THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT

When it was the Six Hundred and Thirty-seventh Night,

Shahrazad continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that

Sa’adan having broken into the palace of King Jamak and pounded to

pieces those therein, the survivors cried out, “Quarter! Quarter!”; and

Sa’adan said to them, “Pinion your King!” So they bound Jamak and took

him up, and Sa’adan drove them before him like sheep and brought them

to Gharib’s presence, after the most part of the citizens had perished

by the enemy’s swords. When the King of Babel came to himself, he found

himself bound and heard Sa’adan say, “I will sup to-night off this King

Jamak:” whereupon he turned to Gharib and cried to him, “I throw myself

on thy mercy.” Replied Gharib, “Become a Moslem, and thou shalt be safe

from the Ghul and from the vengeance of the Living One who ceaseth

not.” So Jamak professed Al-Islam with heart and tongue and Gharib bade

loose his bonds. Then he expounded The Faith to his people and they all

became True Believers; after which Jamak returned to the city and

despatched thence provaunt and henchmen to Gharib; and wine to the camp

before Babel where they passed the night. On the morrow, Gharib gave

the signal for the march and they fared on till they came to

Mayyáfárikín,[FN#1] which they found empty, for its people had heard

what had befallen Babel and had fled to Cufa-city and told Ajib. When

he heard the news, his Doom-day appeared to him and he assembled his

braves and informing them of the enemy’s approach ordered them make

ready to do battle with his brother’s host; after which he numbered

them and found them thirty thousand horse and ten thousand foot.[FN#2]

So, needing more, he levied other fifty thousand men, cavalry and

infantry, and taking horse amid a mighty host, rode forwards, till he

came upon his brother’s army encamped before Mosul and pitched his

tents in face of their lines. Then Gharib wrote a writ and said to his

officers, “Which of you will carry this letter to Ajib?” Whereupon

Sahim sprang to his feet and cried, “O King of the Age, I will bear thy

missive and bring thee back an answer.” So Gharib gave him the epistle

and he repaired to the pavilion of Ajib who, when informed of his

coming, said, “Admit him!” and when he stood in the presence asked him,

“Whence comest thou?” Answered Sahim, “From the King of the Arabs and

the Persians, son-in-law of Chosroë, King of the world, who sendeth

thee a writ; so do thou return him a reply.” Quoth Ajib, “Give me the

letter;” accordingly Sahim gave it to him and he tore it open and found

therein, “In the name of Allah the Compassionating, the Compassionate!

Peace on Abraham the Friend await! But afterwards. As soon as this

letter shall come to thy hand, do thou confess the Unity of the

Bountiful King, Causer of causes and Mover of the clouds;[FN#3] and

leave worshipping idols. An thou do this thing, thou art my brother and

ruler over us and I will pardon thee the deaths of my father and

mother, nor will I reproach thee with what thou hast done. But an thou

obey not my bidding, behold, I will hasten to thee and cut off thy head

and lay waste thy dominions. Verily, I give thee good counsel, and the

Peace be on those who pace the path of salvation and obey the Most High

King!” When Ajib read these words and knew the threat they contained,

his eyes sank into the crown of his head and he gnashed his teeth and

flew into a furious rage. Then he tore the letter in pieces and threw

it away, which vexed Sahim and he cried out upon Ajib, saying, “Allah

wither thy hand for the deed thou hast done!” With this Ajib cried out

to his men, saying, “Seize yonder hound and hew him in pieces with your

hangers.”[FN#4] So they ran at Sahim; but he bared blade and fell upon

them and slew of them more than fifty braves; after which he cut his

way out, though bathed in blood, and won back to Gharib, who said,

“What is this case, O Sahim?” And he told him what had passed, whereat

he grew livid for rage and crying “Allaho Akbar God is most great!”

bade the battle-drums beat. So the fighting-men donned their hauberks

and coats of straitwoven mail and baldrick’d themselves with their

swords; the footmen drew out in battle-array, whilst the horsemen

mounted their prancing horses and dancing camels and levelled their

long lances, and the champions rushed into the field. Ajib and his men

also took horse and host charged down upon host. — And Shahrazad

perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Thirty-eighth Night,

She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Gharib

and his merry men took horse, Ajib and his troops also mounted and host

charged down upon host. Then ruled the Kazi of Battle, in whose

ordinance is no wrong, for a seal is on his lips and he speaketh not;

and the blood railed in rills and purfled earth with curious

embroidery; heads grew gray and hotter waxed battle and fiercer. Feet

slipped and stood firm the valiant and pushed forwards, whilst turned

the faint-heart and fled, nor did they leave fighting till the day

darkened and the night starkened. Then clashed the cymbals of retreat

and the two hosts drew apart each from other, and returned to their

tents, where they nighted. Next morning, as soon as it was day, the

cymbals beat to battle and derring-do, and the warriors donned their

harness of fight and baldrick’d[FN#5] their blades the brightest bright

and with the brown lance bedight mounted doughty steed every knight and

cried out, saying, “This day no flight!” And the two hosts drew out in

battle array, like the surging sea. The first to open the chapter[FN#6]

of war was Sahim, who drave his destrier between the two lines and

played with swords and spears and turned over all the Capitula of

combat till men of choicest wits were confounded. Then he cried out,

saying, “Who is for fighting? Who is for jousting? Let no sluggard come

out nor weakling!” Whereupon there rushed at him a horseman of the

Kafirs, as he were a flame of fire; but Sahim let him not stand long

before him ere he overthrew him with a thrust. Then a second came forth

and he slew him also, and a third and he tare him in twain, and a

fourth and he did him to death; nor did they cease sallying out to him

and he left not slaying them, till it was noon, by which time he had

laid low two hundred braves. Then Ajib cried to his men, “Charge once

more,” and sturdy host on sturdy host down bore and great was the clash

of arms and battle-roar. The shining swords out rang; the blood in

streams ran and footman rushed upon footman; Death showed in van and

horse-hoof was shodden with skull of man; nor did they cease from sore

smiting till waned the day and the night came on in black array, when

they drew apart and, returning to their tents, passed the night there.

As soon as morning morrowed the two hosts mounted and sought the field

of fight; and the Moslems looked for Gharib to back steed and ride

under the standards as was his wont, but he came not. So Sahim sent to

his brother’s pavilion a slave who, finding him not, asked the

tent-pitchers,[FN#7] but they answered, “We know naught of him.”

Whereat he was greatly concerned and went forth and told the troops,

who refrained from battle, saying, “An Gharib be absent, his foe will

destroy us.” Now there was for Gharib’s absence a cause strange but

true which we will set out in order due. And it was thus. When Ajib

returned to his camp on the preceding Night, he called one of his

guardsmen by name Sayyar and said to him, “O Sayyar, I have not

treasured thee save for a day like this; and now I bid thee enter among

Gharib’s host and, pushing into the marquee of their lord, bring him

hither to me and prove how wily thy cunning be.” And Sayyar said, “I

hear and I obey.” So he repaired to the enemy’s camp and stealing into

Gharib’s pavilion, under the darkness of the night, when all the men

had gone to their places of rest, stood up as though he were a slave to

serve Gharib, who presently, being athirst, called to him for water. So

he brought him a pitcher of water, drugged with Bhang, and Gharib could

not fulfill his need ere he fell down with head distancing heels,

whereupon Sayyar wrapped him in his cloak and carrying him to Ajib’s

tent, threw him down at his feet. Quoth Ajib, “O Sayyar, what is this?”

Quoth he, “This be thy brother Gharib;” whereat Ajib rejoiced and said,

“The blessings of the Idols light upon thee! Loose him and wake him.”

So they made him sniff up vinegar and he came to himself and opened his

eyes; then, finding himself bound and in a tent other than his own,

exclaimed, “There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah,

the Glorious the Great!” Thereupon Ajib cried out at him, saying, “Dost

thou draw on me, O dog, and seek to slay me and take on me thy

blood-wreak of thy father and thy mother? I will send thee this very

day to them and rid the world of thee.” Replied Gharib, “Kafir hound!

soon shalt thou see against whom the wheels of fate shall revolve and

who shall be overthrown by the wrath of the Almighty King, Who wotteth

what is in hearts and Who shall leave thee in Gehenna tormented and

confounded! Have ruth on thyself and say with me:—There is no god but

_the_ God and Abraham is the Friend of God!” When Ajib heard Gharib’s

words, he snarked and snorted and railed at his god, the stone, and

called for the sworder and the leather rug of blood but his Wazir, who

was at heart a Moslem though outwardly a Miscreant, rose and kissing

ground before him, said, “Patience, O King, deal not hastily, but wait

till we know the conquered from the conqueror. If we prove the victors,

we shall have power to kill him and, if we be beaten, his being alive

in our hands will be a strength to us.” And the Emirs said, “The

Minister speaketh sooth”!——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and

ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Thirty-ninth Night,

She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Ajib

purposed to slay Gharib, the Wazir rose and said, “Deal not hastily,

for we have always power to kill him!” So Ajib bade lay his brother

Gharib in irons and chain him up in his own tent and set a thousand

stout warriors to guard him. Meanwhile Gharib’s host, when they awoke

that morning and found not their King, were as sheep sans a shepherd;

but Sa’adan the Ghul cried out at them, saying, “O folk, don your

war-gear and trust to your Lord to defend you!” So Arabs and Ajams

mounted horse, after clothing themselves in hauberks of iron and

shirting themselves in straight knit mail, and sallied forth to the

field, the Chiefs and the colours moving in van. Then dashed out the

Ghul of the Mountain, with a club on his shoulder, two hundred pounds

in weight, and wheeled and careered, saying, “Ho, worshippers of idols,

come ye out and renown it this day, for ’tis a day of onslaught! Whoso

knoweth me hath enough of my mischief and whoso knoweth me not, I will

make myself known to him. I am Sa’adan, servant of King Gharib. Who is

for jousting? Who is for fighting? Let no faint-heart come forth to me

to-day or weakling.” And there rushed upon him a Champion of the

Infidels, as he were a flame of fire, and drove at him, but Sa’adan

charged home at him and dealt him with his club a blow which broke his

ribs and cast him lifeless to the earth. Then he called out to his sons

and slaves, saying, “Light the bonfire, and whoso falleth of the Kafirs

do ye dress him and roast him well in the flame, then bring him to me

that I may break my fast on him!” So they kindled a fire midmost the

plain and laid thereon the slain, till he was cooked, when they brought

him to Sa’adan, who gnawed his flesh and crunched his bones. When the

Miscreants saw the Mountain-Ghul do this deed they were affrighted with

sore affright, but Ajib cried out to his men, saying, “Out on you! Fall

upon the Ogre and hew him in hunks with your scymitars!” So twenty

thousand men ran at Sa’adan, whilst the footmen circled round him and

rained upon him darts and shafts so that he was wounded in

four-and-twenty places, and his blood ran down upon the earth, and he

was alone. Then the host of the Moslems drave at the heathenry, calling

for help upon the Lord of the three Worlds, and they ceased not from

fight and fray till the day came to an end, when they drew apart. But

the Infidels had captured Sa’adan, as he were a drunken man for loss of

blood; and they bound him fast and set him by Gharib who, seeing the

Ghul a prisoner, said, “There is no Majesty and there is no Might save

in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! O Sa’adan, what case is this?” “O my

lord,” replied Sa’adan, “it is Allah (extolled and exalted be He!) who

ordaineth joy and annoy and there is no help but this and that betide.”

And Gharib rejoined, “Thou speakest sooth, O Sa’adan!” But Ajib passed

the night in joy and he said to his men, “Mount ye on the morrow and

fall upon the Moslems so shall not one of them be left alive.” And they

replied, “Hearkening and obedience!” This is how it fared with them;

but as regards the Moslems, they passed the night, dejected and weeping

for their King and Sa’adan; but Sahim said to them, “O folk, be not

concerned, for the aidance of Almighty Allah is nigh.” Then he waited

till midnight, when he assumed the garb of a tent-pitcher; and,

repairing to Ajib’s camp, made his way between the tents and pavilions

till he came to the King’s marquee, where he saw him seated on his

throne surrounded by his Princes. So he entered and going up to the

candles which burnt in the tent snuffed them and sprinkled levigated

henbane on the wicks; after which he withdrew and waited without the

marquee, till the smoke of the burning henbane reached Ajib and his

Princes and they fell to the ground like dead men. Then he left them

and went to the prison tent, where he found Gharib and Sa’adan, guarded

by a thousand braves, who were overcome with sleep. So he cried out at

the guards, saying, “Woe to you! Sleep not; but watch your prisoners

and light the cressets.” Presently he filled a cresset with firewood,

on which he strewed henbane, and lighting it, went round about the tent

with it, till the smoke entered the nostrils of the guards, and they

all fell asleep drowned by the drug; when he entered the tent and

finding Gharib and Sa’adan also insensible he aroused them by making

them smell and sniff at a sponge full of vinegar he had with him.

Thereupon he loosed their bonds and collars, and when they saw him,

they blessed him and rejoiced In him. After this they went forth and

took all the arms of the guards and Sahim said to them, “Go to your own

camp;” while he re-entered Ajib’s pavilion and, wrapping him in his

cloak, lifted him up and made for the Moslem encampment. And the Lord,

the Compassionate, protected him, so that he reached Gharib’s tent in

safety and unrolled the cloak before him. Gharib looked at its contents

and seeing his brother Ajib bound, cried out, “Allaho Akbar—God is

Most Great! Aidance! Victory!” And he blessed Sahim and bade him arouse

Ajib. So he made him smell the vinegar mixed with incense, and he

opened his eyes and, finding himself bound and shackled, hung down his

head earthwards.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased

to say her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Fortieth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that after Sahim had

aroused Ajib, whom he had made insensible with henbane and had brought

to his brother Gharib, the captive opened his eyes and, feeling himself

bound and shackled, hung down his head earthwards. Thereupon cried

Sahim, “O Accursed, lift thy head!” So he raised his eyes and found

himself amongst Arabs and Ajams and saw his brother seated on the

throne of his estate and the place of his power, wherefore he was

silent and spake not. Then Gharib cried out and said, “Strip me this

hound!” So they stripped him and came down upon him with whips, till

they weakened his body and subdued his pride, after which Gharib set

over him a guard of an hundred knights. And when this fraternal

correction had been administered they heard shouts of, “There is no God

but _the_ God!” and “God is Most Great!” from the camp of the Kafirs. Now

the cause of this was that, ten days after his nephew King Al-Damigh,

Gharib’s uncle, had set out from Al-Jazirah, with twenty thousand

horse, and on nearing the field of battle, had despatched one of his

scouts to get news. The man was absent a whole day, at the end of which

time he returned and told Al-Damigh all that had happened to Gharib

with his brother. So he waited till the night, when he fell upon the

Infidels, crying out, “Allaho Akbar!” and put them to the edge of the

biting scymitar. When Gharib heard the Takbir,[FN#8] he said to Sahim,

“Go find out the cause of these shouts and war-cries.” So Sahim

repaired to the field of battle and questioned the slaves and camp

followers, who told him that King Al-Damigh had come up with twenty

thousand men and had fallen upon the idolaters by night, saying, “By

the virtue of Abraham the Friend, I will not forsake my brother’s son,

but will play a brave man’s part and beat back the host of Miscreants

and please the Omnipotent King!” So Sahim returned and told his uncle’s

derring-do to Gharib, who cried out to his men, saying, “Don your arms

and mount your steeds and let us succour my father’s brother!” So they

took horse and fell upon the Infidels and put them to the edge of the

sharp sword. By the morning they had killed nigh fifty thousand of the

Kafirs and made other thirty thousand prisoners, and the rest of Ajib’s

army dispersed over the length and breadth of earth. Then the Moslems

returned in victory and triumph, and Gharib rode out to meet his uncle,

whom he saluted and thanked for his help. Quoth Al-Damigh, “I wonder if

that dog Ajib fell in this day’s affair.” Quoth Gharib, “O uncle, be of

good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear: know that he is with me

in chains.” When Al-Damigh heard this he rejoiced with exceeding joy

and the two kings dismounted and entered the pavilion, but found no

Ajib there; whereupon Gharib exclaimed, “O glory of Abraham, the Friend

(with whom be peace!),” adding, “Alas, what an ill end is this to a

glorious day!” and he cried out to the tent-pitchers, saying, “Woe to

you! Where is my enemy who oweth me so much?” Quoth they, “When thou

mountest and we went with thee, thou didst not bid us guard him;” and

Gharib exclaimed, “There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in

Allah, the Glorious, the Great!” But Al-Damigh said to him, “Hasten not

nor be concerned, for where can he go, and we in pursuit of him?” Now

the manner of Ajib’s escape was in this wise. His page Sayyar had been

ambushed in the camp and when he saw Gharib mount and ride forth,

leaving none to guard his enemy Ajib, he could hardly credit his eyes.

So he waited awhile and presently crept to the tent and taking Ajib,

who was senseless for the pain of the bastinado, on his back, made off

with him into the open country and fared on at the top of his speed

from early night to the next day, till he came to a spring of water,

under an apple tree. There he set down Ajib from his back and washed

his face, whereupon he opened his eyes and seeing Sayyar, said to him,

“O Sayyar, carry me to Cufa that I may recover there and levy horsemen

and soldiers wherewith to overthrow my foe: and know, O Sayyar, that I

am anhungered.” So Sayyar sprang up and going out to the desert caught

an ostrich-poult and brought it to his lord. Then he gathered fuel and

deftly using the fire-sticks kindled a fire, by which he roasted the

bird which he had hallal’d[FN#9] and fed Ajib with its flesh and gave

him to drink of the water of the spring, till his strength returned to

him, after which he went to one of the Badawi tribal encampments, and

stealing thence a steed mounted Ajib upon it and journeyed on with him

for many days till they drew near the city of Cufa. The Viceroy of the

capital came out to meet and salute the King, whom he found weak with

the beating his brother had inflicted upon him; and Ajib entered the

city and called his physicians. When they answered his summons, he bade

them heal him in less than ten days’ time: they said, “We hear and we

obey,” and they tended him till he became whole of the sickness that

was upon him and of the punishment. Then he commanded his Wazirs to

write letters to all his Nabobs and vassals, and he indited

one-and-twenty writs and despatched them to the governors, who

assembled their troops and set out for Cufa by forced marches.——And

Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted

say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Forty-first Night,

She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Ajib

sent orders to assemble the troops, who marched forthright to Cufa.

Meanwhile, Gharib, being troubled for Ajib’s escape, despatched in

quest of him a thousand braves, who dispersed on all sides and sought

him a day and a night, but found no trace of him; so they returned

and told Gharib, who called for his brother Sahim, but found him not;

whereat he was sore concerned, fearing for him from the shifts of

Fortune. And lo! Sahim entered and kissed ground before Gharib, who

rose, when he saw him, and asked, “Where hast thou been, O Sahim?” He

answered, “O King, I have been to Cufa and there I find that the dog

Ajib hath made his way to his capital and is healed of his hurts: eke,

he hath written letters to his vassals and sent them to his Nabobs who

have brought him troops.” When Gharib heard this, he gave the command

to march; so they struck tents and fared for Cufa. When they came in

sight of the city, they found it compassed about with a host like

the surging main, having neither beginning nor end. So Gharib with

his troops encamped in face of the Kafirs and set up his standards,

and darkness fell down upon the two hosts, whereupon they lighted

camp-fires and kept watch till daybreak. Then King Gharib rose and

making the Wuzu-ablution, prayed a two-bow prayer according to the rite

of our father Abraham the Friend (on whom be the Peace!); after which

he commanded the battle-drums to sound the point of war. Accordingly,

the kettle-drums beat to combat and the standards fluttered whilst the

fighting men armour donned and their horses mounted and themselves

displayed and to plain fared. Now the first to open the gate of war

was King Al-Damigh, who urged his charger between the two opposing

armies and displayed himself and played with the swords and the spears,

till both hosts were confounded and at him marvelled, after which he

cried out, saying, “Who is for jousting? Let no sluggard come out to

me or weakling; for I am Al-Damigh, the King, brother of Kundamir the

King.” Then there rushed forth a horseman of the Kafirs, as he were a

flame of fire, and drave at Al-Damigh, without word said; but the King

received him with a lance-thrust in the breast so dour that the point

issued from between his shoulders and Allah hurried his soul to the

fire, the abiding-place dire. Then came forth a second he slew, and

a third he slew likewise, and they ceased not to come out to him and

he to slay them, till he had made an end of six-and-seventy fighting

men. Hereupon the Miscreants and men of might hung back and would not

encounter him; but Ajib cried out to his men and said, “Fie on you,

O folk! if ye all go forth to him, one by one, he will not leave any

of you, sitting or standing. Charge on him all at once and cleanse of

them our earthly wone and strew their heads for your horses’ hoofs like

a plain of stone!” So they waved the awe-striking flag and host was

heaped upon host; blood rained in streams upon earth and railed and the

Judge of battle ruled, in whose ordinance is no unright. The fearless

stood firm on feet in the stead of fight, whilst the faint-heart gave

back and took to flight thinking the day would never come to an end nor

the curtains of gloom would be drawn by the hand of Night; and they

ceased not to battle with swords and to smite till light darkened and

murk starkened. Then the kettle-drums of the Infidels beat the retreat,

but Gharib, refusing to stay his arms, drave at the Paynimry, and the

Believers in Unity, the Moslems, followed him. How many heads and hands

they shore, how many necks and sinews they tore, how many knees and

spines they mashed and how many grown men and youths they to death

bashed! With the first gleam of morning grey the Infidels broke and

fled away, in disorder and disarray; and the Moslems followed them till

middle-day and took over twenty thousand of them, whom they brought

to their tents in bonds to stay. Then Gharib sat down before the gate

of Cufa and commanded a herald to proclaim pardon and protection for

every wight who should leave the worship to idols dight and profess the

unity of His All-might the Creator of mankind and of light and night.

So was made proclamation as he bade in the streets of Cufa and all

that were therein embraced the True Faith, great and small; then they

issued forth in a body and renewed their Islam before King Gharib, who

rejoiced in them with exceeding joy and his breast broadened and he

threw off all annoy. Presently he enquired of Mardas and his daughter

Mahdiyah, and, being told that he had taken up his abode behind the

Red Mountain, he called Sahim and said to him, “Find out for me what

is become of thy father.” Sahim mounted steed without stay or delay

and set his berry-brown spear in rest and fared on in quest till he

reached the Red Mountain, where he sought for his father, yet found no

trace of him nor of his tribe; however, he saw in their stead an elder

of the Arabs, a very old man, broken with excess of years, and asked

him of the folk and whither they were gone. Replied he, “O my son,

when Mardas heard of Gharib’s descent upon Cufa he feared with great

fear and, taking his daughter and his folk, set out with his handmaids

and negroes into the wild and wold, and I wot not whither he went.”

So Sahim, hearing the Shaykh’s words, returned to Gharib and told him

thereof, whereat he was greatly concerned. Then he sat down on his

father’s throne and, opening his treasuries, distributed largesse to

each and every of his braves. And he took up his abode in Cufa and sent

out spies to get news of Ajib. He also summoned the Grandees of the

realm, who came and did him homage; as also did the citizens and he

bestowed on them sumptuous robes of honour and commended the Ryots to

their care.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say

her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Forty-second Night,

She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Gharib, after

giving robes of honour to the citizens of Cufa and commending the

Ryots to their care, went out on a day of the days to hunt, with an

hundred horse, and fared on till he came to a Wady, abounding in trees

and fruits and rich in rills and birds. It was a pasturing-place for

roes and gazelles, to the spirit a delight whose scents reposed from

the langour of fight. They encamped in the valley, for the day was

clear and bright, and there passed the night. On the morrow, Gharib

made the Wuzu-ablution and prayed the two-bow dawn-prayer, offering up

praise and thanks to Almighty Allah; when, lo and behold! there arose

a clamour and confusion in the meadows, and he bade Sahim go see what

was to do. So Sahim mounted forthright and rode till he espied goods

being plundered and horses haltered and women carried off and children

crying out. Whereupon he questioned one of the shepherds, saying, “What

be all this?”; and they replied, “This is the Harim of Mardas, Chief

of the Banu Kahtan, and his good and that of his clan; for yesterday

Jamrkan slew Mardas and made prize of his women and children and

household stuff and all the belonging of his tribe. It is his wont

to go a-raiding and to cut off highways and waylay wayfarers and he

is a furious tyrant; neither Arabs nor Kings can prevail against him

and he is the scourge and curse of the country.” Now when Sahim heard

these news of his sire’s slaughter and the looting of his Harim and

property, he returned to Gharib and told him the case, wherefore fire

was added to his fire and his spirit chafed to wipe out his shame and

his blood-wit to claim: so he rode with his men after the robbers till

he overtook them and fell upon them, crying out and saying, “Almighty

Allah upon the rebel, the traitor, the infidel!” and he slew in a

single charge one-and-twenty fighting-men. Then he halted in mid-field,

with no coward’s heart, and cried out, “Where is Jamrkan? Let him come

out to me, that I may make him quaff the cup of disgrace and rid of him

earth’s face!” Hardly had he made an end of speaking, when forth rushed

Jamrkan, as he were a calamity of calamities or a piece of a mountain,

cased in steel. He was a mighty huge[FN#10] Amalekite; and he drave at

Gharib without speech or salute, like the fierce tyrant he was. And he

was armed with a mace of China steel, so heavy, so potent, that had he

smitten a hill he had smashed it. Now when he charged, Gharib met him

like a hungry lion, and the brigand aimed a blow at his head with his

mace; but he evaded it and it smote the earth and sank therein half a

cubit deep. Then Gharib took his battle flail and smiting Jamrkan on

the wrist, crushed his fingers and the mace dropped from his grasp;

whereupon Gharib bent down from his seat in selle and snatching it up,

swiftlier than the blinding leven, smote him therewith full on the flat

of the ribs, and he fell to the earth like a long-stemmed palm-tree.

So Sahim took him and pinioning him, haled him off with a rope, and

Gharib’s horsemen fell on those of Jamrkan and slew fifty of them: the

rest fled; nor did they cease flying till they reached their tribal

camp and raised their voices in clamour; whereupon all who were in the

Castle came out to meet them and asked the news. They told the tribe

what had passed; and, when they heard that their chief was a prisoner,

they set out for the valley vying one with other in their haste to

deliver him. Now when King Gharib had captured Jamrkan and had seen his

braves take flight, he dismounted and called for Jamrkan, who humbled

himself before him, saying, “I am under thy protection, O champion of

the Age!” Replied Gharib, “O dog of the Arabs, dost thou cut the road

for the servants of Almighty Allah, and fearest thou not the Lord of

the Worlds?” “O my master,” asked Jamrkan, “and who is the Lord of

the Worlds?” “O dog,” answered Gharib, “and what calamity dost thou

worship?” He said, “O my lord, I worship a god made of dates[FN#11]

kneaded with butter and honey, and at times I eat him and make me

another.” When Gharib heard this, he laughed till he fell backwards and

said, “O miserable, there is none worship-worth save Almighty Allah,

who created thee and created all things and provideth all creatures

with daily bread, from whom nothing is hid and He over all things is

Omnipotent.” Quoth Jamrkan, “And where is this great god, that I may

worship him?” Quoth Gharib, “O fellow, know that this god’s name is

Allah—_the_ God—and it is He who fashioned the heavens and the earth

and garred the trees to grow and the waters to flow. He created wild

beasts and birds and Paradise and Hell-fire and veileth Himself from

all eyes seeing and of none being seen. He, and He only, is the Dweller

on high. Extolled be His perfection! There is no god but He!” When

Jamrkan heard these words, the ears of his heart were opened; his skin

shuddered with horripilation and he said, “O my lord, what shall I say

that I may become of you and that this mighty Lord may accept of me?”

Replied Gharib, “Say:—There is no god but _the_ God and Abraham the

Friend is the Apostle of God!” So he pronounced the profession of the

Faith and was written of the people of felicity. Then quoth Gharib,

“Say me, hast thou tasted the sweetness of Al-Islam?”; and quoth the

other, “Yes;” whereupon Gharib cried, “Loose his bonds!” So they

unbound him and he kissed ground before Gharib and his feet. Now whilst

this was going on, behold, they espied a great cloud of dust that

towered till it walled the word.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of

day and ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Forty-third Night,

She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Jamrkan

islamised and kissed the ground between the hands of Gharib; and, as

they were thus, behold, a great cloud of dust towered till it walled

the wold and Gharib said to Sahim, “Go and see for us what it be.” So

he went forth, like a bird in full flight, and presently returned,

saying, “O King of the Age, this dust is of the Banu Amir, the comrades

of Jamrkan.” Whereupon quoth Gharib to the new Moslem, “Ride out to thy

people and offer to them Al-Islam: an they profess, they shall be

saved; but, an they refuse, we will put them to the sword.” So Jamrkan

mounted and driving steed towards his tribesmen, cried out to them; and

they knew him and dismounting, came up to him on foot and said, “We

rejoice in thy safety, O our lord!” Said he, “O folk, whoso obeyeth me

shall be saved; but whoso gainsayeth me, I will cut him in twain with

this scymitar.” And they made answer, saying, “Command us what thou

wilt, for we will not oppose thy commandment.” Quoth he, “Then say with

me:—There is no god but _the_ God and Abraham is the Friend of God!”

They asked, “O our lord, whence haddest thou these words?” And he told

them what had befallen him with Gharib, adding, “O folk, know ye not

that I am your chief in battle-plain and where men of cut and thrust

are fain; and yet a man single-handed me to prisoner hath ta’en and

made me the cup of shame and disgrace to drain?” When they heard his

speech, they spoke the word of Unity and Jamrkan led them to Gharib, at

whose hands they renewed their profession of Al-Islam and wished him

glory and victory, after they had kissed the earth before him. Gharib

rejoiced in them and said to them, “O folk, return to your people and

expound Al-Islam to them;” but all replied, “O our lord, we will never

leave thee, whilst we live; but we will go and fetch our families and

return to thee.” And Gharib said, “Go, and join me at the city of

Cufa.” So Jamrkan and his comrades returned to their tribal camp and

offered Al-Islam to their women and children, who all to a soul

embraced the True Faith, after which they dismantled their abodes and

struck their tents and set out for Cufa, driving before them their

steeds, camels and sheep. During this time Gharib returned to Cufa,

where the horsemen met him in state. He entered his palace and sat down

on his sire’s throne with his champions ranged on either hand. Then the

spies came forwards, and informed him that his brother Ajib had made

his escape and had taken refuge with Jaland[FN#12] bin Karkar, lord of

the city of Oman and land of Al-Yaman; whereupon Gharib cried aloud to

his host, “O men, make you ready to march in three days.” Then he

expounded Al-Islam to the thirty thousand men he had captured in the

first affair and exhorted them to profess and take service with him.

Twenty thousand embraced the Faith, but the rest refused and he slew

them. Then came forward Jamrkan and his tribe and kissed the ground

before Gharib, who bestowed on him a splendid robe of honour and made

him captain of his vanguard, saying, “O Jamrkan, mount with the Chiefs

of thy kith and kin and twenty thousand horse and fare on before us to

the land of Jaland bin Karkar.” “Hearkening and obedience,” answered

Jamrkan and, leaving the women and children of the tribe in Cufa, he

set forward. Then Gharib passed in review the Harim of Mardas and his

eye lit upon Mahdiyah, who was among the women, wherewith he fell down

fainting. They sprinkled rose-water on his face, till he came to

himself, when he embraced Mahdiyah and carried her into a

sitting-chamber, where he sat with her; and they twain lay together

that night without fornication. Next morning he went out and sitting

down on the throne of his kingship, robed his uncle Al-Damigh with a

robe of honour; and appointed him his viceroy over all Al-Irak,

commending Mahdiyah to his care, till he should return from his

expedition against Ajib; and, when the order was accepted, he set out

for the land of Al-Yaman and the City of Oman with twenty thousand

horse and ten thousand foot. Now, when Ajib and his defeated army drew

in sight of Oman, King Jaland saw the dust of their approach and sent

to find out its meaning, scouts who returned and said, “Verily this is

the dust of one hight Ajib, lord of Al-Irak.” And Jaland wondered at

his coming to his country and, when assured of the tidings, he said to

his officers, “Fare ye forth and meet him.” So they went out and met

him and pitched tents for him at the city-gate; and Ajib entered in to

Jaland, weeping-eyed and heavy-hearted. Now Jaland’s wife was the

daughter of Ajib’s paternal uncle and he had children by her; so, when

he saw his kinsman in this plight, he asked for the truth of what ailed

him and Ajib told him all that had befallen him, first and last, from

his brother and said, “O King, Gharib biddeth the folk worship the Lord

of the Heavens and forbiddeth them from the service of simulacres and

other of the gods.” When Jaland heard these words he raged and revolted

and said, “By the virtue of the Sun, Lord of Life and Light, I will not

leave one of thy brother’s folk in existence! But where didst thou quit

them and how many men are they?” Answered Ajib, “I left them in Cufa

and they be fifty thousand horse.” Whereupon Jaland called his Wazir

Jawámard,[FN#13] saying, “Take thee seventy thousand horse and fare to

Cufa and bring me the Moslems alive, that I may torture them with all

manner of tortures.” So Jawamard departed with his host and fared

through the first day and the second till the seventh day, when he came

to a Wady abounding in trees and rills and fruits. Here he called a

halt — And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her

permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Forty-fourth Night,

She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Jaland

sent Jawamard with his army to Cufa, they came upon a Wady abounding in

trees and rills where a halt was called and they rested till the middle

of the night, when the Wazir gave the signal for departure and

mounting, rode on before them till hard upon dawn, at which time he

descended into a well-wooded valley, whose flowers were fragrant and

whose birds warbled on boughs, as they swayed gracefully to and fro,

and Satan blew into his sides and puffed him up with pride and he

improvised these couplets and cried,

“I plunge with my braves in the seething sea; * Seize the foe in

my strength and my valiancy;

And the doughtiest knights wot me well to be * Friend to friend

and fierce foe to mine enemy.

I will load Gharib with the captive’s chains * Right soon, and

return in all joy and glee;

For I’ve donned my mail and my weapons wield * And on all sides

charge at the chivalry.”[FN#14]

Hardly had Jawamard made an end of his verses when there came out upon

him from among the trees a horseman of terrible mien covered and clad

in steely sheen, who cried out to him, saying, “Stand, O riff-raff of

the Arabs! Doff thy dress and ground thine arms-gear and dismount thy

destrier and be off with thy life!” When Jawamard heard this, the light

in his eyes became darkest night and he drew his sabre and drove at

Jamrkan, for he it was, saying, “O thief of the Arabs, wilt thou cut

the road for me, who am captain of the host of Jaland bin Karkar and am

come to bring Gharib and his men in bond?” When Jamrkan heard these

words, he said, “How cooling is this to my heart and liver!” And he

made at Jawamard versifying in these couplets,

“I’m the noted knight in the field of fight, * Whose sabre and

spear every foe affright!

Jamrkan am I, to my foes a fear, * With a lance lunge known unto

every knight:

Gharib is my lord, nay my pontiff, my prince, * Where the two

hosts dash very lion of might:

An Imam of the Faith, pious, striking awe * On the plain where

his foes like the fawn take flight;

Whose voice bids folk to the faith of the Friend, * False,

doubling idols and gods despite!”

Now Jamrkan had fared on with his tribesmen ten days’ journey from Cufa

city and called a halt on the eleventh day till midnight, when he

ordered a march and rode on devancing them till he descended into the

valley aforesaid and heard Jawamard reciting his verses. So he drave at

him as the driving of a ravening lion, and smiting him with his sword,

clove him in twain and waited till his captains came up, when he told

them what had passed and said to them, “Take each of you five thousand

men and disperse round about the Wady, whilst I and the Banu Amir fall

upon the enemy’s van, shouting, Allaho Akbar God is Most Great! When ye

hear my slogan, do ye charge them, crying like me upon the Lord, and

smite them with the sword.” “We hear and we obey,” answered they and

turning back to their braves did his bidding and spread themselves

about the sides of the valley in the twilight forerunning the dawn.

Presently, lo and behold! up came the army of Al-Yaman, like a flock of

sheep, filling plain and steep, and Jamrkan and the Banu Amir fell upon

them, shouting, “Allaho Akbar!” till all heard it, Moslems and

Miscreants. Whereupon the True Believers ambushed in the valley

answered from every side and the hills and mountains responsive cried

and all things replied, green and dried, saying, “God is Most Great!

Aidance and Victory to us from on High! Shame to the Miscreants who His

name deny!” And the Kafirs were confounded and smote one another with

sabres keen whilst the True Believers and pious fell upon them like

flames of fiery sheen and naught was seen but heads flying and blood

jetting and faint-hearts hieing. By the time they could see one

another’s faces, two-thirds of the Infidels had perished and Allah

hastened their souls to the fire and abiding-place dire. The rest fled

and to the deserts sped whilst the Moslems pursued them to slay and

take captives till middle-day, when they returned in triumph with seven

thousand prisoners; and but six and twenty thousand of the Infidels

escaped and the most of them wounded. Then the Moslems collected the

horses and arms, the loads and tents of the enemy and despatched them

to Cufa with an escort of a thousand horse;——And Shahrazad perceived the

dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Forty-fifth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Jamrkan in his

battle with Jawamard slew him and slew his men; and, after taking many

prisoners and much money and many horses and loads, sent them with an

escort of a thousand riders, to Cufa city. Then he and the army of

Al-Islam dismounted and expounded The saving Faith to the prisoners,

who made profession with heart and tongue; whereupon they released them

from bonds and embraced them and rejoiced in them. Then Jamrkan made

his troops, who had swelled to a mighty many, rest a day and a night

and marched with the dawn, intending to attack Jaland bin Karkar in the

city of Oman; whilst the thousand horse fared back to Cufa with the

loot. When they reached the city, they went in to King Gharib and told

him what had passed, whereat he rejoiced and gave them joy and, turning

to the Ghul of the Mountain, said, “Take horse with twenty thousand and

follow Jamrkan.” So Sa’adan and his sons mounted and set out, amid

twenty thousand horse for Oman. Meanwhile, the fugitives of the

defeated Kafirs reached Oman and went in to Jaland, weeping and crying,

“Woe!” and “Ruin!” whereat he was confounded and said to them, “What

calamity hath befallen you?” So they told him what had happened and he

said, “Woe to you! How many men were they?” They replied, “O King,

there were twenty standards, under each a thousand men.” When Jaland

heard these words he said, “May the sun pour no blessing on you! Fie

upon you! What, shall twenty thousand overcome you, and you seventy

thousand horse and Jawamard able to withstand three thousand in field

of fight?” Then, in the excess of his rage and mortification, he bared

his blade and cried out to those who were present, saying, “Fall on

them!” So the courtiers drew their swords upon the fugitives and

annihilated them to the last man and cast them to the dogs. Then Jaland

cried aloud to his son, saying, “Take an hundred thousand horse and go

to Al-Irak and lay it waste altogether.” Now this son’s name was

Kúraján and there was no doughtier knight in all the force; for he

could charge single-handed three thousand riders. So he and his host

made haste to equip themselves and marched in battle-array, rank

following rank, with the Prince at their head, glorying in himself and

improvising these couplets,

“I’m Al-Kurajan, and my name is known * To beat all who in wold

or in city wone!

How many a soldier my sword at will * Struck down like a cow on

the ground bestrown?

How many a soldier I’ve forced to fly * And have rolled their

heads as a ball is thrown?

Now I’ll drive and harry the land Irak[FN#15] * And like rain

I’ll shower the blood of fone;

And lay hands on Gharib and his men, whose doom * To the wise a

warning shall soon be shown!”

The host fared on twelve days’ journey and, while they were still

marching, behold, a great dust cloud arose before them and walled the

horizon and the whole region. So Kurajan sent out scouts, saying, “Go

forth and bring me tidings of what meaneth this dust.” They went till

they passed under the enemy’s standards and presently returning said,

“O King, verily this is the dust of the Moslems.” Whereat he was glad

and said, “Did ye count them?” And they answered, “We counted the

colours and they numbered twenty.” Quoth he, “By my faith, I will not

send one man-at-arms against them, but will go forth to them alone by

myself and strew their heads under the horses’ hooves!” Now this was

the army of Jamrkan who, espying the host of the Kafirs and seeing them

as a surging sea, called a halt; so his troops pitched the tents and

set up the standards, calling upon the name of the All-wise One, the

Creator of light and gloom, Lord of all creatures, Who seeth while Him

none see, the High to infinity, extolled and exalted be He! There is no

God but He! The Miscreants also halted and pitched their tents, and

Kurajan said to them “Keep on your arms, and in armour sleep, for

during the last watch of the night we will mount and trample yonder

handful under feet!” Now one of Jamrkan’s spies was standing nigh and

heard what Kurajan had contrived; so he returned to the host and told

his chief who said to them, “Arm yourselves and as soon as it is Night,

bring me all the mules and camels and hang all the bells and clinkets

and rattles ye have about their necks.” Now they had with them more

than twenty thousand camels and mules. So they waited till the Infidels

fell asleep, when Jamrkan commanded them to mount, and they rose to

ride and on the Lord of the Worlds they relied. Then said Jamrkan,

“Drive the camels and mules to the Miscreants’ camp and push them with

your spears for goads!” They did as he bade and the beasts rushed upon

the enemy’s tents, whilst the bells and clinkets and rattles

jangled[FN#16] and the Moslems followed at their heels, shouting, “God

is Most Great!” till all the hills and mountains resounded with the

name of the Highmost Deity, to whom belong glory and majesty! The

cattle hearing this terrible din, took fright and rushed upon the tents

and trampled the folk, as they lay asleep.——And Shahrazad perceived the

dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Forty-sixth Night,

She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Jamrkan

fell upon them with his men and steeds and camels, and the camp lay

sleeping, the idolaters started up in confusion and, snatching up

their arms, fell upon one another with smiting, till the most part was

slaughtered. And when the day broke, they looked and found no Moslem

slain, but saw them all on horseback, armed and armoured; wherefore

they knew that this was a sleight which had been played upon them, and

Kurajan cried out to the remnant of his folk, “O sons of whores, what

we had a mind to do with them, that have they done with us and their

craft hath gotten the better of our cunning.” And they were about to

charge when, lo and behold! a cloud of dust rose high and walled the

horizon-sky, when the wind smote it, so that it spired aloft and spread

pavilion-wise in the lift and there it hung; and presently appeared

beneath it the glint of helmet and gleam of hauberk and splendid

warriors, baldrick’d with their tempered swords and holding in rest

their supple spears. When the Kafirs saw this, they held back from

the battle and each army sent out, to know the meaning of this dust,

scouts, who returned with the news that it was an army of Moslems. Now

this was the host of the Mountain-Ghul whom Gharib had despatched to

Jamrkan’s aid, and Sa’adan himself rode in their van. So the two hosts

of the True Believers joined company and rushing upon the Paynimry

like a flame of fire, plied them with keen sword and Rudaynian spear

and quivering lance, what while day was darkened and eyes for the much

dust starkened. The valiant stood fast and the faint-hearted coward

fled and to the wilds and the wolds swift sped, whilst the blood over

earth was like torrents shed; nor did they cease from fight till the

day took flight and in gloom came the night. Then the Moslems drew

apart from the Miscreants and returned to their tents, where they ate

and slept, till the darkness fled away and gave place to smiling day;

when they prayed the dawn prayer and mounted to battle. Now Kurajan

had said to his men as they drew off from fight (for indeed two-thirds

of their number had perished by sword and spear), “O folk, to-morrow,

I will champion it in the stead of war where cut and thrust jar, and

where braves push and wheel I will take the field.” So, as soon as

light was seen and morn appeared with its shine and sheen, took horse

the hosts twain and shouted their slogans amain and bared the brand and

hent lance in hand and in ranks took stand. The first to open the door

of war was Kurajan, who cried out, saying, “Let no coward come out to

me this day nor craven!” Whereupon Jamrkan and Sa’adan stood by the

colours, but there ran at him a captain of the Banu Amir and the two

drave each at other awhile, like two rams butting. Presently Kurajan

seized the Moslem by the jerkin under his hauberk and, dragging him

from his saddle, dashed him to the ground where he left him; upon which

the Kafirs laid hands on him and bound him and bore him off to their

tents; whilst Kurajan wheeled about and careered and offered battle,

till another captain came out, whom also he took prisoner; nor did

he leave to do thus till he had made prize of seven captains before

mid-day. Then Jamrkan cried out with so mighty a cry, that the whole

field made reply and heard it the armies twain, and ran at Kurajan with

a heart in rageful pain, improvising these couplets:—

Jamrkan am I! and a man of might, * Whom the warriors fear with

a sore affright:

I waste the forts and I leave the walls * To wail and weep for

the wights I smite:

Then, O Kurajan, tread the rightful road * And quit the paths of

thy foul unright:

Own the One True God, who dispread the skies * And made founts to

flow and the hills pegged tight:

An the slave embrace the True Faith, he’ll ’scape * Hell-pains

and in Heaven be deckt and dight!

When Kurajan heard these words, he snarked and snorted and foully

abused the sun and the moon and drave at Jamrkan, versifying with these

couplets,

“I’m Kurajan, of this age the knight; * And my shade to the

lions of Shara’[FN#17] is blight:

I storm the forts and snare kings of beasts * And warriors fear

me in field of fight;

Then, Harkye Jamrkan, if thou doubt my word, * Come forth to the

combat and try my might!”

When Jamrkan heard these verses, he charged him with a stout heart and

they smote each at other with swords till the two hosts lamented for

them, and they lunged with lance and great was the clamour between

them: nor did they leave fighting till the time of mid-afternoon prayer

was passed and the day began to wane. Then Jamrkan drave at Kurajan and

smiting him on the breast with his mace,[FN#18] cast him to the ground,

as he were the trunk of a palm-tree; and the Moslems pinioned him and

dragged him off with ropes like a camel. Now when the Miscreants saw

their Prince captive, a hot fever-fit of ignorance seized on them and

they bore down upon the True Believers thinking to rescue him; but the

Moslem champions met them and left most of them prostrate on the earth,

whilst the rest turned and sought safety in flight, seeking surer site,

while the clanking sabres their back-sides smite. The Moslems ceased

not pursuing them till they had scattered them over mount and wold,

when they returned from them to the spoil; whereof was great store of

horses and tents and so forth:—good look to it for a spoil! Then

Jamrkan went in to Kurajan and expounded to him Al-Islam, threatening

him with death unless he embraced the Faith. But he refused; so they

cut off his head and stuck it on a spear, after which they fared on

towards Oman[FN#19] city. But as regards the Kafirs, the survivors

returned to Jaland and made known to him the slaying of his son and the

slaughter of his host, hearing which he cast his crown to the ground

and buffeting his face, till the blood ran from his nostrils, fell

fainting to the floor. They sprinkled rose-water on his head, till he

came to himself and cried to his Wazir, “Write letters to all my

Governors and Nabobs, and bid them leave not a smiter with the sword

nor a lunger with the lance nor a bender of the bow, but bring them all

to me in one body.” So he wrote letters and despatched them by runners

to the Governors, who levied their power and joined the King with a

prevailing host, whose number was one hundred and eighty thousand men.

Then they made ready tents and camels and noble steeds and were about

to march when, behold, up came Jamrkan and Sa’adan the Ghul, with

seventy thousand horse, as they were lions fierce-faced, all

steel-encased. When Jaland saw the Moslems trooping on he rejoiced and

said, “By the virtue of the Sun, and her resplendent light, I will not

leave alive one of my foes; no, not one to carry the news, and I will

lay waste the land of Al-Irak, that I may take my wreak for my son, the

havoc-making champion bold; nor shall my fire be quenched or cooled!”

Then he turned to Ajib and said to him, “O dog of Al-Irak, ’twas thou

broughtest this calamity on us! But by the virtue of that which I

worship, except I avenge me of mine enemy I will do thee die after

foulest fashion!” When Ajib heard these words he was troubled with sore

trouble and blamed himself; but he waited till nightfall, when the

Moslems had pitched their tents for rest. Now he had been degraded and

expelled the royal camp together with those who were left to him of his

suite: so he said to them, “O my kinsmen, know that Jaland and I are

dismayed with exceeding dismay at the coming of the Moslems, and I know

that he will not avail to protect me from my brother nor from any

other; so it is my counsel that we make our escape, whilst all eyes

sleep, and flee to King Ya’arub bin Kahtán,[FN#20] for that he hath

more of men and is stronger of reign.” They, hearing his advice

exclaimed “Right is thy rede,” whereupon he bade them kindle fires at

their tent-doors and march under cover of the night. They did his

bidding and set out, so by daybreak they had already fared far away. As

soon as it was morning Jaland mounted with two hundred and sixty

thousand fighting-men, clad cap-à-pie in hauberks and cuirasses and

strait-knit mail-coats, the kettle-drums beat a point of war and all

drew out for cut and thrust and fight and fray. Then Jamrkan and

Sa’adan rode out with forty thousand stalwart fighting-men, under each

standard a thousand cavaliers, doughty champions, foremost in

champaign. The two hosts drew out in battles and bared their blades and

levelled their limber lances, for the drinking of the cup of death. The

first to open the gate of strife was Sa’adan, as he were a mountain of

syenite or a Marid of the Jinn. Then dashed out to him a champion of

the Infidels, and the Ghul slew him and casting him to the earth, cried

out to his sons and slaves, saying, “Light the fire and roast me this

dead one.” They did as he bade and brought him the roast and he ate it

and crunched the bones, whilst the Kafirs stood looking on from afar;

and they cried out, “Oh for aid from the light-giving Sun!” and were

affrighted at the thought of being slain by Sa’adan. Then Jaland

shouted to his men, saying, “Slay me yonder loathsome beast!” Whereupon

another captain of his host drove at the Ghul; but he slew him and he

ceased not to slay horseman after horseman, till he had made an end of

thirty men. With this the blamed Kafirs held back and feared to face

him, crying, “Who shall cope with Jinns and Ghuls?” But Jaland raised

his voice saying, “Let an hundred horse charge him and bring him to me,

bound or slain.” So an hundred horse set upon Sa’adan with swords and

spears, and he met them with a heart firmer than flint, proclaiming the

unity of the Requiting King, whom no one thing diverteth from other

thing. Then he cried aloud, “Allaho Akbar!” and, smiting them with his

sword, made their heads fly and in one onset he slew of them

four-and-seventy whereupon the rest took to flight. So Jaland shouted

aloud to ten of his captains, each commanding a thousand men, and said

to them, “Shoot his horse with arrows till it fall under him, and then

lay hands on him.” Therewith ten thousand horse drove at Sa’adan who

met them with a stout heart; and Jamrkan, seeing this, bore down upon

the Miscreants with his Moslems, crying out, “God is Most Great!”

Before they could reach the Ghul, the enemy had slain his steed and

taken him prisoner; but they ceased not to charge the Infidels, till

the day grew dark for dust and eyes were blinded, and the sharp sword

clanged while firm stood the valiant cavalier and destruction overtook

the faint-heart in his fear; till the Moslems were amongst the Paynims

like a white patch on a black bull.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of

day and ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Forty-seventh Night,

She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that battle raged

between the Moslems and the Paynims till the True Believers were like a

white patch on a black bull. Nor did they stint from the mellay till

the darkness fell down, when they drew apart, after there had been

slain of the Infidels men without compt. Then Jamrkan and his men

returned to their tents; but they were in great grief for Sa’adan, so

that neither meat nor sleep was sweet to them, and they counted their

host and found that less than a thousand had been slain. But Jamrkan

said, “O folk, to-morrow I will go forth into the battle-plain and

place where cut and thrust obtain, and slay their champions and make

prize of their families after taking them captives and I will ransom

Sa’adan therewith, by the leave of the Requiting King, whom no one

thing diverteth from other thing!” Wherefore their hearts were

heartened and they joyed as they separated to their tents. Meanwhile

Jaland entered his pavilion and sitting down on his sofa of estate,

with his folk about him, called for Sa’adan and forthright on his

coming, said to him, “O dog run wood and least of the Arab brood and

carrier of firewood, who was it slew my son Kurajan, the brave of the

age, slayer of heroes and caster down of warriors?” Quoth the Ghul,

“Jamrkan slew him, captain of the armies of King Gharib, Prince of

cavaliers, and I roasted and ate him, for I was anhungered.” When

Jaland heard these words, his eyes sank into his head for rage and he

bade his swordbearer smite Sa’adan’s neck. So he came forward in that

intent, whereupon Sa’adan stretched himself mightily and bursting his

bonds, snatched the sword from the headsman and hewed off his head.

Then he made at Jaland who threw himself down from the throne and fled;

whilst Sa’adan fell on the bystanders and killed twenty of the King’s

chief officers, and all the rest took to flight. Therewith loud rose

the crying in the camp of the Infidels and the Ghul sallied forth of

the pavilion and falling upon the troops smote them with the sword,

right and left, till they opened and left a lane for him to pass; nor

did he cease to press forward, cutting at them on either side, till he

won free of the Miscreants’ tents and made for the Moslem camp. Now

these had heard the uproar among their enemies and said, “Haply some

calamity hath befallen them.” But whilst they were in perplexity,

behold, Sa’adan stood amongst them and they rejoiced at his coming with

exceeding joy; more especially Jamrkan, who saluted him with the salam

as did other True Believers and gave him joy of his escape. Such was

the case with the Moslems; but as regards the Miscreants, when, after

the Ghul’s departure, they and their King returned to their tents,

Jaland said to them, “O folk, by the virtue of the Sun’s light-giving

ray and by the darkness of the Night and the light of the Day and the

Stars that stray, I thought not this day to have escaped death in

mellay; for, had I fallen into yonder fellow’s hands, he had eaten me,

as I were a kernel of wheat or a barley-corn or any other grain.” They

replied, “O King, never saw we any do the like of this Ghul.” And he

said, “O folk, to-morrow do ye all don arms and mount steed and trample

them under your horses’ hooves.” Meanwhile the Moslems had ended their

rejoicings at Sa’adan’s return and Jamrkan said to them, “To-morrow, I

will show you my derring-do and what behoveth the like of me, for by

the virtue of Abraham the Friend, I will slay them with the foulest of

slaughters and smite them with the bite of the sword, till all who have

understanding confounded at them shall stand. But I mean to attack

both right and left wings; so, when ye see me drive at the King under

the standards, do ye charge behind me with a resolute charge, and

Allah’s it is to decree what thing shall be!” Accordingly the two

sides lay upon their arms till the day broke through night and the sun

appeared to sight. Then they mounted swiftlier than the twinkling of

the eyelid; the raven of the wold croaked and the two hosts, looking

each at other with the eye of fascination, formed in line-array and

prepared for fight and fray. The first to open the chapter of war was

Jamrkan who wheeled and careered and offered fight in field; and Jaland

and his men were about to charge when, behold, a cloud of dust uprolled

till it walled the wold and overlaid the day. Then the four winds smote

it and away it floated, torn to rags, and there appeared beneath it

cavaliers, with helms black and garb white and many a princely knight

and lances that bite and swords that smite and footmen who lion-like

knew no affright. Seeing this both armies left fighting and sent out

scouts to reconnoitre and report who thus had come in main and might.

So they went and within the dust cloud disappeared from sight, and

returned after awhile with the news aright that the approaching host

was one of Moslems, under the command of King Gharib. When the True

Believers heard from the scouts of the coming of their King, they

rejoiced and driving out to meet him, dismounted and kissed the earth

between his hands——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to

say her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Forty-eighth Night,

She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the

Moslems saw the presence of their King Gharib, they joyed with

exceeding joy; and, kissing the earth between his hands, saluted him

and gat around him whilst he welcomed them and rejoiced in their

safety. Then they escorted him to their camp and pitched pavilions for

him and set up standards; and Gharib sat down on his couch of estate,

with his Grandees about him; and they related to him all that had

befallen, especially to Sa’adan. Meanwhile the Kafirs sought for Ajib

and finding him not among them nor in their tents, told Jaland of his

flight, whereat his Doomsday rose and he bit his fingers, saying, “By

the Sun’s light-giving round, he is a perfidious hound and hath fled

with his rascal rout to desert-ground. But naught save force of hard

fighting will serve us to repel these foes; so fortify your resolves

and hearten your hearts and beware of the Moslems.” And Gharib also

said to the True Believers, “Strengthen your courage and fortify your

hearts and seek aid of your Lord, beseeching him to vouchsafe you the

victory over your enemies.” They replied, “O King, soon thou shalt see

what we will do in battle-plain where men cut and thrust amain.” So the

two hosts slept till the day arose with its sheen and shone and the

rising sun rained light upon hill and down, when Gharib prayed the

two-bow prayer, after the rite of Abraham the Friend (on whom be the

Peace!) and wrote a letter, which he despatched by his brother Sahim to

the King of the Kafirs. When Sahim reached the enemies’ camp, the

guards asked him what he wanted, and he answered them, “I want your

ruler.”[FN#21] Quoth they, “Wait till we consult him anent thee;” and

he waited, whilst they went in to their Sovran and told him of the

coming of a messenger, and he cried, “Hither with him to me!” So they

brought Sahim before Jaland, who said to him, “Who hath sent thee?”

Quoth he, “King Gharib sends me, whom Allah hath made ruler over Arab

and Ajam; receive his letter and return its reply.” Jaland took the

writ and opening it, read as follows, “In the name of Allah, the

Compassionating, the Compassionate * the One, the All-knowing, the

supremely Great * the Immemorial, the Lord of Noah and Sálih and Húd

and Abraham and of all things He made! * The Peace be on him who

followeth in the way of righteousness and who feareth the issues of

frowardness * who obeyeth the Almighty King and followeth the Faith

saving and preferreth the next world to any present thing! * But

afterwards: O Jaland, none is worthy of worship save Allah alone, the

Victorious, the One, Creator of night and day and the sphere revolving

alway * Who sendeth the holy Prophets and garreth the streams to flow

and the trees to grow, who vaulted the heavens and spread out the earth

like a carpet below * Who feedeth the birds in their nests and the wild

beasts in the deserts * for He is Allah the All-powerful, the

Forgiving, the Long-suffering, the Protector, whom eye comprehendeth on

no wise and who maketh night on day arise * He who sent down the

Apostles and their Holy Writ. Know, O Jaland, that there is no faith

but the Faith of Abraham the Friend; so cleave to the Creed of

Salvation and be saved from the biting glaive and the Fire which

followeth the grave * But, an thou refuse Al-Islam look for ruin to

haste and thy reign to be waste and thy traces untraced * And, lastly,

send me the dog Ajib hight that I may take from him my father’s and

mother’s blood-wit.” When Jaland had read this letter, he said to

Sahim, “Tell thy lord that Ajib hath fled, he and his folk, and I know

not whither he is gone; but, as for Jaland, he will not forswear his

faith, and to-morrow, there shall be battle between us and the Sun

shall give us the victory.” So Sahim returned to his brother with this

reply, and when the morning morrowed, the Moslems donned their arms and

armour and bestrode their stout steeds, calling aloud on the name of

the All-conquering King, Creator of bodies and souls, and magnifying

Him with “Allaho Akbar.” Then the kettle-drums of battle beat until

earth trembled, and sought the field all the lordly warriors and

doughty champions. The first to open the gate of battle was Jamrkan,

who drave his charger into mid-plain and played with sword and javelin,

till the understanding was amazed; after which he cried out, saying,

“Ho! who is for tilting? Ho! who is for fighting? Let no sluggard come

out to me to-day nor weakling! I am the slayer of Kurajan bin Jaland;

who will come forth to avenge him?” When Jaland heard the name of his

son, he cried out to his men, “O whore-sons, bring me yonder horseman

who slew my son, that I may eat his flesh and drink his blood.” So an

hundred fighting-men charged at Jamrkan, but he slew the most part of

them and put their chief to flight; which feat when Jaland saw, he

cried out to his folk, “At him all at once and assault him with one

assault.” Accordingly they waved the awe-striking banners and host was

heaped on host; Gharib rushed on with his men and Jamrkan did the same

and the two sides met like two seas together clashing. The Yamáni sword

and spear wrought havoc and breasts and bellies were rent, whilst both

armies saw the Angel of Death face to face and the dust of the battle

rose to the skirts of the sky. Ears went deaf and tongues went dumb and

doom from every side came on whilst valiant stood fast and faint-heart

fled: and they ceased not from fight and fray till ended the day, when

the drums beat the retreat and the two hosts drew apart and returned,

each to its tents.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased

saying her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Forty-ninth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when King Gharib

ended the battle and the two hosts drew apart and each had returned to

his own tents, he sat down on the throne of his realm and the place of

his reign, whilst his chief officers ranged themselves about him, and

he said, “I am sore concerned for the flight of the cur Ajib and I know

not whither he has gone. Except I overtake him and take my wreak of

him, I shall die of despite.” Whereupon Sahim came forward and kissing

the earth before him, said, “O King, I will go to the army of the

Kafirs and find out what is come of the perfidious dog Ajib.” Quoth

Gharib, “Go, and learn the truth anent the hog.” So Sahim disguised

himself in the habit of the Infidels and became as he were of them;

then, making for the enemy’s camp, he found them all asleep, drunken

with war and battle, and none were on wake save only the guards. He

passed on and presently came to the King’s pavilion where he found King

Jaland asleep unattended; so he crept up and made him smell and sniff

up levigated Bhang and he became as one dead. Then Sahim went out and

took a male mule, and wrapping the King in the coverlet of his bed,

laid him on its back; after which he threw a mat over him and led the

beast to the Moslem camp. Now when he came to Gharib’s pavilion and

would have entered, the guards knew him not and prevented him, saying,

“Who art thou?” He laughed and uncovered his face, and they knew him

and admitted him. When Gharib saw him he said, “What bearest thou

there, O Sahim?”; and he replied, “O King, this is Jaland bin Karkar.”

Then he uncovered him, and Gharib knew him and said, “Arouse him, O

Sahim.” So he made him smell vinegar[FN#22] and frankincense; and he

cast the Bhang from his nostrils and, opening his eyes, found himself

among the Moslems; whereupon quoth he, “What is this foul dream?” and

closing his eyelids again, would have slept; but Sahim dealt him a

kick, saying, “Open thine eyes, O accursed!” So he opened them and

asked, “Where am I?”; and Sahim answered, “Thou art in the presence of

King Gharib bin Kundamir, King of Irak.” When Jaland heard this, he

said, “O King, I am under thy protection! Know that I am not at fault,

but that who led us forth to fight thee was thy brother, and the same

cast enmity between us and then fled.” Quoth Gharib, “Knowest thou

whither he is gone?”; and quoth Jaland, “No, by the light-giving sun, I

know not whither.” Then Gharib bade lay him in bonds and set guards

over him, whilst each captain returned to his own tent, and Jamrkan

while wending said to his men, “O sons of my uncle, I purpose this

night to do a deed wherewith I may whiten my face with King Gharib.”

Quoth they, “Do as thou wilt, we hearken to thy commandment and obey

it.” Quoth he, “Arm yourselves and, muffling your steps while I go with

you, let us fare softly and disperse about the Infidels’ camp, so that

the very ants shall not be ware of you; and, when you hear me cry

‘Allaho Akbar,’ do ye the like and cry out, saying, ‘God is Most

Great!’ and hold back and make for the city-gate; and we seek aid from

the Most High.” So the folk armed themselves cap-à-pie and waited till

the noon of night, when they dispersed about the enemy’s camp and

tarried awhile when, lo and behold! Jamrkan smote shield with sword and

shouted, “Allaho Akbar’” Thereupon they all cried out the like, till

rang again valley and mountain, hills, sands and ruins. The Miscreants

awoke in dismay and fell one upon other, and the sword went round

amongst them; the Moslems drew back and made for the city-gates, where

they slew the warders and entering, made themselves masters of the town

with all that was therein of treasure and women. Thus it befel with

Jamrkan; but as regards King Gharib, hearing the noise and clamour of

“God is Most Great,” he mounted with his troops to the last man and

sent on in advance Sahim who, when he came near the field of fight, saw

that Jamrkan had fallen upon the Kafirs with the Banu Amir by night and

made them drink the cup of death. So he returned and told all to his

brother, who called down blessings on Jamrkan. And the Infidels ceased

not to smite one another with the biting sword and expending their

strength till the day rose and lighted up the land, when Gharib cried

out to his men, “Charge, O ye noble, and do a deed to please the

All-knowing King!” So the True Believers fell upon the idolaters and

plied upon every false hypocritical breast the keen sword and the

quivering spear. They sought to take refuge in the city; but Jamrkan

came forth upon them with his kinsmen, who hemmed them in between two

mountain-ranges, and slew an innumerable host of them, and the rest

fled into the wastes and wolds.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day

and ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Fiftieth Night,

She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the

Moslem host charged upon the Miscreants they hewed them in pieces with

the biting scymitar and the rest fled to the wastes and words; nor did

the Moslems cease pursuing them with the sword, till they had scattered

them abroad in the plains and stony places. Then they returned to Oman

city, and King Gharib entered the palace of the King and, sitting down

on the throne of his kingship, with his Grandees and Officers ranged

right and left, sent for Jaland. They brought him in haste and Gharib

expounded to him Al-Islam; but he rejected it; wherefore Gharib bade

crucify him on the gate of the city, and they shot at him with shafts

till he was like unto a porcupine. Then Gharib honourably robed Jamrkan

and said to him, “Thou shalt be lord of this city and ruler thereof

with power to loose and to bind therein, for it was thou didst open it

with thy sword and thy folk.” And Jamrkan kissed the King’s feet,

thanked him and wished him abiding victory and glory and every

blessing. Moreover Gharib opened Jaland’s treasuries and saw what was

therein of coin, whereof he gave largesse to his captains and

standard-bearers and fighting-men, yea, even to the girls and children;

and thus he lavished his gifts ten days long. After this, one night he

dreamt a terrible dream and awoke, troubled and trembling. So he

aroused his brother Sahim and said to him, “I saw in my vision that we

were in a wide valley, when there pounced down on us two ravening birds

of prey, never in my life saw I greater than they; their legs were like

lances, and as they swooped we were in sore fear of them.” Replied

Sahim, “O King, this be some great enemy; so stand on thy guard against

him.” Gharib slept not the rest of the night and, when the day broke,

he called for his courser and mounted. Quoth Sahim, “Whither goest

thou, my brother?” and quoth Gharib, “I awoke heavy at heart; so I mean

to ride abroad ten days and broaden my breast.” Said Sahim, “Take with

thee a thousand braves;” but Gharib replied, “I will not go forth but

with thee and only thee.” So the two brothers mounted and, seeking the

dales and leasows, fared on from Wady to Wady and from meadow to

meadow, till they came to a valley abounding in streams and

sweet-smelling flowers and trees laden with all manner eatable fruits,

two of each kind. Birds warbled on the branches their various strains;

the mocking bird trilled out her sweet notes fain and the turtle filled

with her voice the plain. There sang the nightingale, whose chant

arouses the sleeper, and the merle with his note like the voice of man

and the cushat and the ring-dove, whilst the parrot with its eloquent

tongue answered the twain. The valley pleased them and they ate of its

fruits and drank of its waters, after which they sat under the shadow

of its trees till drowsiness overcame them and they slept, glory be to

Him who sleepeth not! As they lay asleep, lo! two fierce Marids swooped

down on them and, taking each one on his shoulders, towered with them

high in air, till they were above the clouds. So Gharib and Sahim awoke

and found themselves betwixt heaven and earth; whereupon they looked at

those who bore them and saw that they were two Marids, the head of the

one being as that of a dog and the head of the other as that of an

ape[FN#23] with hair like horses’ tails and claws like lions’ claws,

and both were big as great palm-trees. When they espied this case, they

exclaimed, “There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah,

the Glorious, the Great!” Now the cause of this was that a certain King

of the Kings of the Jinn, hight Mura’ash, had a son called Sá’ik, who

loved a damsel of the Jinn, named Najmah;[FN#24] and the twain used to

foregather in that Wady under the semblance of two birds. Gharib and

Sahim saw them thus and deeming them birds, shot at them with shafts

but wounding only Sa’ik whose blood flowed. Najmah mourned over him;

then, fearing lest the like calamity befal herself, snatched up her

lover and flew with him to his father’s palace, where she cast him down

at the gate. The warders bore him in and laid him before his sire who,

seeing the pile sticking in his rib exclaimed, “Alas, my son! Who hath

done with thee this thing, that I may lay waste his abiding-place and

hurry on his destruction, though he were the greatest of the Kings of

the Jann?” Thereupon Sa’ik opened his eyes and said, “O my father, none

slew me save a mortal in the Valley of Springs.” Hardly had he made an

end of these words, when his soul departed; whereupon his father

buffeted his face, till the blood streamed from his mouth, and cried

out to two Marids, saying, “Hie ye to the Valley of Springs and bring

me all who are therein.” So they betook themselves to the Wady in

question, where they found Gharib and Sahim asleep, and, snatching them

up, carried them to King Mura’ash.[FN#25]——And Shahrazad perceived the

dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Fifty-first Night,

She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the two

Marids, after snatching up Gharib and Sahim in their sleep, carried

them to Mura’ash, king of the Jann, whom they saw seated on the throne

of his kinship, as he were a huge mountain, with four heads on his

body,[FN#26] the first that of a lion, the second that of an elephant,

the third that of a panther, and the fourth that of a lynx. The Marids

set them down before Mura’ash and said to him, “O King, these twain be

they we found in the Valley of Springs.” Thereupon he looked at them

with wrathful eyes and snarked and snorted and shot sparks from his

nostrils, so that all who stood by feared him. Then said he, “O dogs

of mankind, ye have slain my son and lighted fire in my liver.” Quoth

Gharib, “Who is thy son, and who hath seen him?” Quoth Mura’ash, “Were

ye not in the Valley of Springs and did ye not see my son there, in the

guise of a bird, and did ye not shoot at him with wooden bolts that he

died?” Replied Gharib, “I know not who slew him; and, by the virtue of

the Great God, the One, the Immemorial who knoweth things all, and of

Abraham the Friend, we saw no bird, neither slew we bird or beast!”

Now when Mura’ash heard Gharib swear by Allah and His greatness and

by Abraham the Friend, he knew him for a Moslem (he himself being a

worshipper of Fire, not of the All-powerful Sire), so he cried out

to his folk, “Bring me my Goddess.[FN#27]” Accordingly they brought

a brazier of gold and, setting it before him, kindled therein fire

and cast on drugs, whereupon there arose therefrom green and blue

and yellow flames and the King and all who were present prostrated

themselves before the brazier, whilst Gharib and Sahim ceased not to

attest the Unity of Allah Almighty, to cry out “God is Most Great” and

to bear witness to His Omnipotence. Presently, Mura’ash raised his

head and, seeing the two Princes standing in lieu of falling down to

worship, said to them, “O dogs, why do ye not prostrate yourselves?”

Replied Gharib, “Out on you, O ye accursed! Prostration befitteth not

man save to the Worshipful King, who bringeth forth all creatures

into beingness from nothingness and maketh water to well from the

barren rockwell, Him who inclineth heart of sire unto new-born scion

and who may not be described as sitting or standing; _the_ God of

Noah and Salih and Hud and Abraham the Friend, Who created Heaven and

Hell and trees and fruit as well,[FN#28] for He is Allah, the One,

the All-powerful.” When Mura’ash heard this, his eyes sank into his

head[FN#29] and he cried out to his guards, saying, “Pinion me these

two dogs and sacrifice them to my Goddess.” So they bound them and were

about to cast them into the fire when, behold, one of the crenelles

of the palace-parapet fell down upon the brazier and brake it and put

out the fire, which became ashes flying in air. Then quoth Gharib,

“God is Most Great! He giveth aid and victory and He forsaketh those

who deny Him, worshipping Fire and not the Almighty King!” Presently

quoth Mura’ash, “Thou art a sorcerer and hast bewitched my Goddess,

so that this thing hath befallen her.” Gharib replied, “O madman, an

the fire had soul or sense it would have warded off from self all that

hurteth it.” When Mura’ash heard these words, he roared and bellowed

and reviled the Fire, saying, “By my faith, I will not kill you save by

the fire!” Then he bade cast them into gaol; and, calling an hundred

Marids, made them bring much fuel and set fire thereto. So they brought

great plenty of wood and made a huge blaze, which flamed up mightily

till the morning, when Mura’ash mounted an elephant, bearing on its

back a throne of gold dubbed with jewels, and the tribes of the Jinn

gathered about him in their various kinds. Presently they brought in

Gharib and Sahim who, seeing the flaming of the fire, sought help of

the One, the All-conquering Creator of night and day, Him of All-might,

whom no sight comprehendeth, but who comprehendeth all sights, for He

is the Subtle, the All-knowing. And they ceased not humbly beseeching

Him till, behold, a cloud arose from West to East and, pouring down

showers of rain, like the swollen sea, quenched the fire. When the

King saw this, he was affrighted, he and his troops, and entered the

palace, where he turned to the Wazirs and Grandees and said to them,

“How say ye of these two men?” They replied, “O King, had they not been

in the right, this thing had not befallen the fire; wherefore we say

that they be true men which speak sooth.” Rejoined Mura’ash, “Verily

the Truth hath been displayed to me, ay, and the manifest way, and I am

certified that the worship of the fire is false; for, were it goddess,

it had warded off from itself the rain which quenched it and the stone

which broke its brazier and beat it into ashes. Wherefore I believe in

Him Who created the fire and the light and the shade and the heat. And

ye, what say ye?” They answered, “O King, we also hear and follow and

obey.” So the King called for Gharib and embraced him and kissed him

between the eyes and then summoned Sahim; whereupon the bystanders all

crowded to kiss their hands and heads.——And Shahrazad perceived the

dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Fifth-second Night,

She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Mura’ash

and his men found salvation in the Saving Faith, Al-Islam, he called

for Gharib and Sahim and kissed them between the eyes and so did all

the Grandees who crowded to buss their hands and heads. Then Mura’ash

sat down on the throne of his kingship and, seating Gharib on his right

and Sahim on his left hand, said to them, “O mortals, what shall we

say, that we may become Moslems?” Replied Gharib, “Say:—There is no

god but _the_ God, and Abraham is the Friend of God!” So the King and

his folk professed Al-Islam with heart and tongue, and Gharib abode

with them awhile, teaching them the ritual of prayer. But presently he

called to mind his people and sighed, whereupon quoth Mura’ash,

“Verily, trouble is gone and joy and gladness are come.” Quoth Gharib,

“O King, I have many foes and I fear for my folk from them.” Then he

related to him his history with his brother Ajib from first to last,

and the King of the Jinns said, “O King of men, I will send one who

shall bring thee news of thy people, for I will not let thee go till I

have had my fill of thy face.” Then he called two doughty Marids, by

name Kaylaján and Kúraján, and after they had done him homage, he bade

them repair to Al-Yaman and bring him news of Gharib’s army. They

replied, “To hear is to obey,” and departed. Thus far concerning the

brothers; but as regards the Moslems, they arose in the morning and led

by their captains rode to King Gharib’s palace, to do their service to

him; but the eunuchs told them that the King had mounted with his

brother and had ridden forth at peep o’ day. So they made for the

valleys and mountains and followed the track of the Princes, till they

came to the Valley of Springs, where they found their arms cast down

and their two gallant steeds grazing and said, “The King is missing

from this place, by the glory of Abraham the Friend!” Then they mounted

and sought in the valley and the mountains three days, but found no

trace of them; whereupon they began the mourning ceremonies and,

sending for couriers, said to them, “Do ye disperse yourselves about

the cities and sconces and castles, and seek ye news of our King.”

“Harkening and obedience!” cried the couriers, who dispersed hither and

thither each over one of the Seven Climes and sought everywhere for

Gharib, but found no trace of him. Now when the tidings came to Ajib by

his spies that his brother was lost and there was no news of the

missing, he rejoiced and going in to King Ya’arub bin Kahtan, sought of

him aid which he granted and gave him two hundred thousand Amalekites,

wherewith he set out for Al-Yaman and sat down before the city of Oman.

Jamrkan and Sa’adan sallied forth and offered him battle, and there

were slain of the Moslems much folk, so the True Believers retired into

the city and shut the gates and manned the walls. At this moment came

up the two Marids Kaylajan and Kurajan and, seeing the Moslem

beleaguered waited till nightfall, when they fell upon the miscreants

and plied them with sharp swords of the swords of the Jinn, each twelve

cubits long, if a man smote therewith a rock, verily he would cleave it

in sunder. They charged the Idolaters, shouting, “Allaho Akbar! God is

Most Great! He giveth aid and victory and forsaketh those who deny the

Faith of Abraham the Friend!” and whilst they raged amongst the foes,

fire issued from their mouths and nostrils, and they made great

slaughter amongst them. Thereupon the Infidels ran out of their tents

offering battle but, seeing these strange things, were confounded and

their hair stood on end and their reason fled. So they snatched up

their arms and fell one upon other, whilst the Marids shore off their

heads, as a reaper eareth grain, crying, “God is Most Great! We are the

lads of King Gharib, the friend of Mura’ash, King of the Jinn!” The

sword ceased not to go round amongst them till the night was half

spent, when the Misbelievers, imagining that the mountains were all

Ifrits, loaded their tents and treasure and baggage upon camels and

made off; and the first to fly was Ajib.——And Shahrazad perceived the

dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Fifty-third Night,

She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the

Misbelievers made off and the first to fly was Ajib. Thereupon the

Moslems gathered together, marvelling at this that had betided the

Infidels and fearing the tribesmen of the Jinn. But the Marids ceased

not from pursuit, till they had driven them far away into the hills and

words; and but fifty thousand Rebels[FN#30] of two hundred thousand

escaped with their lives and made for their own land, wounded and sore

discomfited. Then the two Jinns returned and said to them, “O host of

the Moslems, your lord King Gharib and his brother Sahim salute you;

they are the guests of Mura’ash, King of the Jann, and will be with you

anon.” When Gharib’s men heard that he was safe and well, they joyed

with exceeding joy and said to the Marids, “Allah gladden you twain

with good news, O noble spirits!” So Kurajan and Kaylajan returned to

Mura’ash and Gharib; and acquainted them with that which had happened,

whereat Gharib finding the two sitting together felt heart at ease and

said, “Allah abundantly requite you!” Then quoth King Mura’ash, “O my

brother, I am minded to show thee our country and the city of

Japhet[FN#31] son of Noah (on whom be peace!)” Quoth Gharib, “O King,

do what seemeth good to thee.” So he called for three noble steeds and

mounting, he and Gharib and Sahim, set out with a thousand Marids, as

they were a piece of a mountain cloven lengthwise. They fared on,

solacing themselves with the sight of valleys and mountains, till they

came to Jabarsá,[FN#32] the city of Japhet son of Noah (on whom be

peace!) where the townsfolk all, great and small, came forth to meet

King Mura’ash and brought them into the city in great state. Then

Mura’ash went up to the palace of Japhet son of Noah and sat down on

the throne of his kingship, which was of alabaster, ten stages high and

latticed with wands of gold wherefrom hung all manner coloured silks.

The people of the city stood before him and he said to them, “O seed of

Yafis bin Nuh, what did your fathers and grandfathers worship?” They

replied, “We found them worshipping Fire and followed their example, as

thou well knowest.” “O folk,” rejoined Mura’ash, “we have been shown

that the fire is but one of the creatures of Almighty Allah, Creator of

all things; and when we knew this, we submitted ourselves to God, the

One, the All-powerful, Maker of night and day and the sphere revolving

alway, Whom comprehendeth no sight, but Who comprehendeth all sights,

for He is the Subtle, the All-wise. So seek ye Salvation and ye shall

be saved from the wrath of the Almighty One and from the fiery doom in

the world to come.” And they embraced Al-Islam with heart and tongue.

Then Mura’ash took Gharib by the hand and showed him the palace and its

ordinance and all the marvels it contained, till they came to the

armoury, wherein were the arms of Japhet son of Noah. Here Gharib saw a

sword hanging to a pin of gold and asked, “O King, whose is that?”

Mura’ash answered, “’Tis the sword of Yafis bin Nuh, wherewith he was

wont to do battle against men and Jinn. The sage Jardúm forged it and

graved on its back names of might.[FN#33] It is named Al-Máhík the

Annihilator for that it never descendeth upon a man, but it

annihilateth him, nor upon a Jinni, but it crusheth him; and if one

smote therewith a mountain ’twould overthrow it.” When Gharib heard

tell of the virtues of the sword, he said, “I desire to look on this

blade;” and Mura’ash said, “Do as thou wilt.” So Gharib put out his

hand, and, hending the sword, drew it from its sheath; whereupon it

flashed and Death crept on its edge and glittered; and it was twelve

spans long and three broad. Now Gharib wished to become owner of it,

and King Mura’ash said, “An thou canst smite with it, take it.” “’Tis

well,” Gharib replied, and took it up, and it was in his hand as a

staff; wherefore all who were present, men and Jinn, marvelled and

said, “Well done, O Prince of Knights!” Then said Mura’ash “Lay thy

hand on this hoard for which the Kings of the earth sigh in vain, and

mount, that I may show thee the city.” Then they took horse and rode

forth the palace, with men and Jinns attending them on foot,——And

Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted

say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Fifty-fourth Night,

She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Gharib

and King Mura’ash rode forth the palace of Japhet, with men and Jinns

attending them on foot, they passed through the streets and

thoroughfares of the town, by palaces and deserted mansions and gilded

doorways, till they issued from the gates and entered gardens full of

trees fruit-bearing and waters welling and birds speaking and

celebrating the praises of Him to whom belong Majesty and Eternity; nor

did they cease to solace themselves in the land till nightfall, when

they returned to the palace of Japhet son of Noah and they brought them

the table of food. So they ate and Gharib turned to the King of the

Jann and said to him, “O King, I would fain return to my folk and my

force; for I know not their plight after me.” Replied Mura’ash, “By

Allah, O my brother, I will not part with thee for a full month, till I

have had my fill of thy sight.” Now Gharib could not say nay, so he

abode with him in the city of Japhet, eating and drinking and making

merry, till the month ended, when Mura’ash gave him great store of gems

and precious ores, emeralds and balass-rubies, diamonds and other

jewels, ingots of gold and silver and likewise ambergris and musk and

brocaded silks and else of rarities and things of price. Moreover he

clad him and Sahim in silken robes of honour gold inwoven and set on

Gharib’s head a crown jewelled with pearls and diamonds of inestimable

value. All these treasures he made up into even loads for him and,

calling five hundred Marids, said to them, “Get ye ready to travel on

the morrow, that we may bring King Gharib and Sahim back to their own

country.” And they answered, “We hear and we obey.” So they passed the

night in the city, purposing to depart on the morrow, but, next

morning, as they were about to set forth behold, they espied a great

host advancing upon the city, with horses neighing and kettle-drums

beating and trumpets braying and riders filling the earth for they

numbered threescore and ten thousand Marids, flying and diving, under a

King called Barkán. Now this Barkan was lord of the City of Carnelian

and the Castle of Gold and under his rule were five hill-strongholds,

in each five hundred thousand Marids; and he and his tribe worshipped

the Fire, not the Omnipotent Sire. He was a cousin of Mura’ash, the son

of his father’s brother, and the cause of his coming was that there had

been among the subjects of King Mura’ash a misbelieving Marid, who

professed Al-Islam hypocritically, and he stole away from his people

and made for the Valley of Carnelian, where he went in to King Barkan

and, kissing the earth before him, wished him abiding glory and

prosperity. Then he told him of Mura’ash being converted to Al-Islam,

and Barkan said, “How came he to tear himself away from his

faith[FN#34]?” So the rebel told him what had passed and, when Barkan

heard it, he snorted and snarked and railed at Sun and Moon and

sparkling Fire, saying, “By the virtue of my faith, I will surely slay

mine uncle’s son and his people and this mortal, nor will I leave one

of them alive!” Then he cried out to the legions of the Jinn and

choosing of them seventy thousand Marids, set out and fared on till he

came to Jabarsá[FN#35] the city of Japhet and encamped before its

gates. When Mura’ash saw this, he despatched a Marid, saying, “Go to

this host and learn all that it wanteth and return hither in haste.” So

the messenger rushed away to Barkan’s camp, where the Marids flocked to

meet him and said to him, “Who art thou?” Replied he, “An envoy from

King Mura’ash;” whereupon they carried him in to Barkan, before whom he

prostrated himself, saying, “O my lord, my master hath sent me to thee,

to learn tidings of thee.” Quoth Barkan, “Return to thy lord and say to

him, ‘This is thy cousin Barkan, who is come to salute thee.’”— And

Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted

say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Fifty-fifth Night,