individual; so, whatever poor traveller arrives here, the king has information of it; and he conveys the stranger to the pagoda, and makes him prostrate himself before the idol.  If he prostrates himself, it is well; otherwise, they cause the poor wretch to be immersed in the river; and if he attempts to escape from the river, his private parts [350] become elongated to such a degree that he has to drag them along the ground.  Such enchantment [has God] ordained in this city.  I feel pity for thee on account of thy youth; but for thy sake I am going to execute a scheme I have formed that thou mayest be able to live at least a few days, and be saved from this calamity.”

“’I asked, “What is the nature of the project [you have formed]? impart it to me.”  He replied, “I mean to have thee married; and to get thee the wazir’s daughter for thy wife.”  I gave for answer, “How can the wazir give his daughter to a wretch so poor and destitute as myself?  Will it be when I embrace his faith?  This is what I never can do.”  He replied, “The custom of this city is, that whoever prostrates himself before the idol, if he be a beggar and demand the king’s daughter, the king must deliver her up to him in order to gratify his wish, and that they may not grieve him.  Now I am in the king’s confidence, and he esteems me, for which reason all the nobles and officers of state of this place respect me.  In the course of every week, they go twice to the pagoda on a pilgrimage, and there they perform their worship; so they will all assemble there to-morrow, and I will carry thee with me.”  Saying this, he gave me something to eat and drink, and sent me away to sleep.  When the morning came, he took me with him to the pagoda; when we arrived there, I saw that people were going to and fro, and performing their devotions.

“’The king and nobles in front of the idol, near the priests, with heads uncovered, were respectfully seated; also unmarried girls and handsome boys, like Hur and Ghilman [351] were drawn up in lines on the four sides.  The good old man spoke to me and said, “Now do whatever I say.”  I agreed, and said, “Whatever you command, that I will perform.”  He said, “First, kiss the king’s hands and feet, then, lay hold of the wazir’s dress.”  I did so.  The king asked, “Who is this, and what has he to say?” The man replied, “This young man is my relation, and he is come from far to have the honour to kiss your majesty’s feet, and with this expectation, that the wazir will exalt him by [admitting him] into his service, if the order of the great idol and your majesty’s approbation be [to that effect].”  The king said, “If he will embrace our faith and sect, and adopt our customs, then it will be auspicious [for him].”  Immediately, [the drums of] the nakkar-khana [352] of the pagoda struck up; and I was invested with a rich khil’at; they then put a black rope round my neck, and dragged me before the seat of the idol, and having made me prostrate myself before it, they lifted me up.