recited the charm, and the river dried up. So Joudar
advanced to the door, and knocked on it, whereupon
it opened and he annulled the talisman as before; and
so he continued to do until he approached the seventh
door. He knocked on the door, and the likeness of his
mother came forth to him, and said: "Welcome, O my
son! advance that I may embrace thee." But Joudar
replied: "O thou accursed! How should I be thy son!"
and he took the sword from the wall and made as if to
strike her. Immediately she fell down before him, a
body without a soul.

Joudar then entered the treasury, and saw the gold
in heaps, but paid no regard to it. He lifted the cur-
tain at the end of the treasury, and beheld the Diviner
Shamardal lying upon a couch of gold, with the sword
by his side, the seal-ring upon his finger, and the pot
of magic ointment upon his bosom; and he saw the
celestial planisphere at his head. So Joudar advanced
and loosed the sword, and took the seal-ring, and the
celestial planisphere, and the pot of magic ointment,



134 Story of Joudar

and went forth. And, lo, musical instruments began
to sound, and the Servants of the Treasure cried out:
"Honour to thee, O Joudar! Mayest thou enjoy that
which thou hast obtained!" and the musical instru-
ments continued to sound until he went forth from the
treasure.

And when the African saw him, he ceased from recit-
ing the charm, and rising pressed him to his bosom, and
Joudar gave him the four wonders. So the African
took them, and called out to the slaves, who forthwith
struck the tent, and carried it away. After which the
African and Joudar mounted their mules, and returned
to the City of Fez.



THE ENCHANTED SADDLE-BAGS



?HEN said the African to Joudar: "Thou didst
quit thy land and people on my account; and
thou hast opened the hidden treasure of the Di-
viner Shamardal; wherefore I desire to reward
thee. Demand what thou wishest, and be not
afraid since thou deservest a great gift, and
Allah, (whose name be exalted!) will reward thee by
my means." "O my master," replied Joudar, "I de-
sire of Allah, and of thee that thou give me this pair
of enchanted saddle-bags." "Take them," replied the
African, "they are thy due, and hadst thou asked
for anything else, I would have given it to thee. But
since these saddle-bags will provide thee with food
only, I will give thee another pair of saddle-bags full
of gold and jewels. Then I will have thee conveyed to
thy country, where thou shalt become a great merchant.



The Enchanted Saddle-Bags 135

Eat them and thy family from these saddle-bags; and
when them desirest food put thy hand in, and say:
'By the Great Names that have influence over thee,
O Servant of these saddle-bags, bring me such and such
a dish.' Thereupon he will bring thee what thou de-
mandest, even if thou demand every day a thousand
dishes of food."

Then the African caused his slaves to bring a mule,
and filled a pair of saddle-bags half with gold and half
with jewels, and said: "Mount, O Joudar, and this
slave will walk before thee until thou comest to the door
of thy house. When thou art arrived at thy dwelling,
take the two pairs of saddle-bags, and give the slave
the mule, and he will bring it back to me. Let not any
one know thy secret. And I now commit thee to Allah."
And Joudar replied: "May Allah increase thy pros-
perity!"

So he put the two pairs of saddle-bags upon the mule,
and mounted; and the slave walked before him. The
mule followed the slave that day, and all the following
night; and on the second day in the morning, Joudar
entered the Gate of Victory, where he saw his mother
begging from the passers-by, saying: "Something for
the sake of Allah! " And when Joudar saw her, anguish
filled his heart, and he alighted from the back of the
mule, and threw himself upon her; and when she saw
him she wept. Then he placed her on the mule, and
walked by her stirrup until they arrived at his house.
t He set down his mother, took the two pairs of saddle-
bags, and gave the mule to the slave, who received it
and vanished; for the slave was a Marid and the mule
was a Marid.

And when Joudar had entered the house, he said:



136 Story of Joudar



"O my mother, why dost thou beg? Before I departed
I gave thee a thousand pieces of gold." "O my son,"
she answered, "know that thy brothers came and stole
the gold from me, and turned me out of the house. I
have had to beg because of the violence of my hunger.
Arise, my son, and bring me some bread, for I have
passed the whole day since yesterday without food."
And Joudar laughed and said: "Behold, O my mother,
these saddle-bags, they are full of gold and jewels!
therefore thou needest suffer no more anxiety. As for
food, ask for anything, and I will bring it to thee at
once. I need not to go to the market, nor have I any
cook! For from this other pair of saddle-bags I will
take whatever food thou desirest." "Give me, then, O
my son," answered his mother, "some hot bread and a
piece of cheese." "Wouldst thou not prefer," said
Joudar, "some browned chicken and boiled rice with salt
and pepper, and sausages, and stuffed gourds, and stuffed
lamb, and stuffed ribs of lamb, and pastry made with
broken almonds and hazel-nuts, and honey and sugar?"
His mother thought that he was laughing at her, so
she said: "What hath happened to thee? Dost thou
dream, or hast thou become mad?" But Joudar an-
swered her, saying: "O my mother, know that the
African gave me this pair of saddle-bags, and they are
enchanted. If thou desire anything to eat, say, 'By
the Great Names that have influence over thee, O
Servant of these saddle-bags, bring me such a dish,'
and he will bring it." So his mother stretched forth
her hand, and said the words, and put in her hand and
drew forth a dish of delicate stuffed ribs of lamb.
Then she demanded bread, and everything that she
desired. And Joudar said: "When thou hast finished



The Enchanted Saddle-Bags 137

eating put back the dishes into the bags, for the charm
is on this condition, and take care of the pair of saddle-
bags, and when my brothers come feed them; but it
will be well to conceal our secret from them."

And, lo, as they were eating his two brothers came
in to him; for a neighbour had said to them: "Your
brother Joudar hath come, mounted on a mule, with a
slave before him, and wearing a magnificent dress."
So Salim said to Selim: "Would that we had not ill-
treated our mother. She will tell Joudar, and he will
have nothing to do with us." But Selim answered:
"Our mother is tender-hearted, and our brother is
more tender-hearted than she, and when we excuse
ourselves he will forgive us." So they went in to him,
and he arose and welcomed them and said: "Sit and
eat." So they sat and ate, for they were weak from
hunger. "Return," said he, "at the time of supper,
and there shall be more set before you than this."

And in the evening Joudar entered a private room,
and took forth from the saddle-bags forty different
dishes of delicious food; after which he went into the
room where sat his two brothers and said to his mother:
"Bring the supper." She entered the private room,
and saw the forty dishes full, and she brought them in
one after the other and placed them before her sons,
and they did eat. On the following day they break-
fasted in the same manner; and they continued to live
after this fashion for the period of ten days.

Then Salem said to Selim: "How can our brother
feast us with every good thing three times a day?
Whence cometh this prosperity? We never see him buy
anything, nor doth he light a fire, nor hath he either
kitchen or cook." "Our mother," answered Selim,



138 Story of Joudar



"will acquaint us with the cause of all this." They
therefore went to their mother during the absence of
their brother, and said: "Whence doth our brother
Joudar obtain all this food?" And she answered:
"From a pair of enchanted saddle-bags. But conceal
this secret, and let not your brother know that I have
told you."

So when Salim and Selim knew about the saddle-
bags they straightway conspired against Joudar, and
going to a Captain of the Sea of Suez, they sold to him
their brother for forty pieces of gold. And when night
was come they fell upon Joudar when he slept, and
gagged his mouth, and bound his hands, and carried
him away under cover of the night, and delivered him
to the Captain. And the sailors put chains on his feet,
and caused him to serve as a slave for a whole year,
such was the case of Joudar.

But as to his two brothers, they returned to the
house, and stole the enchanted saddle-bags, and the
ones full of gold and jewels, and ill-treated their mother,
and turned her out of the house. And the two brothers
contended together over the division of the gold and
jewels, and the enchanted saddle-bags, and a neighbour
heard the whole of the dispute and the words they
uttered. And when morning was come the neighbour
went to the King of Egypt, and acquainted him with
all that he had heard. Whereupon the King sent for
the two brothers of Joudar, and caused them to confess
their ill deeds, and he put them in prison. Then he
assigned to the mother of Joudar a daily allowance so
that she might live comfortably. And the two pairs
of saddle-bags he placed in his treasury. Thus did it
happen to Salim and Selim.



The Genie of the Seal-Ring 139



THE GENIE OF THE SEAL-RING

OW as to Joudar, he remained a whole year
serving as a slave; and at the end of that time
there arose a great wind which cast the ship
upon a mountain, and broke it in pieces, and
all that were in it were drowned except Joudar.
He was cast on the shore, and journeyed
night and day until he came to Mecca. And, lo,
while he was in the temple, he beheld the African
who was performing the pilgrimage. And when the
African saw him, he saluted him, and embraced
him. And Joudar told him all that had befallen him
from first to last. Upon this the African took him to
his house, and treated him with honour, and clad him
in a dress of which there existed not an equal. And he
said: "O Joudar, I know by my magic art, that thy
two brothers are confined in the prison of the King of
Egypt. Do thou remain with me until we have ac-
complished the rites of the pilgrimage. And afterwards
will I convey thee in safety to Cairo."

So Joudar remained until the pilgrimage was accom-
plished, and then the African gave him the seal-ring
that he had taken forth from the treasure of Shamardal,
and said: "Take this seal-ring. It hath an attendant
Genie whose name is Radelcasif . When thou requirest
anything, rub the ring and the Genie will appear before
thee; and whatever thou shalt command him to do,
he will do it for thee." Then the African rubbed the
ring, and instantly the Genie appeared and said: "At
thy service, O my master! What dost thou demand?



140 Story of Joudar



Wouldst thou that I ruin a city, or slay a King or rout
an army?" The African replied: "O Raad, this man
hath become thy master, so act well by him." Then
he dismissed the Genie, and said to Joudar: "When
thou wishest anything, rub the ring and the Genie
will appear, and command thou him to do what thou
desirest, and he will obey thee in all things. Repair
now to thy country, and take care of the ring. Rub it
and when the Genie appeareth mount thou upon his
back, and say to him, * Convey me to Cairo/ he will
not disobey thy command."

So Joudar bade the African farewell, and rubbed the
seal-ring. Instantly Radelcasif presented himself, say-
ing, "At thy service! Demand and it shall be given
thee." "Convey me," replied Joudar, "to Cairo this
day." So the Genie took him up, and flew with him
from the time of noon until midnight, when he alighted
in the court of the house of Joudar's mother; and the
Genie set him down and departed.

And when his mother saw him, she arose and saluted
him, and wept, and told him how the King had im-
prisoned his two brothers, and taken the pair of en-
chanted saddle-bags, and the saddle-bags containing
the gold and jewels. And when Joudar heard this
he bade his mother cease grieving, and, taking the seal-
ring, rubbed it. Instantly the Genie appeared before
him, saying: "At thy service! Demand and it shall
be given thee." "I command thee," replied Joudar,
"to bring me my two brothers from the King's prison."
So the Genie descended into the earth, and came up in
the midst of the prison.

Now Salim and Selim were groaning and in great
misery, when, lo, the earth clove asunder, and the



The Genie of the Seal-Ring 141

Genie Radelcasif came forth, and, taking them both
up, descended again into the earth. They swooned
from fear, and when they recovered they found them-
selves in the house of their mother, their brother Joudar
sitting by her side.

"Welcome, O my brothers," said Joudar. Upon
this Salim and Selim hung their heads toward the
ground and began to weep, but Joudar said: "Weep not,
for the Devil and covetousness caused you to do evil.
How could ye sell me? But I will remember the gener-
osity of Joseph; for his brothers did unto him worse
than ye did unto me, since they cast him into a pit.
Turn ye with repentance unto Allah, and beg his for-
giveness, and He will forgive you; for He is the Abun-
dant in forgiveness, the Merciful. I have pardoned
you."

Then Joudar related to them all that he had suffered
when a slave, and how he had met the African, inform-
ing them also of the seal-ring. Then he rubbed the ring,
and the Genie instantly presented himself before him.
"I command thee," said Joudar, "to bring me the
enchanted saddle-bags, and the saddle-bags full of gold
and jewels, which are in the treasury of the King."
And the Genie answered: "I hear and obey." And he
immediately descended through the earth, and brought
from the treasury the two pairs of saddle-bags, and
placed them before Joudar. Upon this Joudar told
his mother to take care of the saddle-bags filled with
gold and jewels; then he said to the Genie: "I command
thee to build for me, this night, a lofty palace, and to
decorate it with liquid gold, and to furnish it magnifi-
cently." The Genie replied: "I hear and obey." And
he descended into the earth. Then Joudar took forth



142 Story of Joudar



viands from the enchanted saddle-bags, and they ate
and enjoyed themselves, and slept.

But as to the Genie he collected his Marids and or-
dered them to build the palace. So some of them be-
gan to hew the stones, and some to build, and some to
paint, and some to prepare the magnificent furniture;
and when daylight came the palace was completed.
The Genie then went to Joudar, and said: "O my
master, the palace is finished, and its order is perfect.
Wilt thou come and view it for thyself?" So Joudar
went forth with his mother and two brothers, and saw
that the palace was so beautiful that there existed not
the like. And Joudar was delighted, and he said to
his mother: "Wilt thou reside in this palace with me?"
And she answered: "O my son, I will reside in it."

Then Joudar rubbed the seal-ring, whereat the Genie
appeared, saying: "At thy service, O my master."
And Joudar said: "I command thee to bring me forty
beautiful slave-girls, and forty black slave-girls, and
forty memlooks, and forty male black slaves. And the
Genie replied : " It shall be done." And he repaired with
his Marids to the countries of India and Persia, and
wherever they saw a beautiful damsel, they carried
her off. And when they saw a young man, they carried
him off. And the Genie brought the damsels and the
young men together with forty elegant black slave-
girls, and forty black male slaves. And they came to
the abode of Joudar and filled it.

Then said Joudar to the Genie: "Bring magnificent
apparel for all these slaves, and bring a dress of cloth-
of-gold for my mother." So the Genie brought them.
And Joudar clad himself and his brothers in apparel
fit for Kings. His house was large so he lodged his



The Genie of the Seal-Ring 143

brothers there, and he and his mother resided in the
new palace. Such was the case with Joudar and his
brothers.

As to the treasurer of the King, he desired to take
something from the treasury, and on entering it he saw
that the two pairs of saddle-bags were gone. Upon
this he uttered a great cry, and fell down in a swoon,
and when he recovered he went forth from the treasury,
and going unto the King said: "O Prince of the Faith-
ful, the saddle-bags have been stolen." "Who hath
entered my treasury and stolen the saddle-bags?"
said the King, and he became violently enraged. He
then went forth and held his court, and the great
officers of the army came, and he said: "O soldiers,
know that my treasury hath been plundered during the
night, and I know not who hath done this deed, and
feared me not."

All the soldiers wondered at these words, and while
they were considering the matter, the neighbour of
Joudar, who had betrayed Salim and Selim, came in
to the King and said: "O King of the age, I have seen
this night a palace constructed, the like of which ex-
isteth not! I am told that Joudar the son of Omar
hath returned and built this palace, and with him are
memlooks and black slaves. He hath brought with
him abundance of riches, and hath delivered his two
brothers from prison, and is now living in his palace
like a Sultan." So the King said: "Examine the
prison." And they examined it and found not Salim
and Selim.

Then said the King: "Verily this Joudar hath broken
into my treasure house; it is he who hath delivered
Salim and Selim from the prison, and hath taken the



144 Story of Joudar



two pairs of saddle-bags. Go, therefore, O Vizier,
and send an Emir with fifty men to seize him and his
two brothers, and bring them to me that I may hang
them." But the Vizier answered: "Be thou merciful,
for Allah is merciful. He is not hasty toward his serv-
ants who disobey Him. This man Joudar hath builded
a palace in one night, and I fear lest he harm the Emir.
Therefore, O King of the age, send and invite him to a
feast, and show friendship to him, and ask him whence
he hath received his power and riches." And the King
said: "Send and invite him."

Accordingly the Vizier ordered an Emir with fifty
men to go to Joudar and summon him to the feast.
Now that Emir was stupid and haughty, and when he
arrived at Joudar's palace, he saw before the door a
eunuch sitting upon a chair, who rose not nor saluted
the Emir and his troop. "O slave," said the Emir,
"where is thy master? " "In the palace," answered the
eunuch, without rising. At this the Emir was filled
with rage, and, lifting his mace, was about to beat him,
not knowing that he was a Marid of the Genii. But
the eunuch arose, and rushing upon him, took the
mace from him, and struck him four blows. He then
fell with such violence upon the servants of the Emir,
that they fled before him. After which he returned and
seated himself again before the palace door.

As to the Emir and his company, they returned
routed and beaten, and told the King all that had hap-
pened. And the King was enraged, and said: "Send
a hundred men against this eunuch ! " And the hundred
men went down and returned routed. Then said the
King: "Let two hundred go down." And two hundred
men went down, and returned routed. "O Vizier,"



The Genie of the Seal-Ring 145

said the King, "go down quickly with five hundred
men, and bring me this eunuch together with his
master Joudar and his two brothers." But the Vizier
replied: "O King of the age, I need no soldiers; but I
will go alone without weapon." And the King said:
"Go, and do what thou shalt see fit to do."

So the Vizier threw aside his weapon, clad himself
in a white garment, and, going alone, arrived at the
palace of Joudar, where he saw the slave sitting before
the door. The Vizier approached and seated himself
beside the eunuch, and said: "Peace be on thee!" and
the slave replied: "And on thee be peace, O human
being! What dost thou desire?" And when the Vizier
heard him say "O human being," he knew that he was
a Genie, and he trembled with fear. "O my master,"
said he, "is thy master Joudar here? If so, go and say
to him: 'The King sendeth thee greetings, and bid-
deth thee eat of his banquet." 1 And the slave replied:
"Stay thou here until I consult him." Accordingly
the Vizier with a respectful manner remained before
the door, and the Marid went into the palace and told
Joudar all that had happened.

And Joudar commanded the Marid to bring the
Vizier to him, and he did so. And when the Vizier
came into the hall, he saw Joudar to be greater than
the King, and to be seated upon a couch the like of
which the King did not possess. He was filled with
wonder by the beauty of the palace, and by its paint-
ings and furniture. He kissed the ground before
Joudar and said: "The King, thy friend, greeteth thee
with peace, and is desirous of beholding thy face, and
hath made for thee a banquet. Wilt thou then come
and comfort his heart?" "Since he is my friend,"



146 Story of Joudar



replied Joudar, "salute him, and tell him to come unto
me." Then he took the seal-ring, and rubbed it, and
instantly the Genie presented himself, and Joudar said :
"Bring me a magnificent robe." The Genie did so,
and Joudar presented it to the Vizier who clad himself
in it, and then returned to the King and informed him
of all that had happened.

The King immediately called for his horse and at-
tendants, and rode to Joudar's palace. And when he
perceived the troops of soldiers and slaves, and the
magnificence of the palace he was overcome with
wonder. And he entered and came into the presence
of Joudar, whom he saw sitting in a state greater than
that of King or Sultan. Therefore he saluted Joudar
with all respect, but Joudar rose not to receive him,
nor paid him honour, nor did he bid him be seated,
but left him standing till fear seized him. Then said
Joudar: "O King of the age, is it well for thee to tyran-
nize over men, and to take their goods by force?"
"O my master," replied the King, "blame me not!
Covetousness made me do this evil act! Forgive me,
for were it not for offense there were no such thing as
forgiveness!" And he ceased not to humble himself
before Joudar, until the latter said: "May Allah pardon
thee!" and ordered him to sit down.

So the King sat down, and Joudar commanded his
two brothers to set food before him, and when they
had all eaten he clad the King's company in magnifi-
cent robes, and treated them with honour. And then
he ordered the King to depart to his own palace.
And every day after that the King used to go to Joudar's
abode and hold his court. And their friendship in-
creased, and they continued awhile in this state.



The Genie of the Seal-Ring 147

But the King was troubled in his heart lest Joudar
should slay him and take the Kingdom, and he told
this to the Vizier. "O King of the age," replied he,
"fear not. The state which Joudar enjoyeth is greater
than that of any King or Sultan, and the taking of the
Kingdom would lower his dignity. Thou hast a daugh-
ter, so marry her to him, and thou and he will have one
interest. Invite him to an entertainment at thy palace,
and command thy daughter to adorn herself in the
most magnificent manner and to pass by the door of
the apartment in which thou and Joudar will sit.
When he seeth her, he will love her and demand her
3f thee in marriage. When he is married to the damsel
thou and he will be one, and he will not injure thee."
"Thou hast spoken the truth, O Vizier," answered
the King, "go and prepare the entertainment, and in-
cite him."

So Joudar came to the King's palace, and they
feasted and conversed until the close of day, when the
damsel passed by the door of the apartment. And she
was endowed with beauty and loveliness, having no
3qual. And Joudar saw her, and his heart was filled
with love, and he said to the Vizier: "Whose daughter
is this damsel? She hath captivated me, and deprived
me of my reason!" And the Vizier answered: "This
is the Lady Asiya, the daughter of thy friend the King.
[f she please thee speak with the King that he may
marry her to thee." And Joudar did so, and the King
consented, saying: "Behold the damsel is thy slave-
*irl. I will marry her to thee, and thou wilt do me a
; avour by accepting her."

They passed that night, and the King rose in the
norning and held his court, and performed the cere-



148 Story of Joudar

mony of the marriage contract; and Joudar gave the
King the pair of saddle-bags filled with jewels and gold
as the dowry of the damsel. The drums were beaten,