■Kg 1 " 5 D UKE UNIVERSIT Y LIBRARY The Glenn Negley Collection of Utopian Literature /?< ft *v Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from Duke University Libraries http://www.archive.org/details/adventuresofabdaOObign THE ADVENTURES ABDALLA, Son of HANIF, Sent by the Sultan of the Indies, To make a Difcovery of the Ifland of BO R ICO, Where the Fountain which reftores pajl Youth \i fuppofed to be found. Alfo an Account of the Travels of ROUSCHEN, A Persian Lady, to the TOPSY- TURVY Ifland, undifcover'd to this Day. The whole intermix'^ with feveral Curious and Inftructivc HISTORIES. Tranflated into French from an Arabick ript found at Batavia by Mr. cIcSandisson : And now done into Engiish By WILLIAM IIJTCHETT, Gent. Adorn'd with Cuts. L O N D O N: Printed for Th o. Wo r r a l l at the Judges-Head over againft St. Dunflaris Church in Ilest-Jirett. 172.9. /-?/> T O T H E Right Honourable THE Lord Walpole. May tt pleafe Tour Lordship. My Lord, T is with the Fo- reigners Language as with their Phifi- ognomies: Both are to be diitinguifh'd by Per- fons of polite Tafte, and fuch as have vifited the dif- ferent Parts of Europe ; of what DEDICATION. what Nation foe ver they be, or under what Drefs foever they appear. If it be rec- koned rather commendable than otherwife to confult the Ancients, and thofe Mo- derns of the neighbouring Nations, who deferve our Search, I can't fee why our Curiofity fliould not be e- qually rais'd, in diving into the Method thofe take of tranfmitting their Produ- ctions to Pofterity, who are at a much greater Diftance from us; tho' they inhabit among Barbarians, or even in another World. May I prefume, there- fore, my Lord, to plead for your Patronage, in Favour of DEDICATION. of my Arabian Author , for fuch he was, though now cloaked under an Engliflj Drefs. Your Lord/hip will find in the following Sheets fome Satyr and feme Mora- lity ; but fhould tney, ly much, fall fhort of an H&1 race cca-, ihould tne Verfiaû be judg'd unfaithful or any Ways wmnded^ I en- treat Your Lordjbip will pleafe to confider him, as a very remote Stranger to Eu- ropean Cuftoms, and me, as a young Undertaker of this Kind. When I ref!e£t on the various Obligations every true Briton has to the Name of Wa lpole, without enu- „ meratina DEDICATION. merating the particular Vir^ tues of Your Lordjbip,! am overwhelmed , with con- fcious Shame, at the Mean- nefs of the Offering ; but as all Sacrifices owe their chief Merit to the Zeal, which occalions them, I am en- courag'd to hope a favour- able Reception of this, and the Honour of devoting myfelf hereafter, with the mod profound Duty and Submiilion, My Lord, Your Lordship's Mofi Humble, Aloft Faithful and Mofi Obedient Servant \ William Hatchett. Advejtifement. HE Letter that Monficur de San- difibn wrote, when he fent me the Works of Abdalla, isfo inflrutfive, that it may féru e inftead of a Pre- face to this Tranjlation. I thought proper there- fore^ after having made fome jm all Amendments in the Style, to invert it ; and fo JJjall content tnyfelf with making here fome proper Remarks on my own Performance. I have often been at a great Lofs how to give a right Verfion to thofe Paffages] which are quite different from our Cv.ftoms ; and I have as often been tempted to adapt them all after the French Fafhion* I tr/J, indeed, to accompli^ it, but whether it be Prepoffeffion , or that the Eaftern Hiftories, when difgutid, lofe of their Beauty, I know not, my Endeavours al- ways ii Advertisement. ways feem'd Unfticcefsful I then imagined it would be beft to keep a Medium, to /often cer- tain Places, and to explain others by ftort Notes. I have taken a particular Care to jet in a true Light, all that regards the Religion of the Indians, and the Opinion of the Mahometans touching the Genii. The Accounts we receive from all the noted Travellers, who have vifited the Indies, and treated on the Manners of the In- dians, have long fince-, furniflod us with Ex^ freffions convincing enough to prove the Super- ftition of that People. It is true, few of thofe Travellers have taken Notice of the Indian The- ology, as pertinently as the Story of the Widow deliver'd from the Fire ; which very thing ren- ders the Works of Abdalla more valuable and curious. As to the good and bad Genii, and the different Things they meddle with, according to the Credulity of the Arabians and Perfians, thofe who have read the Oriental Works of Monfieur Vattier, and who read thofe which Meilleurs Petis, de la Croix, and Galland, daily communicate to the Publick, with fo much Suc- cefs, cannot but be pretty well acquainted with them. Some Readers may perhaps readily object a- gainfi Advertisement. iii gainjl the Word Ginne, kcanfe I have not al- tera it from the Original; but I beg they'll confider, there are Genii of both Sexes, and that to diflmgnifld them, nothing is more eafy than to fay, Genius and Ginne : Whereas, in being con- find to the Term only of Genius, there would be a Neceffity of faying, Genii Male and Genii Female, which in the Cour je of a Story fome- what long, would prove very trouble fome ; be- fides, I cannot think but it would be equally dif- agreeable to the Ear to fay, Genii Female, when it mufl be attributed to fo many Female Crea- tures of that Kind. If the Word Fairy had ftigniffd the fame Thing, I might have implofd it inftead of Ginne, but it implies a quite different Signification : the Fairy neither being the Female of the Genius, nor the Genius the Male of the Fairy. A Fairy is not a Creature of a fuperior Order : Thofe who were of that Opinion are ?niftaken ; foe is an ordinary Woman, which may be eafily provd by all the Narrations of the Antients. Among thefe Nar- rations one may know the Fairies, not only by themfelves, but likewife by their Kindred. But not to be confuted by the Authority of the old Oriental Books : The Fairy Morgan, whom the Hiflory of Lancelot du Lac [peaks of, was floe vol the Sflcr of King Amis ? The Fair" that Gnçriii iv Advertisem e n t. G u crin Mefquin examined, and all tbofe whom he found with her in the obfcure Grotto s oftheAp- penine Mountains, were Women, and Jïnful ones ; 'tis he himfelf makes mention of it, in the Book whkh bears his A The Genealogy of the Fairy in the I (land of Hircania, is defcrib'd in the Hiftory of Palmcrin d'Olive, and his Chil- dren. In that of the Knight of the golden Star (Stella de Ore) is provd, that the Fairy in the Valley of Shades, was a Woman of this World. It would he infignifcant to expatiate any far- ther on this Subject, therefore I return to the Genii. According to the Mahometan Authors, the World before the Creation of Adam was inha- bited by the Genii : The one call'd Divs *, and the others Peris : The firfi was Bad, and the latter Good. This Oppqfition of Inclinations caused a continual Difcord-, but Adam, who was to give the Univerfe new Inhabitants, in Exclufïon of the Genii, had no fooner appear 'd, than a. much greater Divifion arofe between them. TJoe Peris, who were fubmijjive to God in every thing, not only augmented their hatred againfi the Divs, but even a new Faction * This Word Fv, ought to be pronoune'd like a Confo- r.ani, in Dive. broke Advertise m e n t. v broke out among the Evil Genii. Several of 'their Legions opend their Eyes to the Tr: mid went and eflàblifâd theMfelrues in the Ml tain of Kaf, under the Conduct of Sarkhragi their Chief. The ether Genii continued In together y notisJithftanding their Vivifions ; and rendring rp to Mankind almcft all the they inhabited that Part they call after their own Name, the Ginniftan. Under the Reign of Solomon, a great Ni f Divs was a- gain converted; others, e fcllov/d the right Pafhi by hearing, as Mahomet fays, the Alcoran read. As to the Peris , we never heard of their changing ; nor that they had even the Thought of fep. themfelves y till the Time of Queen Feramak. This hi: \e Exposition feems neceffary for the belter L which fup- pofes a great Knowledge of the Oriental Fa- bles. I jhall obferve farther, that I found as much Difficulty in Regard of the Peris and Divs, as I had done on Account of the Genii in General. Ton meet with both Sexes among the Peris and Divs; for that Reafon, I've i obligd to add to their Names a Termination that may diftinguifh them. I call t! the Peris and Divs, f imply, Males; and their C panions the Periles and Dives, Females. vi Advertisement. The Peris and Divs have Difciples. The Women, inflruEied by the Peris, are properly [peaking, Fairies ; and the Men, Difciples of the fame Genii, are caïïd Sages: Such as Alquif and the Knight dell'Ifola Senata. Thofe of both Sexes, who fubjecî themfelves to the Divs, are caïïd Sorcerers and Sorcereiles. If, in reading the Preliminary Letter, you meet with any Obfcttrity in the Adventure which follows thefe Marks * * * *, that Intri- cacy will be unraveWd, by reading the Hiftory of the Perfian Lady Roufchen. T O Monf. de Sandisson's LETTER TO THE TRANSLATOR, Written at Bat a v i a the 1 3 th of December, in the Year 1703. SIR, D O not underftand Arabick enough to know the true Worth of the Memoirs I fend you ; be fo Good, therefore to excufe me, if I intreat you to put me in a Con- dition of becoming fomewhat a Judge of it. To requeft fuch a Favour, is, if I x miitake [ i58 ] miftake not, advifing you to tranflate them into French. I wilh you may find them curious enough to ingage you in the Per- formance of i : :. The learned Arabians, to whom I have communicated them fay., there is a great deal of Difference between the Style of this Work, and that of the Alcoran. They al- fert that the Language of Abdalla is mix- ed with IJ/beck Expreflions, and Indian Terms, which would be looked upon at Mecca and Medina as wretched Barba- rîjms. In the main, I find them much divided in their Sentiments : Some cannot believe what Abdalla fays he fow with his own Eyes ; others give Credit both to that, and almoft all the reft. For my Part, I am inclinable to .be much of the fame Opini- on with the Latter, though I never could attain but a very fuperflcial Account of the principal Adventures. I will give you my Reafon for fuch a Belief, after I have relat- ed to you what I know of the Author. Hanif, the Father of Abdalla, was a Man much efteemed at Court, and in the Army of Gehan-Guir, who preferr'd him to the Poft of Kobat-Kan, that is to fay, of Com- milTary General of his Horfe. He became fufpe&ed [ Si] fufpe£ted by Chah-Jehan, in the Troubles which attended his Elevation to the Throne. This Prince's Sufpicions were perhaps ill- grounded, but however they were, Hanif was divefted of his Employment, and a Part of his Eftate. Notwithstanding this JDifgrace, he ftill reforted to Court, and al- ways appear'd there among the reft of the Omerahs with Grandeur, till he ended his Days, which happen'd about two Years be- fore the Departure of his Son. Abdalla, a great whiie after his Return, was fent by Chah-Jchan to Batavia, in order to fet on Foot a Treaty of Commerce with the Eaft- India Company's General. During his Né- gociation, he died at Monfieur William Berkuys's Houfe, where he, with the chief of his Attendance, had been lodged. It was reported that he poyfoned himfelf, but the Truth is, his Death proceeded from an Excefs of Chagrin, which the falfe News of his Matter's Death had caufed him. He imagined that Chah-Jehan, who had always deferred taking the Water of the Fountain of Borico, which Abdalla brought him, had made Ufe of it in his Abfence ; and that for want of duly obferving the Circumftances requifite for the drinking it, he had render'd that Liquor fetal, which otherwife was of a heavenly Nature. If he took any, it was a but [ iv ] but too true in one Senfe, flnce it rais'd fd great a Ferment in his Humours, as to make him appear Lifelefs for fome time, which was the Reafon his own Children took im- mediate Pofîeiïion of all he had ; and that Aureng-Zebe, who remain'd fole Mailer, de- priv'd him of his Liberty. It does not be- long to us to ask why Chah Jehan s reco- cover'd Health fo foon relaps'd after his Confinement, but we may judge by the long Life of Aureng-Zebe, that his Father left him when he. was dying, fomething more valuable than all the precious Stones, which Begtim-Saheb * made him a Prefent of in a golden Bafon. Aureng-Zebe would undoubt- edly have advanc'd Abdalla to the highefl Employment of the State,' had he been cou- rageous enough to have furviv'd the Report* Upon his Death-bed, he left thefe Memoirs to his Landlord, and made him fome other Prefents more confiderable. This Berkuys, now living, is the Son of William of that Name. He was a good big Lad when this happen'd, and fo remember'd thefe Particu- lars which he related unto me, when he put the Manufcript into my Hands. * Begum-Saheb, Aureng-Zebe'j Sifter ', tended on Chan- Tehan during his Imprifonment ; and zvkcn he was dead y jfbc 'made Aureng-Zebe a Prefent of a large golden Bafon, which contained all Chah-JehanV precious Stones, and her own. I now f v 1 I now return to the Motive of my Cre- dulity. I mud own, the fudden Changes from one Place to another, and the furpri- fing Adventures which happen at the fame time, are the moil: difficult Incidents to be credited in the following Memoirs; but he, for Example, who receives for Facl: the Tra- vels of Rottfchen, would appear very ridicu- lous to raife Scruples on the reft o^ the Book. Now this is exattly my Cafe. I can't well doubt of the Reality of the Tra- vels of ' Ronfchen, fince I myfelf was carry'd away as fhe was, and detain'd at leaft two Hours in the Academy of the Topjy-Turt'y Ifland. You are fenfible how folicitous I've ever been in procuring Books of Fairies ; fince you have been fo good hitherto, as to fend me all thofe that have been publifh'd. One Night about nine a Clock, as I was in my Cabinet, concluding the Perufal of the laft Volume of that Parcel of Books, which were convey 'd to me by y cur Correfpondent at Sftrdt, I perceiv'd, about fix Yards from me,' a fine old Gentleman, drefs'd in blue, whole grey Beard touch'd his Knees, and who car- ry'd in his left Hand a Net, rcfembling that which Fifhermen call a cafting Net. Arga- majfe, faid he to me, firft Queen of the blue a 2 Peris, [vi ] Peris % and Aligand her Spoufe, this Day b rifen from the Dead, are about to put an End to two important Affairs. They have made Choice of you to afïift at the Deci- fion of them, and to communicate it to the reft of Mankind. I was, as you may well imagine, very much aftonifh'd and affrigh- ted ; but I had not a Moment allow'd me to recollée! myfelf. The old Gentleman caft his Net over me, and after having fufficient- ly fecur'd me in it, he carry'd me on his Back into my Garden; and from thence through a vaft Space of Darknefs, very thick and cold, into an Amphitheatre full of Peo- ple. I did not know where I was, neither could I ever tell, till the Hiftory of Roufchen fince inform'd me: The Amphitheatre where I was being the fame fhe defcribes. My Carrier prefented me to the blue Queen, who plac'd me at her Feet, fpeaking thefe four Words : See, hear, retain and publifi. A Moment after we heard a great Sound of Kettle-Drums and Trumpets coming from the white Gate. I did not know that In- ftant, whether it was beft to feem pleas'd or melancholy ; but the Affembly appearing the former, I very readily comply'd with their Difpofition. The Sound of thefe warlike a Good Genii. b This My fiery is explain'd at length in the Hiflûvy of the Pcriian Lady. Xnftruments [ vii ] Inftruments augmented more and more: In a Word, twelve wing'd Kettle-Drummers, and as many Kettle-Drum Carriers, enter'd like Birds, and contributed the more to our Pleaiure, as it was oppofite to their Nature either to (bar up in the Air, or even to fupport themfelves there at all. The former were downright Bears, produc'd in the new Zembla; and the latter, the greateft Ajfes that ever came out of Arcadia or Mirabilis. The Trumpeters that folio w'd them were no lefs extraordinary: Imagine with your- felf ; twelve large Eels, about the Bignefs of two Men, holding in their Mouths twelve Silver Pipes, eighteen or twenty Foot long, and twelve little old Men fqueezing their Tails with their Fingers, to oblige them to blow forter or harder, as requir'd. The Eels fupported the old Men in the Air, and were fultain'd themfelves by the Afli- ftance of four great Wings, which by the Make and inimitable Variety of Colours, refembled thofe of a Butterfly. Then there came in a fpacious Chariot drawn by four Dragons, who had all the Beauty of Beafts of their Kind, without ha- ving their Fiercenefs. Their Wings appear'd to be Gold, and their Scales of Emerald. The Crefts they wore on their Heads were of fo beautiful a Colour, that they might pafs for a 3 a precious [ viii ] a precious Pi^e of Rubies. Their long Tails mov'd in Cadence at the Sound of the Ket- tle-Drums and Trumpets. The Chariot was of Filigreen enamelPd, fix'd on Bars of Gold, and interfpers'd with Saphires fo nicely wrought, as gave a natural and lively Repre- fentation of all Sorts of Flowers and Birds- The fair Glaftine was plac'd majeftically in it» There was fo nigh a Refemblance between Argamafje her Grandmother, thrice remov'd, and herfelf, that I could have known her without being told it by any Body. A very melancholy Prifoner who had a Book under his Arm, on which he now and then call: fad Looks, was ty'd behind the Chariot, and chofe rather to be dragg'd by than to follow it After he was gone paft, I perceiv'd fome- thing wrote upon his Back, where I read thefe Words: The Count of Gabalis, a noted Iwpofter. The Kettle-Drummers and Trum- peters rang'd themfelves at the Extremities of the Area, and the Dragons plac'd Glaftme and her Chariot exactly in the Middle. This Perife fainted thofe rifen from the Dead, and then fpoke to the Queen' Argamafje to this Effect. The prefence of the Prifoner alrea- dy declares the Succefs of one Part of the Commiflion I was charged with, and I have not been lefs diligent and exact in difcharg- ing the other. I was f k] I was ordered to infpect all the new Books that treat about us : I have not fkil'd doing it ; but I am very much duTatisfied u jth what I have obferved in them. No Body fcarce lias wrote well on our Subject, ever fince the Death of the faithful Galerfi. We fee nothing Now-a-days publifh'd, but tri- fling Books, .unworthy of us I (hall prove what I fay by one Sketch alone; for to make an entire Lift of thefe inhpid, forc'd Works, and to give a Detail of the many Imperti r nences they contain, would be making you unnecefTarily undergo the fame Pains I have been at. Did you ever hear talk of Obkgeantinc, Bienfaifante, Rancune, Tranquille, Bourgillone, Plaifir, and Berhnguette ? What Sort of People Name you there, faid Argamajfe ? Perifes, or as they call them in Europe, Fai- ries, reply'd Glaftine. There was never any of that Name, anfwered Argamaffe. I grant it, relumed Glajline; they make them likewife equal to the Gods, that never were fo : For Example, they unite Runcune with Pacfolus, The Moveables, which thefe pretended Fairies make ufe of, are no lefs oppofite to Probability: Such as, Sofas of Ai' ant urine Couches of Azuli Stone, Stools of Cornelian, and Canapies of Amber. Don't you admire the Choice of thefe Materials ? If thefe Goods a 4 be [*] be delicately wrought, they are very britr tie ; but yet if they were clumfey and maf- fy, how could they be removed ? Not to mention the eminent Danger would accrue to the Canopy of Amber * from its*too near approach to the Fire. What will you fay of the Buildings of Nacre, of the Ajjiotat Wine, and of the Onix Stone, belonging to thefe faid Fairies ? I afïure you, interrupted Aligand, thefe muft be Women different from the reft of their Sex, who undertake to write fuch fine Things. I was not willing to in- form myfelf too much about it, continued Glafline ; but if thefe are Women, they feel a Father's Love, for the Works they are Mo- thers of. Are thefe Charming Fairies that you have named us, refumed the blew Peri, in good repute with honeft People? O dear! Yes, faid Glafline: Their Princes and Prin- ceffes are very excellent Perfons : As the Queen of Cabbage Lettices, the Prince Small Pea, the Prlncefs Beancod. Upon which, there was an agreeable murmuring made in the Company, and I heard the major Part of the young Peris fay to one another; Cer- tainly Men mult needs think all that's charm- ing of this little crowned People, for they are mod delightful to the Eye. Here are others, continued Glaftme, whofe majeftick * Telkiv Amber diJTdves in the Fire. Names [xi] Names will infpireyou with more reverence. As, King Coqtierico, King Peudaquet and the. King of Dunces ; are not thefe Potent Prin- ces ? As flie afTe&ed to pronounce thefe ri- diculous Names, with an Air of Gravity, the Aflembly burft into a Fit of Laughter, which continued for fome Time. At laft, fhe cried out, after having laugh'd as well as the reft of the Company, Let me entreat you,at leaft,not to contemn the Heroes and Horoines, which thefe illultrious Fairies think to pro- tect : Being, a link Pig, but the prettieft lit- tle Ptg that ever was feen ; a Sea Prwcefs, whofe Hair is of the fineft White that ever was heard of; and a Swallow, but the mofi beautiful lit- tle Swallow that ever was feen. Say no more, Daughter, interrupted Aligand ; how could io many Abfurdities enter into your Head? I've no more to fay on this Subject, re- plied Glaftine, it now lies in the Queen's Breafts, to fee what Remedy muft be ap- plied to fupprefs the itching Mind, every Body is pôtTclTed with, Now-a-Days, to be- come Authors. If they are fuffered to pro- ceed, all the World will at laft fuppofe us to be like the Obi v igcantmes and the Bourgillones : Nay, they'll even believe that fome Part of the Cabahftick Iflands is ftill exifting, and that this Wretch, looking en Gabalis, is Captain of the Philosophers, who are fuppos'd to inhabit therein. It [M ] It's highly neceffary, faid ArgamaJJe, that we maturely confider on putting a Stop to all petty Scriblers, and on punifhing Gaba- lis. By thefe few Words fpeaking, (he dif- pos'd the Queens to give their Advice, and went even in Perfon to know it. After this file refum'd her Place, and clos'd the firft Affair by this Sentence. Whereas we have been informed, that Perfons of different Ages and Sexes meddle with compofing Books ; wherein they at- tribute many Things to us, which we are mere Strangers to, and wherein they unjuft, ly confound us with Chimerical Fairies: We Perife and Argamaj[e i ancient Queens of the blew Palace, after having taken the Advice of the five Ruling Queens, have refolved in our Academical Council, that fuch Au- thors, as are found guilty fhall receive Pu- nifhment, though with Clemency for the firft Tranfgreflion, If fuch Offenders hap- pen to be Women they fhall be addifted to Sluttifhnefs • fometimes troubled with fright- ful Dreams ; and at other times poffdfed with the Spirit of Talkativenefs to Excels. If the like Diiafter befal Men, they fhall be plagued with a ftinking Breath, during the Space of three Years ; and they fhall aifecl to live after fuch a Manner, as will make them be pointed at by every Body. And to [ xiii ] to the End that all fuch Diforders, which may arife hereafter, be effectually fuppref- fed, it is enacted arid ordered, by the Ad- vice of our faid Council, that the Nails of either Sex, who (hall inconfiderately imploy their Pen on our Subject, be immediately changed into Claws, and that a continual Itching affect the minuted Part of their Bo- dies. Moreover, we exprefly forbid all Per- fons, of what Denomination lbever, and even thofe whom we fhall have deputed to tranfmit our Anions to Posterity to make Compofitions by themfelves ; but w r e ffricl- ly enjoin and exne£t Men fhall confult with able and ingenious Women, when their Off-fprings require mafterly Sentiments and Amendments ; and that Women likewife fhall Ihew their Productions to Men of good Senfe and Penetration, who fhall take particular Care to cleanfe them from all Contradictions, Exaggerations and Tauto- logies. For fuch is our Will and Pleaiure. This Sentence being pronounced, they palTed to the Judgment of Gabalis. The Queens thought proper that he fhould make his Speech. The Order was fignified to him by Glaftme, and he made it in the follow- ing Terms. Since my ill Fate has fo decreed that I fhould fall into your Hands, and that in fpite [ xiv ] fpite of all my Knowledge and Cunning, I fhall not be able to efcape them ; it behoves me to employ all my Thoughts to excite Compaflion, and endeavour by a fincere and hearty Acknowledgement, to mitigate the Punifhment due to my Crimes. I rauft confefs therefore, I have ufed my utmod Efforts to give a new Glofs to an Art, which you have thought fît to condemn ; and that I have neglected nothing to efta- blifh myfelf in the good Opinion of the World. I have endeavoured to make the Black Art, a Science taught by the Divs* pafs for true Wifdom ; and as for myfelf, I fometimes borrowed the Title of a German Count, and at other Times went under the Name of the Captain of the Philofophers, that lived in the Cabaliftick Iilands. When firft I took up the fcribling Trade, I ftrove to confound you with the Divs y but with- out Succefs ; becaufe it was impofïible for Men either to difcern you through the bad Actions of the Divs> or to diftinguifh thofe by your good Ones. Thus I was deluded to undertake what chiefly drew upon me your Indignation ; and further, fuppofing the Exigence of the four elementary People, endeavoured to engage the Publick to attri- * Evil Genlj. In the Word Div, I'v cvght to be fra- nour t c''d alrnojl like fin F. bute [XV] bute thofe Prodigies to them, which in reality belonged to you ; and to believe you were fubjeil to us. I might in fome Meafure, extenuate my Crime, by reprefenting to you, that I am not the Author of the Sylphes, Gnomes, Nymphes, nor of the Salamanders, of whom Paracelfus, ■ Vigenere, and fome o- thers have treated on before my Pupil ; and that his too greiit Facility to give Ear to my Difcourfes, did but too much encourage me to impofe it on him ; but you are equally acquainted with what remains to clear me, as with that which renders me guilty in your Sight. Gabalis fetch'd a great Sigh, and bow'd down his Head, after having finifh'd his Speech. His Punifhment was deferred till he had declared all the Secrets of the black Fa- ction, which he was look'd upon to be the Chief of at that Time among Men. Arga- ?najfe commanded therefore, the Prifon of the Academy to appear, in order to lodge the Criminal in it. She had no fooner fpoke but the Earth open'd about ten Yards from Gabalis, and difcover'd a mod terrible Mon- ger. He was as big as fix Elephants, and his Body was only cover'd with a wrinkled Skin without any Hair on it. His Eyes were large but hollow, and the prodigious Width of his Mouth refembled the Brink of an Abyfs. His r xvi ]■ His Belly touch'd the Ground, and was only fupported bv four huge Paws, forafmuch as it was neceiTary to move very (lowly. What' a Prifon that Belly muft make ! The Mon- ger approachM Gabalis by Degrees, and when he was at a very little Diftance from him, he open'd his Mouth, and receiv'd this Wretch into the Bottom of his Entrails. After this Expedition, which fill'd mç with Horror, the living Prifon repair'd to the Place from whence it came out, and the Earth clos'd of itfelf. Thus ended the fécond Affair. As foon as the Affembly broke up, my Carrier, drefs'd in blue,caft his Net over me, took me on his Shoulders, and carry'd me back again to my Cabinet, where he left me, repeating the two laft of the four Words, that Argamaffe had faid to me ; retain and fublifh. Some Moments after this it ftruck twelve a Clock. It would be fomewhat difficult, Sir, not to remember fuch a ftrange Adventure as mine was. To make it perfectly known to the World, the beft way would be to print it, if all Books that are publifhed, fold well enough for being publickly cenfured. To conclude, I hope now you'll no longer won- der atmy Facility in believing the Prodigies contain'd in the Memoirs of Abdalla ; fo I fin- ifh my Letter by alluring you that I am, &c. A A TABLE O F T H E Histories and Stories s* Contain'd in this BOOK. MONSIEUR Sandiflbn'j Letter. The Beginning of the Adventures of Abdal- la Son of Hanif. Page i The Hi/iory of AJmoraddin. n The Adventure of the Indian Lady delivered from the Fire. l g The Adventure of the Indian Virgin carried away by the Fakirs. 22 The firjl Story of Loulou. 3 I The Hifory of the King without a Nofe. 33 The Hifory of the Perfian Lady, with her Voyage into the Topfy-Turvy IJIand. 30 The World r ever fed. c 1 The Hi/iory of Âjoûb of Schiras. * 61 *• The A TABLE, &c. The Continuation of the Hiflory of the Perfian La- ay 67 The Re fur region of Queen Faramak and Gian her Hufband. 74 The Sequel of the Hiflory of Ajoub of Schiras. 80 The fécond Story of Loulou. 84 The Hiflon of Prince Tangut and the Princefs with a Nofe a Foot long. 88 The third Story of Loulou. 115 The Continuation of the Hiflory of Almoraddin. 116 The Adventure of the Father of the Pilot. 1 1 7 The Hiftory of the Giant Hardoun and the beautiful Nour: As alfo, that of the Genius Feridoun and the Princefs Cheroudah. 121 The Adventure of the Santon, Hufband of the young Woman. 135 The Adventure of the firfl of the young forrowful Santons. 138 The Adventure of the fécond of the young forrowful Santons. 142 The Adventure of the third of the young forrowful Santons. 148 The Adventure of the old Santon at tlie Queen of the Mountains. 153 The Sequel of the Hifory of Almoraddin and Queen Zulikhah. 163 THE SSi-JaHEBII^BBMl ; THE ADVENTURES O F A B D A L L A, Son of HAN IF. =ff Owards the Conclufion of the Rama- danS in the fixth Year of the Reio- a m of Chah-Jehan\ Pillar of Fait°h, . I; OgloufiKany Captain of the Palace ri irfiiTTW Guards, came into my Chamber, a little while before the fécond Prayer c began, and fpoke to me in the following manner. Abdalla^ a The Ramadan is the Mahometans Month of Faffing, du- ring which folemn Fafi, they neither eat nor drink from the rifing of the Sun till the Stars begin to appear. They abftain like-wife till that Moment, from lying with their Wives. b Chah-J ehan the great Mogul, Father of Aurengzebe, ana Son o/Jehan-Guir, Son of Ekbar, Son of Houmayous, the fe- venth Defcendant of Tamerlane. « The Mahometans are oblig'd to pray five times a Day, namely, a little after Sun-rifing, jufl after noon Day, before Sun' fitting, at Snn-fetti»g, and very late at Sight. B Son .[ * ] Son of Hani/, I wifh the Command I am going to execute, may prove advantageous to thee. Give me thy Sabre and follow me to the Sultan's, for fuch is his Pleafure. The Moment I heard thefe Words, I fell proftrate, and after having a- dor'd God, Ogloiif-Kan, anfwer'd I, put thy Hand upon my Head ; the Sultan is Mafter of my Life ; and I am his Slave. At the fame Time I deli- ver' d him up my Sabre and follow'd him. There were ten Guards polled at the Bottom of the Stairs, who environ'd me; and with this Atten- dance I pafs'd thro' all the Courts belonging to the Palace, and at laft was brought before Chah- "Jehan. This Monarch had no other Company with him but Emir-Gemla, Son of Gabdol, who was Gene- ral of his Forces at that Time, and the venerable Fazel-Kan, Son of Hafam, Chief of the Imans d Oglouf-Kan^ who went before me, prefented him my Cimeter, and faid : Light of the Faithful, Ab- daUa, without the leaf! Refiftance, has fubmitted himfelfto thy Orders; may thy Enemies imitate his Example. Tho' I was not confcious of being Criminal in any thing, yet I felt an ex- treme Fear and Dread feize my Spirits: However, I arm'd my felf fo as to prevent any Appearance of it in my Countenance. The Sultan's Eyes were no ways fiery, but that was not fufficient to aflure me -, for, what occafion is there to mew Wrath only to deftroy a Shrub? As foon as he faw me at his Feet, Son of Hanif, faid he to me, let us pray; let us fall down before him who never dies. Thefe Words encreas'd my Terror. The Sultan, the General, the Iman, the Captain of d Mahometan Ecclefiajlicks, who bavs the Care of the Mofqites. the [ 3 ] the Guards, the Guards that attended at the Door, knelt down, bow'd their Faces towards the Ground, and glorify'd the Prophet. Uncer- tain of my Fate, I invok'd this faithful interpre- ter of the Will of the Almighty to be my Pro- tector. My Soul communicated her Meditations to him thus : MefTengerof God, if I've always detefted the three Herefies ; e if my Refolutions were fin- cere, when I went to pay Honour to thy Shrine, and to bedew with my Sweat the holy Mount Ara- fat* i if~ I have made it hitherto the chief Delight of my Mind, and the Attention of my Eyes, to read over the divine Book, be then my fupport. The Computation of my Days will foon perhaps be ex- pir'd. I fee already the dark and frightful An- gels S ready to receive me. Remember how much Faith I repofe in thee ; there is but one God, and thou art his Prophet. The Prayer being ended, the Sultan rofe up, and turning towards me, faid, Son of Hanif, I have refolv'd on making thee undertake a long Voyage, bow down thy Head. Father of Mujftlmen^ an- fwer'd I, with a pretty bold Accent, the Voyage will be certainly long, and without return, which c The three principal Herefies among the Mahometans are % Firft, That by Grace we are faved independently of the Lan. Secondly, That by Truth we are fav'd independently both of Grace and the Latv. Thirdly, That all Religions are Good. Thofe who maintain this lull Principle are burnt as foon as dif- couer'd. Neverthelefs, Mahomet himfelf has taught this Dj- cïrme; " Every Man, fays he, that prr.£tifes virtue, Jciv, ** Chri/lian, or other, who quits his Rcl'gion to embrace " another; every Man, who adores God, and does good *' actions, will be fav'd. Ale. az. i. ( A Mountain not far jrom Mecca, where Adam and Eve's Lyes were open d, according to tbt Mahometan Fables. The Pil- grims that go to Mecca run up it. g Monkir and Quarekir, dark Angels, to whom the Maho- metan: art dtlhtr'd after Death. B 2 we [4] we muft all expect to make at different Times; may the mod mighty and merciful God multiply thy Years. When I had pronounc'd thefe few Words, I comforted my felf on my Knees, and ilretch'd forth my Neck. He drew out my Sa- bre, which he had not let out of his Hands, even during the Prayer, and extended his Arm -, but inftead of fevering my Head from my Body, he fheath'd the Blade again ; which unexpected Cle- mency exacted from the Affiftants loud Accla- mations of Joy, I open'd my Eyes, which Dark- nefs, the Forerunner of Death, had already clos'd. How great was my Surprize ! Chah-Jehan, with a plealant Afpect, came and raised me from my for- mer Pofition, embrac'd me, and avow'd he was- as much charm'd with my Courage, as with my Obedience. Then he order'd Oglouf-Kan to re- tire with his Guards, plac'd me between Fazel- Kan and Emir-'Jemla, over againft his Sopha, and made Signs to Emlr-J emla to fpeak to me. My Lord, faid Emir-Jemla, I have feen and talk'd with a Man that was 340 Years of Age, and who had ten more to live. He was found opprefs'd with Chains, in the King of Golkonda'z Camp, after the Defeat, and the Victory which you obtain'd over him, procur'd this fame Per- fon his Liberty. I detain'd him three Days, which hardly fumVd to relate the Revolutions that he had ïttn, during the Courfe of his long Life. I did not think it fit to keep him any lon- ger , fo I gave him the Sum of ten Roupies 11 , with his Liberty to go where he pleas'd. He was a Native of Bengal, and was call'd the old Man of that Place. His Eyes were very much funk in h A Piece of Silver, -worth about thirty Pence, French Mo- ney. his [ î ] his Head, his Voice was clear, his Hair and Beard very nicely comb'd out, and as white as Snow. Tho' his Vifage was full of Wrinkles, yet it wore a fine frefh Colour, and one might eafily difcover in it a Gaiety that naturally accompanies a perfect Health. He feem'd to have been bigger than he was, and his Body being thus fhrunk, cou'd fcarce- ly be brought to ftoop. The Nerves in his Neck appear'd likewife to be contracted, and to have drawn his Head nigher to his Shoulders ; never- thelefs he walk'd nimbly, and without any thing to fupport him. Being afk'd what means he us'd to attain fo very advanc'd an age, he told me, his Father, who was 350 Years old, had be- queathe three Dozes of the Water brought from the Fountain of the Ifland of Borico, and that by virtue of which, he had been thrice reftor'd to his former Youth. I cautioufly defir'd him to tell me in what Part of the World this Ifland was, and whether it was permitted to fetch any of the Water contained in this blefled Fountain of Life. He protefted he could not anfwer eicher of the Queftions,and that he had even feveral times pro- pos'd the fame Demand to his Father, but could never be fatisfy'd in them. I then prefs'd him very ftrenuoufly to inform me, by what means his Father came by fo furprizing a Liquor : He always made anfwer it was a i J refent made him by Vichnou, i a God, whom he had for a long- time facrific'd to. Thus, my Lord, you have heard all I cou'd gather from this Kafar* So fabulous a Conclufion as that was, did not a lit- tle contribute to make me defpife him ; for after » Parabaravaftou, the Chief of the Gods, created, as t ■'. dians fay, three injerior Gods, namely, Bruma, Vichnou Routren. k Or Kafer, wicked, treacherous. B 3 what [ <*] what Manner foever I queftion'd him, he ftill perfifted in the fame Story. Emir having finifh'd what he had to fay, Cbab-Jeban turn'd towards the Son of Ha/am, who with the moft profound Refpecl, mov'd his Hand to his Forehead, and fpoke in the following Manner. Sacred Defender of the Faithful, may the Sword of the deftroying Angel l grow rufty in thy Fa- vour. I have neither conceal'd my Sentiments from thee, nor difguis'd what our Books have taught me. Amroit, Son of Giqjm, fays, in his Hiftory of the World, in the Chapter where he treats of thofe Parts obvious to our Knowledge, tho' we don't know precifely where they lie, that the Ifland of Borico is fituated by it felf,furrounded by a vaft Extent of Sea -, that Days and Nights are of an Equality -, and that Trees bear Fruit all the Year there, becaufe the Alteration of the Seafons is imperceptible. He alfo makes mention of the "Water that gives youthful Vigour to Bodies im- pair'd by Weaknefs and old Age ; and afïures us, that a fmall Piece of Building environs the Foun- tain. The chief Prieft, who alone has the keep- ing of the Key of this Edifice, difpofes of none of the Water, but after certain Directions, which he prefcribes. The Natives even of the Ifland are depriv'd of it, and only allow'd to make ufe of what conveys itfelf into the Out Parts, which has nothing nigh the fame Virtue. It fortifies in- deed, but the Source only can reftore Youth. The Water of the Fountain taftes like the molt exquifue Wine, and is of fuch Strength, that the leaft Excefs of drinking it kindles a Fire in the ' His Name is Adriel, he dejlroys all Mankind. According to Mahomet, be v/tll be chang'd into a Sheep at the End of the World, and vjill kill him/elf between Hell and Paradife. Veins, [7 ] Veins, which is not to be extinguished but by the Lofs of Life. But who inftru&ed Amrou fo well, interrupted Chab-Jehan? ana from whom had he this Relation? My Lord, refum'd the Chief of the Imam, he does not fatisfy us as to that Article, but I fancy he m lift: have had it from fome Traveller -, for he adds, that feveral Foreigners had in vain at- tempted to take the little Edifice by Force. " An Army of Phantoms, fays be, fupprefs'd tc their Temerity. Some were menac'd by Lyons " and Dragons in Wrath ; and others were re- " pell'd by huge Giants, ready to eat them up. " Some felt the Earth quake under their Feet ; " and others again had like to have been con- " fum'd by blazing Cataracts of elemental Flames. feem'd to be much in the fame way of thinking i - i • * j with [ 9 ] with my felf, which I was convinced of by the feveral Obfervations I made of him. His melan- choly Air having infpir'd me with Curiofity, I follow'd him pretty brifkly. When I was fome- what near to him, I heard him fetch a gr>at Sigh, and fay pretty high, fuppofing himfclf a- lone ; Ob ! if floe now efcapes, I am irretrievably loft. The Noife of my Horfe interrupting his Ref- very, we faluted each other. The Converfation at firft was carried on with Indifference, till ac laft we both became interefted in it. I found Means to infinuate my felf into his Confidence, and therefore he made no Difficulty to relate me the Subject of his Inquietudes, in the following Manner. The Hi/lory o/Almoraddi n. MY Name is Almoraddin, and I am the only Son of a Merchant, who was about tl ce Years ago, one of the Richeft of Cam His Excefs of Love and Tendernefs for mi r is re- duc'd him into very indifferent Circun ': .nces; and for the hme Reafon, perhaps, he is juft on the Brink of confuming what little Subftance he has left. Alas ! how wretched am I, to be both the Caufe of his Misfortune and my own ! Pve deluded him into an Abyfs of my own making, where Love and Vanity have continually precipi- tated me, and where Delpair now plunges me a third Time. Some Relations Sons of our Bufi- hefs, refolving to apply themfelves to Commerce, and to go a trafficking Voyage to Siam, made me an offer to forfakc Pleafures and Idlenefs, as they had [ io ] had done, in order to fee the World, and to ac- quire Riches. I was eafily prevail'd upon to com- ply, and as eafily brought my Father to give into it. He equip'd me a fine Ship, loaded it with rich Merchandife, and after having recommended Vigilance and Fidelity to' me, and given me his BlefTing, I had his Leave to begin my Voyage. We coafted all the Ifthma of India, without meet- ing with the lead bad Weather; but the Wind changing, when we had fiil'd Part of the Ifland of Ceylan, we ventur'd to enter into the Streights of Malacca, and thought it beft to coaft round the Ifland of Sumatra. One Day, as I was amu- fing my felf on Deck, I efpied a fine Sea-Port, and adjoining to it, a Town moft delightfully fi- tuated. I immediately afk'd the Pilot the Name of it, and exprefs'd at the fame Time a vafl In- clination to go afhore there. That Town, an- fwer'd he, is the capital City of the little King- dom of Barroftan, which is govern'd at prefent by Queen Zulikbab, one of the beautifulleft Prin- ceffes in the Eaft. She has made a Law, which has been already the Ruin of numberlefs impru- dent Youths. If you follow my Advice, you'll look upon her Port as a dangerous Rock-, and we mall purfue our Voyage. What does that Law enjoin? anfwer'd I, your Difcourfe furprifes me. This Law, reply'd he, obliges every Commander of a Ship that enters her Port, to lie one Night with the Queen. If any Familiarity happens between them, he muft of Neceffity become her Spoufe ; but if he does not anfwer the warm Expectations of Zulikbab, his Vefiel, Men and Cargo, are confifcated, and him felf baniûYd from her Dominions the next Day. Were my Life even to lie at Stake, re- fum'd I, I am refolv'd to try whether Fortune will (■ »,3 . will favour me more than thofe yon have been fpeaking of, and to experience their Deficiency in pleafing fo very amiable a Princefs. The Pi- Jot wou'd fain have continued his Remonftrances, but I compell'd him to obey, when we enter'd full fail into the Harbour. Upon my landing, a Crowd of Courtiers met me to pay their Com- pliments; the Populace look'd upon me in the Streets I pais'd thro', with a Kind of Admiration, and her Majefty gave me a very gracious Recep- tion. The Moment I accofled her, how did her fhining Eyes inflame my Soul ! Such charming rofy Lips ! accompanied with fuch regular Fea- tures, as can only be imagin'd' what a heavenly Complexion! how delicate a Shape a ! what Svveetnefs, and what Majefty united together! to fee all thefe Charms center' d in one Perfon tranf- ported me. I mofl willingly receiv'd the Impref- fion they made, in Expectation of enjoying them immediately when the happy Opportunity ap- proach'd. Zullkhah took me by the Hand, and having feated me nigh her, fhe afk'd me, with all the Affability imaginable, if I was acquainted with the Laws of that Country ? Fair Zitiikbah, reply 'd I, your Laws are not unknown to me ; could I but merit the Happinefs they impofe as an Obligation ! There can't be any fo fweet in the World -, nor fo feverely obferv'd, refum'd fhe, fmiling. After that fine chang'd the Converfa- tion, and afk'd fome Quefuons concerning me and my Voyage. All I was capable of faying on that Score, feem'd to afford her a Deal of Plea- fure. Our Supper was ferv'd with the utmoft Magnificence, follow'd by a Ball , all the Ho- a Throughout all the Eaji Country, a fine Shape is -j.'hat gives the Name of Beauty. 1 nour. [ Il ] nour of which I engrofs'd, according to the Judg- ment of the Queen, who could not forbear ad- miring me perform the Dance b of the Parfes. When it grew late, fhe conducted me to her A- partment ; a handfome Slave brought us Sweet- meats and Liquors j we undrefs'd our felves, and the Moment we were in Bed I fell a Sleep. Next Morning, two arm'd Men awoke me, and faid in a rough Manner, mind thou obferv'ft the Law. I open'd my Eyes, examin'd the Place the Queen had quitted, I curs'd my bad Fate for deeping, drefs'd my felf with all Expedition, and then the two Men thruft me out of the Palace. No Lan- guage is extenfive enough to exprefs the Fatigues I underwent in traverfing the Ifland. At lad I reach'd Achen, where I found a VefTel oblig'd to touch at Cambaye, fo fhip'd my {elf on board of it, in the Quality of a common Sailor. Being arriv'd in my native Country, I went di- rectly to one of my Friends, who hardly knew me again, being fo much disfigur'd. I made him believe my Ship was loft upon a Rock, and de- fir'd him to acquaint my Father with my Ship- wreck and Arrival. This was fending him the Difeafe and the Remedy at the fame Time. He did not regard the Lofs of a third Part of his Riches in the leaft, but haften'd to meet me where I was. Oh Son ! faid he, embracing me, let us rejoice and be of good Comfort ; the Sea has left us the moft valuable of our Treafures, by preferving thy Life. He led me home, where I found every thing that might engage me to forget the reft of the World. Some time after that, my Companions arriv'd alfo laden with vaft b The Defendants of the ancient Inhabitants 0/Perfia, who fiill fubfifi in foms Parts cf Indoftan and Perfia. RicheSa P-.'-A [ i3] ftiches. I related to them my pretended Misfor- tune, which they feem'd fenfibly ui7ec~ted at. If you are difpos'd, laid they, to venture ag.iin to Sea next Spring, we will keep in Company the whole Voyage, and your Lofs fhall be doubly re- • pair'd. I needed not many Perfuafions to bring me to a Relblution of leaving Cambaye a fécond Time : The Idea of the charming Queen of Bar- r oft an being forcible enough to make me accept the Propofition. When the "Winter Seafon was almoft fpent, my Father, taking Notice of my Penfivenefs, prefs'd me to tell him what troubled my Mind. Can you be ignorant of it, replied I? I fhall die with Grief, if I don't find fome way or other to repair the Lofs you have fuftain'd by my Misfortune. My dear Child, refum'd he, don't think of ex- pofing your felf to frefh Dangers. Let us rather peaceably enjoy our little Certainty at home. This is entirely my advice ; but if you are fully bent on courting Fortune a fécond Time, I love you too well to make any Oppofition to it. I burft into Tears of Gratitude, which frrv'd to compleat his Tendernefs. Fie prepar'd a Veflel for me, much richer laden than the former-, he re- new'd his Inftructions, and I joyfully fet fail along with the reft of my Friends. I had no fooner difcover'd the fatal Ifland, but I let the Compa- ny Ships make the Streights of Malacca before me-, and backening my Couifes till Night, I bore a- way in fpite of them. As for the Ships Compa- ny, it was fruitlefs for them to oppofe my De- fign. With what Regret did the faithful and ex- periene'd Pilot refign his Care of the Rudder, and with how much Joy did I immediately take the Management of it, and fleer that Courfe which blind Love directed me. I was much more cirefs'd [ i4 ] carefs'd now than the firft Time of my Arrival, I being the only Perfon that eyer return'd thither a fécond Time. The divine Zulikbab ftrove to charm me by additional Graces, which me made to mine before my Eyes ; but alas ! how ill did I repay her kind Advances ! A jealous Devil lull'd me to fleep as.foon as we were in Bed. When I awoke in the Morning, my Aftonifh- ment and Defpair exceeded all Bounds, and no- thing cou'd equal them, but the Hardships I en- dur'd in my Journey to Cambaye. Here a thoufand Sobs interrupted Abnoraddirfs Difcourfe. I confefs, laid I to him, your Mis- fortunes exact Tears, but ftill you are happy in having learnt both how to avoid Dangers, and to overcome your felf. Such Knowledge is never too dear bought. Alas ! cry'd he, I have pay'd the Price, without acquiring it. How unfortu- nate am I ! I have loft two Ships and valuable Cargoes with them -, my Father commiferates the ill Fate of my fécond pretended Ship-wreck, and even confents to run the Hazard of a third,- which perhaps will reduce us to the laft Extremity of Want. We have converted all the little Stock we had left into Merchandife. Even my Father's Liberty ftands at ftake : He has borrow'd of the wealthy Ma?nut of Aden, the Sum of ten thou- fand Roupes, upon Condition of becoming his Slave, if he does not pay him the faid Sum again in a Years time. The eafy to be wrought on Goodnefs of the Father, and the Obftinacy of the Son, excited very much my Compafiion. As all Countries were indifferent to me, for what I had to do, I made an offer of my Service to accompany him in his Voyage. Pll unravel, faid I to him, what prov'd the Caufe of your Mifcarriages ; you mud certainly P-Jô certainly have aci-ed void of Precaution. He rea- dily accepted my Propofal, with all the Tranf- ports of Joy imaginable : Thus we continu'd tra- velling always together. I difcover'd to him whom I was, and what Reafons had induc'd me to forfake my own Country ; attributing only that to my Caprice and Curiofity, which I had never undertaken but by an Order, that ftri&ly enjoin'd me to fecrecy. If I may judge of his Thoughts by my own, I fancy we were both equally fur- priz'd at the whimfical Motives of our Voyages ; and that whilft I was accufing him within my felf of Madnefsy he was wondering the fame Time at my extravagant Folly. One Day towards Evening, as we were travel- ling before the Caravan, and entertaining our felves as ufual, we heard a fad and lamentable Outcry come from the Ruins of an old Mofque, encompafs'd with Trees, and pretty diftant from the high Road. We immediately haften'd that Way, and after having ty'd up our Horfes to a Tree, we pafs'd thro' a Thicket to the Place, where the Cries, which augmented more and more, were heard. There prefented to our View a Gang of Br amines c and Fakirs d , who were u- fing Violence to two young Creatures of their own Religion. Tho' four of thefe Ruffians were employ'd to hold each of them, whilft two of the Chief of the Gang ftrove to fatisfy their Bruta- lity, yet ftill they made a laudable Rcfiftance. As became true Mujfelmen, we fill upon thefe infamous Villains, Sword in Hand. De te liable Ralcals, laid I to them, I'll punifli your Impu- « Bramines or Brahmens, religious Gentiles, much refpefieJ, but grtat Cheats. d Another Sort of religious Idolatirs. dence [ i6] dence and Hypocrify, and Death fhall be the only Attonement of the foul Crime you attempt to commit. The three that were next me foon ex- perience the Fury of my Arm : The reft, quit- ting their Hold of the Women, form'd directly a fmali Battalion, and having drawn their Canjars* from under their Robes, they difpos'd themfelves being thus arm'd to attack us, uttering forth moft dreadful Howlings at the fame Time. Thefe hi- deous Shouts had not their defign'd Effect ; for" inftead of terrifying us they prov'd fatal to them, drawing aim oft all the Soldiers belonging to the Convoy of the Caravan to our Afiiftance. Four more of thefe Villains had fallen by our Hands when this Succour came up to us -, the reft were furrounded and cut in Pieces without any Quar- ter. I was not wounded in the Action, but AU moraààïn was (lightly in. one of his Shoulders. During the Combat the Women had hid them- felves, but as foon as it was ended, they came from the Bullies that had ferv'd them as an Afy- lum. They proftrated themfelves before us, great- ly acknowledging us for their Deliverers and Ma- ilers. We did not fuffer them long to remain in this Pofture : Praife God, faid I to them, and honour Mahomet his Prophet, whofe Slaves we are ; for his invincible Sword has deliver' d you. As the approach of Night did not permit us to flay any longer in that Place, we took up the "Women behind us, and went, after having di- flributed fome Money among the Soldiers, who equally divided the Spoils of the Slain, to look for Lodgings. We were fo much fatigu'd, that however cu- rious we might be to hear the Adventures of our e Caniar, a fhort but very broad Pmiarâ. '•-."- ~ fair [ 17 ] fair Captives, we gave way to fleep immediately after Supper was over. They pafs'd the Night in the rattle Chamber, much admiring our Mode- fly -, but they were ignorant of Jlmoraddin's Heart being too deeply engag'd at Sumatra, and that for my Part, I had reiolv'd never to embark my felf in any Pleafure that might give me too greac an Attachment. The next Day, we provided them with Horfes, and purfuing our Journey, we de- fir'd them to inform us how they came to fall into the Hands of thofe Villains we deliver' d them from. The elded of the two, who was very richly dreft, drew from her Bofom a little Parcel, which. flie prefented to me, faying : It is highly juft that I fhould give you fome Proofs of my Grati- tude, and that the Plunder, which the Hypocrites thought to make, fhould devolve on you. I made a decent Refufal of her Prefent, as did alfo AU moraddin. You are not fenfible, reply'd me, of what I offer you. She open'd the Parcel, which prov'd to be a confiderable Quantity of Dia- monds and other Jewels, very nicely wrought. Since you have, laid I to her, fo luckily preferv'd this Treafure, it would be as barbarous in us to deprive you of it. Be fo good, added Almorad- J///,as not to delay gratifying our eagernefstohear you, and in doing that, you'll make usall the Return we require. The generous Anfwer of this Mer- chant, confidering the prefent Pofture of his Af- fairs enhanc'd very much my Efteem of him. The [ i8 ] The Adventure of the Indian Lady, delivered from the Fire. ^■TOT long ago, refum'd the Lady to thofe ^ prefent, I was the happieft Woman in all Kitour. My Hufband was both young, handfome and complaifmt ; his Relations fhew'd me the molt tender Regard, and each Day produc'd a new Scene of Delight. I was married a twelve Month, and I fcarce thought it one. At laft, a terrible Fit of the Cholick unhappily put an End to my Hufband's Life and my own Felicity, which the mod fkilful Phyficians try'd in vain to pre- ferve. When he gave up his laft Breath, I was fitting down at the Head of his Bed in a mod de- plorable Condition -, his Relations were all in Tears; the Eramines invok'd the afiifting Spirits, and conjur'd the Day Star to fend the Rays of Light to re-animate the then lifelefs Body. But alas! that dear Portion of the Divinity was al- ready too far flown from its Matter to be rejoin'd, it was united to its Source. I fell into a Swound, from which I was no fooner recover'd, but a ftrange Delirium feiz'd me. I can't tell what my Diforder might make me fay at that time, but when my Spirits were fettled, I found my felf up- on my Bed, encompafs'd by Eramines^ who feem'd by their Geflures and Singing to be exceeding Gay. Their Folly did much augment my Grief. I pafïionately afk'd'them what was the meaning of their Mirth? Their Chief, an aged Man of great Authority, impos'd filence on the reft, and kif- fing my Hand, in fpi:e of me, faii : 'Tis your i heroic [ i9 ] heroic Virtue we celebrate, your conjugal Ten- dernefs, your faithful Love, a divine Fire, which the pureft Flames that ever proceded from Balm or Cinnamon, are unworthy to be mix'd with. Oh happy deceas'd ! continued he, raifing his Voice, blifsful Soul! bright Spark that augments the Luftre of the Day be no longer agitated ! Thy faithful Confort will be fhortly rais'd to join and mingle Glory with thee. Whilft he was de- livering this fatal Difcourfe a , which I too well comprehended, Iendeavour'd to make my Elcape-, but the cruel old Man, and thofe who were fub- fervient to him,' confpir'd to detain mc, conti- nuing to overwhelm me with their deceitful Praifes. You are the Glory of your Country, laid they, you are the Support of our Religion, a Prodigy of Courage, and a worthy Example to the Memory of iucceeding Ages. By you, all Widows will learn to follow their tender Huf- bands into the other World, and to purify their Charms in the facred Fire. How delightful is it to blend our Afhes with thofe we formerly che- rifh'd, and to fly to the Center of Light to cele- brate new Nuptials ! I am unworthy of all thefe Honours you heap upon me, cry'd I ; my Spoufe will be fatisfy'd with my Tears ; I (hall rejoin him as he quitted mc, when Fate ordains it. But you have cho- fen, reply'd they all together, to end your Days after a more glorious Manner; your Soul is rais'd above it felf. Oh àcarefi of Hujbands! did you fay, / cannot, will not furvive thee. You laid it, and our Ears heard it ; don't therefore op- a The Indian Women are oblig'd to be burnt alive with the dead Bodies of their Hufiandt, if, in their Grief, they happen ti fay they'll die for him. The Mahometa ur as much as pojicle to abol'tfh this Cnjlom, C 2 pole f to ] pofe any longer a pretended Modefty to the Praifes you merit. We have inform'd the Magj- flrates of it, your Relations, all your fellow Ci- tizens ; they have deliver'd you up to our Zeal, - and we will not fail to fee the Execution of their Defires. I reprefented that Ï had not been heard, and that if any Expreflion flipt from me, worthy of Death, I laid it during my Delirium. Not- withftanding this, they liiten'd not to my Alle- gation. My Frenzy was judg'd as a fupernatural Condition, and capable of acling with Reafon in it. My Perfecutors did not furfer me out of their Sight, whilft my Hufband's Corps was warning, and the Pile of Wood making ready. My Com- plaints being fruitlefs, I refolv'd, out of Defpair, to refufe taking any Suftenance, and to keep in a continual Silence. This Conduct even was look'd upon as a marvellous ErTecl of my Vir- tue, as my infamous Panegyrifts would infinuate: The half of my Soul, faid they, was already with the Sun, and the other difdain'd tho common WeakneiTes of human Nature. The Chief of thefe Barbarians, who found me agreeable to his Inclination, and had a conceal'd Defign, was very much alarm'd at my Reiblu- tion. The Night before my intended Obfequies, inftead of exhorting me as ufual, he whifper'd me, and faid, Fear not, fair Lady, r 11 find me am to fave you. The Gods mov*d at my Prayers, refign you up for feme time, to their Minijler, and com- mand you not to abridge a Life, that even the Flames revere by Hunger. I greedily fwallow'd the Hope of it, without examining too much the Price the Deceiver fet upon my Deliverance. I eat, I re- reiv'd the Congratulations of my Friends, and all theCommilTions they gave me for the other World without Concern. The next Day they dreft me I in [ » ] in die rîcheft Apparel I had, and conducted me by the Sound of Inftruments to the Pile, that was erected at an extraordinary Expence, with- out the City Gates. I cnter*d the Lodge that was prepaid lor me, and my Hufband's Body was laid crofs my Knees, according to the Cuftom of Kitov.r. As foon as the Entrance of the Lod was ftopt up, the Pile was fet on Fire, and the Air eccho'd with the mournful Sound of the Flutes, and the Acclamations of the Populace. At the fir il Appearance of the Flames, I was re- pofTefs'd of all my former Terror-, efpecially when the combuftible Matters I was fitting on, funk down with me on a fudden under the Earth. The Meafures were fo well taken, that my Defcent prov'd fuccefsful. Two Bramines, whom I faw not, but heard, immediately remov'd my Huf- band's Body from me, and having drawn it up a- gain 'into the Lodge that was all on Fire, they ilopt it up with Materials proper for that Pur- pofe. After that, they conveyed me thro' a lout and obfeure Paffage that led into a Vault, wherq they (hut me up. The Ceremony of my funeral Rites being over,' and the Night fuccecding, the Chief repair'd to the Place where I was. P Vault being pretty large and thers made a very fplendid Eqt ceeding merry, and did not i : ttle pu., eafy Credulity of the People. Wh ended, they divided tru cnfel Orders, fome going under ( thers without, to put the fi Reparation of the Place w '. thePile,thattheKnowled not be perceivable by th pectçd now to be attac [;» 1 he remaining alone with me -, but whether he had a Mind to win me by feign'd RefpecT, or rather, that he did not think the Circumstances fuitable, I can't tell; nothing however was offer'd at that Time, but an exaggerated Reprefemation of the Favour he had done me. Six Brammes, whom he probably repos'd a part : cular Confidence in, came back again to us betore Day-light, provided with Horfes and Provifions. Juft after i had taken all the Jewels off my Cloaths, they difguis'd me in a long Robe, like thofe they wear certain Days in the Year. Thus we fet forward, I not knowing whither they defign'd to carry me. The further we left Kitour behind us, the more clearly my odious Lover declar'd in what View he had procur'd my Deliverance. We met Ye- fterday at Majfan, a Company of Fakirs, who havin ; a Waggon, travell'd more commodious than we. As thefe Sort of People commonly keep a very ^ood Underitanding with each other, their Chief readily accepted the Propofition ours made him to unite Companies. We left our Horfes at MoJJan, and I was plac'd next this virtuous Lady, who was expos'd to the fame Danger as my felf, and the Bramines and Fakirs fit one among ano- ther. Their Chiefs, difpairing to bring us to a fhameful Confent by fair Means, refolv'd to ef- fect their Defigns by having Recourfe to the laft Extremity ; when, luckily for us, the vile Ac- complifhment of them, prov'd abortive, in the Place, that ought to be hereafter the Theatre of your Glory. We were fenfibly touch'd at the Account this charming Indian gave us of her Delivery. Almo- raddin made an offer of his Service to fheker her at his Father's Houfe, well knowing fhe was no longer lafe at Kitour. She return'd him many Thanks, I >3 ] Thanks, telling us, me had an Uncle at Amada- bat, who was a Mujjulman, nam'd Ali-Bajou, that would protect her from all future Danger. It were fufficient, faid I to her, to be a Mufulmun, to do fo good an Adfion. Then we beheld, as defign-dly, the other fair Maid, who with a fmi- ling Countenance, faid to us : Generous Defen- ders of my Life and Liberty, the beginning of my Misfortunes was not fo tragick as that which you have heard this Lady fay me underwent. The Adventure of the IndianVirgin carried away by the Fakirs. I Come from a large Market Town that lies on the high Road, about a Mile and a half from Amanabat. We ftiall pafs thro' it, fo muft beg you'll plcafe to leave me to the Care of my R°~ lations, who live there. About four Days ago the Feaft of the God Ram a , and the Monkey Innuman b , was celebrated there. This Day is al- ways folemniz'd with great rejoicing, in Memory of the Victory they obtain'd over the Giant Ra- vattem, and the Deliverance of Sidi, Wife of Ram, whom the faid Giant had detain'd in his Illand of Serandib c . There was a great Concourfe of Strangers in the Streets, who either reforted there out of Devotion, or a Defire of partaking of the Diverfions which that Place affords on fuch a Ram, is the God Vichnou made Man t> The King of Monkeys. 'Twas he that firfi found out the Ravijher of Sidi, and fupply'd Ram with an Army of five hundred Millions of Monkeys. c It is the Ifland of Ceilan that Ravanem was King of. C 4 Occa- [ *4 ] Occafions. The Inhabitants were mingled among the reft, who amus'd themfelves in beholding a thoufand different Spectacles. Upon the Market- place there were Comedians, who diverted the Publick by little Scenes of Buffoonry ; Poiture- Mafters, whofe Dexterity was aftonifhing -, Dan- cers, who were admir'd for their Agility -, and Muficians, who fung the grand Chorus. The Fakirs, whom you lo defervedly punifh'd, drew likewile about them a great Number of Specta- tors, by reprefenting, in a very moving Man- ner, on their Waggon, which was drawn along, the carrying away of Cariavarti, Daughter or Bruma.. The youngefl: among them, drefs'd m "Women's Cloaths, acted the Part of the God- defs. At her firffc Appearance, fhe fat on the Front of the Waggon, in a very negligent Po- Iture, amufing her felf in making a Nofegay of various Flowers, and fmging- harmonioufly at the fame Time. Whilft fhe was thus imploy'd, the God Bruma, plac'd at the hind Part of the Wag- gon, exprefs'd, in Prefence of ; -his A$dis% the Violence of his Paflion for his Daughter-, and they advis'd him to metamorphofe himfelt into a Stag, to furprize her, and to ravifh her, ftnee ihe refus'd to extinguifh the Conflagration fhe had rais'd in his Soul. Bruma, receiving their Advice, plac'd a huge Pair of Buck's Horns on his Forehead, and, with the Afliftance of his Fa- vourites, feiz'd on Cariavarti, carried her away, and conceal'd her under a large Silk Coverlid, that reprefented a Foreft 6 , Then the Waggon mov'd. The Goddefs was very ftrangely agita- d The Andis, of an Indian Divinity, are thofe who perform great Penances in his Honour. • • . c The God Bruma ravijlj'd his own J^n^hter in a, Fct:c$, transform d into a Stag. . ,. ... """..' ted. [ *J ] ted, and fill'd the Air with Cries. She was heard, by Intervals, fay thefe lamentable Words : Alas! They are carrying me away! Where are my Re- lations? Oh Vicbnoy! Oh Rulrenl Will the Trai- tors live long without Punifhment? Bruma and his Andu readily mimick'd, in a very comical Manner, all her Geftures ; and repeating her Words with different Accents, they fbrm'd an Harmony that made the whole Audience laugh. Unhappily for me, I was fo much pleas'd with, this Spectacle, and follow'd the Waggon fo con- fiderable a Time, that the God Brùma took par- ticular Notice of me. Towards Evening, after the lad: Reprefentation, he pull'd off his Mafk and Horns, bad the Spectators give Attention, and faid : Adorers of Ram, we elteem our felves very happy, in having afforded you any Diver- sion by this our Performance. But do ye think you are acquainted with all we can do? No, no, you fuppofe we take time in ftudying our Tones and Geftures -, and it is therefore neceffary for us to undeceive you, by renewing fome other a- greeable Scene. Whilft he was fpeaking thefe W T ords, he gave a Signal to his Companions, who very probably were accuftom'd tofuch likeCrimes. The fakirs jump'd down upon the Ground, feiz'd me, threw me upon their Waggon, and wrapp'd me in Cariavarti's Coverlid, all which was done in the twinkling of an Eye. I began to ftruggle, to fquawl out, and to call Men and Dogs to my Succour ; but thefe Mirrors of Impudence mi- mick'd exactly what they law me do, and drown'd my Complaints in their ridiculous Sounds. This deceitful Mufick anfwer'd the End the pretended Bfuma propos'd to himfelf-, all the Aflcmbly was diverted, and the W T aggon began to move. Thofe who knew me, imagin'd, after one Turn round the [ i6 the Market Place, I mould be fet down again in the Place from whence they took me, but the Fakirs had no fuch Defign. They redoubled their Movements, till by Degrees they had convey'd me out of Town -, wnich was no fooner done, but they drove the Horfes in fuch a Manner., that the Waggon feem'd to fly. They got into a Wood about Midnight, where they would not have ftopp'd, but to feed themfelves and their Cattle. Till that Moment, the Fear and Con- fufion they were in, had hinder'd them from ma- king me any Overtures ; but then, their Chief be- gan to declare himfelf openly my Lover, to tire me with his Importunities, and to urge his info- lent Solicitations with more Fervency. I fum- mon'd all the Prefence of Mind I was Miftrefs of to repel them -, but, alas ! what Impreffion can the molt fkilful Argument make on a luftful Man, whom I was refolv'd not to condefcend to? The moft cruel Menaces had been already utter'd, when this agreeable Widow became my Compa- nion in Diftrefs -, and Threatnings would have produc'd far more direful Effects, had not you, Gentlemen, render'd them void, by feafonably coming to our Succour. The fubtle Villainy of the Fakirs, in this fécond Adventure, appeared fo horrible in our Eyes, that we could not help loading them with a thou- fand Imprecations, tho' they were Dead. Had it been in our Power, we mould have brought them to Life again, on Purpofe to facrifice it with more Torture and Satisfaction a fécond Time. We deliver'd the Indian Virgin up to her Parents, who embrac'd her with inexpreflible Tranfports ■ of joy, and we no fooner reach' à Amaàabat, but I conducted- the fair Widow to her Uncle Ali- Bajouy [ >7 ] Bajou, who afterwards inftrucled her, and put her in the Paths of the Prophet. Cambaye is a City too well known to need a particular Description of it; butas it was there, I began ferioufly to difcharge my felf of the Com- miflion Chah-Jehan had honour'd me with, it will be proper, in as few Words as poflible, to give an Account here of the Method I took to pro- cure all my Researches. The Moment I alighted in any Place, my firfb Care was to inform my felf, if there liv'd there or thereabouts, any very aged Perlons, famous Jearn'd Men, or celebrated Travellers ; and if I found any, 1 fpar'd nothing to make them talk with all the Franknefs imagi- nable. When an old Man told me his Health was puny and wavering, I afk'd what had redue'd him to that imperfect State of Health ; and when, on the contrary, he faid it was no ways impair'd, but found and vigorous, I begg'd him to tell me what Secret he made ufe of to preferve his Strength. The major Part of them poffefs'd no fuch Secret: Some anfwer'd, I eat but one Meal a Day -, or, I never take Phyfick; or, I avoid what Fatio-ues the Body too much -, or, I accuftom my felf to very little Sleep. Others again, made quite op- pofite Anfwers: I eat four Meals a Day; I take a Purge every Month ; I love Exercife ; and I fleep very much. The old Man of Calicut, alTur'd me, his long Life was owing to the Care he always took in keeping his Head and Feet dry -, and he of Barroftan, attributed his to the natural Aver- fion he ever bore to raw Fruit and far Victuals. Others alledg'd the Caufe of their Health to pro- ceed from avoiding Paffion and Sadnefs ; but ne- ver a one of them made the leaft mention of the Ifland of Borico, or the Water that reftores pad Youth. The 1 28 ] The learned Men behav'd with a vaft Deal more Referve ; but however, Money for the m oft Part reconcil'd me to thofe, whom Praifes had not Effect enough on. I propos'd to them va- rious Queftions on the Evacuations that happen to human Bodies, and on the Means to repair them. They made very fine Difcourfes on that Head. They prov'd that the Prefervation of Bo- dies was nothing elfe but a perpetual Re - ftablifh- ment. They computed the Age of certain Trees f and Animals s, fuppos'd to live long, becaufe they die without being taken notice of. They added to the Lift of thefe Animals, a much larger of Men and "Women, whom they aver'd to have liv'd many Ages. The Accounts they gave me were well attefted, and they were ignorant of nothing relating to thefe very aged People, but the Means that had preferv'd them fo long in the World. The Rea- sons alledg'd on that Score tended to Infinity. At laft, being urg'd to come to a Conclufion, they all avow'd their Ignorance, except the Alchimijls, who could not be brought to agree that any was yet in PofTefiion of what they term, with Em- phafy, The Sweet Enemy of Uglinefs, of Poverty and of Death -, but were continually hoping how to difcover it. I don't rank the Lovers of fuperna- tural Sciences among the Number of the learned Men by Profefiion, becaufe they are of a fuperior Order. I have always grounded my chief Hopes on them and Travellers. Was not the old Man of Bengal a Traveller? and was not the Son of Gigim inftructed alfo by Travellers ? Whether I hap- î An Oak Tree is a hundred Tear beforz it comes to its full Growth, it fiouri/hes as many more, and decays the fame. g. A Raven, a Crow, a Sta,g t &c. pen' J [ ^ ] pen'd to fojourn, or to be on the Road, I que- ition'd thofe who had feen the World, without any other View but Curiofity, concerning what furprizing Things they had feen and heard of du- ring their Travels. They did not require much Entreaty \ for I always obferv'd, they were as fond of recounting their Adventures, as I was of hear- ing them. They were fo much the Reverfe of the learned Men, that they would even have pay'd me for liftening to, or rather admiring them -, for, in the main, it's Admiration they want. I pro- pos'd my felf two Views by exacting thefe Nar- rations : I was in hopes either naturally to hear fome News of the Motive of my Voyage, or elfe to come by the Knowledge of fome Sage, in unity with the Genii. Such was my Conduct where ever I pafs'd , fo fhall difpence my felf, at prefent, from purfuing the Thread of my Hiitory. yilmoraddin'sVtfSé] being all in Readinefs, we put out to Sea. Our ParTage was both longer and more dangerous than the Seafon of the Year feem'd to promife. We were feveral Times oblig'd by bad Weather, to put in along the Coaft of the main Land, and even to flay near a Month at Calicut, whilft our Ship was repair'd of the Damage fhe met with at Sea. There happen'd to be in the Town, at that Time, a Perfian Lady, the Re- lic!: of a Merchant of the lame Nation. This La- dy's Name was Roufchen h , who had a Daughter between eight and nine Years of Age, of a lively- Wit, caW'à Loulou 1 . Her Hou fe was very much reforted to on Account of the many curious andfur- prizing Things which were talk'd of there. What m oft excited my Curiofity, was the Voyage, fhe faid, flie had made to the Topjy-Turvy Ifhnd, where * Shining. > Psarl, ftîî [ 3° ] fhe had been an Eye Witnefs of fuch Wonders, as no Mortal ever Taw before her felf. But when we arriv'd at Calicut, fhe had for fome Time hit off relating any thing about her Voyage thither, becaufe fhe perceiv'd they had not Faith e- nough to believe it, and that the moft Part of the Strangers, who frequented her Houfe, look'd upon what fhe faid concerning the Peris k , and Divs 1 , as meer Fiction. The ^Adorers of If fa m regarded her Notions as the Effect of Mad- nefs, and the reft did not know what to make of her. I fhould have been forry to have mffs'd fo favourable an Opportunity of becoming acquaint- ed with fo extraordinary a Perfon as fhe was -, fince the Name Topfy-'Turvy Ifland gave me fuch a lively Idea of that I was in fearch of. We paid her feveral Vifits, which fhe receiv'd with fo much Civility, as left us no Room to believe our Com- pany was difagreeable. She reafon'd with fuch a Fluency of good Senfe, upon all Sorts of Sub- jects, that my prejudice againft all the Women of her Country began to diflipate. The young Loulou promoted likewife Converfation according to her Capacity. When we made our firft Vifit, I began to run in Praife of her fine Eyes and Eye- brows -, upon which, Roufchen interrupted and faid: Daughter I make appear your Wit drjerves far greater Encomiums. I mall, anfwer'd Loulcu, by telling thefe Strangers the Story of the three great Fifhes. k Thefe are good Genii. l The Name of the bad Genii. m Jefus Chrift. The [3i] The fir fi Story of Loulou. YOU muft know there was formerly a Pond in the Kingdom of Stapbilin, which extends it felf alo'ng the Coaft of the Grey Sea, that was renown'd for producing very fine Fifli. Thefe Fiflies were referv'd for the King's Ufe only, and whofoever of his Subjects mould prefume to med- dle with them, incurr'd his high Difpleafure. He even forbid any fhould be caught for himfelf, du- ring a confiderable Time, which augmented the Growth of three of thefe Fifhes to fo prepofterous a Size, that they lorded it over the whole Pond. As Fifties have their different Inclinations, as well as Men : So the firft of them was very courageous, the fécond very cunning, and the third very Jloth- ful Thefe Tyrants became, at laflr, fo nice in their eating, that they turn'd up their Nofes at their ufual Food, and in fhort, nothing would go down with them but their Fellow Fifties, which depeopled the Pond in a very fhort Time. As all vile Actions come to light one time or another, their rapacious Gluttony came at laft to the King's Ears, who refolv'd to have them caught and to eat them. He fent therefore his Fiftiermen one Night to the Pond, ordering them to have their Nets in Readinefs for the next Day. They repair'd thither accordingly ; and as they were talking about their Commiflion, a Frog, not far from them, over-heard all they laid, and & went immediately to carry the fatal News to the three Fifties, who were at Supper together that Night. They made ajeftof what the poor Frog kindly forewarned them, and only thought of engaging his Company at Table, where they fat till Mid- night, tr-1 ■ night, and then fell afleep. As foon as the Smi was rifen, the King went in Perfon, and order'd the Fifhermen to environ the Pond with their Nets. The watchful Frog hearing what was in Agitation, thunder'd out his crocking, in order to awake the three Fiihes, who were (till afleep. The courageous and cannim ones awoke: The fir ft made the bed or his Way to the Mouth of a Brook that ran into the Pond, where he broke through «the Net, and fav'd himfelf. The fécond counterfeited himfelf dead, and floated on the Surface of the Water, as though he had been poi- fon'd. The Frog call'd the làzy one feveral times, but in vain ; there was no fuch thing as ftirring him, though the Sly-boots heard well enough all the while. He indulg'd himfelf fo Jong, till at laft the Fiihermens Nets made their Approaches. They took up the cunning one that was floating, into their Hands, but fmelling the peftiferous Matter he had rubb'd his Head with, they threw him into the Pond again as a rotten Fifth As for the Jlothful one, he had fcarce open'd his Eyes when he was caught and carried away. Nay, I have heard it averr'd for Truth, that he even yawn'd feveral Times before the King, and afk'd, with his Eyes clos'd, what a Clock it was? This Prince perceiving he was fat and in extraordina- ry good Cafe, order'd the Officers of his Kitchen to open him, to cut him into Slices, and to drefs him into feveral Sauces for his Breakfaft. It is fo true, added the little Story-teller, that a lazy Cri- minal never efcapes the Punifhment due to him. We very much applauded the Subject and Manner, which the agreeable Loulou told it with. She related to us after that, feveral other fuch like Stories, which were learnt her, as we after- wards found out, by a Portuguefe Slave, who had the [ 33 1 the Care of her Education. But to return to thé Mother. Our Friendship with her becoming now more familiar, we entreated her to pleafure us with a Defcription of her Voyage. She readily comply'd with our Requefts, on Condition, each of us, in return, would likewifc relate an Adven- ture as true and furprifing as her's was, and than one of us two would begin firil. Not to fail an- fwering vour Expectations, faid I to her, as to the Wonders, would be only to repeat your own Words ; and for the reit, we hope you'll be fa- tisfy'd, charming Rcufchcn, with our perfect Sub- mifhon to your betterjudgment. Alihoraddin chofe to begin. The trueft and moft furprifing Hiftory obvious to my Knowledge, laid he, is that of the King without a Noie. I was told ic ,n >y Scbeikh-Alfem, whom God be mer- ciful to. The Ht ft or y of the King without a Nofe, A Magician, that took upon him the Name oT the Sage Recolhan, went one Day to the Court of jRfl», King of Gor*, where he met with fo affable a Reception, that he refolv'd to remain there fome time. Notwithstanding the kind Treat- ment was fhewn him, he could not forbear exer- cifing his Ill-Genius -, he fill'd the whole Kingdom with an unheard-of Multitude of venemous Crea- a Gor, an ancient Kingdom, filiated r.ear Mount Caucafris, which bounds it North and Eaft .- /; is now a Province m the EingJorr, belonging to the Great Mogul. [ 34 ] tures, and threw a vail Number of Perfons, oi all Conditions, into incurable Difeafes, by his diabolical Enchantments. Upon his Arrival, he publickly foretold, couch'd in oblcure Terms; that the Kingdom was juft upon the Brink of De- finition. King Hon, perceiving the Prophefy, he before ridicul'd, in a Difpofition to be accom- plifh'd, thought no body more proper to redrels the prefent Calamities, than he, who alone had the Foreknowledge of them. He intimated to him therefore his Reflections on that Exigence, and fervently defir'd he would not refuie afford* ing his Affiftance in it. Becolhan, tranfported to fee the King caught in the Snare he had laid for him, faid: Prince ! I have already been fcudying ibme time to difpel what difturbs thee -, for I know thy Inquietudes. Tho' I were not as naturally inclin'd to Generofity as I am, yet the civil U- fage thou hail fhewn me, would fo much affect my Gratitude, as to make me undertake any thing with Pleafure that difcover'd the leafl View of ferving thee. 'Till now, fome unlucky Conftel- lation has oppos'd the good Difpofition I feel on this Occafion -, but as foon as ever the dire Caufe ceales to obflruct its Influence, I'll fignify to thee what Courfe muft be taken. Fionwas extreamly fatisfy'd with this Anfwer, which very much aug- mented the Veneration he poifefs'd in Favour of the pretended Sage. It is the Cuftom for the Sovereign of that Coun- try to deep every Day two Hours after Dinner, encompafs'd by his Nobles, who follow his Ex- ample. To make court to Sultans, in other Parts of the World, conflits in accofting them in a handfome Manner, in faying fomething that's a- greeable and witty to them, and in itriving to be- come feryiceable to them; but there it conflits in [ 3) ] in deeping with them, which is done with great Ceremony. The Monarch and his Courtiers are very magnificently dreft to pals thofe two Hour3, extended at their Eafe, on Sofa's very rich and commodious. About eight Days after the Inter- view I have mention'd, Fion fell into a Dream, when aflçep in the midft of his CoiTtiers. He thought he law erected in the great Square of Gor, a large Column of black Marble, with a Statue upon it reiembling Becolhan^ which held a little Scroll of Paper in each Hand: In one was wrote, Heav :s -, and in the other, I cure. He- thought likewiie that a vaft Multitude of fick Men and Women went and touch'd the Column, and were perfectly reftor'd by it -, that the languifhing Flocks of Sheep, under the Care of their Shep- herds, approach'd it, and were alfo re-eflablim'd ; and Lilly, that Millions of Serpents and Dragons came in their Turn, to the Feet of the Column, and were all deftroy'd by it. When Fion awoke, he told his Dream to thofe prefent, who advis'd him to fend for the Sage to give the Interpreta- tion of it. Thofe deputed to go for him, knock'd a long while at his Door without any body anfwer- ing. At laft, as they began to be impatient, Be- colban look'd out of his Window, and (aid to them in a great Paffion •, that he knew well enough what they came for^ that they might go back a- gain -, for the Dream was exprefiive enough of it ielf. This wicked Man did not fay an untruth, in alluring them he knew the Reafon of their coming, tor he was the Author of the Dream. The Anfwer being brought back to the Prince,' he call'd a Council, which was of Opinion, than the Statue of Becolhan ihouM immediately be e- rected, after the Model of that which had ap- pear'd to Fictif as alio, that divine Honours D i fhouki 1 337 [ 37 ] Guide, that he follow'd him, and that, after ha- ving paft Mountains, Rivers and Woods, they came, at Lift into a fpacious Field, cover'd with Pomgranate-Trees. When they were got to a- bout the middle of it, Becolhan pointed to one of them with his Finger, faying, under that Tree the Treafure was actually hid. How mail I know it again, anfwer'd Fwn -, for this Field is large, and all the reft of the Pomgranate-Trees refemble that you have fhewn me? Cut off a Branch like this, reply'd Becolhan, bending him one, and that will ferve you as a Mark. Fion took hold of the Branch, drew out his Knife, and cut it off; upon which, the Magician burft into a Fit of Laughter, and dilappear'd. King Gor was feiz'd that very Moment with the mod piercing Pain ! and the very Hall, fet apart for deeping in, echo'd with the terrible Groan he gave, when he awoke from his Dream. All his Courtiers open'd their Eyes at this grie- vous Complaint, and were much aftonifh'd to fee their Mailer cover'd with Blood, holding in one Hand his Knife, and in the other his Nofe, that he hadjuftcut off. Perfidious Villain, cry'd he, doft thou laugh at my Misfortune, and think'ft thou malt efcape the Punifhment due to thy Crime ? No, no Quick, Fly to the Place where Becolhan lives, fecure the Traitor, and bring him inftantly before me. His Nobles and Officers ran immediately to the Magicians Houfe, but he was gone. They difpatch'd a Hundred young Men, well mounted, with Orders to flop the Cri- minal wherever he pafs'd, but as ineffectual. The King finding Becolhan had efcap'd his Rage, both his Pains and Anger augmented. He related his unhappy Adventure to his Courtiers, and then order'd the Queen to be call'd, who was the on- D 3 ly [ 38 ] îy Per Ton that had conceiv'd a bad Opinion of the Magician. But alas ! fhe was neither to be found in her Apartment, nor throughout all the Palace, which produe'd frefh Matter of Defpair to the unfortunate Prince, who lufpected her Guilty of the word of Treachery. He was ready to run diffracted ; and his Attendants were ob- lig'd to keep him in their Sight, the reft of the Day and the following Night, left the Excels of his Tranfports fhould prompt him to make away with himielf. The next Day, he order'd Becol- harfs Statue to be pulled down, drawn about the Streets, and burnt to Afhes. He likewife com- manded the whole Street, where this inhuman Wretch liv'd, to be demolifh'd, and would be at the Execution of it in Perfon. The Magician's Houfe was the firft they began to demolifh, but before they proceeded to the reft, they heard a great Noife in the Air, and fiw a great black Cloud defcend from thence, and fet- tle it felf upon the Ruins, where it open'd and difcover'd the moft beautiful Creature that ever was beheld. She addrefs'd her felf to the King, faying-, behold my Features and remember them! though thou haft feen them far lefs handfome. The Moment fne had fpoken thefe Words, both the King and People knew her to be the Queen of Gor, which ftruck them into fuch a Confufion, as hinder'd them from teftifying their Admiration any other way, but a profound Silence. I had condefcended, continu'd fhe, to become a Wo- man of this World to make thee happy, but thou haft rendcr'd thy felf unworthy the Embraces of a Pcnf:, Thou waft not fatisfy'd with contem- ning my Counfels, but thou muft farther hearken to infamous Sufpicions. Now thou fhalt judge if they were v/eli grounded ; I have taken Revenge," ■ ■ ; • • in [ 39 ] m thy Caufe, of an Impoflor, and to revenge my i'df of an ungrateful Perfon, I have condemn'd thee never to fee my Face more. At thefe Words fhe difappear'd, the Cloud difpers'd, and then they faw, with greater Aftonifhment, the Magi- cian confin'd and burning in a Cage of red hot Iron. Thus King Fion pafs'd the reft of his Days in Sorrow and Affliction, without a Nofe, and without a Wife ; and the Magician's Punifhment lafted as long as this unhappy Prince liv'd. Scheikh- Alfem added, that to this Day, might be fecn at Gor, the very Place and Ruins where Be- colharts Houle flood. This Adventure, faid Roufcben, deferves to be written in golden Letters. How well can I di- ftinguifh the oppofite Characters of the Peris and Divs in it! But, AlmoradJin, did not your Author give a Defcription of the Queen of Gor 9 after her Victory over the Divs, that were fubject to Becolhan ? No Madam, reply'd he. I am forry for it, refum'd Roufchen ; for certainly I muft have ken this admirable Perife, and I think I know her. You believe you know her, Madam, interrupted we, you ought to know her ! The Hiitory, reply'd fhe, I am going to tell you of, will perhaps folve the Doubts I perceive you are in. The Hifiory of the Persian Lady, with hey Voyage to the Topfy-Turvy IJIand. THEY fay true Friendfhip is rarely to be found among Brothers, and for my Part, I believe it lefs frequent among Sifters: I never had D 4 but [ 40 ] but one, and there was no Pofllbility or agreeing with her. The poor Year fhe was older than I, made her ufurp an Air of Superiorty over me, that was infupportable. She was continually in an ill Humour, but it never appear'd in fo ftrong a Light, as the Night before her Nuptials. Tir'd with bearing her repeated înfults, I was provok'd, at laft, to fpeak in my Turn ; which I did, in the m oft picquant Manner I was Miftrefs of: Kou- tai. faid I to her, if Reproaches could make me grow lean, thou wouldft certainly overwhelm me with tnem ftill. Am I the Caufe, if Fate has not thought proper to form me after thy Refem- blance ? The Rage that thefe Words rais'd in her Soul can't well be im;>gin'd, much lefs exprefs'd. She flew at me to tear my Eyes out ; but I left her in that Feud, and fought fhelter in a Garret, that laid over her Chamber. She made fuch a ter- rible Noife, that alarm'd the whole Houfe. Fa- ther, Mother, Slaves, and every body ran to her Room to fee what the Uproar was-, and found her Pale, full of Tears, and reduc'd to the Jaft Degree of Defpair. She related the Quarrel to her own Advantage, and protefted, if fhe had not Satisfaction for the dreadful Inlult I had given her, me would take fuch Meafures as would not be very pleafing to them. My Father and Mo- ther immediately promis'd to fatisfy her in every thing fhe could wifn, and afk'd her, what Punifh- ment fhe thought I had deferv'd ? I fhall be at Eafe, faid fhe, and Rcufchejt will be fufficiently punifh'd, if fhe be deny'd going to my Wedding. J faw and heard every thing was faid, thro' a little Crevice in the Chamber-Floor. Every body prais'd her Moderation, and an old Slave, who never lov'd me, readily fignaliz'd her Zeal, by hafteniug to leek me up in the Garret, Finding [ 4i ] Finding myfelf thus cloic Pnfoner, I did no- thing but fob and cry. Koutai, faid I, forefaw well enough my Revenge would be too much gratify'd if I made my Appearance at the Hymen, Her Apprehenfions of it are now over, and her Want of Beauty, in rriy Abfence, will be lefs con- fpicuous. What Joy to her! and how much Vexa- tion to me ! I pafs'd the reft of the Day , and a part of the Night in fuch like Reflections, and then fell afleep. During my Slumber, I had a very ex- traordinary Dream. Methought I faw before me an immenfe Space of Land and Sea, that difco- vcred, at a Diftance, a very high blue Ifland, from the Top of which arofe two large Clouds, wafh'd with Silver, that advanced towards me, attended with an Infinity of others. AH thefe Clouds dif- perfed themielves into two Lines, and form'd be- tween the Ifland and me, the longeft and moft glit- tering Alley can be imagined. Another Cloud, that feem'd to be of burnifhed Gold, fill'd up' the Ex- tremity of the Alley towards the Ifland; and a little Girl, much like Loulou, being placed upon it, this Cloud, on a fudden, took the Shape of a Throne, and mov'd of itfelf. As it advanced, the filvery Clouds transformed themfelves, on each Side, into Guards richly drefs'd, who, with Sword in Hand, faluted the little Girl with all the Marks of a profound Refpeft. But how great was my Surprife, when this extra- ordinary Perfon, who, coming out of the Ifland, feem'd but as a Child, had not got half the Way, before I perceived ilie had the Face and Air of a Woman of 40 or 50 Years old. The nearer fhe ap- proached, the more fhe appear'd advanced in Age, and when fhe was nigh at Hand, fhe difcover'd herfelf to be but a Jittle, wrinkled, ftooping, grey- hair'd Creature ; She look'd on me with, an Eye of I 4* 1 of Friendfhip, and fàid to me, in a trembling Voice; My weli-beloved Rcufchen, I know thy Sorrows -, hope every thing from the Affifrance I am able to afford thee : See thou remembered the Words I am about to impact to thee, and fail not to repeat them in cafe of Extremity : Wife Lutfal- lah ! Lady of the green Palace! Wife Lutfallah ! Wife of Millan-fchak ! WhaCs the Sword of Gian doing ? Where is his Buckler ? She had no fooner finifh'd thefe Words, than me difappear'd v/ith all her Attendance. I can't fay whether I immediately awoke or not, but theftrong Idea of my Imprifonment returning, I laid, fighing , Oh that what the powerful Lut- fallah has juft now told me, may prove true ! Wife Lutfallah ! Lady of the green Palace! Wife Lutfallah! Wife of Millan-Schak ! Wbafs the Sword of Gian doing ? Where is his Buckler ? At that Inliant, I found myfelf undrefs'd, and lying in a very fine Bed; I rubb'd my Eyes with my Hands, I felt a- bout me, I examin'd myfelf, and was affured I ilept not. I then drew open the Curtains, and faw, with an extream Surprize, m.y Garret chang'd to a very fpacious Chamber, adorn'd with the richett Tapeftry, with a Looking-glafs infinitely larger than I had ever feen any, and with two Pots of MaiTy Gold , whence ififued a moll exquifite Perfume. In the Middle of the Chamber ftood a Toilet ready prepared, and near it a Table, on which lay a rich Suit of Cloaths. I was about to rife directly, but happening to caft my Eyes on the great Looking-glafs, I perceived what my Si- fter and all about her were doing, naturally re- prefented in it ; fo I chofe to remain ftill in Bed, as well to amufe myfelf in beholding fo agreeable a Spectacle, as eo repair the Fatigues of the Night. It is not fo proper to relate all I faw there ; ^t it fuffice [ 43 ] luffice then to fay, that this miraculous Mirrour dilcover'd to me all that pafs'd at the Feaft, from which my Sitter excluded me. Her Hufband's Afpect did not a little contribute to my Satisfac- tion-, for lie was tall and meagre Faced, of a fierce Look, and who, even, that Day, had more the Air of a Tyrant than a Hufband. At laft I arofe, defigning to make ufe of the Prefents Lutfallah had made me, when a handfome Pair of Slippers came of their own accord, and offer' d themfelves at my Feet. The firft Step I took towards the Table, all the Cloaths, that lay prepared for me there, advanced and did their Office ; and I felt at the fame time fome Body fpare me the Labour both of combing and dref- lingmy Head. I bore notwithstanding everything done to me with Patience, andrefign'd mylelf en- tirely up to the Care of the Queen of the Peris^ thinking of nothing elfe but returning her my hearty Thanks for all that happen'd to me, and. viewing myfelf in my Toilet-looking-Glafs, (the other only reprefenting abfent Objects.) Though every thing they deck'd me with, made an extra- ordinary Appearance, yet it was feldom Gold, Sil- ver or Jewels contributed towards it. Nothing gave fo fingular a Mark here of Lutfailah's great Power, as the Colour of my Robe, which chan- ged each Step I took. I walked about a confide- rable time, to admire this ngreeable Prodigy at Leifurfe. During this Interval, the neceffary Cere- monies were preparing at the Tmatf$ and Cadi's Houfe. After their Return, the two Flails, de- fign'd to celebrate the Feafts in, began to fill with Guefts. I did not much amufe myfelf in obferving the Men-, my Sifter and her Friends engrofs'd all my Attention. Koutai feem'd to be very hungry, but the more eager flic was to eat 3 the leaftHafte me C 44 ] ihe could make to doit. All the Dimes fhe touch'd difappear'd, and werefet on a gilt Skin, that fome unknown Hand had fpread in my Chamber. It is impofllble to exprefs the prodigious Confier- nation this famiih'd Bride and her Company were in. As I was as hungry again as fhe was, I left nothing fcarce of the firft Dimes fet before me. As foon as ever I had done with them, they dif- appear'd; I cad an Eye in the Looking glafs, and faw the Remains I had left before Koutai, who was devouring them. This convinced me, that Ihe, who had thought me unworthy of prefiding at her Feaii, was now condemned not to be fatia- r.ed, but with my Refusals, I commiferated at lift the Condition /lie was in, and acted like a good Sifter dur ins: the reft of the Entertain- er ment Towards Evening they went into the Baths, whilft excellent Voices fung, according to Cuftom, gay Aganis\ When that Ceremony was over, they dilpofed themfelves for dancing. As I had always 3 ftrong Inclination for that Diverfion, fo my not partaking of the Pleafure of it, as well as the reft, began to chagrin me. I can't fit ftill any longer, ery'd I : Wife Lutfallah ! Lady of the green Palace! Wife Lutfallah ! Wife of Milan-fchak! What's the Sword of G\d.n doing? Where Is his Buckler? I muft dance. So you (hall, Child, anfwer'd one behind me. I look'd round and faw the ancient and powerful Perife. It's very much my Defire, con- tinued fhe, you fhould appear in fuch good Com- pany -, I did not order you to be drefs'd lightly, but with a View of making you affume a better Air in dancing. A Perife would fain have cover'd you all over with Jewels, refembling Motlatier the a Songs, Perfian Mrs. TabarciSy M|. [ 45 1 , but I never expofe thofe I love, to get Pleurifies after fuch'a Manner. Come along, Child, follow me. Methought the Looking-gbfs, which that Mo- ment reprefented the Hall, was now become the Door. We went in, and Lutfallah, who was only vifible to me, placed herfeff nigh my Sifter. I fa- luted the Company, and fell a dancing all alone. The Juftnefs of my Dance, and itill more, the continual Variety of my Clothes, aftonihrd the whole AfTembly. What they admired before was now become applauded: Acclamations of Joy and Praifes were heard every where. Koutai was noc able to brook my Glory any longer. Fury took. Poffefilon of her, and without any Regard to the Company prefent, fhe flew towards me, with her Fills in the Air like a Mad-woman v But the invi- sible hutfallah prevented her approaching me, by touching her Chin with the End of a Rod made of Ebony, faying, Fair Bride ; meddle with no Body lut jourfelf. That Inftant, the mod compleat black Beard ever was feen, adorn'd the half of Konta?% Face, which gave her other Employment than to think on me. After this Accident, Lutfalhb con- vey'd me out, order'd me to enfold her, and then carry'd me away, with an unconceivable Swiftnefs, in a direct Line, towards the Sun. After we had continu'd afcending for a very confiderable time -, You may now, faid fhe, re- pole yourfelf: There is not thick Air enough over our Heads, to make you fall. I mud confefs it was -vieil an art I quitted my Hold of Zml f/tllabi bur what Pleafure dr.d I not feel, when I found, without any Difficulty, I couhl both alcnd and defcend -, go Hckwards and forwards, as though my Body were become immaterial ! I caft my Eyes upon the Earth, which", at fo vail a Dift [ 4* ] Diftance, neither appear'd very obfeure, nor yet very bright. If my Conduclrds had given Leave, I fhould have imploy'd myfelf in making fome curious Obfervations, as the Place was lb com- modious for taking them-, but me oppofed it, faying, The Moon will prefently make her Courfe over the Place we are in, and produce fuch Quan- tity of Air, that whilft the Sea is receiving its Flow, you may probably be ftirled : Befidesj I pro- mifed to be at home betimes -, embrace me, there- fore, and let us begone. The Part we defcended from the Earth gave a tolerable Reflection, becaufe it prefented nothing to our View but the vaft Plains of the Ocean: The more our Defcent approach' d it, the more it feem'd to encreafe in Bignefs and Darknefs -, but when we came within Obferva- tion of the different Parts of it. I perceiv'd di- rectly under us, in the Midft of the Waters, a very ipacious Ifland, which I knew to be the feme blue Ifland I had Çeen in a Dream, and which is called by the Peris, the Topfy-Turvy liland. It appear'd blue to me before, becaufe of the Diftance I was from it, but when my Approach was nigher, a thoufand various Colours crowded upon my Sight. However, I did not fix my Eyes much on thefe new Objects, becaufe my Attention was already- taken up with fomething much more furpri- fing. Liitfallah, whom I held embrae'd, had tranf- form'd herfelf during our Defcent. Her grey Hairs were now become of alight Cheft-nut Co- lour -, and the more we advanced towards the I- iland, the fmoother and more beautiful her Com- plexion grew. Her Shape vifibly form'd itfelf, her Neck was admirably long , her Arms round and taper, and her Hands plump and of a delicate "Whitenefs. How charming me was, when we had pafs'd. [ 47] i two thirds of the Way ! She ftili continu' d 10 grow younger, the nearer we approach'd the Earth: The Colour of her Hair became gradually lighter, till it was perfectly white-, her whole Body deminilh'd, without lofing any thing of its Beauty or Proportion -, and when we were about one fourth of a League from the Mountains of the ■Tut vy [(land, I held no more than a Child often Years old in my Arms -, fomewhat graver indeed, though nothing more charming and a- greeable. We landed in the Middle of the Ifland, about a hundred Yards from a River, that ferved in- ftead of a Moat to a pretty large Town. Seeing neither Draw-bridges nor Boats, I afk'd the Queen if we were to crofs it in the Air, and whether I was to difpofe myfelf as ufual? They pafs this River differently from what you imagine, anfwer'd fhe, throwing pit Rod into it. At that Inftant, the Waters overagainfl: the Place where we ftood, fwcll'd, foi iok their Bottom, and form'd a tranf- parent Per:. , above Two hundred Yards high. This attoniihing Elevation of the Waters did not however prevent their continual Running- -, and the Fifties they Were full of, made by their Sal- lies the moil agreeable Ornament of the Pcrticç. .How did they fport out of their Element ' How often did they dart themfelves, fometimes up to the Top, fometimes down to the Bottom, and fometimes from tne Sides of the Arch ! Their Mo- •tions were alternate: One was no fooner lolî to our View, than another appear'd the next Mo- ment. The Flood, after quitting its Courfe, dif- cover'd a magnificent Porpbir Stair-Cafe , above an hundred Steps down to the Bottom, whir illuminated by Lights from the Walls, an \ the grca: Gate that flood at the Foot ot it j [ 48 ] Were going down, Lntfallab inform'd me that the Illumination we faw was no more than a natural Caufe, proceeding from a Vernifh, the young Peris compofe of the Skins of certain Fifhes and Tails of Glow-worms, infufed three Weeks in the Effence of rotten Wood, extracted without the Affiftance of Fire. When we came to the Gate, we heard a horrid Croaking-, and when both Sides of it were open, we faw an overgrown Frog, as big as a Goat, who moved on her two hind Legs, in order to receive the Queen, and deliver her up the fame Rod I had feen her throw into the Ri- ver. After file had taken it, and we had walk'd fome Turns in a vaft large Hall very light, being inlaid with A fera b Stones, and fuch mining Flints as fometimes fall down with Thunder-bolts, the Frog retired very humbly towards the Door, which we fhut after us, and then fet up a fécond Croaking more hideous than the former. This Signal was follow'd by a prodigious Noife of Drums and Trumpets : Then calling my Eyes round the Hall, I perceived Twenty-four Caverns very artfully cut out in the Wall , fill'd with as many Animals of an enormous Size, and of a Fi- gure altogether ftrange to me. It was from them the Noife proceeded -, each of thefe monftrous Bealts having a Drum or Trumpet, on which they play'd in a Manner proportionable to their Bignefs and vaft Strength. My Condu&refs told me they were Mites c of that Country, which, when I examin'd more nearly, I found had indeed the Refemblance of thofe I had feen before. We pafs'd through a long Gallery, where an infinite b The Tranjlator confejjes he neither knmvs what Afcra Stones are, nor the Flints that accompany Thunder bolts. e An Animal fearce perceptible, uhofe ïïnirs can only be dif- covered through a Micro/cope. Number [ 49 ] Number of Acudias d and other fhining Hies, fporting in the Air, diftus'd a pleafing Luitre from their Wings. From thence we came to a pair of Stairs, much like thole we had delcended at our Entrance, which conducted us to a great fquare Court, paved with greenifh Marble: Ac each Corner were fine Lodgings built of the fame Matter, and in the Middle a Fountain, whofe Bafon was more than thirty Foot Diameter, tho' cut out of but one entire Emerald. About twenty- little old Women, and as many old Men, drefs'd in Green, play'd here and there round the Court ; fome at Chuck-farthing, others at Shittle-cock, or at Cockal. As foon as Lz>(/rf//rt£ appear' d, they gave over their Diverfions, running to her, caref- fing her, and giving her the Title of Grand Mam- ma. The little Queen receiv'd them with fo grave and prudifh an Air, that I could not forbear laugh- ing to fee Old age fo frolickfome, and Youth or rather Infancy fo auftere and commanding Re- fpecl. Roufcben, faid Lutfallah , what you fee undoubtedly furprifes you. The Things I be- hold, anfwer'd I, would even be frightful to -me, if I did not take them all, efpecially thefe redicu- lousold Women and Men, for fo many Phantoms. It's the Effect of Prejudice and Ignorance that makes you think fo, reply'd fhe -, all that gay Youth exifls as really as you do. Caft yourEyes upon this Looking-Glafs, giving me a little Pocket one; and as I was juit going to open it, fhe left me. I fh udder ltill whenever I call to mind what I faw there, in feeing myfelf. How great my Confternation! How fudden my Terrour! and how ready was I to fink clown, J Little VoUtiks very flirting. There are Nitmkcrt of them m America. E when [ 5° ] when I beheld my Cheeks flabby ! my Eyes hol- low ! my Lips chopp'd and pale ! my Mouth fall'ri inl my Nofe red and big at the End ! my Chin picked! my Forehead full of Wrinkles' and my Hair as white as Snow ! I ran haftily to fee myfelf in the Fountain, ftill hoping the Effett of the Looking-glafs might only prove an Illufion ; but, alas ! it brought the unwelcome Confirmation of what I had already feen, and made me cry out fo terribly that all the ancient Populace gather'd to- gether about me. MyAffliétion was fo great, Words are not half forcible enough to exprefs it. I be- came ftupid and inlenfible, and remained in that wretched Situation, a considerable time, ftretch'd on the Ground, leaning upon the Edge of the Emerald B.ifon. Being, at laft, recovered from my deep Lethargy of Grief, I gave Vent to Tears and Complaints, crying out, Cruel Lutfallab! is this the Ufage I was to hope from thy Protection? Haft thou conduced me here, only to make me feel the word Effects of thy Indignation ? Canft thou pretend to love me, and at the fame time opprefs me with the mod dreadful of Ills ? Couldft thou revenge thyfelf after a more barbarous man- ner, were I even thy profefs'd Enemy ? Oh hap- py Koutai! How do I now envy thy Beard! And how trivial do I think thy Misfortune, when com- pared with mine! The old Men and Women put the finifhing Stroke to my Difpair, by their filly Converfation, and driving to compel me to drink fome of the Fountain-water; but however they were prevented, by the Voice of a young Man, who came towards me from the other Side of the Square. He looked only to be about fifteen Years of Age, though he moved with a grave and ma- jeftick Air. His Vifige wore a certain Referved- nefs, yet nothing of Auftere in it. When he had accofted [ yi 1 accofted me, he afk'd me, with a great deal of Affability, if I had ever heard fpeak of the Peri, Milan-Schak ? The Perufal of our Annals, reply'd I, has given me fome Idea of him. I am the very Perfon, anlwcr'd he. Is itpofTible, refum'dl, much furpriz'd, that you can ftill look lb young, conlidcring how old s were, when vou defeated the M onfter OuranL e in the Mountain of Aher- man ? Milan-Schak (hook his Head and fmiled, and then offer'd me his Hand, with a vaft deal of Complaifance, in order* to conduct me to his Appartment. After having afcended a Jafper Stair Cafe, we pafs'd through two Anti-chambers, let off with Landfkips, and guarded by two well made Youths, unarm'd, and came into a fpacious and magnificent Chamber, all richly hung with green and gold Tapeftry : From thence we went into a Cabinet, adorn'd with precious Furniture, whofe Ground was Green, curioufly embolTed with Gold, and enrich'd every where with .fine Emeralds. The Wood that was imploy'd there, refembled the Colour of thofe precious Stones; and in the Middle of the Cieling, there was a Carbuncle of the Bignefs of a Pine- Apple, that gave a vaft Luftre. The World Reversed. DEar Roufcbsn, faid Milan-Schak, when we had plac'd ourlelves, there is fuchan Oppofition between your World and ours, that it's impoffible to imagine a greater, between Things eflentially e A blood-:' Jy ,vonjier, that Aherman, Chief of tht Divrr' made ufe of, :■■,.> ui of a Hançjnan. E 2 the [ 5> ] the fame. Your great Trees are with us but fmal! Herbs-, and, on the contrary, a little, tender Plant with you, is, in this Countrey, the largefb of our Trees. The Fruits of the Earth are oppofite in the fame Proportion: Though our Corn does not differ from yours, as to its Nature, yet it fur- paffes it fo much in Bignefs, that an hundred Per- lons would not be able to confume ten Grains of it in a Month. As much Contrariety is found between Animals as Plants: We have none fo large among us as thofe you call Infe£is\ nor none fo fmall as Elephants and Crocodiles. Y cur Flies are our greateft Birds, and Eagles are here almoft imperceptible. As for what is of a reafonable Size with you, is much the fame with us. You fpeak particular Langua- gues, the Fruit of Mens Invention -, ours is fpoken univerfally, and as naturally, as Seeing, Hearings and the reft of the Faculties are alike made ufe of by all Nations. The Knowledge of this Language is kept from the reft of Mankind ; in Vain all your learned Men ftudy to find it out : It is only to be attained by fuch as vifit this Ifland , and unlefs they become a Peris, they lofe the Memory of it the Moment they depart. In your World, no Body ever rofe from the Dead, but by a Miracle > in this, we rife naturally every hundred Year, to live again the Space of one Day: You'll fee an Example of it after to Morrow. With you, Men are born with tender Bodies, juicy Limbs, and a foft Skin without Hair : Thus it is we die in this Empire-, whence it will be eafy to infer, that we come into the World with Wrinkles, and all the Appendages of Old-age. As there are but very few handlome old People, neither Latfallah nor I pretend to pafs for fuch ; but you , charming, Roufchen, who imagine yourfelf frightfully ugly* now appear as beautiful in our Eyes, as you did » ia [ 53 ] in thofe that beheld you at Scbiras. Nothing, Iaf- fure you, can be more tranfporting to us, than thofe agreeable Wrinkles, which our Climate has a- dorn'd your Vifage with ; nor nothing more capa- ble of enflaving us, than that flowing Hair, which dazles with its Whitenefs. Every time we vifit your Countries , we appear there as we fliould have done, had we been Natives thereof; here we look luch as we really are, but according to our Way: An old Man fpeaks, dear Roufcben , and converfeswith a young Perfon, that's fcarcely come to theUfeof her Reafon ! The feveral Forms Lutfallab took, whilft with you, might, one would think, have fufficiently prepar'd you to bear yours With Intrepidity. All Men that fet Foot in this Kingdom, muft undergo the Laws of if, and fuch as are no longer difpos'd to (lay there, only exchange them, to be fubject to others. Deluded by Appearances, I found you giving yourfclf up to a thoufand unjuft Regrets, when I arriv'd with a young Man of your Countrey, who had invok'd me. The Queen overheard all your Reproaches, and was almoft offended at them, but ftill her Affec- tion is not at all diminifh'd : I deliver'd her up my Charge, and then undertook to acquaint you how far it extended. If it does not fuit you to em- brace my Propofals, you'll be fent back again to your World, and all future Correfpondence With us will ceafe: If on the contrary, they are weighty enough to engage your Compliance, you fhall be rais'd to the higheft Dignity a mortal can hope to acquire. In one word, we require nothing but your Confent to adopt you a Peri e. If the Power of transforming Bodies, and doing the mod fur- prifing Miracles by one fingle Wave of a Rod; if a Life, that's almoft infinite, is capable of moving you, follow mc to the Fountain ofEmc- E 3 raid : [ 54 ] raid : How few Drops foever you fwallow of its Water, all your Ideas will be reconciled , and they'll redore you to the happy State of In- fancy. Generous Milan-Scbak! reply'd I, I muft own, you have fkreen'd me from iminent Danger, by removing me from that fatal Water. I love my Reafon and my Countrey, and cannot prevail on myfelf to forfeit either of them. I am perfectly fatisfy'd with my own Condition ; let it fuffice, therefore, I befeech you, that I admire yours. This Peri feem'd more fnrpriz'd at my Anfwer than difpleas'd at it; he fhrunk up his Shoulders, and look'd earneftly at me, as though I excited his Compaflion. During this mute Interval, there appear'd, at the Cabinet-Door, Six Green Cats, whofe Eyes fhone like as many Flambeaus, light- ing along Lutfallab, who e. ter'd with an old Man, faying, Ajoub, whom I bring with me, perfifts ftill in his obftinacy -, and 1 ufeben, reply'd Mi- lan-Scbak, is as opinionated. î threw myfelf at the Queen's Feet, imploring her Forgivenefs of my Weaknefs, in letting flip fo many indifcreet and unguarded Words in the Height of my grievous Complaints. Ajonb fell proftrate before Milan- Scbak, befeeching him equally to pardon his Blind- nefs. Old Peoples Anger againft Young, does not continue long, faid the Queen, rife up there- fore, and fince it's fo decreed that we muft part, employ the little Time remains for you to ftay in my Empire, in obferving well the Laws of it. Pleas'd with the Profped of our Liberty, we immediate'y rofe up from ourPoftures. After that, we were told Supper was upon Table. Proceeded by the nx Cat Flambeaux, we came into a large Hall on the fame Floor, wainfeotted with green Ebony , and adorn'd with Birds and Feftoons Feftoons of Gold in Relievo: Four and twenty green Cats , and as many Lynx of the fame Co- lour, plac'd on an equal Number of Stands of burnifh'd Silver, darted from their Looks iuch a Radiance, as almoft equall'd the Sun in its Meri- dian. There were two Tables: One fupply'd with Pots of Perfume, and the other with a great Variety of Dimes. The Lady of the green Palace, Milan-Scbak, four Queens, their Hufbands, and thole Genii , that were the mod diftinguifh'd of their Families, plac'd themfelves at the firft of thefe Tables, and were magnificently ferv'd with Perfumes, which are the ordinary Nourifhment of Peris, born in the Topfy-Turvy Ifland. Ajoub and I, with a great Number of Guefts, Profelytes from our World, and Peris by Adoption, fill'd the other Table. The firft Courfe a was compos'd of large Fricaffees of Pheafants, each Dilh con- taining five or fix hundred i the fécond was of Ortolans as big as Geefe, accompany'd with Boars and Stags, fpitted on Scewers, as Europeans do Larks: And the third prefented us with two Ants Tongues, two Parties made of the Thigh of the fame Animal, which were of an excellent Tafte, and feveral Plates of Artichokes and Melons as big as the green Peas ofScbiras. They brought for the Defart, two Straw-berries, one Goofe-berry, and two great Bowls of Squirrels Cream. The chief Part of the Dimes at Table I was unacquaint- ed with at that time ; but the Princefs Indgi-Mer- gian inform'd me what they were the next Day. After Supper, my Countrey-man and I, having each a Cat allow'd to conduct and light us to our Chambers, a Pabine ; very well fhap'd, undrefs'd me, and retir'd aflbon as I was in Bed. a In the Original Arabick, the Courfes of this Entertainment are ferv'd without any Order, like the Perfuns a».i Moguls. E 4 My [ 56) My Cat having extinguim'd the Light by (hut- ting her Eyes, I feafted Imagination with all my paft Adventures, and methought I felt fomething, I know not what, feize me,, that made a far (Iron- ger Impreflion on my Mind, in Favour of Ajoub^ than all the other furprifing Objects I had feen. 'Till that Moment I had liv'd free from Inclina- tion, and was fuch a Novice in Love, that when I found my Heart firft give way to it, I burft into a Flood of Tears. What can be the mean- ing, faid I, of my thinking of that little Monfter, whom I never faw before to Day ? Why did I apprehend that Lutfallah would over-perfwade him ? Oh ! I feel no longer an Indifference for him; and if what his Sight has infpir'd me with, can't properly be calPd Love, it is fomething ve- ry nearly ally'd to it. Oh ! my Heart has be- tray'd me ! It is flown away without my Confent ! After all, continu'd I, this young Man's Figure is not frightfuller than my own : What Crime then will it be in me to. love him? We fhare the like Fate with one another, and why fhould not that be a Motive inducing enough to create a ftric~ter Unity between us? I even fancy he thinks alrea- dy as favourably of me as I do of him : There's the Point that requires mod Dexterity to be ex- amin'd into, but how fhall I be able to pene- trate the inmofl Meanings of his Soul, without difcovering my own, unlefs my Freedom with him was fomewhat greater? Sleep, at Jaft, ap- peas'd all my Inquietudes. The Pabine awoke me, and made me rife as foon as Day appear'd. I was fcarce drefs'd, when I faw Lutfallah, Mïlan- Schak, and the Princefs Indgi-Mergian, their eldeft Daughter, whom they prefented me to, ready to enter my Chamber. The Queen and her Spoufe afk'd me, fmiling, how I had pafs'd the Night ? 1 made [ 57 ] I made Anfwer, with the mod profound Ac- knowledgment and Refpecï, that I had flept very quietly. The Queflion, we propofe, includes the whole Night, reply'd they, and you only inform us of the latter Part of it. Thefe Hints prodi- gioufly furpriz'd me : I faw too well I had been overheard. Our Penetration ruffles her, faid Mllan-Schak; come to a Refolution, Rûufcben, do not balance any longer in it, nor delay faithfully embracing the Laws of the Topjy-Titrvy Ifland. When he had finifh'd thefe Words, he took out of one of his Attendant's Hands, fomething like a Beet-Root, and holding it by the Leaves, he gave me a Bodkin, and commanded me to run it into the Place mark'd with a little black Spot. I obey'd him : That Moment the Root gave a terrible Shriek, and my Fellow-Companion in Fate Hood there inftead of it. His Face was all bloody, his Forehead piere'd, and the Bodkin ftill remain- ing in his Wound. Oh! deareft Ajoub! cry'd I, embracing him, deareft Ajoub ! whom my Soul loves more than Life, what have I done ! How barbarous, or rather how unhappy am I ! Was there no other Hand but mine to accomplish Milan-Schako Will andPleafure! Oh Peri ! How could you make choice of me to fpill the Blood of one, for whofe Safety I mould be ready to ù- criflce all my own ? The wounded look'd upon me without much concern, and feem'd to fmile. Lutfallab, Milan-Schak, and the Princefs, fell a laughing in good Earneft, and faid to one ano- ther merrily, don't you think fhe has made the Declaration in Form ? Has not me obferv'd all the Rules? There appears to be fome Sincerity in it, faid Ajoub) but we muft not too much depend on the firit Tranfports of Women, whofe Natures are variable. If I were fully pcrfuaded of the Conftancy [ J» ] Conftancy of Roufchen's Love, I don't fay I would not but in faying nothing, I teftify too much for the firft Time. As I was preparing to thank him , and likewife to continue my Lamenta- tions for the Hurt I had done him, Milan- Schak, who had all this Time gently held him by the Hair, now withdrew his Hand, and took the Bodkin out of his Forehead, without leaving the leafh Orifice. Lutfallah afk'd me, pretty ferioufly, what was the prefent Difpofition of my Heart to- wards him, whofe Misfortune had apparently ex- acted fo much Companion from me ? You know, great Queen ! I love him, anfwer'd I. Now, Child, you fpeak right, refum'dfhe: The Uncer- tainty you were in Yefterday, as to your PafTion, is directly oppofite to the Cuflom of my King- dom, where Women make the firft Advances. I fhould deem it a very laudable one, reply'd I, did the amiable Ajoub think my Afiiduities wor- thy of his Regard. You have both fulfilPd our Laws, anfwer'd the Queen •, but fince you had rather live fubject to thofe of your own Coun- trey, it is my Will that you refume this Moment your former Shapes. Let the Influences that reign here, continu'd fhe, touching us with her Rod, ceafe operating upon you. Lutfallah did not give us time to return her thanks, but went out with her Attendants, leaving only with us a Rabin and a Rabine^ who were decently plac'd on each Side of the Door. Here the beautiful Rerfian broke fhort, and afk'd us if we were not curious to know what thofe Rabins and Rabins refembled. The Pabine, that undrefs'd you, did indeed excite my Curio- fity, faid Almoraddin, but I was unwilling to in- terrupt the Thread of your Story, by afking im- pertinent Queftions. The Rabins^ refum'd Rgu- fchen. [ 59] [then, are Animals that ferve the Peris, that are diftributed into Cantons, and who cultivate the Lands of the Topfy-Turvy Ifland. No Creature on Earth has fo much the Appearance of Man. Were you to fee them dreft or otherwife, you would be ready to fwear they were Men and Women; nothing is wanting to make them fo but a rational Soul. They have not only this Advantage over the reft of Animals, but they likewife fpeak the univerfal Language, like the Peris ; whereas the others have but their particular ones. To con- clude, the Pabins whole Difcourfe runs upon eat- ing, drinking, working, and other Subjects re- lating thereto, and confifts only in fimple Propo- rtions. They are active, robuft, laborious, tra- ctable, and great Imitators. All other Beafls re- vere and ferve them, except Monkeys and Fleas : The firft being in perpetual Contention with them for the Superiority, and the fécond, being huge wild Creatures of that Country, are very rapa- cious after the Flefh of thefe almoft human Pa- bins. In every Village there is a Kind of a Store- houfe fet apart for the Pabins, to carry daily a cer- tainQuantity of Amber-Greafe of 'Benjamin, o>$b;cenfe ofAloesWood, and other Provifions. When the Place is full, it is convey'd invifibly to the City the Peris live in, and diftributed in their feveral Habitations. The Pabins feldom divert themfelves but at the Expence of other Animals, which they often fet together by the Ears. They are de- lighted above all with the Wood-lice, when con- tracted like Bowls b , they roul againft each other. Thefe immeafurable Bodies make fuch a hideous Noife in their Juftling, that one would imagine *» J: is the Property of the Wood-lice to contrail themfelves into a Form perfectly round. » them [ 6o] them broke in a thoufand Pieces, but immediate- ly after it appears no more with them than an innocent Play-Game. After this DigrefTion, the Per/Jan would have refum'd her Difcourfe, if the Fear of fatiguing her too much, had not oblig'd us to entreat her deferring the Continuance of it till next Day. We were of different Opinions, touching the Ac- count fhe gave us, when we return'd to our Lodg- ings. Almoraddin was inclin'd to be incredulous, but for my Part, I was not far from giving Faith to all fhe had told us. However, our Sentiments agreed in doubting our own Judgments, and in feeling an equal Curiofity to hear the Sequel of the Hiftory. In this Difpofition we repair'd to Roufchen's next Day, who, after the ufual Com- pliments, gratify'd our Impatience, in the fol- lowing Manner. As foon as the Queen and Milan-Schak had left us, we ran to the Looking- glafs, where we en- joy'd the Pleafure of beholding our felves once more in our proper Forms-, and felt, at the fame Time, our Inclinations refmre their natural Chan- nel. I thought Aj'oub agreeable -, he efteem'd me infinitely more charming. Madam! faid he, with I the utmoft Refped, how dare I, without an ex- treme Confufion, prefume to appear before you, knowing what's paft? Would to God, reply'd I, we had loft our Memory with all the Gifts of this IQand -, or that I had, like you, only too much Referve to reproach my felf with ' In the Name of our common Countrey, interrupted Ajoub, let us live now, as tho' we remember' d nothing! I've fo high an Idea of your Generofity and Goodnefs, as to believe you'll reftore me that by Juftice, which I'm in danger of lofing, by your being de- priv'd of that Inftincl, which firft caqs'd you to love [ tfï ] love me. Equity, faid I, recompences only Me- rit; and to merit is not the Work of a Day. In- form me, pray ! whom you are, and what brings Ajoub of Schiras hither? As yet I know no more of you than your Name and Countrey. When I had thus fpoken, I defir'd him to fit down by me, whilft he gave me the Hiftory of his Adven- tures. The Hi/lory of Ajoub 0/ Schiras. I Am, faid he, Son of Ajoub the Phyfician. You are not unacquainted, amiable Roufchen, that all the Youth of Scbiras delight in dancing and playing on fome Infiniment. One Evening, when the extream Heats of the Seafon oblig'd every Body to turn the Night into Day, I left my Fa- ther's Houle, defigning to take the frefh Air of the Streets, as I play'd along them with a Flao-e- let I had carry'd with me for that Purpofe. After having ftrol'd thro' a great many, and re- pairing Homewards, I heard the Door of a fine fpacious Houfe open, and a Voice proceed from thence, which faid : Is it sou? Promifing myfelf , fome good Fortune would prove the IfTue ; I made * Anfwer, yes 'tis I. Pray come up then, refum'd the Voice. Without confidering the Confequence, I readily ventur'd to follow it, which led me thro* a Hall-door that was half open. I was no fooner en- ter'd, than three young Men that lay in wait there, furrounded me with their drawn Sabres, and faid : Expect this Inftant, to -jsajh with thy Blood, the Stain thou haft caft on our Family, by deluding our Sifter. Finding myfelf engag'd in fo fudden and powerful an Attack, 1 thought it molt Prudence not [ 6i ] not to put myfelf in a Pofture of Defence, left it lhould farther provoke their Rage. My Lords, laid I, do nothing with Precipitation ; let not In- nocence fall a Victim to your Revenge tho' un- luckily I am found in the Place of the Guilty. Thefe Words fufpended a while their Fury : Who art thou then, reply'd one of them haftily, if the infamous Villain we wait for be not thou ? My Name, anfwer'd I, is Ajoub, I live in fuch a Place, and my Relations are well known there. Upon that, an old Gentleman, who was conceal'd in a dark Clofet hard by, came forth, leading a mod beautiful young Creature, very richly drefs'd -, whofe Head and Eyes were fix'd on the Ground, and who let fall Abundance of Tears. Gauher, faid he to her, pointing at me, is that the vile Wretch who has unlawfully feafted on thy Charms, and robb'd thee of thy Honour? Gauher, at this Que- ftion, became as frefh as a Rofe newly blown, and looking in my Face, anfwer'd, I was not the Perfon. The old Gentleman, convinc'd of the Miftake, made a thoufand Apologies to excufe it, and was juft going to conduct me down Stairs a- gain, when one of the young Men pofted himfelf between me and the Door with his drawn Sword, and fwore, that as I had been let into the Secret of the Diihonour of their Family, I lhould not efcape. The other two faid he was much in the Right of it, and held it abfolutely necefTary to difpatch me. Dear Children ! reply'd the good old Gentleman, let not a blind Paflion have too much the Afcendant over you! It would be the Height of Injuftice, were your Revenge to take Place on the Innocent, and we might certainly ex- pect that every Drop of his Blood would cry to Heaven for Vengeance, which would not fail, fooner or later, to fall down upon us. Ajoub y continu'd [ *3 î continu'd he, taking me by the Hand, make the belt of your Way, and let not your Tongue be- tray what this Adventure has difcover'd to you, if the Life I now preferve be any ways dear to you. You will eafily conceive with what Joy I receiv'd the News of my Deliverance, and how little a while I ftay'd in the Houfe after it was given me. I was equally as prefling to reach home, but juft as I was opening our Door, an Arrow pafs'd whittling by my Ear, which made me jump. I look'd back and perceiv'd a Man make towards me, arm'd with a Bow in his left Hand, and a long Javelin in his Right, crying out to me: Traytor! Tbo' I have mijs'd thee once, have at thee a fécond Time ! Seeing him alone, I took Courage, and faid, I muft tall by thy Hands, if it be fo decreed above. I drew my Ganjar, and having happily parry'd his firft Offer, I enclos'd him, wounding him twice in the Breaft. He dropt down that inftant, and begg'd his Life. I was not only generous enough to fhew him Mercy, but telling me he was the Son of the. Bafhaw of Schiras, I likewife ran im- mediately to a Surgeon, and lent him to his Af- fiftance. That done, I repair'd to my Father's, where I ftay'd no longer than to provide myfelf with a Horfe and Money, and without taking Leave of any Perfon, left the City, having every thing to fear from the Fury of a Man, who doubt- lefs, would have made me expiate, by a fhame- ful Death, the Crime of his Son. I travel? d without following any certain Road. Towards Midnight I came to the great Lake of Babti, which was fo calm, as if Heaven took a Plea- fure to contemplate its infinite Perfections in it. I rode a considerable Way by the Side of it, till, at laft, I reach'd the Town that bears the fame Name. I knock'd at the firft Door I met with, but [ H ] but no Body anfwer'd, except a great MaftifF- Dog, fet loofe in the Yard, that made fuch a ter- rible Barking, as awoke the reft of the Dogs of the Place. In a Moment, all Babu echo'd with the Noile thefe Animals made, ft ill none of the Inhabitants feem'd in the lead difturb'd at it. I went likewife and thunder'd at a neighbouring Door, but with the fame Succefs as before. De- fpairing, at laft, to find any Shelter there that Night, I purfu'd my Journey, curfing all the fleepy Natives of Babu. As Nature was overwelm'd with Fatigue, and requir'd due Repofe, I quitted the high Road, defigning to look for fome kind Retreat, fuitable to indulge it. I took a Path that divided two fmall Mountains, which directed me to a Wood, where I rufh'd in, and made Choice of the Foot of a large wild Palm-tree for my Bed. I flept there till Aurora vifited the Earth with her glittering Rays ; when , awa- king, I was very much furpriz'd to hear, at a lit- tle Diftance from me, the Voice of a Man, who fpoke in the following Terms. This is the precious Hour, Child: The Peris call'd it the wonderful one. Now it is the good Genii gather the powerful Herbs that transform irregular Men into wild Beads -, now it is every thing in Nature obeys their Orders, and that their myiterious Words prove mod efficacious. The Sun even when rifing, admires them-, either be- caufe they are profefs'd Enemies to the Children of Ifriet a and their Confederates, or that they o- verthrow all the vain Projects of the Magicians. In a Word, now it is the Peris appear under dif- ferent Forms to Princes, that delight in executing Juftice, and to Tyrants who deierve Punifhment. a A Genius far more Cruel than the ordinary Divs. Oh [ *5 1 Oh Child ! if thou couldft forefee this Moment as well as I, then would'ft thou behold, fome em- ploye in the dark Shades of Mazanderan h , to drive the Lions and Tigers from their Dens, in Defence of the Innocent in Oppreflion, and ad- mire the Facility of the others, in rendring the Hydras and Griffins Tame and Familiar. I had not Patience any longer to liften to fo ftrange a Difcourfe, without having a Curiofity to fee the Perfon that held it. So advancing foft- ]y from one Tree to another, I came to a pretty thick Grove of Laurels, where concealing my- fdf^ I had the Advantage of difcovering without being perceiv'd, a grave old Man, habited in a long brown Robe, and a young Maid fitting near him, with a blew Veil that cover'd every Part of her, except her Face and Hands. She had her Eyes fix'd very modeftly on the old Man, whom fhe feem'd liflening to with great Attention. I fhew'd myfelf, and by my Prefence interrupted their Converfation. At my Appearance, the young Maid drew herVeil over her Face, and theold Man rofe and met me. Having accofled him, you behold, laid I, a Traveller, diftrefs'd by Hunger and Wearinefs, compell'd to importune you. By Alii reply'd he, you are mod welcome, the Sages were never unhofpitable. The Charity I fhew you, will ferve as a new Instruction for my Daughter. Go ! rcfrefh yourfelf in our Retreat, we will rejoin you in an Hour. He fhew'd me, at the fame Time, a little Path, which I following, conducted me, after feveral Turnings, into a Grotto. Tho' the Entrance was very narrow and ob- fcure, yet it was light enough within, extreamly neat, and contain'd feveral fpacious Chambers. h The Hircania of the Ancients. F A Slave, [66] A Slave, to whom I declar'd my Diftrefs, and the charitable Intentions of his Mafter, brought be- fore me Raifins, Piftachoes, frefh Dates, white Bread, and excellent Metheglin. Whilit I was thus agreeably employ'd, I defir'd him to go in fearch of my Horfe, defcribing, as well as I could, the Place where I had left him. If you expect I fhould obey you, anfwer'd the Slave, promife not to quit this Apartment till my Return, or my Mailer's. I readily oblig'd my felf fo to do, but after I had eat and drank, I was poffefs'd wiph fuch an irrefiftible Curiofity to examine th^jÇjwelling of a Perfon like him I had feen, that ?\t was im- poflible for me to keep my Word, and I left no Part unfearch'd. The moft remote Cavity of the Grotto form'd a Cabinet full of Books, Talijmans 9 and Figures of all Sorts of Plants and Animals. I amus'd myfelf here more than in any other Part; and perceiving on the Table a Parchment un- rowl'd, on which was fomething wrote in green Letters, I took it up inconfiderately, and read thefe Words: Peri Milan-Schak I Lieutenant of the green Palace ! Peri Milan-Schak ! Hufband of Lut- fallah ! what's the Sword of Gian doing ? where is his Buckler? The Moment I had pronounc'd the laft Word of this Invocation, Milan-Schak, whom you know, appear'd to me, and carry'd me a- way, without fpeaking a Word. You are doubt- lefs fenfible, beautiful Roufchen, that it was he who brought me to this Ifland. The- [ 6 7 ] The Continuation of the Hifiory of the Persian Lady. AJOUB having had the good Nature to give me the real Hiftory of his leaving Scbiras, I thought myfelf oblig'd, in Point of Honour and Gratitude, to relate alfo what had befallen me. He then gave me to underftand that I was not unknown to him, that he had been one of my Admirers for a long Time, and that our Condi- tions being pretty near equal, he flatter'd himfelf with the Hope of being happy with me, by the Confent of our Parents. I gave Ear to what he faid, without repulfing him too feverely, or te- ftifying too much I lov'd him. The Converfa- tion Lifted till Dinner, after which the Princefs Indgi-Mergian led us into the Gardens. She was the moil beautiful of all the Perifes: Her Hair was the fined black in the World ; her Eyes large and full of Vivacity, her Completion cannot be defcrib'd, without comparing it to the Lillies and Roles -, to all this, fhe had an Air of Majefty worthy of her Birth, and knew how to explain herielf with an admirable Grace. Since you are on the Point of leaving us, faid (he, when we were in the Parterre, it is neceffary I fhould finim. inftructing you. Can you tell what thefe Flowers are? We told her we were charm'd at the Beauty of thofe we faw. The obliging Princefs was pleas' d to give herfelf the Trouble to name them us, one after another. Ifaynam'd them us, for we knew them already, but without the Afiiftance of Indgi- Mergian, our Knowledge of them would have prov'd of little Service to us, except thofe of a middling Size. In Effect, how could we imagine F 2 to [ <$8 to fee a Violet, when we had a Flower before ouf Eyes as big as a Sun-Flower? and who wotrld think of looking forLillies, on Stems about the Bignefs of a Pin? This agreeable Amufement did not hinder the Daughter of Lutfallah from telling us feveral other Things touching the Religion or the Peris, and the holy War this generous Nation had for fo many Ages, maintain'd againft the Divs. She likewife enlarg'd upon many other Particulari- ties of the Ifland, which had not been treated on in the Instructions we receiv'd from Lutfallah and Milati'Schak. Beyond the Parterre, there was a large Square of Water, in the middle of which was erected a inoft beautiful little Pleafure-houfe, built in the Form of a Caftle. We intreated the Princefs to favour us with the Sight of this delightful F^dirlce, who was complaiiant enough to comply with our Requeft; and only call'd out pretty loud, ho Mori ho Mori when Mor, an old violet colour'd Wa- ter-Rat, with a great Beard, and as big as a Bear* immediately unchain'd a Gondola from the Foot of the Pleafure-houfe, and brought it over to us. We pafs'd the Water in it, and landing, we enter'd into a little, tho' perfectly enchanting Recefs. We call: our Eyes round;, when to our great Aftonifhment we mifs'd Indgi-Mergian, who that Moment was with us. I blufh'd, and was very much confus'd to find myfelf thus alone with Ajoub. Give me a Proof, faid I to him, of the Sincerity of your Affection, by the Refpectfulnefs of your Behaviour -, for nothing can be lb much engaging to a Heart like mine as Modelty. Ajoub gaz'd upon me with fuch an Earneltnefs, as tho* he wanted the Power of Utterance ; and when I had ceas'd fpeaking, his Lips and Hands mov'd, as if they were directed to me} but far from hear- ing [ *9 ] ing what he faid, I could not diftinguifh even the Sound of his Voice. Then I look'd upon him in my Turn with equal Surprize: Ajoub, reply'd I, your Silence wounds me : What Prelages all thefe Signs? What would you lay to me? Here his Lips began again their Motion, and he refum'd all the little Geftures the Head and Hands commonly make ufe of, to give the proper Action to a folid Difcourfe, {till, not a Syllable that he feem'd to pronounce, affected my hearing more than the firft Time. I thought myfelf the Subject of his Derifion, and he, probably, imagin'd the fame of me -, for we frown'd upon each other with fuch a Difdain as can't be exprefs'd. During this Scene, the Daughter of Lutfallab re-appear'd, laughing immoderately. You injure both your Paffions, faid me to us, by a millaken Refentment: 'Tis by a particular Virtue appropriated to this Sum- mer Houfe, that cuts off all Convention between Lovers -, becaufe, as the young Peris refort there pretty often, the Queen did not judge proper to l'ufler it, left a mutual Declaration of Tendernefs, mould prove initrumental in corrupting them. The Moment there's a Simpathy between Hearts^ the Ears are render'd incapable of their Function. But however, your Grimaces and little Difgufts have afforded me too much unexpected Diver- fion, not to think myfelf oblig'd to you for it, and to allow you the Liberty of afking me any Queftion you (hall be pleas'd to propofe. Having plac'd ourfelves on a little Sofa below her's, we remain'd in Silence a confiderable Time to recover the Confufion our Spirits were in. Then I deliver' d myfelf as follows: Powerful Princefs ! I humbly entreat to know why our Sex govern in this Ifland. Lutfallab I perceive is acknowledge Queen, yet Milan-Scbak claims not the Character F 3 cf [ 70 ] of King. The other Perifes, whether Queens or Subjects, have equally a Superiority over their Hufbands, which gives me much Matter of Won- der. May I, with Submiflion, farther afk if t this Cuftom be introduc'd to compeniate the Afîidui- ties of the Perifes, whilft in a Virgin State? In our World, young Men before Marriage, pay their MiftrefTes the utmoft Deference, Humility and Complaifance ; but when that Ceremony is o- ver, their former Devoirs are converted into Au- thority. Our Laws, refum'd the Princefs, are much preferable to yours, and are grounded upon thefe three Reafons: The firft is, the Perifes have infi- nitely more Understanding than the Peris, and are as naturally fuperior to them as thofe are to com- mon Men, or thefe latter to the Pabins, and fo on by Degrees. The fécond is, that Strength is ad- ded to their Wit -, whereas Men are only Matters in your World, but becaufe they are ftronger. And the third is myfterious. Only obferve, that Fertility is the Source of all Things, and that it can't be too much honour'd. Jndgi-Mergian having difcontinu'd fpeaking, A- joub kept up the Con variation, and faid : As there's but little Probability of our being fuffer'd to re- main Time enough to make fufficient Remarks of this City, therefore I believe Roufcben will not be difpleas'd if I befeech you, charming Princefs ! to give us fome Idea of it; for, as yet, I know not fo much as its Name. This City, anfwer'd the Daughter of Lutfallab, is call'd Gianire. Af- ter the Death of Gian, Sovereign of all the Genii, the War, that feem'd to be at an End towards his Jatter Years, being renew'd between the Peris and J)ivs, there arofe fuch terrible Diforders through- out all Ginnijian, that made Gian, only Son of that good King abandon it, with his Family, and four others [ 71 ] others of the moft Illuftrious of the Nation of the Peris. This great Defign produc'd a very hap- py Event, by the Succour of Feramak his Con- fort, who render'd the Vigilance of the Divs of no Effect, and conducted her triumphant Band into this Iflind. The Town was built in a very lhor: Time, which Feramak call'd Gianire, from the- Name of her Hufband. To preferve an efta- blifh'd Peace in her new Colony, fhe fhar'd her Authority with the four Mothers of the Families that had accompany'd her, and fince that Time, Gianire has always been govern'd by five Queens. Thefe our AnceiTors, made Choice of five diffe- rent Colours to diftinguifh themfelves, their Sub- jects, and even their Defcendants. Thefe Colours were Greer, which is ours, B/rw, Tello-w, Re d and White. There are five broad Streets in die City of Gianire ; one End of them coming into the Market- Place, and the other leading to the Front of a Palace. The Queens Palaces are built of Marble of the fame Colour their Arms are of; the ordinary Houfes take their's from the Palace they are dependent on-, and thofe are inhabited by Peris of the fécond Clafs. I will fhew you to morrow, both the great Market-Place and the Academy, which is the moft fumptuous Piece of Building in the whole Ifland. But how great foever your Admiration may be, at the Sight of fo magni- ficent an Edifice, the Refurrection of Feramak and Gian, my Anceftors, and thofe I have been tel- ling you of, will, undoubtedly, aftonifh you much more. When Indgi-Mergian had finifh'd the De- fcription, fhe rofe up, and we crofs'd the Water again together. After that, we walk'd a confi- derable Time in a Wood of lofty Strawberry-trees, which, at that Seafon, could icarcely fupport the Weight of that delicious Fruit. They wafted a F 4 moft [71 ) moft grateful Air, and fuch an exquifite Odour, that the hymenial Perfumes can't be compar'd to it, without rendering the Comparifon odious. The next Morning, a little before peep of Day, the whole Town was rais'd from their Sleep by a moft harmonious Symphony, that was heard in the Air over the Academy, where People began to repair from all Parts. Being very defirous to' be of the Number of the Spectators, I went down into the Court-yard, where I found two Wood-lice, about thirty Foot long, and large in Proportion, very richly har- nefs'd, and who carry'd on their fpacious Backs commodious and magnificent Lodgings, compos'd of a Chamber and two Cabinets: The one im- ploy'd the Forepart, and might contain twelve Foot fquare -, and the others, one of which ferv'd as an Anti-chamber, were about feven Foot long, and fix broad. Thefe moving Apartments were hung with green Velvet, the reft of the Furniture an- fwerable to it. Tho' thefe valuable Moveables, as well as all other Riches, ftand the Peris in no- thing, yet the Nicety of their Tafte and Judg- ment in adorning the Lodges of Lutfallab and Milan-Scbak, was almoft the chief Thing to be admir'd in them. I can't forbear acquainting you, now I am about it, that no Carriage whatever is comparable to thofe, either for Safety or Convé- niency. A Wood-loufe is of a furprizing tracta- ble Nature, and always attentive to the Directions of his Conducter, whofe Seat is plac'd as it were on the Head of this Animal. He goes as faft as one pleafes, without abating any thing of the Un- eafmefs of his Pace. If by Chance he lames him- felf in one of his Feet, it is not perceivable, be- caufe he has thirteen more to fuftain him. His Shells are all fpotted, and mine like thofe of the great [73 ] great Indian Tortoifes -, and their two Horns are almoft as ufeful to them , as Trunks are to Ele- phants. Lutfallah plac'd me nigh herfelf, and Ajonb ac- company'd Milan-fchak. We pafs'd through a very Jong Street, crofs'd by five others, at an equal Diftance between each other. All the Houfes we faw were built of green Marble, with fuch a Symmetry as did not fatigue the Sight by too near a Refemblance. We came at laft to a very fpacious, round Place, in the Middle of which was an Edi- fice, built alfo round, that has not its Fellow in the World, being the fame Indgi-Mergian had told us of. It ferves the Peris both for an Acade- my and a Temple : It is cover'd with a Golden Cupilo , whofe Luftre did not feem leffen'd , even by the Sun's, which was then riflng. Five Por- ticoes of Agate , each of different Colours, and adorn'd with twelve fine lofty Columns, give the Entrance into this magnificent Temple, and which face the five principal Streets of the Town. The Orders of Architecture are lb regularly obferv'd, that nothing we fee in thefe Parts, can poffibly convey a ftronger or more grateful Idea. I took Notice that the Chapters of all the Columns are compos'd of four Figures, reprefenting the Heads ofLobfters, the Contours of whofe Horns , on the Top, produce a very agreeable Effect. The Portico we enter'd into, was of green Agate, fpot- ted with White, on the Frontifpiece of which was wrote the illuftrious Names of Feramak and of Gian, in large golden Letters. We went up nine Steps of Serpentine Marble, into a Theatre divi- ded into five Parts. All the Stages of each Part were full of Perifes and Peris of different Ages, and drefs'd in the fame Colour with their Queen, ■fjipft Throne was fix'd quite on the Top. The [ 74 ] The RefurreBïon of Qyeen F e,r a m a k, and G i a n her Husband. N the Middle of the Amphi-Theatre, there lay two VeiTels of Cryftal , in the Figure of Eggs, which contain'd two little dead Bodies of different Sexes. Juft when we enter'd , the four Queens and their Hufbands were fitting on the Ground about thefe VefTels , and contemplating them with a moft furprifing Attention and Mode- fty. Lutfallah and Milan-Schak join'd them ; and Ajoub and I were conducted up to the Top of the Amphi-Theatre, by a private Stair-Cafe, and plac'd near the green Throne. There reigned fuch a pro- found Silence in this numerous Aliembly as made it frightful. A quarter of an Hour after, Fera- mak and Gian, who were inclos'd in the two Vef- fels, began to fhew all the Marks of Life-, the tranfparent Eggs clove afiunder, and were con- verted into green Cloaths to cover their Naked- nefs. Thefe Bodies, rifen from the Dead, grew to the fame Bignefs they were of in the Flower of their Age: Then they rofe by degrees into the Air, the Pcrifes and Peris furrounding them ; and being come to the Height of the Thrones, they ftopp'd there a Moment, calling their Eyes all round, as it were to examine the Company. Af- ter that, they funk down, without the lead Mo- tion, towards the Middle, where I was, and plac'd themfely.es by each other in tfje green Throne. Nothing but Death itfelf could ev'er terrify me more than did the Approach of thefe People, who were juft come from the other "World. Thofe of both Sexes, that had accompany'd them thi- ther , laluted them in the molt profound Man- ner, P-74- [71 J ner, and then went, taking the fame Road in the Air, to fill their Thrones over the Band of their Colour. Lutfallab and Milan-Scbak fat at the Feet of Feramak and Gian. The two rifen from the Dead, wore a very grave and ferious Air, as though they were meditating on Affairs of great Confequence. Feramak had a delicate fair Com- plexion-, Gian a fwarthy one; his Eyes were lively, his Beard and Hair jet-black, and look'd like a fevere and courageous Man. His Wife pronounc'd the following Difcourfe, in a very diftinct, eafy Manner, and with a very elevated Voice. The purify'd Shades, that came to vifit us in our peaceful Maniions, fince our laft Expiration, have, from time to time, appris'd us of fuch Paf- fages and Tran factions, as would have oblig'd us to haften our Return much fooner, had it been in our Power to accomplim it. It grieves me to tell you, my dear Children, that the Glory of our Na- tion degenerates by little and little, and that the deteftable D'ros are infenfibly becoming confpi- cuous on our Ruin and Decay; a Misfortune the more fatal, as you are almoR unprepar'd to receive it. Whence proceeds this pafïïve Neglect of our Wel-fare? From a Want of due Reflection on the End , for which we are rais'd above the reft of Mortals. We trifle away our Time about No- things-, for fuch I eftecm all Prodigies, done with- out having an abfolute Ncceffity, or an apparent Advantage in view. Do you imagine the moft effential Glory o-f our State conflits in building Palaces, adorning them with rich Furniture, dreiïing in magnificent Ha- bits, giving a falfe Glofs of Beauty to Perfons, whofe Natures are oppofite, filling Coffers with Pearls andDiamonds,infpiringMen with the Know ledge [76 ] ledge of the various Languages of Birds and o- ther Animals, favouring the infignificant Paflion of fome amorous Trifler, and transforming Bo- dies from one Shape to another ? All thefe Won- ders, in our Power, are not eftimable in them- felves: they ought only to be made ufe of, as Means to arrive at a higher Degree of Perfection. If we propofe no more than the Performance of them, we abufe the moft fublime Gifts, render ourfelves ufelefs to the Univerfe, betray our Vir- tue, and refign up our Right of Empire to Ene- mies unworthy of it. How can a few vain Applaufes footh us, when fo many impending Ills hang over our Heads? Ought we, alas! to purchafe a fading Admira- tion at fo dear a Rate? Where are the Ages, not to mention thofe of my own Time, which my grand Niece Lutfallah and her Spoufe render'd fo famous by their f]rft Exploits? Then our Sciences not only contributed to the Glory of the Satns- a NerimanSy the Zals-Zers^ the Rojiams, the Kaico- bads, the Asfendiars, and a numerous Multitude of other Heroes, but at the fame time made Vir- tue alfo triumphant. Then we beheld nothing but great Enterprifes, Queens deliver'd from the Hands of their Ravifhers, Magicians vanquifh'd , Giants trod under Foot, Monfters defeated. Ty- rants difpoil'd and put to Death, and the flrongeft Enchantments of Vice happily brought to an End. Then the Divs b Nerez and their Difciples durft not prefume to appear, or if they had the Teme- rity to do it, they receiv'd the juft Punifhment of their Crimes : But alas ! that happy Time's no more ! The World feems now a days to be fUl'd a Warrtours very much boafted of in Romances , and as much fimg in the Pertian and Arabian Poems. ù The true Sur- Name of the evil G^nii, with [ 77} with Genii, only to do childifli Actions. Feramaki in uttering thefe Lift Words, let fall fome Tears, which the whole Afiembly appear'd to be greatly mov'd at. Your Sighs, purfu'dfhe, would make me judge I have a little too far exaggerated your Faults, but I hope my Reproaches will be of fuch Ser- vice as to engage you to remark what's mod re- prehenfible in your paft Actions, and put you more on your Guard for the future. As our Time is fhort among you, let the Youth of the fécond Clafs immediately begin their Exercife, that they may delerve our Praifes. That Moment the Perifes and Peris, Subjects of ' Lutfallab, rofe up and repair'd to the Area, in or- der to commence the Exercife of the Elements. The Chaos was the firft thing reprefented ; then they divided the Matter into two Parts, and after that into four. Each Part produc'd its proper Effects -, as the Fire, Light'nings, Thunder- bolts, Conflagrations, and Ignis Fatuus's .-The Air, Winds, Thunders, and ordinary Star-fallings. The Water, Tempefts and Monfters ; and the Earth, Earth- quakes, new Mountains, Abyfles and Forefts. All thefe Things were fhewn in Miniature, which gave a great Proof of the green Band's Dexterity, they having obferv'd , with the greatefl Nicety, all the Rules of Proportion. The yellow and blue Peris aflembled together to imitate rural Diverfions : Their firft Representa- tion was, a furprifing Profpect of Rocks, Rivers, Meadows, and all forts of Cattel feedinp therein, even with their Shepherds and Shepherdeflès. The Scene was concluded by a witty Game: Three young Shepherds, and as many Shepherdeflès, ac- company'd with the oldeft of their Profefîîon, of each Sex, belonging to their Village, fate toge- ther [ 78] ther under the Shade of fome Trees. Each Shep- herdefs accus'd her Shepherd with a Defect; and each Shepherd attributed to his Shepherdefs a Perfection. All the Shepherds prov'd, by a little pleafont Argument, that one reigning Quality of their ShepherdeïTes, was capable of effacing all the Failings they might othervvife be guilty of; and all the Shepherdelfes plainly demonftrated, that the principal Imperfection of their Shepherds only ferv'd to brighten the Luftre of their fine Qualities. The ancient Woman impos'd Silence on the Shepherds, as did the old Man on the ShepherdelTes ; and then they declar'd which of the SheperdefTes and Shepherds had argued bed, according to the Opinion of the Company. Im- mediately after the Decifion, they were created Queen and King of the Dance, which wasperform'd by the Sound of a Bag-pipe and Tabor, which the old Man and Woman play'd upon. The red and white Peris exercifed next toge- ther: They built Cities, Caftles, Palaces; made Furniture, Jewels, Cloaths, Menageries, Founuins and Singing-Birds: They reprefented like wife Sul- tans with their Courts ; Princefies of all Ages and Nations, with their Attendants; and Mofqaes, Doctors, Vizirs and Cadis. They were all fo perfect in their Parts, that at each Motion of a Rod, every thing, that Moment, was prefented to our View. Feramak and Gian openly applauded the Dexterity of their Perfor- mances. The Companies, tranfported with the Praifes given them, re-united to treat the AfTem- b!y. In a Word, the whole Edifice was fill'd, in a Moment, with the molt exquifite, rare and nou- riminj; Perfumes. When the Entertainment was over, the Queens with their Spoufes form'd a Cir- cle in the Middle of the Amphi-Theatre. The two [ 79 } two rifen from the Dead defcendedfoftly, till they came to the Centre, where Gian, who had kept Silence till then, faid three times, with a loud and majeftick Voice, Let the Sword of Gian glitter, and his Buckler wound Ifrict. As foon as this myfterious Proclamation was iflfuM, Feramak and Gian infen- fibly diminihYd, and became Eggs again. Then they rofe from the Ground as high as theThroncs, and hurrying through the Air with Rapidity, they went out of the blue Portico, and drew after them the whole AfTembly. I was carry'd away as well as the reft-, we flew over the Houfes of the City, and having travel'd about eighteen Miles, we came to a Mountain of black Marble, which had a great Opening in the Middle. We enter'd into it, following the two Eggs, that conducted us down a continual Defcent, through eafy Paths, into a vaft large arched Palace, where there were more than two thoufand Eggs, exactly refembling the others. As my Eyes were attentively fix'd on them to fee whereabouts they plac'd themfelves, a Dop of Water fell on my Face from the Arch, which was fo cold, that it depriv'd me of all my Senfes. What Form or Figure I afïum'd, I know not, but I am pofitive in this, that I found myfelf in my Father's Houfe at Scbiras, lay'd in a Bed, all over in a Sweat, and almoft famim'd with Hunger. I call'd for fomething to eat, which they gave me, with fuch Moderation, that I eafily perceiv'd they imagin'd me feiz'd with fome Indifpofition. My Father, Sitter, and Phyfician, who were pre- fent, afiured me I had been three Days without any Motion, and almoft any Pulfe. I told them, it was certainly fome Phantom, in my Shape, that had led them into fuch an Error, and then re- lated to them my Adventures at length. The i Sighs [ So ] Sighs of my Father, the Nods of my Sifter, and the certain fmiling Air the Phyfician aifeéled, cohvinc'd me they gave but little Credit to what had befallen me. My Sifter's Beard might perhaps have gain'd Belief upon them, had fhe been ftill plagu'd with it. I call'd in vain for my changeable Habit, and as fruitlefs did I invoke Lutfallab: I hope, laid I to them, you won't deny but the Son of our Bafhaw was very dangeroufly woun- ded by young Ajoub ; ftill they held my Affertion groundlefs. I was obliged to lubmit both to their Incredulity and the whole Town's. Fatigu'd at laft with fo general an Unbelief, I obtain'd, as foon as I was thought recover'd, Leave of my Father to go and live lbme time with an Aunt I have at Oormus. Ajoub paid me a Vifit there, when I had almoft forgot him. Indeed I couid fcarce recollect myfelf to have feen him, at his firft accofting me -, but he anfwer'd the Queftions I afk'd him, fo very particularly, that I no longer doubted it was he. After that, I entreated him to tell me, how he left the Topfy-Turvy Ifland. The Sequel of the Hijiory o/Ajoub. MADAM, faid he, your Departure and mine proceed from the fame Caufe: A Drop of Water, that fell upon me from the Top of the Vault, benumb'd all my Limbs. When my Spi- rits began to refume their former Functions, I found myfelf ftretched on a Bed of dry Leaves, at the Bottom of a Grotto. I perceiv'd it to be the fame where I had been order'd to go, by the Sage of Babu, but it was fo empty andDefart like then [ Si ] then, that it look'd as though no Body had ever dwell'd there. I only found in the Recefs , that was fee apart for the Sage's Cabinet, a Paper, where I read thefe Words : " Ajoub! your Temerity, that deferv'dan exem- " plary Pun ifh ment, has perhaps procur'd yourfu- " tureHappinels,un!efsafatalUntowardnelsbring " you here again. If you chance to return hither, " the Situation of this Place fhall remind you of " your Fault. A Sage's Revenge extends itfelf inftigated by a Caprice unworthy of him, made all thefe Enchantments depend on the Virginity of Cberoudab, his only Daughter, whom he guarded, for that Reafon, with an inexpreffible Care and Diligence, having fhut himfelf up with her, in a Place inaccefiïble to Mankind. Fcridoiin, falling in Love with this Princefs, furprized her in Spight of her Father's Precauti- on, and found her condefcending to his Defires of conveying her thence. The Enchantments of Raz-Andaz were no fooner broke, than they were immediately fupplied by others of a fuperior Force, and Cberoudah enjoyed all the Charms of Love and Liberty with her faithful Genius. In me, you behold the only Fruit of their mutual Tendernefs. I was about ten Years old, when one Day, Feridoun appearing very melancholy, my Grand-father preffed him to declare the Caufe of his Trouble ; it is yourfelf, without knowing it, anfwered he ; you have pardoned my Temerity, but your Protectors are more inflexible. Turafcb 9 King of the Genii, has condemned this Child to be a Wanderer, and forbid us to communicate any Part of our Sciences to him. This is the laft Time you will perhaps ever fee him. With thefe Words, he took me in his Arms, and difap- pearing, bore me to the Ifland Subu, where being i'.rriyed, my Son faid he, with Tears in his Eyes, let [ "4 ] let not hard Labour difmay you -, nor regret the Pleafures of Enchantments ; follow Virtue, that your Glory may derive from yourfelf. By my Aid you will be enabled to go every where ; but expect no more, till the Indignation of Tu- rafch be over. He fighed, as he vanifhed from my Sight, and ï -remained a Companion for Ti- gers and wild Elephants, of whom I loon became the Terror. I ranged many Lands and Seas by my Father's Afiiftance, and reftored the Tran- quillity of divers Countries, laid wafte by Mon- sters. The fame generous Defign brought me to thefe Parts, had there been any need ol my Suc- cour; but alas! I have loft that Repofe, which Ï pretended to procure for others : And inftead of acquiring a laudable Fame, I live concealed, left I fhould be deprived of your Sight. Here Hardoun ended his Recital, looking at Noar with a ftedfaft and melancholy Air ; then entertain'd her with a Song, which he had com- pos'd in her Praife. His Voice was fo ftrong and melodious at the fame Time, and interrupted now and then with the fhrill Note of a large Pipe, that the piercing Sound filenc'd all the Birds in the adjacent Vallies. When he difcon- tinu'd that Amufement, Nour acquainted him with her Name, and the Affairs of her Family ; after which, pretending to be charm'd with the Conqueft fhe had made, ftie promis'd to repair there frequently, and gave him, as a Pledge of Friendship, one of her Arrows, which the Giant immediately fix'd in his Hair, juft above his Fore- head. Nour then took her Leave, refolving with- in herfelf, never to be expos'd to the like Adventure again. From that Day fhe kept at home, and Haràonn fearch'd her, but in vain, thro' all the Places fhe was accuftom'd to de- %ht in, He [ I2 5 3 He fuffer'd, during this Abfence, all the Ills çlifappointed Love can inflict. Sometimes he imagin'd her Parents were the Caufe of her Breach of Promile, and fometimes, that a fatal Indifpofition, or other unhappy Accident had prevented her coming. Tir'd with a tedious Ex- pectation, he refolv'd at laft to go in Perfon to the City : So quitted the Mountain with the Ce- dar in his Hand, and his Bread cover'd with the Skin of a Lion. He was no fooneF perceiv'd by the People, than all the Houfes were clofe fhut ; and thofe who happen'd to be abroad, left off what they were about, to fly from him. Har- doun feeing them thus terrify'd, mended his Pace after the laft, and feizing one, lifted him from the Ground, and threatned to throw him over the Mountain, if he did not fhew him the Houfe of Nour. ^ The poor Man, already half crufli'd to Death with the formidable Gripe, immediately comply'd. Nour was at that time embroidering a Ser-afba a , for Scimds, a young Man, to whom her Parents had promis' d her in Marriage. As foon as fhe caft her Eyes on Hardoun, who had unhing'd the Doors, and enter' d the Houfe, finding no way to eicape him, fhe hid her Face with her Hands, and remain'd immoveable, ex- pecting no other than immediate Death. But the Giant accofted her with fo much Softnefs, that fhe was prefently re-afl'ur'd, and compofing her Countenance as when fhe firft faw him, again de- ceiv'd him into an Opinion of her Love, by al- ledging, that nothing but a long Indifpofition had prevented her coming to the Mountain, and that fhe would be more punctual for the Future. The Giant now quite appeas'd, defir'd a Pledge » A Kind of Vejf. Of [ ii6] of the Sincerity of what fhe promis'd. Nbur, who thought only how to get rid of him, prefented him with the Sér-apha fhe had been working. Hardoun flx'd it direclly on his Shoulder, and pleas'd with the Shew it made, and the good Suc- cess of his little Journey, he btrtook himfelf joy- fully to the Mountain. The Inhabitants had fcarce loft fight of him, when they flock'd to Naur's, to know the Mo- tive of fo extraordinary a Gueft; The Particulars of this Adventure being; laid open before the Af- fembly, one of them argu'd, that they could not, without being guilty of a Crime, fuffer her to ful- fil her Appointment at the Mountain, becaufe the Giant would not fail to ravifli, and by Confe- quence to kill her. But the others were of a dif- ferent Sentiment, and reply'd, that the Safety of Nour this Way-, would be the Deftruclion of the City, when the Giant mould-return and over- throw all. It was therefore determin'd that Ncur ihould continue to keep his Hopes alive, and promife to efpoufe him in a certain limited Time, during which they might perhaps contrive means to deitroy fo terrible an Enemy. ThisRefolution being taken, Nour was fent to the Son of Fendoun, whom fhe found fitting on a Stone, win nee he rofe to meet her, with a Trans- port worthy of his Paffion and Fidelity. Nour made her Compliments to him with a diffembled Pleafure, and utter'd a thoufand obliging Lies in a graceful Manner. Hardoun invited her to ho- nour with her Prefence, a neighbouring Grotto, which ferv'd him as a Palace. Tho' fuch a Pro- pofal could not but occafion fome Difquiet in thé Mind of a young Maid, yet as fhe knew herfelf in the Power of the Giant, and on the other Hand, this Lover appear'd to have for her the moft moll refpeétful Sentiments, me did not offer to oppofe his Requeft. They defcended together into a winding Valley, which is nourifh'd with the gentle Courfe of a Rivulet of clear Water. 'Twas here, Harâoun led Nour into a vaft Cavern, where he feated her on a foft molly Bed. While me was reflecting on the favage Wildnefs of the Place, the enamour' d Giant collected all the pre- cious Things he was poffefs'd of, and having laid them at her Feet, he explain'd her each Particu- lar, faying : During the Time my Paflion has at- tach'd me to this Mountain, I difcover'd in it a Vein of pure Gold, whence I dug thefe Pieces, which I now prefent you with. The Jar, that you fee, is one entire Topaz -, 'twas a Prefent made me two Years ago by the King of ^ueronde^ after having deftroy'd a Dragon, which defolated his Countrey. The black Powder, contain'd in the faid Jar, is the Sovereign of all Medicines ; ming- led with Incenfe, it heals all Sorts of Wounds. Here you fee a vaft Number of precious Stones, which I brought from divers Countries. This gives Light to Darknefs, and that repels the Force ofTary* ; this other is found in the Head of the crown'd Fifh, and is dim or clear, according to the Change of Weather at Sea. There's another, continu'd he, which reprefents a human Tonoue, and caufes fuccefs to thofe who interfere in the Amours of others. The Foot of this fine Egret is all cover'd with Diamonds; Sobafcbid> Sultan of the Mountainers, of the Ifland Borneo, made me a Prefent of it, in Remembrance of my Grandfa- ther. Refufe not, moft charming Nour, to ac- cept this Necklace of large Pearls, which I took from the falfe God Mebabdeu, when I broke his 1 Wine that's drawn from Palm trees. Statue [ «8 ] Stattfe to Pieces, and deftroy'd his Temple in the Ifland of Aru. In a Word, Hardoun offer' d his Miftrefs Gifts of an inestimable Value, and flie fcrupled not to make Choice of what pleas' d her molt. She eat alfo of fome Fruit, which he pre- pared for her, and could not help being touch'd with the Generofity and Magnificence of her Lo- ver ; but ftill the ungrateful Maid fupprefs'd what her Soul acknowledge to be juft. To profecute the Deception fhe had fo artfully begun, fhe pro^ mis'd him on her Departure, to confult the Incli- nations of her Parents, touching the Alliance he defir'd to make with them, and then flatter'd him with a fpeedy and favourable Anfwer. On which, the Son of Feridoun contentedly conducted her to the Foot of the Mountain. Now was receiv'd by the Town with fo much the more Satisfaction and Pleafure, as fhe was thought deftroy'd by Hardoun. The very Day of her Arrival, the Inhabitants reafifembled, and concluded, after a fécond Confultation, to caufe a prodigious deep Pit to be dug, and cover' d o- ver with Branches and Earth, in order to delude the Giant into it. Nout*s Parents, at the fame Time, put the finifhing Stroke to their Daugh- ter's Marriage; Scimdy repair'd to his Fathcr-in- Law's, attended with a numerous Train of Friends ; and now, nothing was thought on, but celebra- ting the Nuptials with the utmoft Joy and Gran- deur. Mordrek alone was unhappy ; he had for many Years afpir'd to the PofTefTion of Nour, and could not behold the approaching Happinefs of his Rival, without teftifying the moft terrible De- fpair. He broke his Stick on his Knee, and threw the Pieces of it publickly into the Air, accor- ding to the Cuftom of the Countrey, and then left [ »9 ] left the Town, fully bent to make away with him- felf. m Being come to the Top of the Rock, where many other defpairing Lovers had pur an End to their Lives ; Oh Rock ! cry'd he, hear the Lift Words of a miferable Man : ELrd as thou art, Nottr, the perfidious Nour, is yet more hard than thee. Ah Near! I am the Object of thy Scorn, and thou prefer'ft Scimdy to the unfortunate Mor- drek. This Day thou haft accepted Scimdy for thy Hufband. Scimdy^ great God ! Scimdy, the Shame of Nature ! What Prize did he ever gain by his Dexterity ? What Dances was he ever applauded for? When did he ever diftinguifh himfelf in our Forefts with his Bow? What Verfes has he ever nmde ? Or, in what Songs has he ever celebrated the Beauties of thy Mouth and Eyes? His PofTef- fions are indeed larger than mine. He has made a Purchafe then of thy mercenary Heart ? Ah ! lee the Slave remain with him, and mvy'ft thou, fair Barbarian, be crufh'd beneath the Weight of thy Chain, and follow me foon after. As he had finifh'd thefe Exclamations, he was about to caft himfelf down the Precipice, when a powerful Hand, feizing him fuddenly behind, grafp'd his Shoulder and Bread with lb much Force, that this defpairing Lover, who a Moment before de- fir'd nothing but Death, became now apprehen- five it would arrive too foon. 'Twas Hardcun, to overhear what he laid, had advane'd towards him without making any Noife, Juft as he laid hold on Mordrek, there hTu'd from the Botom of his vail Brealt fucli a Sigh, as made the neieh- bouring Hills tremble, and frighted Echo into Silence. Mordrek perceiving who it was, his late Ter- ror gave Piace to a fecret Satisfaction. He re- K counted ->. [ I 3° 1 counted to him at large all that had happen'^ and aflur'd him, that the approaching Night would compleat the Triumph of Scimdy. He was immediately commanded by the Giant to conduct him where the AfiTembly met, who vow'd the mofl horrible Reyenge on the City, for the bafe Defign they had contriv'd againft him. Mcr- drek inwardly thank'd Fortune, and walking be- fore liardoun, ferv'd him as a Guide-, and the more to animate his Indignation, fhew'd him, as they pafs'd along, the Pit had been prepar'd for his Deftruction. The Epithalamiums, with the joyful Sound of filver Horns and Cymbals, might have diftinguifh'd the Houfe of Nour, had they not already known it. Had the Giant given way to the firfl Suggeftions of his Rage, he had fhaken the Houfe about their Ears, but the Thought that his Miftrefs might poffibly have been forc'd to act as fhe did, iufpended it. He enter'd on his Knees by a great Gate into the Court-yard, where, according to Cuftom, all the nuptial Guefts were at Supper, on a large Carpet. Vile and abominable Wretches ! cry'd he, Traitors, who contemn God and Truth, and have the Au- dacity to impofe on the Son of a Genius! trem- ble at the Approach of your Iaft Hour. Thefe dreadful Words, with the Sight of him that ut- ter'd them, threw all the Company into an in- conceivable Confternation. Some crept under the Carpet, others climb'd up the Trees, but the greateft Number proftrated themfelves on the Ground, imploring Mercy in the mod: humble Manner. The neareft Kindred of Nour and Scim- dy took her in their Arms, and oppos'd her to the Giant as a Buckler, hoping fo beautiful an Object might abate his Fury. Their Expectations deceiv'd them not, for he was foon difarm'd of all fi -130 [ *3' 1 all his Anger, and repented he had caus'd fo* great a Terror in the Perfon he paflioriately a- dor'd. All chang'd in a Moment, he approach'd her, faying to thofe who held her, they had no- thing to fear, provided he might that Night be happy in his Love. In the prefent Situation of their Hearts, they would have facrifie'd to him all the Virgins of the City, fo were eafily pre- vail'd on to acquiefce with his Demand, proteft- ing at the fame time, to him, that durft they have prefum'd to hope the Addreffes of a Perfon of fo extraordinary a Character, had tended to Mar- riage, they would never have provided another Hufband for her. The Son of Feridoun was whol- ly won by this Difcourfe, and put his Finger on their Heads in Sign of Reconciliation -, then he plac'd himfelf near the timorous Nour, who was perfuaded by all there prefent, to entertain him in the moft obliging Manner. While (he amusM him with a fictitious Shew ôf Tendernefs, the principal of the Affembly went apart, and confulted what was to be done in this Exigence. Nbur, faid one of them, lhall make him drink a fufficient Quantity of Tary ; his Drunkennefs will be infallibly follow'd by a profound Sleep; and then, it will be eafy for us to hinder the Monfter from ever waking more. This Advice being agreed to by the reft, the Mafter of the Houle fill'd a large China Bowl with the ftrongeft Tary he could procure, and prefented it to Hardoun by his Daughter. The Giant, equally charm'd with the Liquor and Hand that gave it, drank off the Bowl at one Draught. They took due Care to replenifh it, and he was no lefs diligent in emptying it. This Proceeding continued lb long, that all the Com- pany perceiv'd the Giant was no longer Mafter K 2 of [ i3* 1 of his Head. He utter'd nothing but confus'd and incoherent Words -, *his Eyes rovvl'd wildly, and Sleep overpowering all his Faculties, he be- gan to fnore. This was the Signal of Victory to the perfidious Confpirators, who furrounded him. They bound his Hands and Feet with thick Cords, and arming themfelves with what came in their Way, mounted like fo many Pigmies on his vaft Body, and at the fame Time ftabb'd him in every Part of it. This execrable Murthcr re- ftored Nour to Sicimdy, and Tranquillity to the whole Aflembly -, at the breaking up of which, Nour conducted her Hufband and Kindred to the Cavern of the injured Giant, where they found immenfe Riches. Fcndoun was not long ignorant of what had bef.dlen his Son, and refolv'd to revenge his Death, in a Manner becoming his Grief, the Love he bore him, and the Juitice of the Caufe. The Inhabitants of the Ifland repairing to the Town from all Parts, to celebrate a Feftival, and to contend for the Prizes which were to be di- ftributed by the beautiful Nour, the offended Ge* nius appeared in the middle of them, and decla- ring whom he was, with a Voice the moft terri- ble that could be, he touched Nour with the End of his Finger. On which, all the Limbs of this young Bride vifibly extended themfelves, till fhe became of a Size and Stature almoft equal to that of Hardoun -, continuing neverthelefs perfectly beautiful , and her Features lofing nothing of their Charms, by being enlarg'd. If my Son were yet living, faid Feridoun, would you ftill think his Carefies fatal to this Creature? Was not my Power as great in his Life-time, as it is after his Death? Was it not then poffible for me to ren- der Nour fuch as you now fee her? Ah mifera- i ble [ '33 ] ble People ! Had my Son conceal'd his Extra- ction from this ungrateful Woman ; had you been ignorant of my Power; had the Tende rn eft I felt for him been unknown to you, then might you have alledg'd fome tolerable' Excufe. Bin, fince nothing can juftify your Cruelty, be ye all in- volved in the Punifnment of a Crime which no Contrition can eracc. Inhumane Noar ! from Gi- ant that thou art, become a Mountain -, and ye barbarous Parents, guilty Kindred, and unhappy Fellow-Citizens of that lavage Creature, be all ihut up v/ithin her Entrails, and gnaw them till my future Pleafure. Immediately Nour took the Form of a Mountain, which cngrofs'd the whole Land the City flood on, and all the Ifland was depopulated. Nine Months after this Transfor- mation, the Mountain trembled, groan'd and made fuch dreadful Roarings, as aftonifhed all the adjacent Ifles, whofe Inhabitants reforted hi- ther in great Multitudes, to behold a Spectacle which feem'd to promife fo much Wonder. Af- ter having waited fome time, they law ifTue from a thoufand Openings, prodigious Droves of Mice, who betook themfelves to the Woods. Thus it was, the miferable Nour deliver'd up, with the moft piercing Pains, and under a fhameful Form, the Accomplices of her Cruelty ; and fuch was the Conclufion of FsridouiS Revenge, tho' his Affliction did not find a Remedy in takin°- it. He loves this Ifland, and hates it at the fame time-, he protects and detefts it, and lets fall more Tears here than his Son med Drops of Blood. It is the moft rigid Theatre of Sorrow, neither are any Body furfered to live here, but fuch as are overwhelmed in Grief and Trouble. Is it then inhabited, laid I to the Santin? Yes, an- fwer'd he, with five Santons, reckoning myfelf, K 3 The [ 134] The other four I expect here to morrow, to fay the Break of Day Prayer. With this, the Santon rofe, and after having fet the Place in order we were in, he fhew'd us two little Beds, and then retir'd to his Clofet, where he pafs'd almoft the remaining Part of the Night in great Lamenta- tions. Next Morning the four Santons accordingly came, who faluted us, obferving a profound Si- lence : Three of them were yeung Men, and the fourth more advanc'd in Age. We accompa- ny'd them to the Place of Prayer, purifying our- felves firft, in a Fountain near the Hut. Our Hoft difcharg'd the Function ôf îman\ and when the Prayer was ended, he made us fit down round a Chefi, rather long than broad, which flood in the Middle -of the Clofet. Then he took the Al- coran out of a Nich, and read a Chapter in it, which we hearken'd to, with the utmoft Atten- tion and Humility. After that, he laid the di- vine Book in its Place again, approach'd the Chefl, and extended himfelf thereon, be-fprink- ling it with Tears. The reft of the Santons ap- pear'd exceeding -melancholy, and we were no lefs in Complaifance to them. After he was rifen from his former Pofition, he look'd upon us both, faying: Muffulmen, I will now fhew you the Sub- ject of my Complaints. With that he open'd the Cheft, where we beheld the Body of a young Woman, perfectly frefh, and fo well preferv'd, that fhe look'd as if Hie (lept, or, as tho' me was but juft departed. The Santon left us a confide- rable Time to reflect on the Corpfe, whofe Sight caus'd frefh Torrents to flow from his Eyesi af- ter which he clos'd the Cheft, and led us into the Chamber, where we repos'd ourfelves. Their Vj- fages fomewhat chang'd, and if they did not im,- mediatelv [ i3J 1 mediately put on an Air of Joy, at leaft they feem'd lefs forrowful. The old Santon began the Converfarion, faying, Feridoun would not come till the third Prayer. If that be true, faid our Hoft, we (hall have time enough to inform thefe Strangers, who are defirous to confi-lt him of the different Adventures which brought us to this Ifland : And as they are undoubtedly furpris'd with what they bavejuft now feen, I fhall begin with a Recital of mine, if the Company thinks proper. All the Santons exprefs'd their Satis- faction with it -, and for our Parts, we humbly thank'd him for his Goodnels, in preventing our Entreaties. The Adventure of the Santon, Huf- band of the young Woman. I Am, faid he, Son of a rich Merchant ofMafi fulipatan, my Father brought me up in his Way (and confequently involv'd me in Cares) and when I was at an Age to enter into an Hy- meneal State, he made me marry the unfortunate Kakoule, whom I bewail. Her natural Parts were cultivated with an Application to reading ; her Behaviour foft and engaging-, and her Aîïeclion for me very tender. As for her Beauty I leave you to iudge by the Features, which Death and the Grave have not yet impair'd. Two Yea rs af- ter our Marriage, my Father receiv'd Advice, that one of his Clerks, whom he entruftcd with one of his chief Warehoufes at Macajar, had dif- fipated, by his extravagant Follies, a great Part of the Mcrchandife, committed to his Care and K 4 Management. Management. To rectify the Diforder this Breach of Truft might have occafion'd, I propos'd going thither by the firft Ship that fail'd. This Offer prov'd very agreeable to my Father, but not fo pit inng to my dear Kakoutei On the contrary, it flung her into a deep Melancholy, which would have certainly dwindled into a Madnefs, had I not fuffer'd her to accompany me in the Voyage. With all the Relblution and Generality in the World did me then renounce the Sweets of Life, ' ihe had always been accuflom'd to. We em- barh'd with a great Number of Perfons of all Sorts of Nations and Conditions -, but loon did the Motion of the Ship, the Air of the Sea, the Want of Sleep, the Change of Diet, and a thou- fand other Inconveniencies incident to a feafaring Life, caufe a fatal Revolution in my dear Spoufe's tender Conftitution. She fell fick, and in a few Days funk beneath the Violence of her Indifpo- fition. I die latisfy'd, faid me, fince my lad Breath is fpent in thy Prefence. The only Re- queft I have to make thee, is, that one Grave may contain us, when Heaven fhall think meet to call thee hence. As foon as fhe departed, and the firft Shocks of my Sorrow were fomewhat mitigated, I put her Body into the very Cheft you have feen, and entreated the Officers of the Ship to permit me to preferve it. While Wind and Weather prov'd favourable, no Body oppos'd toy Requeft, but at the leaft Appearance of a Storm, the fnperfcitious Merchants would cry, it is no wonder if we are loir, fince againft the Laws of the Sea, there's a dead Corpfe in the YeiiH. Thefe .Mtirmurings would have been of no Confequence had fair Weather fucceeded, but as the Tempeft augmented, they likewife en- creas'd, till at laft the whole Ship condemn'd my Defisn. [ 137 ] Defign. My Entreaties, my Tears, and my Pre- fects were all rejected. I conjure you, laid Ï then, to defer, at lead for fome Minutes, com- mitting fo precious a Treafure to the Infults of jhe Waves, and the Prey of Fifties : Let the in- flexible Monkir hear your Invocations, as you fnall be propitious to mine. Still all I could fay or do was fruitlefs -, fo forefeeing nothing but an abfolute Submifiion to their Obftinacy, I went, unknown to every Body, and mut myfelf up in the Cheft. Now, deareft Knkotde ! laid I to her, as tho' (he were yet living, thy lait Words are fulnlTd: Accept therefore this lad Proof of my Tendernefs. Then I faften'd it with a little Lock, which I had fix'd formerly on the Infide for a différent Ufe, and lay as motionlefs by the ina- nimate Corpfe, as tho' I had been alfo depriv'd of Life. I fuppofe the Fury of the Winds aug- mented, for a little while after they took up the Cheft, with an Infinity of Imprecations, and caft it over Board. I loll for a Time all the Facul- ties of Life, tho' I were fcill living; neither can I tell how long we were the Sport of the W T aves, which drove us at length on this Ifland. Feri- doun perceiving the Cheft, took it out of the Water, open'd it, and diftinguifhing fome fmall Remains of Life in me, he reftor'd me by his Cares. Feriioun is happy" cry'd I, ro have in his Ifland fuch a Prodigy of Love and Fidelity ? I know a Monarch who would prefer you to the lichen: Jewels of the Eaft. Tho' our own Misfortunes, laid the oldeft of the Savions, leave fuch an Idea in our Minds, as will fcarce fuffer us to be af- fected with thofe of another, yet the Relation of them moves us for the prefent. You, purfu'd he, looking on the three young Santons, whofe [ x 3 8 ] vigorous Years render you more impatient than me, impart your Adventures to thefe Mujfulmen. They all readily teilify'd their Obedience, and he that fat next me began in this Manner: We are all three, faid he, Natives of the great Ifland of Schore-Pulcu , and a Law, which Time out of Mind has been rigoroufly obferv'd there, has render'd us all unhappy. By this Law, the third Male Child of every Family is depriv'd of that, which ought to defcend to him from his Parents. I fay depriv'd, becauiè, though the Law expreffes he mall inherit it, provided he executes a Command given him by the Cadi, when he at- tains the Age of fifteen, yet the Injunction is al- ways fo difficult, that fcarce ever young Man could accomplifh it. Thus , the Order of our Births fubjects us all three to this inhumane Law. The Adventure of the fir ft of the young forrowful Santons. AT the Age of fifteen , I was prefented to the Cadi with all the ufual Solemnities, which are perform'd in a publick Manner. The Com- mand he laid on me, was to procure him three Dates with golden Kernels. After having re- ceived this Injunclion, my Mother privately flip-- ped 'mt© my Hands a large Sum of Money, and then I embarqu'd myfelf. I found on Board the Ship, feveral Fellow-Travellers, who were relating, as an Amufement, each others Adventures. When it came to my Turn to recount fome remarkable PalTage of my Life, I made no Scruple to let them know the Situation of my Fortune, by de- claring [ '39 1 daring in a jocofe Way, rhc Command our Cadi had impas'd on me, which I look'd upon to be altogether fictitious. Your Cadi, interrupted one of tiie Company, has not fo imaginary an Idea as you think him pofiefs'd of; for the Dates with golden Kernels, you mention, actually grow in Africa^ on a blue Palm-Tree. I have heard my Grandfather feveral times fpeak of it, whofe Au- thor v.ms King oîSoiiffd*, with whom he had a very great Intimacy, and who affur'd him with his own Mouth, that that Palm-Tree grew in one of his Provinces. How agreeably was I fur- pris'd at fo unexpected a Diicovery! I directly intreated the Perfon , fo faying, to let me know the Difficulties I had to furmount, in Order to come at it-, but he vow'd, he knew no more of the Matter than what he had juft told me. We came to an Anchor, at the Mouth of a fmall River of the great Ifland of 'Scheme b , where I met with the favourable Opportunity of a Ship, juft going to pafs the Canal, which feparates that Ifland from the main Land. Being arriv'd in Souffel, I aftVd divers Perfons concerning what I was in fearch of, but none of them knew in what Part of the Kingdom this blue Palm-Tree grew, though they all agreed , that fuch a one there was. By what Means were you inform'd of it then, faid I? The Inhabitants of Souffcl anfwer'd me, they heard it from their Anceftors , who were honeft People, and had no Intereft in deceiving them. Upon this, I bought a Horfe, took Provifion with me, and refolv'd to range the whole Kingdom, which was not very extenfive. After having examin'd two Thirds of it in vain, I laid myfelf down, one Night, in a Valley, where I fell fait afleep. Du- a Or Sofala, b Madagafcar, ring [ *4° ] ring my Slumber, methoughts I faw a Lady, drefs'd in the Mode of that Countrey, who afk'd me, with a great deal of Sweetnefs, what it was Ï fought: The blue Palm-Tree, anfwcr'd I*, if I could find out where k grows, perhaps I mould not be disinherited. I then made her acquainted with the Law of my Countrey, the Injunction with which I was charg'd, and intreated her Afllfrance. Since you have Recourfe to me, refum'd flie, it will be your own Fault , if you are disinherited. As you go out of thisValley, you will find a beau- tiful Fountain, whence runs a Stream, which dif- charges itfelf in a large River not far distant from its Source. At the Bottom of the Fountain you'll find a little blue Pebble, which you mull not fail to take up ; then follow the Stream, till it brings you to thefaid River, which you will purfue, till you come to a Place, where it divides itfelf into two Branches to form an Ifiand, or rather a Gar- den, in the Middle of which the blue Palm-Tree grows. Over an Arm of the River next to us, there is a fine Marble Bridge, whofe PaiTage is defended by Seven and twenty Leopards. Before ypu come in fight of them, put the little blue Pebble in your Mouth, let your Horfe graze on the Margin of the River, then walk on Foot over the Bridge, and pafs boldly, for the Pebble will render you invisible. When you approach the Palm-Tree, gather three Dates and no more -, but above all avoid eating any. The Lady, having laid thefe Words, difappear'd, and as foon as I awoke, I took the Path fhe directed. The Foun- tain, the Pebble, the River, the Bridge and the Leopards prefented themfelves fuccefilvely to my View. As I cnter'd the Garden, I was faluted with an Odour, inexpreffibly ravifhing, proceeding from the Flowers and Fruits , which it produc'd in, great [ Hi ï great abundance -, but ftill none of them were comparable to the blue Palm-Tree and its Dates! The Trunck of it refembled the mod precious Stones ofSamarkande c , with large Veins of Gold: Its broad Leaves had the Brighcnefs of the fineft Saphirs: But how fhall I deicribe its Fruit? Ima- gination can paint nothing fo glorious ! I fwear by Mahomet, and by Alt his Son-in-Law, Son of Abutalib, it's more to teftify the Truth, that I (peak thus, than to exaggerate the Force of the Temptation, by which I was unhappily overcome. In beholding thefe marvellous Dates, I was in- flamed with fuch a Defire to tafte them, that I be- lieve to this Day, I mould have dy'd on the Place, had I not gratify'd my Longing. I then took the blue Pebble out of my Mouth, extended my Hand, reach'd a Bough, and began to eat of them. The Rclifh was delicious and enchanting, but alas ! the Pleafure was ihort. The Leopards now caft their furious Eyes upon me, made to- wards me with incredible Swifcnefs, and were juft on the Point of tearing me to pieces, when the Lady, whom I had ieen in my Dream, fuddenly appear'd. At her Prefence, thefe fierce Creatures immediately took Flight; and Iproftrated myillf at her Feet, endeavouring to exprefs my Repen- tance and Gratitude. You are now loll to all Hopes of your Defign , fiid me, acknowledge your Fault therefore, and go weep in the IQand of the Genius Feruhun, my Father, who is itill more afflicted than yotitTdf. Wich this, f];e took me by the Hand, and having condu&ed me be- yond the Bridge, charg'd me to purfue myjourny with all poifible Speed, and to put the Pebble in its Place again, as I pafs'd by the Fountain, c Thefineji Stones tame from Samarkand* and Eokara. which [ i4* ] which vanifh'd from my Sight, the Moment I had obey'd her Commands. Then I look'd back, but faw neither River nor Bridge. Greatly aftonifh'd at this Adventure, but much lefs furpris'd than I had been at the Account the Inhabitants ofSouffel gave me, Idirecled my Way to that City, whence I embarqu'd to come hither. The Adventure of the fécond of the youngs jorrozvjul Santon s« THE Command enjoined me by our Cadi^ fatd the fécond of the young, forrowful San- tons, was not lefs difficult, than that you have heard related, only I add this Advantage, that the Judge himfelf directed me the Road I was to fol- low. The beautiful Ambcrboi , Daughter of the Genius Arrout, will not, faid he, refufe you her AfFedion, could you find out the Means to merit it. Go! then, and prove yourfelf worthy of her : Her Palace is in the Ifle of Hao. I agreed with the Matter of a Portuguefe VefTel from Macao , to put me on Shoar at Hao, being to touch there, in his Return to China. This Ifland is in the Form of a Sugar- Loaf: On which fide foever you land, you difcover the Palace of the Daughter of Ar- rout, which is built on the Height. There is no other Way to afcend to it, than by a Pair of Stairs, cut in the Rock, divided by fix magnificent Gates, at an equal Diftance from each other. Having knock'd at the firft, fix Dervifes a open'd it, and a Religious Mahometans. They commonly wear Skins of Beajis dry'd in the Sun, go bare Head and bare Foot ; pave all the Hair that grows on their Bodies ; burn their Temples ; and wear great Jafper Ear rings of divers Colours, ons [ i43 ] One of them almoft double with Age, demanded whom I was, and whither I was going? To which, I gave him to understand my Name and Bufinefs. If I could depend on thy Wifdom, refum'd he, I would, perhaps, advife thee for thy good. Oh! aflure yourfelf, reply'd I, I'll make an excellent Ufe of it, believe me I will. The Dervife t at this fhook his Head, faying, Go on, young Man, go on; thou halt too good an Opinion of thyfclf to regard any thing I could fay' to thee i fo fare- well till we fee one another again. He, and his Companions turn'd from me, and I went up foftly to the fécond Gate, accufing myfelf, that I had, in Reality, too little Diffidence of myfelf. Five Calenders b open'd it, and one of them faid to me, Who art thou? Whither art thou going? And what are thy Defigns ? I am, anfwer'd I, a poor, unfortunate young Man, oblig'd, by various Mo- tives, to devote my moft humble Service to the Queen Amberboi\ I am neither acute, nor learn'd, but I know well how to prefer her Will before my own. Ah blefTed Knowledge, cry'd the five Calenders I Young Man, purfue thy Way. At the third Gate, four Santons c itopp'd me, and he, who feem'd to be their Chief, faid, Thou com'ft hi- ther, in all Appearance, to ferve the Queen: What Wages doftthou expeft to have? And how- long dolt thou propofe to live in her Service? The Pleafure I (hall take, anfwer'd I, in executing b Religious Mahometans more refpecled than the Dervifes. They wear a little fliort Robe without Sleeves, edg'd with Horfe- hatr, or Camels mix d with IVooll; flnrve themfilvès , wear Hats adorn d with Fringes of Horfc-hair; a great iron Ring about their Necks, and others of the fame Matter at their Ears', fome again of them have another, of two Pound Weight, fi.x'd 'to that Part of the Body, which ferve s for Generation." e Mahometan Pritfts. 3 t/ie [ *44 1 the Commands of io charming a Princefs, will more than recompense my weak Services -, and as for the Continuation of them, they fhall kft as long as I love her, and I fhall love her as long as 1 live. Generoufly fpoken, faid the Saniùns* letting me pafs. I faluted them, and much pleas'd with myielf, arriv'd at the fourth Gate, where I met three Mullah's d . Is it by Force, or L&ve, faid they, thou comeft hither to fervè the^Queen? If fhe commands thee to do impoinble Things, wilt thou obey her ? The Queen is too juft , and has too much good Senfe, anfwer'd I, to impofe Laws, whofe Execution is impoffible. I muft own, the Motive that flrft kindled Inclination, and prompted me to offer her my Afïiduities, had a Tincture of In ter eft in it ; but now that's no more-, my whole felf languishes to be hers. Go — up, reply'd the Mullahs. The fifth Gate was open'd me by two Imans e , whofe Queftion was this : If thou hadft the Liberty tochufe, which ofthefe two Things would'il thou like belt; to live here with the Queen, or for her to go and live with thee? If the Choice was lodg'd in my Power, I would not chuie, faid I to them, I would leave it to the Queen's better Judgment. Very well ! re- ply'd the Imans, continue thy Steps. At the fixth Gate, I found a molt beautiful Ny?nph f . If my Miftrefs, faid fhe, thinks you unworthy of her Favours, what will you do then ? Charming Nymph, anfwer'd I, I'll befeech her to render me worthy of them, and I'll defy her to hinder me from adoring her. If me returns your Affection , re- fum'd the young Nymph, be fatisfy'd with her Per- lon, and defire no other Blefiing. d Mahometan BoHors. c Mahometan Curates. i Verbally tr (inflated, it ivould be Ginne of the fécond Order. After [ i4î ] After giving me this Advice, fhe introduced me into the Apartment of the Divine Ambcrbci^ to whom I devoted myfelf, and kneeling, kifs'd the Entrance of the Alcove where her Throne was erected. Rife, faid fhe, I will accept your Offers, be but truly fubmifTive. This faid, two Nymphs took me by the Hands and led me a- way. For the Space of a Month, I obferved all the Queen's Commands with the utmoft Exacti- tude, and perceived, that her lovely Eyes, which at firft looked like Indifference itfelf, became now daily more favourable. She loved me, at Lift, with an Infinity of Warmth, and her Heart being in this happy Difpofition, difcourfed me, one Day in this Manner ; Thy great Submiffion has won my Soul, but this Place is no Ways pro- per for our Pleafures. The curious and jealous Ginnes, who pretend to be my Friends, are too well acquainted with it, and our Actions would be too much infpected into. I know a delight- ful Retreat, where we fhall be much lefs expof- ed : Let us go thither. I expreffed my Readi- nefs to follow her. Let us prepare then for our Departure, continued fhe, leading me into a large Cabinet, which contained her Treafure. At our Entrance, I faw what greatly aftonifhed me, fix> golden Tables, on each of which there was a great Turkifh Jar of an old Rock, full of inesti- mable Riches. The firft was filled with Topa-^ zes -, the fécond, with Emeralds -, the third, with Rubies -, the fourth , with Saphirs ; the fifth, with Diamonds and Pearls perfectly round, and as big as Nut-galls ; and the laft, which was lar- ger than the reft, contained all Sorts of Jewels, fo delicately wrought, that Art here furpafied even Nature, tho' the Matter was nothing but Gold L and [ M* ] and precious Stones of a finifhed Perfection. My Charmer, faid AmberbcA, take whatever you think fit of this immenfe Treafure, and carry it away with you. I was dazled, but perfectly cal- ling to Mind the Nymph's Advice, My Queen, aniwered 1, my Eyes are only facred to you -, why do you then thus injure them? In faying fo, I pretended to leave the Cabinet, but Amber- boi retained me, throwing her tender Arms about my Neck ; and with an irrefiftible Smile, faid, you will not fure refufe this Ring, which me took from the Jar, containing the Jewels, and put on my Finger. I was fome Moments admiring the Beauty of it, when I perceived that inftead of a Diamond, my Picture was chac'd in it. I was fo furprifed and ravifhed at the Sight of fuch an unexpected Novelty, that made me fay to the beautiful Ginne, I mould think myfelf guilty of the greateft Breach of Civility,' were I to remove that Ring from the Place, where me had vouch- fafed to put it. Amberboi, at thefe Words im- mediately changed her Countenance, for an Air, all proud and full of difdain : Impoftor, faid me, deceitful, perjured and ungrateful Villain, doft thou then love another Object befides me ? Fly, Wretch fly -, go and adore thy felf. How much aflonimed was I at thefe Words ! And how lit- tle able am I to exprefs the Terror I was in ! The Daughter of Arrout went out, and fifty Nymphs of her Attendance, furious as fo many Lyons, came in ; and though I made no Refift- ance, dragged me down to the fécond Gate, which was open, as were all the others quite to the Bottom, and the Guards waited in the Paf- fage to precipitate my Departure. The two I- mans feized me under each Arm, and launched me, 3 [ M7 ] me, with Impetuofity ro the Mullahs ; thofe hurled me, with all their Force, towards the Santons ; the Santons threw me, with greater Roughnefs (till, to the Calenders ; and the Calen- ders made me fly with fuch rapidity, the Space between them and the Dervifes, that I know not if I touched the Ground. I fell breathlefs and half dead, in the Midft of thefe laft, who fufifer- ed me to recover my felf a little, on Purpofe to divert themfelves with my Misfortune, which they did fo loudly, that the whole Mountain echoed with their Huzza's. When I came to myfelf; I forefaw well enough, my Son, faid the old Dervife to me, that you would have no great Succefs. Prefumption is the Source of too ma- ny Vices -, and Self-love is too imperious, where Vanity reigns. Be gone, added he, and fit on that Rock pointing to it, until fome VefTel mail happily pafs by. With thefe Words he clap- ped too the Gate, and I repaired thither to be- wail my Folly. I remained on that craggy Pla- ntation more than three Weeks ; during which Time, the old Dervife brought me every Day a little Rice, mixed with a bitter Herb, called Rue. A Ship, at laft, happening to fail within ken of my Cries and the Signs I made, the Long- Boat was fent to carry me on Board. Jufr. as I was about to embark, the old Dervife advifed me to take Refuge in this Ifland as foon as pofîîb'e ; and I am notât all diflatisfied with having follow'd his Directions. L 2 Hhe [ i 4 8 ] The Adventure of the third of the young y for row fui Santons. TH E Order enjoined me by the Cadi of our Town, faid the third of the young forrow- ful Santons^ provoked every Body that heard it ; becaufe they looked upon its Accomplifhment more impofïible than all the Commands he had given on fuch Occafions, for the Space of ten Years. Go, faid he, and fetch me the Afs of Daggial*, whom you will find in the Mountain of Caf. I returned Home exceeding Melancho- ly at my Obligation ; and my Grief was fuch, that even my Brothers melted into Compafîîon at it, and confented, that my Father and Mother fhould furnifh me with a very large Sum of Mo- ney, plainly forefeeing the improbability of my Return, evermore to be chargeable to them. The firft Opportunity that offered, I pafled from the Ifland of Schore-Pulou to the Main Land, where I bought a Slave, two good Horfes for us, and a Mule to carry our Provifion. I armed my felf and Slave, promifing him his Liberty and large Prefents on our Return, provided he prov- ed faithful ; and then made the beft of our Way to the Mountains. As that of Caf furpafles, by much all the reft in Height, it was not very dif- ficult for us to difcover the Ridge of it. When we were come to the Entrance of the Moun- tains, we followed the Tract, making eafy Days Journeys, living very well, and taking particular Care to inform ourfelves, in all the inhabited * The Anti-Chrifi of the Mahometans. Places [ MP ] Places we met with, concerning Daggial and his Afs. We travelled during three tedious Months, without being able to procure the leafl Infight till one Morning, after having pafTed through a fmall Wood, pretty thick, we heard mod terri- ble Cries behind us : Some feemed to be mena- cing, and others utter'd to move Companion. Brother, (aid I to my Slave, let us turn our Mule a little from the high Road, and go back to fee what mean thofe Cries. If any in Diflrefs have need of our Succour, let us hazard our Lives for them : The Danger they are expofed to To-Day, may perhaps threaten us To-Morrow. The Slave, who was a Man of Courage, led the Mule into a Thicket, and after having tied him up, rejoined me. We then put our Bows in or- der, and made towards the Noife ; which being approached, we faw three Men with their Backs towards a large Tree, bravely defending them- felves againft feven Rogues. We did not Hand long to hefitate, but fhot directly at the Annui- tants, and two of them drop'd. The like Suc- cefs attended our fécond Difcharge, and the three remaining, ran to us, with the Fury of Men in Defpair, to revenge their Companions Fall ; but whilft we were difpofing ourfelves to give them a vigorous Reception, the three Men, whom wc delivered, had purfued, taken and wounded them. I embraced thefe Travellers, (who were very acknowledging,) with the utmofl: Satisfaction ; laying, Gentlemen, I fuppofe you are as little de- firous as I am, to hear the laft Words of thefe unhappy Wretches ; therefore I hope you will employ yourfelves much better, by favouring me with your Companies a little Diftance from hence. L 3 . I coa- [ 1 5° ] I conducted them ftrait to the Mule, where I entertained them on the Grafs, with what Fare I was Matter of, and they eat very heartily of it. During the Collation, I recounted the Mo- tive of my Travels, and entreated them to tell me impartially their Opinions on it. A good Action is never ioft, replied one of the three Tra- vellers ; no Body can give you a more precinct Account of what you are in Search of, than we; for we live at the Foot of the Mountain, that Daggial's Afs grazes on -, neither are we ignorant of the Meafures you muft take, to become Ma- iler of this Animal. Praife be to God ! Dear Friends, cried I, you put an end to my Fatigues. Be certain of nothing yet, refumed the Travel- ler : An Undertaking does not always fucceed, even though the niceit Precaution be ufed. Let us purfue therefore our Journey, you will have Time enough when we get thither, to confult your Heart. Moreover, your Equipage will be rather an Hindrance than Service to you now ; for we have ftill a vaft Number of Mountains to pafs over, and all by Paths in a Manner inpra- cticable. This News made me very penfive for fome Moments -, but reluming a frefh Courage and Refolution, I emptied the Panniers the Mule carried, and divided the Provifioninto five Parts. The three Travellers and I, took each our Share; after which, I faid to my Slave, the Fifth will fuffice thee, until thou canft reach the firft in- habited Place : .Befides, I give thee, with thy Liberty, thefe Animals, and this Purfe, which contains about five and twenty Cbequins ; fo God blefs thee, and pray for thy Matter. The poor Slave received my Gifts with Tears in his Eyes ; and I left him, thus bewailing his Lofs, to follow, on [ I.J> ] on Foot, my Conductors. For fix Days fuccef- fively walking, we fiw nothing but numbcrlefs Pre- cipices. At laft wedefcended into a Valley that was very frefh and green, and in which was a great Mul- titude of ufelcfs Animals feeding, and a confidera- ble Number of large, but ill-built Houles. He, that for the moft Part talk'd to me, let me into one of them, where he entertained me with all the Magnificence a rural Life affords. When the People of his Family were retired, he fpoke to me thus : My Lord, on the Top of the Moun- tain my Habitation touches, you will find a Wood, entirely planted with odoriferous Trees. It is in this very Wood Daggial's Afs dwells, becaufe he lives on nothing elfe but fweet Flavours. He is as black as Jet, and his Wings are of the fame Colour. He can neither fuffer the lead Infection, the lead fuperfluous Weight, nor the leaft Fear in the Perfon that rides him. Due Precautions may be eafily taken, as to the two firft Articles ; but, my Lord, weigh well the third ; for if Daggiai's Afs finds you in the leaft timerous, when he flies with you, like an Eagle, into the Air, your Life is infallibly loft ; he throws you headlong down, from Heaven to the lîarth. Dear Fellow Tra- veller, replied I, my Courage, I am certain, will not fail me ; therefore let us think of repairing the Fatigues of our Journey. Two Days after, I entreated him to fet me Part of the Way, who readily complied with my Requeft. After hav- ing mounted a long Time, we repofed ourfelves near a very beautiful Fountain , where I wafh'd my felf from Head to Foot, as alfo my Sar-A- ■pat, and the little Remains of Clothes I had pre- ferved. It was here my Hoft took Leave of me, wifhed all Manner of Profperity to my Enterprize, L 4 and [ M* ] and excufed himfelf for not guiding me any far- ther, for fear of incurring Daggial's Indignation. * I afcended until I came to the fweet fcented Wood, where I found the Afs juft as he had been defcribed to me. He was not difficult in being approached, and even fuffered me to carefs him, which I did the longer, to bring him the better acquainted with me. At laft, I jumped upon him, and in a Moment he fpreadhis large Wings, began to cut the Air, with an unconceivable Swift - nefs, and in lefs than an Hour, we were in a di- rect Line above the Ocean. I had now felt no Sign of Fear-, and was even flattering myfelf that my Heart was not fufceptible to it ; when I beheld before me amidft the Clouds, a huge, black Giant, armed with a fiery Javelin, and waiting to pierce me with it. Though his Com- plexion was black, his Beard, and all the other Hairs cf his Body were white. He had but one Eye, and one Eye-lid, but it fparkled like a Co- met, and gave a mod horrible Look. This Ob- ject proved to be Daggial himfelf. I muft own, I could not behold fo dreadful a Monfter, with- out giving Way to Confufion and Terror. I might perhaps have recovered my Courage, had the Afs allowed me more Time -, but he immediately ftood on his Hind-legs, and (hook his Mane and Neck •, fo being obliged to quit my Hold, I fell headlong down into the Sea. I was fortunate enough, not to be directly fuffbeated with the great Plunge I made ; but coming up again to the Surface of the Water, and being very lightly drefs'd, I fup- ported rrlyfelf by iwimming, until I was taken up by fome Fifnermen -, who hearing me fall, came without Delay to my Afliftance. Having afked them, when I was pretty well come to myfelf, what P. 4£_a [ «53 ] what Part of the World I was in, they told me, they lived in an Wand adjacent to that, where the Genius Feridoun received with fo much Humani- ty, all thole, who were truly overwhelmed in Affliction. After having refrefhed myfelf fome Days with them, what they had told me concern- ing this generous Genius, induced me to intreat them in his Name, to conduct me to his Ifland ; which they very willingly complied with. The Adventure of the Old San- ton at the Queen of the Moun- tains. TH E third of the young, forrowful Santons, having finimcd his Adventure, I mall now begin mine. The great Reputation of Charity, that the powerful Genius Feridoun has fo juftiy acquired in the World, faid the old Santon, made me hkewife repair to this Ifland. Having palTed my Youth in the Exercife of Arms, and on all Oc- cafions given Proofs of my Valour to the invin- cible Jeban-Guir ; this Sultan of the Moguls, as a Reward of my Services, put me at the Head of" a thoufand Horfe. So glorious a Mark of his Efteem, ftill more animating my Zeal, I con- tinued to ferve him, with the utmofl: Fidelity and to be Prodigal of my Blood, in all the Wars' he undertook. The Lift Expedition I affifted at was the Siege of Candahar, which was the only Frontier Garnfon of Perfta, the Sophi believed impreg- t r * 4] . impregnable. The taking this important Place, having concluded the Campaign, all the Officers had Orders to march their Troops into the feve- ral Parts of the Kingdom, nominated for their Quarters. It fell to my Lot to conduct mine to the Frontiers of the Country of Ancheran. Be- fore I could arrive there, I was obliged to travel over very high Mountains, which feparate the Kingdom of 'Thibet from the Province of Cabitl. Thefe Mountains, or rather the Vallies, which they form, are inhabited. We found there, not only Hamlets, but likewife Villages well-peopled. Though I always took a particular Care to re- gulate the March of my Troops, fo as to Quar- ter them every Night in the beft Places, yet the Badnefs of the Roads happening one Day to pre- vent the Performance of our Stage, we were o- bliged to halt in a Hamlet, that was only com- pofed of feven* or eight very ordinary Cottages. Seeing the Neceffity there was to encamp, con- trary to our Cuflom, I ordered the Tents to be put in Readinefs, whilit the Officers went to find out a convenient Place for pitching them. As they were marking out the Camp, they per- ceived at the Extremity of a little, but very de- lightful Valley, a fpacious Edifice, neither wholly in Repair, nor entirely demolished. They im- mediately afked the Country People, what it was they faw ? You fee, replied an old Moun- taineer, the Queen of the Mountains Fortrefs. The lawful PoffefTors, having been compelled to abandon it, through the Incurfions of the Per/lam, this Lady rendered herfelf Miftrefs of it. She, and her Court, have dwelled there thefe fifteen Years, and fuffer no Stranger whatever to come nigh them. What fort of a Perfon is this Queen, [ *55 ] Queen, replied the Officers, and what Family is ihe of? What are her Attendants ? Is (he at g. Fxpence ? I do not know, relumed the Moun- taineer, what Extraétion fhe is of ; and in Re- gard of her Appearance, no Body ever had more the Air of a Princefs ; yet notwithftandino- that, I cannot believe her a Woman compofed of Flefh and Bones, for I have ken her, feveral Times, fly like a Bird. The People about her do alio very furprifing Things, and are fo nume- rous, that they might form a little Army. They never come hither, and very ieldom fpeak to us, fo that we are entire Strangers to what they fub- fift on. We dare not fo much as approach the Fortrefs, fince this Queen's Refidence there ; for feveral ol us have narrowly efcaped our Lives, for only feeding our Flocks a little too near it. By the Half-Moon, replied one of our Officers on that, here is an Adventure the moft worthy our Curiofity we can meet with. We ought not, by any Means, to negled making due Ufe of it ; fince therefore we have Hill Day-light enough, let us march directly into the Fortrefs: It is a fpacious Piece of Building -, and confequently we lhall be lefs expofed there to the Infults of the Weather, than under our Tents. You will fee the Queen will be either afraid to fhew herfelf, or if fhe does, it will be to give us a gracious Recepti- on. Believe me, the Sight of fo formidable a Band as ours is, would even render Afinougb a af- fable. I would not advife you to depend on that, anfwered the Pcafant j but the reft ol the Officers, being for the mod Part, giddy brain'd young Gen- a An evil Div, that Aherinan employs to fow Difcord amon? Men. tlemen, tlemen, thought it was derogating from their Character, to difapprove the raih Propofition of their Comrade. They came forthwith to acquaint me with the Refult of their Deliberation, and being at lead as curious as they were, I com- manded the Horfe to march, and the Peafants to furnifti us with Wood, Provifion, and all the Lamps they had in the Hamlet. When we had enter'd the Edifice, we vifited it, and finding it in good Repair for an abandon'd Place, we diitributed the Companies into as good Order as poffible. Great Fires were made every where; eating, drinking, and merry making went forwards among them, but (till every one took care to have his Arms*in Readinek. For my part, I fupp'd with ail the Officers, in a fine Hall we had referv'd for that Purpofe, and which was il- luminated with all the Lamps of the Hamlet, hanging round the Walls of it. After having di- verted ourfelves till after Midnight, we began to feel the fir(t Approaches of Sleep, and were dif- pofing ourfelves to retire, when an unexpected and dreadful Noife was heard, adjoining to the Place where we were, that foon made us think of fomething elfe than going to Bed. Far from being difmay'd at it, as Men of fignaliz'd Cou- rage, we betook ourfelves to our Arms, and turn'd towards the Palace Gate, waiting with In- trepidity what mould happen. The Noife ceas'd all on a fudden, which we then concluded was a Signal. A little after, we law the pretended Queen of the Mountains appear. She was moft magnificently dreft, preceeded by a Dozen of Guards well arm'd, accompany'd with feveral Ladies very richly adorn'd, and follow'd by a great Number of People, who by their Air, and the Beauty [ IJ7 1 Beauty of their Arms and DrcflTes, might be t.>- ken for fo many Rejas. I fix'd my Eyes directly on her, who look'd fo amiable, and fo worthy of Refpect, that I re- main'd as fpeechlefs. What, my Lord, faid ihe to me, with a great Deal of Familiarity, do you iurprife me Sword in Hand? Is it thus then you make your Vifits ? Madam, anfwer'd I, you'll eafily pardon, I hope, the Incivility of a Perfon who expected to find an Enemy here. It is pro- bable you may have found one, in Effect, re- fum'd the Queen, but you'll need other Arms than thofe I fee to vanqu-fh him. As I was abouc to make a fuitable Reply to this feemingly gay Difcourfe, a brutal Wretch, whom I thought de- tach'd himfelf from my Company, advanc'd, and taking the Queen infolently by the Chin, faid. he was ready to fight her at what Weapons fhe would pleafe to Name. The Queen flept back, difcovering a great Confufion of Mind, and one of her Ladies fléw at this prefumptuous Animal to tear his Eyes out. For my part, I gave him a great Blow over the Face likewife, and at the fame time, all in the Hall drew their Sabres. The Officers belonging to the Queen feem'd bent on revenging the Iniblence fhewn their Miftrefs, and mine cry'd out let the Guilty be puninYd. The Soldiers who were difpers'd thro' the Fortrefs, haften'd alfo to the Noife -, fo that, in a very lit- tle Time, the Hall was fo full, there was fcarce any flirring in ir. The Queen fufpended a while the Diforder to afk the Perfon who had caus'd it, whom he was? But this Wretch making no Anlwer, her Atten- dants faid it was undoubtedly fome Body belong- ing to me. My Officers and I who had never feen [ ij8 ] {een him, maintain'd, on the contrary, that he was one of her own Domefticks. The Dilpute at laffc growing more warm, the Lie was given on both Sides, Blows enfu'd, each attack'd his Man, the Lamps were thrown down, Blood be- gan to ftream in Abundance, the Fury of the Combatants rather redoubled than abated in the Dark, and the Havock Jailed till Morn- ing. Then thofe who remain'd, law the Queen at the Door of the Flail, laughing extreamly, and who leem'd to wear an Air of Joy on her Coun- tenance, faying to them: Wretches! open" your Eyes, know yourfelves, and learn never to take up your Lodging in another Perfon's Houfe, without afking the Owner's Leave. I was deep- ly wounded in two Places, and tho' the great ErTufion of Blood I had juft loft, render'd me al- moft incapable of Speech, yet I both faw and heard the execrable Phantom. This fécond Ap- parition was fucceeded by a dreadful Surprife: Our Eyes were releas'd from the fatal Enchant- ment that had milled them till that Moment; our Rage diffipated, our Enemies vanifh'd, and we plainly perceiv'd we had only been fighting with one another. All thofe who were able to move, urg'd by a juft Refentment, made direct- ly towards the perfidious Queen to be reveng'd of her, but me difappear'd continuing to deride us. Being reduc'd to the fourth Part of our Com- pliment, we thought of nothing but interring the Dead, and comforting the wounded. Litters were prepar'd in all hafte to tranfport us to the Cottages, were we recover'd our Healths by lit- tle and little. As fall as they were cur'd of their Wounds, [ *59 ] Wounds, I fent them to join the reft at Arxhe- zan, who march'd thither the very Day after the Adventure. They all imagin'd I would not fail to rejoin them likcwife, but being afham'd of what had happen'd, as equally poffefs'd of the blackeft Defpair, to fee the Flower of Jehan- Guir*s Army cut off, I was depriv'd of all Refo- lution of ever more appearing before him. As foon therefore as I was in a Condition to march, I took leave of thofe remaining uncur'd, faying, I mould expect to fee them fhortly at Ançheran 9 but inftead of purfuing that Road, I travell'd to- wards the Sea Coaft. You may be affur'd, Gen- tlemen, I did not fail curfing the abominable Div, during my Journey, for having trans- form'd one half of my Troopers to engage the other, by means of a Spectre, who began the Quarrel. Time having infenfibly flipt away during all thefe Recitals, our Santon went out to look at the Sun, and coming in again, told us the Hour of the fécond Prayer was nigh at Hand. We rofe up, and feparated from each other, in order to prepare ourfelves for it, by bathing and pious Reflections. After the Prayer was ended, we perform'd our Meditations in common, and the Company defir'd to be fatisfy'd with the Relation of our Adventures, which accordingly we did. It is not very difficult, faid our Santon to us af- ter that, to guefs what you would know of our Genius Feridoun; but be careful to remember you give him no other Title than that of Genius*, calling him neither Div nor Peri. a Feridoun would not be called Div, becaufe he bad hetn one; nor Peri, becaufe he was not one. He is a DiV con- verted. The [ x6o ] The loud Sighs we heard at fome Diflance from the Hut, gave us notice the Mailer of the Ifle approach'd. The Santon with whom we were, then took the Alcoran, and putting himfelf at the Head of his Brotherhood, order' d us to follow them. We walk'd in this Manner till we came to the Entrance of a great Alley, which Nature had form'd in the middle of the Wood, and flood there in a Line. Feridoun appear'd that Moment at the other Extremity, and advanc'd towards us with large folemn Steps. The Trees agitated by his Sighs, made as much Noife as a great Wind raifes in a Forefl. Tho' the higheft Coco-trees reach'd but to his Shoulders, yet all his Limbs were fo well proportion'd, that his Stature feem'd not enormous. The Features of his Face were extreamly fine, but of a mafculine Beauty, and full of Majefly ; his Arms enfolded in each other, embrac'd his Huge Breaft -, he in- clin'd his Head fomewhat forward, and kept his Eyes intently fix'd on Earth, as a Man immerg'd in the moft profound Melancholy. When he came within twenty Paces of us he flopt, and the Santons advancing, Almoraddïn and I fol- low'd them. Then after having faluted him three times, with our Faces bow'd down to the Ground, as is cuftomary to the Sjltan of the Indies, our Chief open'd the Alcoran with all Humility, and in a laudable Voice, read thefe Words. " In the Name of the mod mighty and merciful " God. I am inform'd by a Revelation to com- " municate to the People, that certain Genii have " liften'd to me, as I was perufing the Alcoran^ " and faid, we have heard the miraculous Alco- 46 ran read -, it teaches the Way of Truth, and we « give Cc give Faith to all it contains. We don't believe *• God fhares his Omnipotence, and we are fully '* perfuaded that there is but one independent " God, who has neither Wife or Family. The " ignorant Part of us blafpheme againft his di- '* vine Majefty, tho' we never held it lawful for " them fo to do. There are Men who only " implore the AiTiftance of created Spirits, ** and who augment their own Confufion flill " the more, by alledging, God will raife none *' from the Dead. Certain Genii have farther " afKrm'd ; we have tow'rd as far as Heaven, ct and found it ftarrify'd and guarded. We re- " pofe ourfelves in a Place fomewhat diitant from