“According to the king’s orders, the governor of the port came himself on board our vessel for this purpose.  Near my cabin was [the berth of] another person; he also had a handsome female slave locked up in his chest.  The governor sat down on that chest, and began to collect all the female slaves [that could be found]; I praised God, and said, ‘Well, no mention has been made of the princess.’  In short, the governor’s people put into their own vessel all the female slaves that were to be found; and the governor, laughing, asked the owner of the chest on which he was sitting, ‘Thou hadst also a female slave?’ The blockhead was frightened, and answered, ’I swear by your Honour’s feet, I alone have not acted in this manner; all of us from fear of you have concealed our [handsome] female slaves in our chests.’  The governor, on hearing this confession, began to search all the chests.  He opened my chest also, and having taken out the princess, he carried her away with the rest.  I fell into a strange state of despair, and said to myself, ’such a [dreadful] circumstance has occurred that thy life is gone for nothing; and now we must see how he will treat the princess.’

“In my anxiety for her, I forgot all fear for my own life; the whole day and night I spent in prayers to God [for her safety].  When the next early morn arrived, they brought back all the female slaves in their own vessel.  The merchants were well pleased, and each took back his own.  All returned, but the princess alone was not among them.  I asked, ’What is the reason that my slave is not come back [with the rest]?’ They answered, ’We do not know; perhaps the king may have chosen her.’  All the merchants began to console and comfort me, and said, ’Well, what has happened is past; do not afflict yourself; we will all subscribe and make up her price, and give it to you.’  My senses were utterly confounded; I said, ’I will not now go to Persia.’  Then I addressed myself saying to the boatmen, ‘O friends, take me with you, and land me on the shore.’  They agreed, and I left the vessel and stepped into the boat; this dog likewise came along with me.

“When I reached the port, I kept to myself only the casket of jewels which the princess had brought with her; all my other property I gave to the governor’s servants.  I wandered everywhere in the way of search, that perhaps I might get some intelligence of the princess; but I could find no trace of her, nor could I get the smallest hint respecting that affair.  One night I entered the king’s seraglio by a trick, and searched for her, but got no intelligence.  For nearly the space of a month I sifted every lane and house in the city; and through sorrow I reduced myself almost to death’s door, and began to wander about like a lunatic.  At last, I fancied that ’my princess must, in all probability, be in the governor’s house, and nowhere else.’  I went round and inspected the governor’s house, to the intent that should I discover any passage I might enter it.