After a short pause, she said, “O, young man, the princess has sent you her salam, [215] and said thus, ’There is nothing wrong in my taking a husband; you have solicited me [in marriage]; but to speak of your kingdom, and to conceive yourself a king in this mendicant state, and to be proud of it, is quite out of place; for this reason, that all men among each other are certainly equal; although superior consideration ought to be due to those who are of the religion of Muhammad.  I also have wished for a long while to marry, and as you are indifferent to worldly riches, to me likewise God has given such wealth as cannot be counted.  But there is one condition, that first of all you procure my marriage portion.’ [216] The marriage-gift of the princess,” added the old lady, “is a certain task to perform, if yon can fulfil it.”  I replied, “I am ready in every way, and I shall not be sparing of my wealth or life; tell me what the task is, that I may hear it.  The old woman then said, “Remain here to-day, and tomorrow I will tell it to you.”  I accepted [her proposal] with pleasure, and taking my leave, I came out.

The day had in the meantime passed away, and when the evening came, a eunuch called upon me, and conducted me to the seraglio.  On entering, I saw that the nobles, the learned, the virtuous, and the sages of the divine law were present.  I likewise joined the assembly and sat down.  In the meantime the cloth for the repast was spread, and eatables of every variety, both sweet and salt, were laid out.  They all began to eat, and with courtesy solicited me to join them.  When dinner was over, a female servant came out from the interior [of the seraglio] and asked, “Where is Bahrawar? call him.”  The servants in waiting brought him immediately; his appearance was very respectable, and many keys of silver and gold were suspended from his waist.  After saluting me, he sat down by me.  The same female servant said, “O, Bahrawar, whatever thou hast seen, relate it fully [to this stranger].”

Bahrawar, addressing himself to me, began the following narration:—­“O, friend! our princess possesses thousands of slaves, who are established in trade; among them I am one of the humblest of her hereditary servants.  She sends them to different countries with goods and merchandise, worth lakhs of rupees, of which they have the charge; when these return [from the respective countries to which they were sent to trade], then the princess, in her own presence, inquires of them the state and manners of such country, and hears [their different accounts].  Once it so happened that this meanest [of her slaves] went to the country and city of Nimroz [217] to trade, and perceiving that all the inhabitants were dressed in black, and that they sighed and wept every moment, and it appeared to me that some sad calamity had befallen them.  From whomsoever I asked the reason [of these strange circumstances], no one would answer my inquiry.  One day, the moment the morning appeared, all the inhabitants of the city, little and great, young and old, poor and rich, issued forth.  They went out and assembled on a plain; the king of the country went there also mounted on horseback, and surrounded by his nobles; then they all formed a regular line, and stood still.