"O Queen of the age, I have with me a merchant who
selleth memlooks." And she said: "Bring him hither
to me." And, lo, Bahram the Magian came forth
with Assad walking behind him in the garb of a mem-
look; and when Bahram came up he kissed the ground
before her. She said to him: "What is thy business?"
"I am a slave-merchant," he answered. Then she
looked at Assad, "And what," asked she, "is thy
name?" And almost suffocated with weeping, Assad
replied: "My name now, or that which I had formerly?"
"Then hast thou two names"? she asked. He an-
swered: "Yes, formerly my name was Assad the Most
Fortunate, but now it is Motar the One Devoted to be
Sacrificed." And her heart was moved with affection
for him, and she said: "Art thou able to write?" He
answered: "Yes." So she handed him an inkhorn



IO4 Prince Camaralzaman

and pen, saying to him: "Write something that I may
see." Accordingly he wrote two verses.

And when she saw the excellency of his writing she
said to Bahram: "Sell me this memlook." He replied:
"I cannot sell him, for I have sold all my servants
except this one." But the Queen Margiana replied: "I
will take him from thee by force, either as a gift or a
sale." And Bahram answered: "I will not sell him
nor give him." So the Queen Margiana seized Assad
and carrying him up to her castle sent word to Bahram :
"If thou do not set sail this night, I will take all thy
property, and destroy thy ship." When the message
arrived Bahram arose in haste and prepared to depart,
saying: "Alas! Alas! Verily this voyage hath been
unfortunate!"

Meanwhile the Queen Margiana, when she had taken
Assad, conducted him into the castle, opened the
windows looking over the sea, and ordered her slaves
to bring food, and she and Assad ate. And after this
repast the Queen left him, and he seeing a door open,
passed through it and walked on till he came to a
great garden in which were all kinds of fruits and
flowers. He approached a fountain that was in the
garden, and laying himself down there upon his back,
slept, and night overtook him.

Bahram in the meanwhile, when darkness arrived,
called the sailors of the vessel, saying to them: "Loose
your sails, and proceed on the voyage." "We hear
and obey," they replied, "but wait until we have filled
our water-skins, and then we will loose." The seamen
landed and went round the castle, climbed over the
wall of the garden, and, descending on the other side,
followed the path that led to the fountain. On arriving



History of the Queen Margiana 105

there they found Assad lying upon his back. They
recognized him, and rejoiced. So they seized him,
and carried him away after they had filled their water-
skins, and conveyed him quickly to Bahram the Magian,
saying: "Receive glad tidings! for thy captive whom
the Queen Margiana took from thee by force, we have
found and brought!" They then threw Assad down
before him. And when Bahram the Magian beheld
him, his heart leaped with joy. He bestowed gifts
upon the sailors, and ordered them to loose the sails
quickly. They loosed, and proceeded on their voyage
to the Mountain of Fire, and continued their course
until morning.

Now as to the Queen Margiana, when she returned
to the apartment and saw not Assad, she arose and
searched for him, but found him not. So she lighted
the candles and ordered her slaves to seek for him.
Then she went into the garden and found his shoes
lying by the fountain, and sh,e proceeded to search
for him in the garden and round about it, until morn-
ing, when she inquired for the ship of Bahram the
Magian, and her people told her that it had set sail
in the night. So she knew that the sailors had taken
him with them, and she was violently enraged, and
gave orders to fit out immediately ten great ships.

She prepared herself also for battle, and embarked
in one of the ten ships, her troops embarking with her,
equipped with magnificent weapons and armour.
They loosed the sails, and she said to the captains of
the ships: "If ye overtake the ship of the Magian, I will
bestow upon you robes of honour, and gold. But if ye
overtake her not, I will kill you every one." The sea-
men, therefore, were inspired with both hope and fear.



106 Prince Camaralzaman

They proceeded that day and night, and the second
day and the third, and on the fourth day the vessel of
Bahrain the Magian appeared; thereupon the ships of
the Queen Margiana immediately surrounded the
vessel. Bahram had just taken forth Assad, and was
beating and tormenting him, while he cried aloud for
help but found no creature to relieve or deliver him
from the torture. And the Magian, while he was tor-
menting him, looked up and perceived that the Queen's
ships had surrounded his vessel, and encompassed her
as the white of the eye surrounds its black. He then
knew that destruction was certain, and exclaimed:
"Wo to thee, O Assad! All this misfortune is due to
thee!" Then he ordered the sailors to throw Assad
into the sea, saying: "Verily I will kill thee before I
die myself!"

Accordingly the sailors took him up by his hands and
feet, and cast him into the midst of the sea. But
Allah, (whose perfection be extolled and whose name
be exalted!) desiring his safety, permitted him to rise
to the surface of the water, and he beat about with his
hands and feet. The waves striking him, bore him to
a distance from the ship of the Magian, and he reached
the shore. So he landed, scarcely believing in his
escape, and he took off his clothes and wrung them out,
and, having spread them to dry, sat down, bemoaning
the calamities that had befallen him. After this he
arose, and put on his clothes, but knew not whither to
go. He ate herbs of the earth, and fruits of the trees,
and drank of the water of the rivers, journeying by
night and day, until he came in sight of a city. Seeing
which he rejoiced, and quickened his steps, but when
he arrived at it, the evening had overtaken him, and



History of the Queen Margiana 107

its gates were closed. It was the same city in which
he had been captive, and to whose King his brother
Amgiad was Vizier. And when Assad saw that its
gates were closed, he went into a burial-ground, where
he found a tomb without a door. So he entered it and
laid himself down to sleep.

Now Bahrain the Magian, when the Queen Margiana
with her ships overtook him, defeated her by his magic
arts. He then returned in safety to his city, and pass-
ing the burial-gro.und, in accordance with Destiny,
walked through it and saw the open tomb in which
Assad was lying asleep. So he looked in, and beheld
Assad sleeping there. He immediately seized him,
and conveyed him to his house. He placed him once
more in the dungeon, and committed him to the care
of his daughter Bustan, putting heavy chains upon
him, and giving orders that he should be tortured day
and night.

So his daughter Bustan went down to beat Assad,
but finding him to be a handsome young man, affection
for him entered her heart, and she asked: "What is
thy name?" He answered her: "My name is Assad."
"Mayest thou ever be fortunate!" said she. "Verily
thou art not deserving of torment, and I know that
thou hast been treated unjustly." And she proceeded
to unfasten his irons, then she asked him about the
religion of the Mohammetans. And Assad told her
of the goodness of Allah, (whose name be exalted!)
and that the worship of Fire was evil, and he also
acquainted her with the religion of Mohammad; and
she yielded to his words. The love of Allah, (whose
name be exalted!) entered her heart, and she became
one of the Faithful. She then gave Assad food and



io8 Prince Camaralzaman

drink, and prepared for him delicious ragouts of fowls,
until he gained strength and his sorrow ceased and he
was restored to his former health.

After this the daughter of Bahrain went forth from
the dungeon and stood at the door of the house, look-
ing into the street, and, lo, the King's crier proclaimed
and said: "Whosoever hath with him a handsome young
man whose name is Assad, and produceth him, he shall
receive of the Vizier great wealth. But whosoever keep-
eth the young man captive, he shall be hanged at the
door of his house, and his property shall be confiscated
and his dwelling demolished."

Now Assad had told Bustan all that had happened
to him from first to last, so when she heard this she
hastened to the dungeon and told him the news. And
she brought him forth from the dungeon and per-
mitted him to go to the mansion of the Vizier. As soon
as he saw the Vizier, he exclaimed: "Verily this is my
brother Amgiad ! ' ' and threw himself upon him. Where-
upon Amgiad recognized him, and in like manner threw
himself upon him, and they embraced each other.
Then Amgiad took his brother and went up with him
to the King, and related to him his story, upon which
the King ordered the house of Bahram the Magian to
be destroyed.

So the Vizier sent a company of men to do this, and
they repaired to Bahrain's house, and confiscated his
property, and brought his daughter to the Vizier, who
received her with honour. Assad then told his brother
of all the torture he had suffered, and the acts of kind-
ness that the daughter of Bahram had done him.
Amgiad therefore treated her with increased honour.

The King next caused the Magian to be brought, and



Conclusion 109

commanded the executioner to strike off his head.
But Bahrain said: "O most excellent King, hast thou de-
termined to kill me?" He answered: "Yes." "Then,"
said Bahrain, "have patience with me a little, O King."
And he hung down his head toward the ground, and
presently raising it, made profession of the Moham-
metan faith. So they all rejoiced and forgave him for
what he had done to Assad.



CONCLUSION OF THE STORY OF PRINCE

CAMARALZAMAN AND THE

PRINCESS BADOURA

HE two Princes passed that night in happiness,
and when the next morning came they went in
to the King. He received them with honour
and they sat conversing. And while they were
thus sitting, lo, the people of the city cried out,
calling for help, and the chamberlain came in
to the King and said: "A mighty King hath alighted
with his troops before our city; all have drawn swords;
and we know not their purpose." The King told this
to his Vizier Amgiad, and his brother Assad, and Am-
giad said: "I will go forth and ask this King the reason
of his coming."

So Amgiad went forth from the city gate, and found
the King attended by a great army, and surrounded
by armed memlooks. He kissed the ground before
him, and, lo, the King was not a man, but a woman
with her face covered by a veil! "Know," said she,
"that I have lost a memlook, and if I find him safe in
your city no harm shall befall you; but if I find him




no Prince Camaralzaman

not my troops shall slaughter the inhabitants of this
place." "O Queen," answered Amgiad, "what is this
memlook like? And what is his story? And what is
his name?" She answered: "His name is Assad, and
I am Margiana. I took this same memlook by force
from Bahrain the Magian, but he fell upon him in the
night, and stole him away from me." "O Queen of the
age," replied Amgiad, "praise be to Allah who hath
brought us relief! Verily this memlook is my brother."
He then related to her Assad's story, and told her what
had happened to them in the land of exile, acquainting
her also with the cause of their departure from the
Ebony Isles. Whereat the Queen Margiana rejoiced
and accompanied Amgiad to the presence of the King,
who as soon as he saw her, descended from his throne
together with Assad, to meet her. And they all sat
and conversed.

And as they were so engaged, lo, a great cloud of
dust rose in the distance, and after it had subsided,
they perceived a numerous force, like the swelling sea,
approaching the city. Amgiad immediately arose,
and passing through the gate, came to the second army,
and found it to be that of his grandfather, King Gaiour,
the father of his mother the Queen Badoura. So when
Amgiad entered his presence, he kissed the ground be-
fore him, and the King said: "I am King Gaiour, lord of
the Isles, and the Seas, and the Seven Palaces, and I have
come journeying forth seeking my daughter the Prin-
cess Badoura, for she quitted me, and I have heard no
tidings of her nor of her husband Camaralzaman."
And Amgiad, hearing this, again kissed the ground be-
fore him, and informed him that he was the son of his
daughter Badoura. And as soon as the King knew



Conclusion 1 1 1

this, he threw himself upon him, exclaiming: "Praise
be to Allah, O my son, that he hath preserved thee,
and that I have met with thee!" And Amgiad in-
formed him that his daughter was well, and also Cama-
ralzaman, and that they were in a city of the Ebony
Isles. He also told King Gaiour all that had happened
to himself and his brother Assad. Then King Gaiour
bestowed a robe of honour upon Amgiad, and sent him
to acquaint the King of the city, with all that had oc-
curred.

And while Amgiad was relating these circumstances
to the King, lo, again a great dust rose till it overspread
the sky, and the day became black. And they heard
the neighing of horses, and beheld swords glittering
and lances uplifted, and saw a great army approach
the city. At this sight, the King of the city exclaimed:
"Praise be to Allah who hath caused us to make peace
with two armies! May he also give us peace with this
vast army!" He then said: "O Amgiad, go forth,
thou and thy brother Assad, and learn ye the reason
why these troops are advancing against the city."
Accordingly Amgiad and Assad went forth. They
passed through the gate, and proceeded until they ar-
rived at the army, when they found it to belong to the
King of the Ebony Isles, and at the head of the troops
was their father Camaralzaman. As soon as they saw
him, they kissed the ground before him, and wept.
And when Camaralzaman beheld them, he threw him-
self upon them, and pressed them to his bosom. He
then informed them that he had discovered the treach-
ery of the two evil women, and had learned from the
treasurer of his son's deliverance from death. And Am-
giad and Assad told Camaralzaman that King Gaiour



ii2 Prince Camaralzaman

had arrived, and one of them hastened to acquaint
King Gaiour with the coming of his son-in-law Cam-
aralzaman.

And while they were thus occupied, another great dust
rose until it overspread the sky, and the earth shook
under the horses, the drums sounded like stormy winds,
and a vast army approached, its soldiers equipped in
black armour, and in the midst of them was a very old
man, whose chin was resting on his breast, and who
was attired in black garments. When the people of the
city beheld these prodigious forces, they feared greatly
and the King of the city trembled, but the Queen Mar-
giana and the other two Kings said: "Fear not, for we
each have numerous troops, so if these be enemies, we
will unite with thee and attack them." And while
they were thus conversing, lo, a herald from the ap-
proaching army appeared and entered the city. They
brought him before the Queen Margiana and the as-
sembled Kings, and he kissed the ground before them,
and said: "I come from the Sultan Shah-Zeman, lord
of the Islands of Khaledan, and he is searching for his
lost son, Prince Camaralzaman." And when Camaral-
zaman heard this he uttered a loud cry, and fell down
in a swoon. Then recovering he took his two sons,
Amgiad and Assad, and hastened to salute his father,
the Sultan Shah-Zeman. They embraced each other,
and then the other Kings saluted the Sultan.

They restored the Queen Margiana to her country,
after they had married her to Assad, and requested
her always to communicate with them. They married
Amgiad to Bustan the daughter of Bahram, and all of
them journeyed to the Ebony Isles, where Camaralza-
man informed his father-in-law King Armanos, of all



Conclusion 113

that had happened, and how he had met his sons, at
which King Armanos rejoiced greatly. Then King
Gaiour, the father of the Queen Badoura, went in to
his daughter, and saluted her, and they embraced each
other.

After this King Gaiour journeyed with his daughter
and attendants to his own country, taking Amgiad
with them. And when he was settled again in his
kingdom, he seated Amgiad on the throne to govern in
his stead. As to Camaralzaman, he appointed his son
Assad to rule in his place in the Ebony Isles, his grand-
father King Armanos approving. Then Camaralzaman
journeyed with his father, the S T Jtan Shah-Zeman, to
the Islands of Khaledan. The city was decorated in
his honour, and the drums cr ntinued to beat for a
month, after which Camaral? aman sat governing in
the place of his father until they were visited by the
terminator of delights and the separator of compan-
ions, and Allah is all-knowing!



Chapter III



STORY OF JOUDAR

THE TWO SONS OF THE RED KING OF
THE GENII

IN ancient days there dwelt in the city of Cairo,
a merchant whose name was Omar. He had three
sons: the eldest named Salim; the second, Selim;
and the youngest Joudar. He reared them until
they became men; but he loved Joudar more than
his two brothers. When this became manifest,
jealousy seized Salim and Selim, and they hated their
younger brother. As their father was old, he feared
that when he died Joudar would suffer harm from his
brothers, so he summoned the witnesses and said to
them: "Omen, divide my wealth and stuffs into four
equal portions." They did so, and he gave each son
a portion, and reserved the fourth portion for his wife.
Shortly after this the father died, and the brothers
separated, taking their property with them. But
neither of the two envious brothers was content with
his share. They both demanded Joudar 's portion, say-
ing to him: "Thou hast all of our father's wealth, give
us some of it." Thereupon Joudar appealed to the
judge, and the witnesses testified to the division of the

114



The Two Sons of the Red King 115

property, and the judge forbade Salim and Selim injur-
ing their brother Joudar.

But all three of the brothers lost much money by
reason of the cost of the trial, and after that Salim and
Selim left Joudar alone for a little while, then they
plotted against him a second time. He again referred
his case to the judge, so that the three again lost much
money, but the judge protected Joudar. And Salim
and Selim ceased not to seek Joudar's harm, appealing
from judge to judge, until the three had given all their
wealth to the tyrants, and had become paupers.

Then Salim and Selim went to their mother, and,
mocking her, took all her money, beat her and turned
her out of the house. She sought her son Joudar and
told him all that they had done unto her. "O my
mother," answered he, "know that I am poor, and my
brothers are poor also. We have lost all that our father
did leave us, because of the judges. Therefore I can-
not refer thy case to the courts. Do thou, instead, re-
side with me, and my daily cake of bread I will leave
for thee. Pray for rne, and Allah will supply me with
the means to support thee in comfort. As for my
brothers, leave them to receive from Allah punishment
for their wicked conduct." And Joudar comforted his
mother, until she consented to remain with him and
forget the treachery of Salim and Selim.

After this Joudar procured a net, and went every day
to the lakes and rivers to fish. All he caught he sold,
and gave the price to his mother: she bought food, and
they ate and drank well. But his two brothers neither
worked nor bought and sold. Ruin and famine en-
tered their abode, for they had consumed all they had
taken from their mother. They became wretched



1 1 6 Story of Joudar

paupers, naked and hungry. Sometimes when Joudar
was away, they would go to their mother, and beg food
of her. She would give it to them, saying : "Eat quickly
and go before thy brother cometh." Then they would
eat in haste and go.

One day they came to their mother, and she placed
food before them, and they did eat; and, lo, their brother
Joudar entered the house! His mother was filled with
fear, and hung down her head for shame; but he smiled
and said: "Welcome, O my brothers! Why do ye leave
me desolate? Why do ye not visit thy mother and me? "
They replied: "Verily, O our brother, we longed to see
thee, but we were ashamed because of our misconduct
toward thee and our mother. We have repented
greatly." And Joudar answered: "May Allah, whose
name be exalted! bless thee both. Reside with me.
Allah is bountiful, and hath given me good things in
plenty." "O my son," exclaimed his mother, "may
Allah reward thee for thy generosity!"

Thus did Joudar become reconciled to his two
brothers; and they passed the night in his house, and
supped with him, and on the following day breakfasted
with him; after which Joudar took up the net and went
forth to fish, relying upon the goodness of Allah. His
two brothers also went out, and were gone until noon,
when they returned and their mother put before them
the dinner; and in the evening Joudar came bringing
meat and vegetables. In this wise they continued for
the period of a month; Joudar catching fish and selling
them, and spending the money on his mother and
brothers, and the latter eating and frolicking.

Now it happened one day that Joudar took the net
to the river, and cast it, and drew it, and it came up



The Two Sons of the Red King 117

empty; and he cast it a second time and it came up
empty. And he said to himself: "There are no fish
here." So he removed to another place, and there
cast the net, but again it came up empty. And he re-
moved to still another place, and ceased not to change
his place from morning to evening, but caught not even
a minnow. So he said to himself: "This is wonderful!
Is there not a single fish in this river?"

He then put the net upon his shoulder, and returned
home grieving as he thought of the hunger of his mother
and brothers. As he passed a bake-shop he stopped
and sighed, and the baker said to him: "Welcome to
thee, O Joudar! Dost thou want bread? If thou have
not with thee money, take what bread will suffice thee,
and bring me the price another day." So Joudar said:
"Give me ten nusfs* worth of bread." The baker re-
plied: "Here is the bread, and take these ten nusfs too,
and to-morrow bring me fish worth twenty nusfs."
So Joudar took the money and the bread, and having
thanked the baker, went on his way rejoicing. He
bought meat, and his mother cooked it, and they all
supped and slept.

When the morning came, Joudar took the net and
repaired to the river, and cast the net a first, a second
and a third time, but nothing fell to his lot. And he
returned home sorrowful, and when the baker saw him
passing by, he called him, and gave him bread and
money, saying: "Take these and be not ashamed, thou
mayest pay me another day." And so matters con-
tinued for the period of seven days.

* A small Egyptian coin made of silver and copper mixed,
worth less than the fourth of an English penny, and less
than the half of an American cent.



1 1 8 Story of Joudar

And on the morning of the eighth day, Joudar arose,
and took the net and went to the Lake of Karoun.
Arriving there he was about to cast the net into the
water, when there approached him an African riding
upon a mule, and wearing a magnificent dress; and
on the back of the mule was a pair of embroidered
saddle-bags. The African alighted and said: "Peace
be on thee, O Joudar, O son of Omar ! " Joudar replied :
"On thee be peace, O my master the pilgrim!" And
the African said: "O Joudar, I have an affair for thee
to perform, and if thou comply with my request, thou
wilt obtain abundant good fortune." "O my master
the pilgrim," answered Joudar, "tell me what is in thy
mind, and I will obey thee."

The African gave him a cord of silk, saying: "Bind
my hands behind me, and make my bond very tight,
then throw me into the lake, and wait awhile. If thou
see me put forth my hands from the water, raising
them high, cast thou the net over me, and draw me out
quickly. But if thou see me put forth my feet, know
that I am dead; then leave me and take the mule and
saddle-bags, and go to the market of the merchants,
where thou wilt find a Jew whose name is Shumia. Give
him the mule and saddle-bags and he will give thee a
hundred pieces of gold. Take them and conceal thy
secret and go thy way."

Joudar, therefore, bound the African's hands tightly
behind him; after which the man said: "Throw me into
the lake." So Joudar threw him in, whereupon he sank;
and Joudar stood waiting for him, when, lo, the feet