“She gave me another khil’at of dignity, and a title.  I then went to the audience of the king, and presented my pesh-kash.  I addressed his majesty [on the best means] to remove the evil consequences of whatever acts of tyranny and injustice the [former] governor of the port had committed.  For this reason, the king, the nobles, and the merchants were all well pleased with me, and the king showered many favours on me, and having given me a khil’at and a horse, he bestowed on me a title and a ja-gir, [339] with other dignities and honours.  When I came out from the royal presence, I gave the servants and attendants so much, that they all began to pray [for my welfare].  In short, I became very happy in my condition; and I passed my days in that country in extreme ease and felicity, after marrying the princess; and I offered up thanks to God [for the happiness I enjoyed].  The inhabitants were quite happy through the equity of my administration; and once a month I used to go to the temple and the king’s levee; his majesty, from time to time, conferred on me additional promotion.

“At last, he enrolled me as one of his privy counsellors, and did nothing without my advice; my life began to pass in extreme delight; but God only knows that I often thought on these two brothers [and was anxious to know] where they were and how they were.  After the space of two years, a kafila of merchants arrived at the port from the country of Zerbad, and they were all bound for Persia; they wished to return to their own country by sea.  It was the rule at that port, that whenever a karavan arrived there, the chiefs of the karavan used to present to me as a nazar some rare presents and curiosities of different countries.  On the day following, I used to go to [the chief’s] place of residence, and to levy ten per cent. on the value of his goods by way of duty; after which, I gave him permission to depart.  In the same manner, those merchants from Zerbad likewise came to wait on me, and brought with them presents beyond value; the second day I went to their tents.  There I perceived two men dressed in tattered old clothes, who bore packages and bundles on their heads, right into my presence.  After I had examined [the packages], they carried them back; they laboured hard, and attended constantly.

“I looked at them with great attention, and perceived they were, indeed, my two brothers.  At that time, shame and pride would not allow me to see them in such servitude.  When I returned home, I desired my servants to bring those two men to me; when they brought them, I had clothes made up for them, and kept them near me.  But these incorrigible villains again laid a plan to murder me.  One day at midnight, [340] finding all off their guard, they came like thieves to the head of my bed.  I had maintained a guard at my door from apprehensions for my life, and this faithful dog was asleep at the side of my bed; but the moment they drew their swords from the scabbard, the dog first barked, then flew at them; the noise he made awaked all; I, also alarmed, started up.  The guards seized them, and I knew them to be themselves all over.  Every one began to execrate them, [and said] ‘notwithstanding all this kindness, how infamously they have behaved!’