed,” said the fairy prince,
“I ask only four days for my arrangement; but I will not suffer you to
shut up this man in one of your dungeons.”--“Place him where you
choose,” said the demon, “only let him be strictly guarded by my
subjects.”
Near that spot there happened to be a pleasant garden; it was
therefore agreed that Hatim should remain there under the guard of the
demons, during the absence of the fairy prince. Meanwhile the prince,
with the four fairies that had conducted Hatim thither, withdrew to a
sequestered spot, and held a consultation as to further proceedings.
“If,” said the prince, “we return to your king, and solicit his aid
with that of his forces, the stipulated time will have expired long
before we can return, and the demon will assuredly devour our friend.
Let us, then, remain here in concealment, and watch a favorable moment
when the demons are off their guard; then let us enter the garden, and
having carried off the prince of Yemen, let us trust to the swiftness
of our wings.”
The four fairies applauded the proposal; and at the hour of midnight,
when the demons had fastened the door of the garden and betaken
themselves to repose, the fairies took up the golden litter and flew
softly over the wall. They looked warily around them, and found the
demons all buried in sleep. Hatim, exhausted with sorrow and despair,
had also sought refuge in slumber under the shade of a tree. They
lifted him gently from the ground, laid him on the litter along with
the fairy prince, and, swift as the wind, resumed their aerial voyage.
For the remainder of the night they winged their way with the utmost
speed, and at the dawn of day came to a place of safety where they
halted for refreshment and repose.
To return to the demons. When daylight shone, and when they saw the
gates firmly fixed, as on the preceding evening, they concluded that
their prisoner was secure within, and thus they continued their watch
for the appointed period of four days, while the fairies, on the other
hand, were making the best use of their time. On the last day of the
stipulated time, Muhaikal was anxiously waiting the return of the
fairy prince; and when the hour of noon expired, he said to his
satellites, “I see these fairies have not thought proper to keep their
promise; they have gone and left the man to his fate. Let him be
brought forth then immediately, that we may feast upon him.” The
demons opened the strong gates, and on entering the garden, what was
their disappointment on finding their charge carried off! They
returned to their chief, and informed him of the fact. Muhaikal was
highly enraged, and ordered the sentinels to be punished with stripes,
and flung into a dungeon. In vain did they swear by Sulaiman, that
they were not in the least privy to Hatim’s escape; the chief believed
them not, and they were dragged to torture.
By the time the fairies had reached the boundaries of the desert of
Kahrman, one of Muhaikal’s demons, who had left the court of his chief
on the day when Hatim had been taken, happened to meet them. The demon
at once recognized the fairies, and understood the case. He knew that
his master had sharpened his teeth in order to feast on the man; he,
therefore, endeavored to seize Hatim and carry him off by force; but
the fairy prince quickly drew his sword, and severed the intruder’s
right hand from his body. The demon, furious with pain and
disappointment, said to the prince, “Well, you shall pay dearly for
this; you have cut off my hand when doing my duty towards my chief. I
will inform the whole of my race of your treachery and violence, and
the fiercest revenge will be the consequence.”
Meanwhile the fairies addressed Hatim, saying, “Brave prince of Yemen,
we are now arrived at the line of separation between the fairies and
the demons, beyond which we dare not advance.”--“Farewell, then, good
friends,” replied Hatim, “I have myself the means of succeeding in the
remainder of my journey.” The fairies here left him, except the prince
of Tuman, who had an equal share of interest in the adventure. As they
were about to enter the great desert which limited the region of the
demons, Hatim asked his companion if he thought it safe to advance.
“Truly, prince of Yemen,” replied the other, “no creature except a
demon can with safety approach these regions.”--“Cannot any of the
fairy race visit them?” resumed Hatim. “The fairies,” replied the
prince, “though not safe, have least to fear, as there is at present a
truce between themselves and the demons, which was ratified after a
bloody battle fought on these plains. The kings of both races took the
field with the whole of their forces, and vast was the number of the
slain, while victory inclined to neither side. At length peace was
concluded, and the demons swore by Sulaiman of Iram never more to
injure any of the fairy race; but they scruple not to violate their
solemn oath to us, and to mankind they are inveterate
foes.”--“Enough,” said Hatim; “suppose I had the power of transforming
myself into the likeness of a demon, and thus pass in safety through
their territory; would you venture to accompany me?”--“Not publicly,”
replied the fairy, “but I could easily succeed; during the day I
should soar among the clouds, and at night I should descend to your
place of rest.”
Hatim immediately took a vessel full of water, and having burnt the
colored feathers of the natika, he made the mixture as he had been
directed. He then cast off his garment, and washed his whole body from
head to foot, when, lo! his color was black, and his shape became that
of a hideous demon. When the fairy prince saw this frightful
transformation, he was greatly astonished, and said to Hatim,
“Wonderful man, tell me to what bird belong these feathers, which
possess such potent qualities?”--“I procured them,” replied Hatim,
“from a talking bird called the natika, the eggs of which are pearls
such as that in the possession of Mahyar of Barzakh.” Hatim then
detailed the occurrence of the tree where he listened to the
conversation of the birds; but the information respecting the history
of the pearl in question he prudently withheld till they should arrive
at the court of Mahyar.
The fairy prince had full reliance on Hatim’s skill and wisdom, and
his heart rejoiced within him as the prospect of success brightened.
The two friends commenced their journey; and when Hatim entered the
land of the demons, he met with no interruption; for they all took him
for one of their own race. After some days had thus passed, it
happened that as Hatim and his fairy friend met to repose for the
night, they were observed by one of the demon race. He went and
informed his neighbors, that in a certain spot a demon had taken up
his night’s rest, and that a fairy had descended from the sky at the
same time, as if the meeting had been preconcerted. The demons very
soon assembled round the two travellers; and said one to another,
“These are strangers, and one of them is a fairy: we had better carry
them before our king, that they may give an account of themselves.” To
this proposal one of the demons would not assent; and said, “My dear
friends, why should we on mere suspicion oppress these innocent
strangers? One of them is of our own race, and with the fairies we
have no enmity.”
The prince of Tuman happened to be awake, and was listening to this
conference, which ended in favor of those who were for making the
strangers prisoners. He awakened Hatim, who addressed the demons in
their own language, saying, “Friends, we have travelled far, and being
fatigued, we here sought repose. Why have you disturbed our slumbers,
and what is your business with us?”--“We wish to know,” they replied,
“who you are.”--“For me,” said Hatim, “I am a helpless stranger
wandering I know not whither. Shams Shah, the king of the fairies, has
exterminated the tribe of Mukarnas, and burnt their dwellings, which
is the cause of my being here. This he has done for the sake of one of
the race of Adam, who is now journeying to the island of Barzakh. Now
if you wish to serve your prince effectually, go and search for the
man on whose account such a havoc has been committed, and leave
peaceful travellers like myself and my companion to go their own
way.”--“If your tribe,” resumed the demons, “has thus suffered, how
can you associate with a fairy? Tell us of what tribe is your
friend.”--“He is prince of Tuman,” replied Hatim, “and one of your
allies.”--“Enough,” returned the demons, “you may sleep secure, none
of us shall disturb you, as we may find better occupation in capturing
the man whom you mention.”
The demons departed; and Hatim, addressing the fairy prince, said,
“Let us arise, and speed hence; the demon race is not to be trusted.”
They accordingly set off, and Journeyed without intermission till the
evening of the third day, when they arrived on the sea-shore. “This,”
said the fairy prince, “is the sea of Kahrman, in which is situated
the island of Barzakh.”--“How are we to cross?” said Hatim, “for so
far as my eye can reach, I see not any vessel on that wide ocean.”--“I
shall find means for crossing the sea,” replied the fairy, “for at a
distance of nine farasangs, there is a province where winged horses
are bred. These animals can fly to any distance across the ocean, nor
can any storm interrupt their course. Do you, then, remain here during
my absence, and I will go forthwith and procure two winged horses, by
whose means success will crown our adventure.”
The prince of Tuman left Hatim on the sea-shore, and swiftly cleft the
air with his pinions till he reached the country of the winged horses.
As he was intimate with the prince of that province, he was speedily
admitted to an interview, and stated the object of his visit, saying,
“I require two of your swiftest steeds, in order to cross the sea to
Barzakh: if you do me this favor, you will have a claim to my services
for life.” On hearing his request, the prince gave him his choice of
all his winged horses; and the prince of Tuman having selected the two
he considered best, returned to his companion.
The friends immediately mounted; and when Hatim saw the horses spread
their wings and soar aloft like eagles among the clouds, his
astonishment was beyond description; and so swift was their flight,
that he could scarcely keep his seat. In a few days half the distance
was run down; but Hatim was so overcome with hunger, thirst, and
drowsiness, that he found it impossible to proceed further. He
mentioned his distress to the fairy prince, who handed him a small
apple, saying, “Eat even a few grains of this rare fruit, and all your
weariness will be dispelled.” Hatim tasted of the apple, and the
effect was miraculous; he felt his strength and vigor restored, nor
did he during the rest of the passage feel the least fatigued.
A few days afterwards the horses descended upon the further shore of
the sea of Kahrman. Hatim rejoiced to find himself safe on land; and
said to his companion, “My dear friend, surely we have passed the
island of Barzakh, which, as I am informed, is in the midst of the
sea.”--“Noble Arab,” replied the fairy, “this is part of the island
where we have landed, but it will take ten days more to reach the
capital; and now that I think of it, I shall by your leave go and
assemble my own troops, that they may accompany us thither.”--“Think
better of it,” said Hatim; “are we forsooth going to wage war with
Mahyar Sulaimani?”--“No,” said the fairy prince, “but I know that we
shall meet with many interruptions, and that soon, unless we use this
precaution.”--“What time will be requisite for you,” asked Hatim, “to
assemble your troops and return hither?”--“You may for certain expect
me,” answered the fairy, “by the end of seven days.”
The fairy prince took leave of Hatim, who, when left thus solitary,
began to explore the surrounding country. He soon came to a fragrant
garden, the doors of which were all wide open. He entered; and his
eyes were delighted with the sight of trees, which bore loads of fruit
of every size and color, and of finer quality than he had ever met
with. Thus Hatim enjoyed himself for the week, walking undisturbed in
the wide garden. The horses, too, were so tame and so attached to him,
that during the day they grazed on the sea-shore, and at night they
returned to the door of the garden.
Meanwhile the fairy prince reached his paternal dominions. When his
subjects saw him, they quickly conveyed the tidings to his father and
mother, who came out to meet their beloved son. After mutual greeting,
the father thus spoke: “My dear son, it is long since you left us at
the head of your troops on an expedition to the island of Barzakh. How
did it happen that you absconded from your army? Thought you not of
the distress and sorrow which we must have endured by your absence?
But I will not upbraid you, my beloved son; tell me at once, have you
attained the object of your wish?”
The prince, with tears in his eyes, replied, “Forgive me, father, how
could I expect success when I have acted so regardless of you? Since
my departure, I have met with nothing but pain and disappointment,
till lately when my destinies have proved favorable. I have found a
sincere friend in the noblest of the human race. Hatim Taï, the
prince of Arabia, is now journeying from Shahabad for the pearl of the
murghab, which is in the possession of Mahyar. He found me sad and
solitary in the cavern of a mountain; he learned from me the cause of
my sorrow, and said to me in the voice of benevolence, ‘Despair not,
my friend, I am confident that I shall succeed; and as I desire only
the pearl, I will bestow the lady upon you.’ This, my father, is not a
vain promise, for Hatim is pure in heart and sincere in speech.”
When the father and mother heard this statement, they laughed at the
prince’s credulity, while the former said to him in reply, “Truly, my
son, you are more simple and inexperienced than I thought you. The
most skilful of our own race have in vain endeavored to procure that
pearl; how then can a mere mortal of the race of Adam, who knows
nothing of our secret arts, be expected to succeed in such an
undertaking? Are you really so foolish as to build your hope on such a
slender foundation?”--“Father,” replied the prince, “Hatim is a man of
surpassing wisdom. He has travelled much, and has made himself
acquainted with all the mystic sciences of the sublunary creation.
With this intent he has accompanied me across the sea of Kahrman, and
is now waiting my return on the coast of Barzakh.”--“Well, my son,”
said the king, “tell me your present purpose in parting with him, and
in coming hither.”--“To obtain from you a convoy of your best troops,”
replied the prince, “that we may proceed in safety to the court of
Mahyar.”
The king, after brief consideration, summoned twelve thousand of his
chosen troops, which he appointed as guards for his son. The prince
took an affectionate leave of his parents, and at the head of his
select army, departed for the island of Barzakh, while the king raised
recruits to supply their place. In a little more than the appointed
time, the prince arrived in the island of Barzakh, and surrounded by
his troops, passed the night in the garden where Hatim had resided,
and next morning they began their march towards the capital. Meanwhile
Mahyar Sulaimani received intelligence that a host of fairies numerous
as the sand had landed in a remote corner of the island; whereupon he
quickly led forth his own forces, so as to be ready to receive them,
should their intention prove hostile.
When Hatim and the fairy prince with their chosen band approached the
capital of Barzakh, they were surprised at seeing an army vastly
superior to their own, prepared to dispute their passage. They soon
discovered that these were the troops of the watchful Mahyar, and that
no time was to be lost in coming to a proper explanation. The fairy
prince despatched a messenger to state that his object was peace and
amity, not strife and bloodshed; and that he came solely to visit the
prince of Barzakh. The noble Mahyar instantly commissioned in return
the commander of his army with orders to state to the prince of Zuman,
that if he came in peace, no one should molest him, and that his visit
was every way welcome.
In short, Hatim and his friend along with their convoy were allowed to
enter the capital; and after they had been hospitably entertained,
Mahyar sent them a message requesting to know the object of their
visit. “Say to Mahyar,” replied the fairy prince to the messenger,
“that the last time I visited him I was doomed to experience a painful
disappointment; that at present I have accompanied hither the noblest
of mankind, who has come from afar on a similar purpose.” Mahyar gave
orders for their immediate admission to his presence, and addressing
Hatim, said, “Tell me, prince of Yemen, what has been your object in
visiting my dominions?” Hatim produced the silver model of the pearl
of the murghab, and related his past history so far as it concerned
Husn Banu and Munir. “The lady,” concluded Hatim, “has imposed upon me
as her sixth task, to procure her a match to this pearl.”--“And
where,” said Mahyar, “can you find a pearl similar to hers?”--“I have
been informed,” replied Hatim, “that the only one equal to it in the
world is in your possession; and my journey hither has been on that
account.”--“Well,” resumed Mahyar, “I have such a pearl in my palace;
and if you fulfil my conditions, you shall have both the pearl and my
daughter.”
Hatim remained some time silent, and after mature reflection, said,
“The pearl alone can be of service to me; but I have no intention to
accept the daughter.”--“If you gain the pearl,” said the king of
Barzakh, “you shall be free to accept my daughter or not, only she
shall be entirely at your disposal, and you may bestow her on whom you
please.” Hatim then, at the request of Mahyar, related the whole
history of the pearl as he had heard from the natika in the desert.
Mahyar listened attentively to his detail; and when Hatim concluded,
he entered his secret apartment and brought forth the pearl, saying,
“Brave Hatim, accept what you have fairly gained; and tell me, how do
you wish my daughter to be disposed of?”
Hatim instantly ordered the youthful queen to be married to the fairy
prince of Zuman, a measure to which her father assented.
After a month Hatim took leave of Mahyar, and accompanied by the fairy
prince and his bride came to the sea of Kahrman. He then requested the
prince to return to his own country, while he himself should make his
way to Shahabad. “At least,” said the prince, “let me send with you a
guard of my own subjects as far as the kingdom of Shams Shah.” To this
Hatim agreed, and having mounted his winged steed, accompanied by a
select guard, he recrossed the sea, and landed in the territory of the
demons. Here they had not far advanced when the demons observed them,
and prepared to dispute their passage. The fairies, so few in number,
could offer little resistance: they therefore addressed their
opponents, saying, “Good friends, we are both descended of one family;
and we pass through your country bearing no enmity towards you. We
have been delegated by our prince to convey his congratulations to
Shams Shah, who, after a long period of misery, is now restored to
happiness.”
The demons, on hearing this, gave them no further interruption; and in
the course of time they arrived safe in the dominions of Shams Shah.
This king having received intelligence that strangers were
approaching, mounted his steed and came out to meet them in person,
and great was his joy when he saw Hatim among them. He affectionately
embraced him, and said to his guides, “May heaven reward your
goodness, for you have done me the greatest service possible in
restoring to me safe the generous prince of Yemen.” Having thus
addressed them, he invited them to a splendid feast, which lasted
forty days.
Hatim then took leave of the fairy king, who supplied him with
everything requisite for his journey, and appointed four of his
subjects to carry him on a golden litter to the city of Shahabad.
Thither they swiftly conveyed him in the course of a few days. Outside
the gates they descended from their aerial flight; and Hatim, at their
request, gave them letters to their sovereign, with which they
returned. He then entered the city, where the people immediately
recognized him, and conveyed the tidings of his return to their lovely
queen. Husn Banu threw her veil over her face, and gave orders for
Hatim’s admission to her palace, where the counsellors of the city
were then assembled. Hatim entered; and, after mutual salutation,
produced the pearl of the murghab in presence of the assembly and
stated the details of his marvellous adventure.
When Husn Banu saw the pearl she was highly delighted, and the court
resounded with the praises of the noble Hatim, who withdrew to the
Mihmanseraï. There he met the Assyrian prince Munir, and said to him,
“Your happiness, my friend, is now almost at hand: only one question
remains unanswered.” After a repose of a few days, he presented
himself before Husn Banu, and said, “Fair lady, let me hear your
seventh question, that I may lose no time in the completion of my
task.”--“The seventh and last is,” replied she, “to bring me an
account of the bath of Badgard.” Hatim took leave of Husn Banu and the
prince Munir, and prepared for his departure.