“The merchants allotted me a cabin, and I paid the money for the hire of it.  Having set my heart at ease, I went to the nurse’s house under some pretext, and said, ’O mother, I am come to take leave of thee, and am now returning to my country; if I could through your kindness see the princess for a moment, it would be a great satisfaction to me.’  At last, the nurse complied [with my request].  I said, ’I will return at night, and wait in such a place;’ she replied, ‘Very well,’ Having settled [this point], I returned to the sarai, and carried my chest and bedding on board the vessel and delivered them in charge to the master, and added, ’I will bring my female slave on board to-morrow morning.’  The master said, ’Come speedily, as we shall weigh anchor to-morrow early,’ I answered, ‘Very well.’  When the night came, I went to the place I had fixed upon with the nurse, and waited.  After a watch of the night had passed, the gate of the seraglio opened, and the princess came out dressed in soiled and dirty clothes, with a casket of jewels in her hand; she delivered the casket to me, and went along with me.  As soon as it was morning, we reached the seaside, and embarking on a skiff we went on board the vessel; this faithful dog also went with me.  When it was broad daylight, we weighed anchor and set sail.  We were sailing along in perfect security, when the report of a cannon was heard from one of the ports.  All [on board] were surprised and alarmed; the ship was anchored, and a consultation was held among us [to know] if the governor of the port intended some foul play, and what could be the cause of the firing of cannon.

“It happened, that all the merchants had some handsome female slaves [on board], and for fear lest the governor of the port might seize them, they locked them up in chests.  I did so likewise, and having shut up my princess in my chest, I locked it.  In the meanwhile, the governor and his suite appeared on board a swift sailing vessel, and constantly nearing us, he came and boarded our ship.  Perhaps the cause of his coming to us was this:  that when the news of the nurse’s death and the princess’s disappearance became known to the king, in consequence of his being ashamed to mention the [princess’s] name, he sent orders to the governor of the port, saying, ’I have heard that the Persian merchants have very handsome slaves with them, and as I wish to buy some for the princess, you will stop them, and send all the slaves that may be in the vessel to the royal presence.  On seeing them, I will pay the full value for such as may be approved of, and the remainder shall be returned.’