Read Ebook: The adventures of Hatim Taï a romance by Alger William Rounseville Editor Forbes Duncan Translator

Font size: 10 px 15 px 20 px 25 px 30 px 35 px

Background color: BlackWhiteGrayLight GrayDark GrayDim Gray

Text color: BlackWhiteGrayLight GrayDark GrayDim Gray

Apply/Save settings

Ebook has 523 lines and 89432 words, and 11 pages

"In my native country, my grandchildren and descendants are now living in a state of abject poverty. My residence was in the capital of China, in such a quarter , and in a certain chamber of the house is buried an immense treasure in gold and jewels, of which no one has any information. This, too, is an instance of my avaricious disposition, and accounts for the state in which you now behold me. See what an exalted rank my servants have attained! They are seated upon thrones; they fare upon the most delicious food, and drink of the purest and coolest streams, and are clothed in the apparel of angels, while I am doomed to suffer the pangs of misery and despair."

Hatim, on hearing this account, addressed him, saying, "Is it anyhow possible to administer to your relief?" Yusuf replied, "Many a long year have I now passed in this state of torment, but no one has hitherto listened to my cries. This night you have approached me, and compassionately interested yourself in my condition; on you, then, God the Supreme will bestow his guidance in your endeavors to serve me. Proceed forthwith to the capital of China, and find out my residence, which is in the division occupied by the linen merchants. My name, as I told you, is Yusuf, and in my day I was notorious in all quarters of the city, and my grandchildren are still there in a state of destitution. When you arrive at my residence, inform them of my condition, and tell them that in a certain apartment is buried a vast treasure of gold and jewels. This treasure you shall bring to light, and divide into four equal portions. Bestow one of these shares on my grandchildren, and the other three you shall expend in charitable deeds; in feeding the hungry, in clothing the naked, and in administering to the distress of the poor and needy. Do this, and perhaps my doom may be averted; for though I have suffered martyrdom, I am not entitled to salvation, so heinous is the crime of avarice; whereas my servants, on account of their liberality, are now in a state of happiness."

Hatim solemnly promised, in the name of his Creator, that he would strictly perform what Yusuf desired him, and added: "I should no longer consider myself of the tribe of Ta?, had I refused to lend you my aid in your distress." Hatim remained there during the whole of the night, and witnessed what happiness the servants enjoyed, while their wretched master passed his time in weeping and lamentation. When the morning began to dawn the martyrs vanished from his sight, each into his silent cell.

Hatim then set out on his journey for the capital of China, and after he had advanced a considerable way, he arrived at the mouth of a well. There he espied a man in the act of drawing water; and as he was about to request of him to have some to drink, suddenly a serpent as large as the proboscis of an elephant reared its head from the water, and coiling itself round the body of the man, plunged with him into the deep. Hatim wrung his hands in agony, and exclaimed, "Alas! what a deed this snake has perpetrated! It has destroyed a poor man who came hither for water, and whose wife and children are anxiously expecting his return. Oh, Hatim! shall it be said that a poor man was deprived of life, and you standing by without lending him the least assistance? What will be your answer hereafter in the presence of your Creator?"

Thus he soliloquized, and instantly plunged into the water. In a short time he fixed his feet on firm ground, and on opening his eyes he was astonished in finding neither the well nor the water; but instead of these a spacious plain opened to his view, abounding with beautiful trees, in the midst of which he espied a lofty palace. He approached it, wondering within himself whither the serpent could have gone with the waterman, and whence sprung up the noble mansion that stood before him.

With these thoughts occupying his mind, he came close to the palace. There he beheld splendid galleries with elegant couches, and a throne brilliant as crystal surmounted with piles of cushions, on which lay asleep a monstrous creature of human form in stature like a giant. Hatim resolved on calling this monster to account for the snake and the waterman, but at the same time he hesitated, as he nowhere beheld any traces either of the serpent or the man. "At all events," said Hatim to himself, "I shall approach him, and see what sort of subject he is." Hatim went up to the giant, and as the latter was still asleep, he quietly took his seat beside him. He had not sat long when he espied in a corner of the garden the very serpent that had carried off the waterman.

As soon as the snake observed Hatim it rushed upon him, and he, enraged on account of the fate of the waterman, seized it by the two jaws, and exerting his whole strength, thus held it immovable. The snake raised such a hissing noise, that the giant who slept on the throne started up, and roared out to Hatim, "You son of man, what are you about? that is my courier." Hatim replied, "I will not quit my hold unless my friend be restored to me."

The giant called out to the serpent, "Beware: this seems to be a powerful man, and capable of tearing thy jaws asunder. Above all, take care that he discover not the passage into thy mouth!" When Hatim heard this, he stretched open the two jaws of the serpent, entered its mouth, and was instantly swallowed, notwithstanding the repeated warnings of the giant to the contrary. Arrived, as he thought, in the abdomen of the snake, he was surprised at finding himself in a spacious and sombre apartment. He began to grope his way through this strange abode, when suddenly a voice reached his ear, saying, "Oh, Hatim! whatsoever you meet with in this apartment, cut it with your dagger, for by that means only you will be released from this enchantment; and otherwise you cannot escape hence till the day of judgment."

While Hatim was thus exploring his dark abode, he unexpectedly laid his hand on something in the shape of a heart. The moment he felt this substance he pulled out his knife and cut it into many pieces, agreeably to the warning voice he had heard. This was no sooner done than a flood of water rushed upon him, and he found himself overwhelmed amidst swelling billows. Exhausted, he began to sink, and after some time he once more felt the ground underneath his feet. He opened his eyes and looked around him, but no trace could he see of the palace, the giant, the serpent, the garden, or the dark chamber where he had lately been. Before him lay a boundless desert, strewed apparently with dead bodies. On coming nearer he observed that a few of these wretches were still alive, while others were in the agonies of death.

Among the living, Hatim discovered the very waterman whom the snake had carried off. He made up to him, and said, "Brother, how came you here?" The waterman replied, "I was drawing water from the well, when a serpent carried me off, and having conveyed me hither, vanished from my sight. What that serpent is, or where it is gone to, I know not." Hatim questioned various other individuals as to their coming thither, and from all of them received for answer that the serpent had brought them. He then explained to them the nature of the enchantment by which they were held, and how he had broken the spell by entering the mouth of the snake, and cutting to pieces the heart in the dark chamber. He concluded, saying, "Give praise to God, for your enemy is now vanquished, and you are at liberty to go wherever you please." The wretched men replied, "It is a long time since some of us came hither, and we know not the way by which we were brought. Most of our number have died of hunger and thirst, and we also were despairing of life; God the Supreme has in his mercy destined thee to be our deliverer."

Hatim, after giving them proper directions, took his leave, and proceeded on his journey to the capital of China. In the course of a few days he entered that vast empire, and arrived at one of their principal cities. The sentinels at the gate immediately seized him, and said, "Who are you, and whither do you go? You must come before our governor, and give an account of yourself before we can allow you to advance any further." Hatim, thus roughly handled, said to them, "Good people, is it the custom of your empire to annoy travellers in this manner?"

The sentinels replied, "The reason why we detain you is this: The daughter of our governor asks three questions of every traveller that enters the city; if he give a satisfactory answer, he is permitted to go his way, and if not, he is put to death; from which circumstance our city is called the city of Be-dad or Injustice." Hatim having no choice, accompanied the sentinels, meditating as to the nature of the questions which would be put to him. At length the sentinels presented him to the governor: the latter asked of him, "Stranger, whence come you, and what is your name?"--"I am from Yemen," said he, "and on my way to the capital of China. As to my name, it does not concern you: no one ought to annoy the traveller unnecessarily; on the other hand, he is entitled to kind treatment and hospitality from your hand, if you wish to set a good example to the world, and do what is acceptable to God the Supreme."

The governor replied, "A severe scourge has fallen upon our city, which has always been famous for equity, so as to have merited the appellation of Ad?latabad ; but now, owing to the violent caprice of my daughter, its present name is Bedadabad. For some time past every traveller that arrived in our city has on her account been put to death, and their blood has fallen upon my head." After some meditation, Hatim said to him, "Why do you not slay your daughter at once?"--"Is it possible," replied the governor, "for any man to be the murderer of his own child, nay, of his only child? It is not in my heart to put her to death." When Hatim heard this appeal, his eyes shed tears as he replied, "Alas, miserable man! you have no remedy. May the Almighty Creator remove from you this heavy affliction." The governor of Ad?latabad then conducted Hatim to his daughter's apartment. The lady arrayed herself in her finest apparel, and summoned Hatim into the apartment occupied by the women, where she reclined upon a throne of shining gold. Hatim was struck with her beauty, which excelled that of all other mortals. She gracefully stood up, and modestly drawing her veil over her face, received Hatim with extreme courtesy and affection, for the instant she beheld him her heart felt for him. She took him by the hand and seated him upon a splendid throne, while she herself occupied another beside him.

She then sent for her nurse, and said to her, "My dear mother, this traveller who has arrived to-day has won my heart, and is mutually enamoured of me. He seems of noble rank; but, alas! to-morrow his life shall be sacrificed." The nurse replied, "Alas, my child! it is your destiny to act with violence and oppression towards travellers, not even excepting this comely and noble youth; but there is no saying whether he may not prove successful in executing your commands."--"Let me but know," said Hatim, "the nature of the task which the lady proposes, and the reason why so many travellers are sacrificed in this city, which is now proverbial for cruelty."--"Noble youth," the nurse replied, "every night this lady becomes possessed of an evil spirit, and utters the most incoherent expressions, after which she proposes three enigmas to such strangers as may be found within the city. If the latter fail in solving her riddles, she causes them to be instantly put to death. None of us her attendants can venture to remain near her at such times lest some evil might be our lot."

On hearing this statement, Hatim replied, "Well, I shall soon know by experience whether longer life or immediate death be destined for me." He was then presented with food: but he rejected it, saying, "I will not eat of your food until I have accomplished the service you may impose upon me; such is my vow. I consider it inconsistent with probity in a man to waste his time in eating and drinking, or wantonly to throw away his life and leave unfinished the business intrusted to him by another; forgive me, then, for refusing your bounty."--"Generous youth," said the nurse, "I am confident that you will succeed in this affair; you speak the sentiments of rectitude and honor."

Night arrived, and all the servants and attendants abandoned the palace, and shut fast the gates behind them, leaving Hatim to his fate. About the end of the first watch the lady became frantic, and spoke incoherently whatever came into her mind. She wildly cast her eyes on Hatim, and thus addressed him: "Stranger, who are you, and what is your business here? Answer my riddle, or you shall die."--"What is your riddle?" said Hatim; "let me hear it."

When the three questions were thus solved, the lady remained silent for some time, when suddenly she was seized with convulsions so as to fall from her couch. At last a snake, black and frightful, issued from her nostrils and rushed towards Hatim. He seized his scimitar with the intention of cutting it to pieces, but considered that it would be cruelty, to which he was averse: he therefore took out the talisman given him by the bear's daughter, and threw it at the venomous reptile. The snake became tame as a lamb, and suffered him to hold it in his hands and shut it up in a silver vessel, after which he dug a pit in the ground of the size of a man's grave, and having buried it, he replaced the earth and secured it with bricks and clay.

In about a watch after, the lady being restored to her senses, observed Hatim, and throwing her veil over her countenance, she said to him, "Stranger, who are you; and how came you to sit here?" He answered, "Have you then forgotten me? I am the traveller whom your people yesterday seized and conducted into your presence." The governor's daughter called her nurse, and asked her, "My dear mother, tell me how comes this youth to be here and alive this morning?" The nurse replied, "My child, God is merciful, and took this stranger under his protection; but tell me what is your state?"--"To-day," she replied, "I feel quite relieved and in perfect health." The nurse then, addressing Hatim, said, "Most learned of men, can you account to me for this change? Tell me what has occurred in your presence."--"That," replied Hatim, "I shall communicate to-morrow to her father."

Next morning the governor summoned Hatim, and asked him, "Tell me, stranger, what has happened, and how are you alive?" Hatim detailed every circumstance as it occurred, saying, "Noble sir, about the end of the first watch your daughter was seized with a fit of raving madness, and began to utter the most incoherent language. At length her eyes happening to observe me, she said, 'Rash stranger, how dare you enter my apartment? Your life is over unless you answer my questions.' She then asked me three questions, one after another, all of which I satisfactorily answered. For some time after she remained silent, when all at once a black serpent issued from her nostrils, and rushed furiously towards me. I seized the reptile, and having shut it up in a silver vessel, I buried it in the court-yard; and since that moment your daughter has enjoyed sound health."

When the governor heard this statement, he said, "Most noble youth, on you I bestow in marriage this my only child, which is no more than fulfilling the vow that I have made; I therefore hope you will accept her."--"On one condition," said Hatim, "will I receive her; that is, whenever I feel inclined to leave this place, I may either leave her here or take her with me and bestow her upon whomsoever I please." To this the father agreed, and on that very day the marriage was celebrated according to the customs of the country, and the hours were spent in mirth and joy. Hatim remained there three months; after which period he took leave of his wife and departed. He at the same time left orders, saying, "Should my wife ever have a fine boy, and should the child prove himself to be of the tribe of Ta?, tell him that his father's country is in Arabia the happy; and thither let him come whenever he may form the desire of seeing me. If it be a daughter, let her be carefully brought up and married to a worthy man, and should my life be spared I shall yet visit you."

Hatim kept awake the whole of that night in making preparations, and as soon as morning dawned, set out on his journey to the capital of China. In the course of a few days he arrived in that extensive city, and inquired for the quarter occupied by the linen merchants. The people shewed him the way thither, and when he reached the place he asked of the linen merchants, if they knew the residence of Yusuf the merchant, or whether any of his descendants still lived there. One of the linen merchants immediately went to the grandchildren of Yusuf, and said to them, "There is a stranger arrived from some far country, who is desirous to see you." Yusuf's grandsons instantly waited upon Hatim, who to their astonishment thus addressed them: "My friends, I have been commissioned to visit you by your grandfather, from whom I have a message for you." When the grandchildren of Yusuf and the people of the bazar heard this extraordinary declaration, they laughed most heartily, and said to him in reply, "Truly, young stranger, you are quite crazy. It is a long period since Yusuf died; how then could he have sent you thither with a message?"--"How," said Hatim, "could I have known that you reside in the linen bazar, and various other circumstances connected with you, had I not received my information from your grandfather? I have further tokens from which I shall prove my veracity if you will hear me; but the question now is, are you willing to listen to me or not?"

The people requested Hatim to proceed with his message, which he thus did: "In a certain apartment, near the bed where Yusuf was wont to sleep, there are buried treasures and jewels, of which none but myself has any information; these you shall bring to light, and divide into four equal portions, of which you shall keep one-fourth, and bestow the other three-fourths in the way which is acceptable to God the Most High, in relieving the wants of the poor and the distressed." He then detailed to them minutely his late adventure, and having mentioned all that he had witnessed respecting their grandfather, he concluded, saying, "If Yusuf himself had not sent me, how could I have known so much about your house?"

The people said to him, "We cannot proceed further in this affair without applying to our king." The relatives of Yusuf, therefore, conducted Hatim before the august monarch of China, and being admitted into the royal presence, they represented: "Sire, this youthful stranger asserts that he has seen our grandfather Yusuf, the merchant, by whom he has been commissioned hither with a message for us." The king on hearing their statement could not refrain from laughter: at last he said to them, "The young man is mad; why, it is nearly one hundred years since old Yusuf, the merchant, died; how then could this stripling have ever seen him? Foolish youth," continued the king, addressing Hatim, "has it ever been known that the dead held any communication with the living? But you are crazy, and all that I have to say to you is, quit my capital as soon as possible."

Hatim firmly but respectfully replied, "Most upright king, this is one of the secret dispensations of the Almighty, and is beyond the comprehension of mortals. We believe that martyrs inherit life everlasting; Yusuf, however, when in this world was a miser, for which sin he is now in a state of torment; and should your Highness be pleased to listen seriously to my statement, it will be the means of procuring him salvation. If I be mad, how do I come to possess my information respecting the treasure concealed in Yusuf's sleeping apartment which I have never seen?" When his Majesty of China heard this reply from Hatim, he desired the latter to state who he was, and how he had become concerned in this strange affair. Hatim related the cause of his journey to the tombs of the martyrs, and what he had there seen, and the state of suffering to which Yusuf was doomed. "I asked him," said Hatim, "the cause of his misery, which he told me in detailing the particulars of his past life, and also the way in which he is likely to obtain relief. For this reason, Sire, I have journeyed to your capital, and if you believe not my statement, at least let the apartment in which the treasure is hidden be searched: if the gold and jewels be found as I have described them, it will be a proof of my sincerity; but if not, let me be doomed to the severest punishment."

The king, after some reflection, resolved to search in person the apartment of Yusuf, to which he immediately proceeded, accompanied by Hatim. In the very spot which the latter pointed out, the gold and jewels were found, to the great astonishment of the king. The treasure was divided into four equal portions, one of which was made over to the grandchildren of Yusuf, and the remainder was given in charge to Hatim. "You," said the king, "seem to be a man of integrity; accept this wealth then, and with your own hand distribute it in charity, after such manner as you deem proper." Hatim for several days was occupied in his favorite task of relieving the wants of the destitute,--in administering food to the hungry, and in clothing those who were naked.

Having accomplished the object of his journey to the capital of China, Hatim began to make preparations for his return; he had the satisfaction of seeing the grandchildren of Yusuf now raised to a state of affluence and engaged in commerce. He took leave of the monarch, and returning by the way he came, he arrived in the city of Ad?latabad, where he was affectionately received by his wife, who was at that time the mother of a boy. Hatim and his friends were extremely delighted on this occasion, and called the son Salim. Shortly after Hatim proceeded on his journey until he came to the desert in which were the tombs of the martyrs; amidst these receptacles of the dead he remained three days waiting the arrival of the eve of Jumat. At the appointed hour all the martyrs, as formerly, rose into life. Among them was Yusuf the merchant, but in a state different from his former condition. At midnight the tables, with food, were placed before them, of which Yusuf now partook. At the same time there appeared a table unoccupied, which was intended for Hatim, who at their request approached, and after the usual salutations, asked Yusuf how he fared.

The merchant replied: "Noble youth, by your humane exertion my condition has been improved, and I am now delivered from my torment; my food and drink are the same as that of the rest, but the thrones on which they sit are more splendid, and the apparel in which they are arrayed is more elegant than mine; on them too are bestowed perfumes, and substances of sweet fragrance, of which my portion is but small; but, alas, their desert is far greater than mine, for when they were in the fetters of human life their hands were ever active in charitable deeds. I, however, after severe penance, have been released from my state of misery; now I am happy and possessed of salvation. You are the means whereby the Almighty has accomplished this end, and on you he will bestow the reward of the righteous."

To this request Hatim readily assented; and when the robbers found that he was duped by their false assertions, one of them came behind him, and casting a net over his head, they all seized him and conveyed him to the mouth of a pit which was close by. They stripped him of his clothing, and took possession of all the money and jewels that he had with him; after which they wounded him in several parts of his body with their daggers, and threw him into the pit. For a long time Hatim lay senseless; but as soon as his recollection was restored he searched for his talisman, which the robbers had fortunately left with his turban. The instant he brought it out the pit became quite dry; he then applied it to his wounds, which were speedily healed.

Hatim thus restored to perfect health could not, mild as he was, avoid making the following reflections: "What a trick those cowardly villains have played me! Well, if we should meet again I may give them something which will set their avarice forever at rest." Occupied with these thoughts he fell into a profound sleep, and in a dream he beheld an aged man, who thus accosted him: "O, Hatim, let not thy heart be cast down. Thinkest thou that Divine Providence has sent thee hither without some wise and unerring design? Listen, and I will tell thee the cause of thy falling into this apparent calamity. In this pit the Creator, bountiful and gracious, hath kept hidden a treasure that is destined for thee. Arise and take possession of it; for thou art capable of employing it in that way which is most acceptable to the bountiful Giver. Let sadness no longer dwell in thy heart; he who is discontent is unfit for the service of God."

To this mysterious man Hatim replied, "In every state that may befall me, I am always satisfied with the decrees of Providence; and though these may exceed my comprehension, I submit with resignation. Should the sacrifice of my life tend to promote the service of God, I am ready to yield it."--"I am convinced," continued the old man, "that thy words are sincere; meanwhile take away this treasure, which is thine."--"I am alone," said Hatim; "I cannot even liberate myself from this dungeon; of what use is it then to offer me so vast a treasure?"--"To-morrow," replied the man, "two persons will pass this way who will set you at liberty; and by their aid you can bring out the treasure and carry it away."--"It will be impossible for two persons," said Hatim, "to release me from this prison; and as for the treasure, it is out of the question."--"The two persons to whom I allude," replied the man, "are able to accomplish both the one and the other"; and having thus spoken, he vanished, leaving Hatim to the enjoyment of a pleasant dream.

As soon as the morning rays dawned, the two persons arrived at the mouth of the pit, and called out, "Ah! Hatim, are you still alive?" To this he replied, "He who at first created me, hath preserved me." The two strange beings that addressed him thrust each of them a hand into the pit, which was of immense depth, and to Hatim's astonishment, their hands reached the bottom where he lay. They called aloud to him to hold fast by their hands, which he did, and in an instant he was set at liberty. Hatim thanked his deliverers, and said to them, "In this pit there are vast treasures of gold and jewels; if you can bring them to light, I will distribute the same in the service of God by relieving the wants of the poor and needy." On hearing this, one of them threw himself into the pit, and handed up the treasure to the other, who remained outside. In the course of an hour all the hidden stores of the pit were brought up and packed together so as to be easily carried; after which the two took leave of Hatim and departed.

Hatim for some time viewed his treasure, and thus communed with himself: "How can I best dispose of this wealth? If the villains that lately maltreated me were here I should bestow it upon them, that they might for once be satisfied and cease from oppressing their fellow-creatures." He then selected from the stores a suit of apparel, in which he dressed himself; and having filled a large bag with the most valuable jewels, he departed in quest of the old woman and her seven sons. He had not far advanced when he espied the object of his search, sitting, as formerly by the wayside. On seeing her Hatim was extremely glad, and walking up to her, he put his hand into his bundle and pulled out a handful of the finest jewels, which he scattered around her. The old woman, as formerly, gave the signal to her sons by exclaiming, "May heaven send one or two to aid me"; and forthwith the seven robbers presented themselves, and surrounding Hatim, asked him whither he was journeying. Hatim addressed them thus: "My good friends, I have one request to beg of you, which I hope you will allow me."

The thieves desired him to speak, whereupon he thus continued: "You hunger and thirst for gold and worldly wealth; abandon your present iniquitous way of life, and withdraw your hands from oppressing your neighbors, and I will enrich you with gold and jewels to such a degree as will satisfy your utmost wishes." To this exhortation the thieves replied, "Hunger and want have driven us to this avocation; and of course, if you give us all this wealth, we shall speedily abandon a line of life which is hateful to God and oppressive to man."--"Well," said Hatim, "repent of your past deeds, and give me your solemn and sincere promise never to transgress in future, and I shall satisfy your wants."--"But ere we can conscientiously give you this promise," replied the thieves, "shew us that immense treasure which you are to bestow upon us." Hatim opened his bag and displayed the treasures which he possessed; on seeing which the thieves unanimously requested him to impose upon them whatever terms he chose. "Swear to me," said Hatim, "a solemn oath in the following words: 'Before God the wise and supreme, who observeth and knoweth all things, we promise never to lay our hands on the property of our fellow-creatures, nor henceforth to injure any one; otherwise may the wrath of heaven be upon us, and may our past deeds, of which we sincerely repent, never be forgiven.'"

Hereupon the thieves bound themselves by oath to follow his dictates, and expressed their penitence for their past sins; after which Hatim, having thus reclaimed them from the path of error, divided his treasure among them and departed. Having traversed part of the desert, he espied a dog lolling out his tongue, and exhausted with hunger and thirst. He at once supposed that some caravan, to which the dog belonged, must be at no great distance. When he approached, the poor animal in the most piteous manner seemed to implore his aid. Hatim felt for the misery of every living creature; he therefore lifted the dog in his arms, and carried it with him, in order to restore it with food and drink as soon as he could procure any. He had not long proceeded when he beheld a village at some distance before him, and thither he bent his steps. On his arrival the people presented him with a barley loaf and some curdled milk, the whole of which he gave to the dog. The exhausted animal, thus satisfied with food and drink, fawned on Hatim, as if expressing its sense of his kindness, and then lay down at his feet.

Hatim began to stroke the animal with his hands, and was meditating on the power and wisdom of the Almighty, who created the countless myriads of creatures that fill the universe, each with some characteristic in form and color peculiar to itself, when his hand passing over the head of the dog, he felt some hard substance resembling a horn. He wondered in his own mind what this could mean, "for," said he, "I never heard of dogs having horns." He examined it further, and found that an iron nail had been driven into the head of the dog. He drew it out, and instantly the animal assumed the shape of a young man.

Hatim sat for some time in silent abstraction, wondering at the miraculous occurrence which he had just witnessed. At last he addressed the young man, saying, "Tell me, Sir, who are you, and how have you been transformed into the likeness of an irrational animal? From what mysterious cause have you now recovered your proper shape on my removing the nail from your head?" The young man, struck with Hatim's humane and amiable disposition, and full of gratitude for the service he had just rendered him, bowed his head to the dust as he replied, "Benevolent Sir, suffice it to say that I am of the human race; that by the foulest practice, which I am loth to detail, I was transformed into that shape wherein you lately saw me; and from which, through the Divine favor and your humane attention, I am now delivered."--"I should like to know," said Hatim, "if agreeable to you, the cause of your having assumed the shape of a dog."

The young man, thus requested, proceeded with his own history. "Worthy Sir, I am the son of a merchant. My father, not many years ago, made a journey to the capital of China with a large stock of goods of various kinds, which he there disposed of to great advantage: in return, he supplied himself with the most valuable commodities produced in that country, which on his arrival in Kheta he converted into gold, and thus became immensely rich. As I was his only son, he wished to have me settled in life, and induced me to marry a beautiful young lady. Shortly after my marriage he died, and I became possessed of the whole of his property, and for some time my life passed in perfect felicity. At last my wealth was considerably diminished; I therefore made up an investment at Kheta, and, like my father, made a journey to China, which, of course, forced me to leave my home and country for a considerable period. During my absence, my wife had proved herself on several occasions a wicked woman, and at the same time procured this iron nail from some magicians. At length I returned home, and as soon as sleep overpowered my eyelids, my wife thrust the enchanted nail into my head, and instantly I was transformed into the shape of a dog. She then kicked me out of the house, and when thus driven into the public streets, all the dogs of the city flew at me. Winged with terror, I fled into the desert; and there for three days I had wandered without a morsel of food or a drop of water, until the auspicious hour when God the Supreme sent you to my relief."

Hatim then advised the young man to preserve the magic nail with the utmost care, and as soon as he arrived at his house, to serve his wife as she had him.

After the slave had been killed, all received from him presents, and Hatim was for that day detained as his guest, and the hours were spent in pleasure. Next morning Hatim took farewell of the young man, and returning to the caravansera?, met with the lover of Harith's daughter. He courteously addressed the youth, whose name was Na?m, and made many inquiries after his condition, to all of which the other replied; adding: "It is now several months since the voice was last heard in the wilderness, and from that circumstance Harith's daughter is expecting your return crowned with success."--"Rejoice, my friend," said Hatim, "for I have really succeeded in procuring the most accurate information respecting the voice in the desert."

Hatim took leave of Harith's daughter, and returning to the caravansera?, said to his young friend: "Now I depart in quest of the Shahmuhra." The youth prostrated himself at Hatim's feet, and gave vent to his gratitude. Hatim raised him up, and embracing him, said: "Rejoice, my friend, for as soon as I shall, by the aid of God, have accomplished this third task, I shall put you in possession of your beloved." Hatim left the city of Suri, and placing his reliance upon Divine Providence, set out in quest of the Shahmuhra. After he had advanced a small distance, he sat down to rest under the shade of a tree, not knowing which way to proceed. At length his mind recurred to the cave that led to the world of demons, and he resolved to wait upon Farokash their king, and receive his direction to the abode of Mahpar?, assured that the demons could furnish him with the requisite information. He therefore got up, and made for the mouth of the cave, which he entered as formerly, and in the course of a week he reached its further extremity, and issued into the desert by the route previously described. Shortly after the demons flocked around him from all quarters, and recognizing their former visitor, they conducted him to their homes, and vied with each other in their hospitality and attention.

Hatim thus advanced from town to town, till at length his majesty Farokash, hearing of his approach, came out to receive him, and with all honors conducted him to his palace, seated him upon a throne, and presented him with a variety of eatables the most delicious, and in short, testified in every way the pleasure he felt in the meeting. After some time, the king requested to know of Hatim the cause of his visit; to which the latter replied: "Sire, I am on my journey in quest of the Shahmuhra, which is in the possession of Mahpar?; in this enterprise may I venture to solicit your aid?"--"Young man," said Farokash, "you aim at things that are beyond the power of the human race. There is not one of my demon subjects that can enter the dominions of Mahpar? and return alive; far less then is it practicable by you, a mere mortal."--"Sire," replied Hatim, "the Almighty Power, that has preserved me in your kingdom, will watch over me in the fairy world, and thence conduct me back in safety. In the meantime, may I request your Highness to furnish me with guides, who may shew me the way thither? Otherwise I should wander astray."--"I wish," said Farokash, "that you would abandon this absurd enterprise, so inconsistent with reason."--"How can I," replied Hatim, "without disgrace relinquish the task which I have undertaken? My word is pledged to accomplish it, and a promise is sacred."

On hearing this reply Farokash remained silent, as he felt assured that compliance with Hatim's request would be only hastening his ruin. Three days were spent in discharging the rights of hospitality, after which Hatim addressed the king, and said, "Sire, allow me to depart, for the occasion is urgent: let it not be said that the tormented lover has died in his protracted expectation of me; in such a case I should have become responsible for his death, and what would be my answer before the great Judge? The love-sick youth in whose cause I labor is sincere in heart, and ardent in his affection; his life depends on my successful exertions, and my failure would be the cause of his death."

The king of the demons summoned a few of his subjects and gave them instructions to the following effect: "You shall conduct this young stranger to the boundaries of Mahpar?'s dominions, and remain there until his return, if such be his fate." The demons lifted Hatim on their shoulders, and with the speed of the wind began to traverse the wide-spreading desert. In the course of a month they arrived at the confines of fairy-land, where the demons halted, and addressing Hatim, said, "We are now in sight of the mountain Kaf, and here begin the territories of Mahpar?, within which we dare not enter; for close upon the limits of that mountain are stationed thousands of fairies ready to destroy us."

Hatim took leave of the demons, and fearlessly passed the bounds of the fairy regions, and from day to day approached nearer the mountain whose top seemed to pierce the skies and whose sides abounded with green trees in endless variety. When he arrived at the base of the mountain the fairies assembled from all sides, and said one to another: "Here comes one of Adam's race whom we must instantly put to death, as he has the hardihood to approach this mountain." The fairies hereupon rushed to the base of the mountain, and laying hold of Hatim, carried him up, and when they had bound his hands and feet with chains, they asked him, "Tell us, mortal, whence come you? what is your business? and who has conducted you hither?"--"I come," said Hatim, "from the city of Suri, under the guidance of my Creator."--"Pray," said the fairies to him, "are you come at the request of the daughter of Harith, the merchant?" Hatim reflected in his own mind, "Now if I tell them the truth, and say that I am come in quest of the Shahmuhra, they will assuredly destroy me; and if I speak falsely it will be unworthy of me, having never done so in my life; in this case, then, silence is the best policy."

Meanwhile the fairies came to the resolution of casting him into the fire, "For," said they, "he is in all probability come for the Shahmuhra." They quickly heaped together piles of dried wood, to which they set fire, and throwing Hatim into the midst of it, they all set up a loud shout of laughter, and there left him. Hatim, remembering his Maker, took into his mouth the talisman of the bear's daughter, which rendered him completely proof against fire. For three days he remained in that state, after which period he came out without even a thread of his garment being burnt.

Hatim had no sooner made his escape than he was again seized and bound by the fairies, who thus addressed him: "Three days since a man very like you fell into our hands, and we cast him into the fire, and burnt him; pray are you that individual, or some one else of the human race?"--"O, you troop of simpletons," replied Hatim, "assuredly, such fools as you are never will exist; if, as you say, you burnt that individual, how do you imagine that he should be again alive? But the truth is, the Almighty has preserved me amidst the burning flames." The fairies, on hearing this, again threw Hatim into the fire, from which, after a considerable time, he coolly walked out unhurt; a third time they repeated the experiment, and at length becoming convinced that he was not to be destroyed by burning, they carried him to the shore of the salt sea, and cast him into the midst of the deep, and there, leaving him to his fate, they departed.

Whilst Hatim was cutting his way by swimming amidst the billows of the ocean, a large nihang happened to espy him. This monster rushed upon him, and in an instant swallowed him alive. Hatim, thus rescued from drowning, on coming to his senses attempted to stand up and move about, whereby the sea-serpent became so desperately annoyed that he darted towards the shore, and with great exertion succeeded in disgorging him on dry land, after which he plunged into the deep.

Hatim in that spot lay, helpless and exhausted with hunger and thirst, for the space of two days and nights, after which time he rose up, and wandered he knew not whither, until he found himself in the midst of a wilderness of sand. Here he continued to stray till a troop of fairies happened to observe him; these immediately surrounded him, and said, one to another, "Here is a mortal man, how can he have come hither?" Addressing Hatim, they said to him, "You seem to be of the human race, pray who brought you into our territory?"--"The merciful Creator," replied Hatim, "first conducted me into your dominions, but since my arrival I have been cast into the sea, and swallowed by a monstrous nihang, from whose inside I was ejected two days ago. I am now exhausted with hunger; if you have any compassion within you, let me have something to eat, and water to quench my thirst."

To this reply the fairies rejoined, "We dare not administer to you even a drop of water, for our king has strictly ordered us to slay every one of the race of men or demons that may come in our way; if we, therefore, delay a moment in putting you to death, the wrath of his Majesty will overtake us." Here one of the fairies said to his companions, "Where is our king, and where are we? This wretched being is not come hither of his own accord! God is merciful! You know not from what distance he may have been brought by the nihang, and his being found here is accidental, as it was natural he should make an effort to preserve his life. He is one of the human race too, and our superior, nay, the noblest of the sublunary creation; let us convey him to our abodes, and afford him kind treatment."--"But," said the rest of the fairies, "if we spare him, and our king hear of it, his Majesty will put us to death." On hearing this discussion Hatim addressed them, saying, "My friends, if it is your duty and interest to slay me, I am quite resigned without further dispute."

That fairy, however, who spoke in his favor still held out, saying, "My worthy companions, our king is far distant, even seven days' journey hence; and who among us is likely to turn informer?" In short, they all at last agreed to spare Hatim's life; whereupon they carried him to their dwellings, and gave him food to eat, and fruits and water to quench his thirst, so that in a short time he perfectly recovered. The fairies, charmed with Hatim's gracefulness and eloquence, crowded around him, and felt the greatest pleasure in listening to his conversation; they daily supplied him with food the most delicious, and fruits the most refreshing, and spent their whole time in his society. In a few days Hatim became a universal favorite, so that he ventured to ask their leave to depart, in order to accomplish his enterprise. "Pray tell us," said they, "what is your business here, and what brought you into our world?" Hatim told them without reserve: "The demon subjects of Farokash conducted me as far as your boundaries, beyond which they durst not penetrate. As soon as I entered your dominions, the fairies that guard your coasts laid hold of me, and three times did they cast me into the burning flames, but from all their evil designs the hand of the Creator protected me; they afterwards threw me into the sea, from which I escaped as I have already told you."--"And pray," asked they, "what business have you so important, that you undergo such toils and perils for its accomplishment?"--"My business," replied Hatim, "is with Mahpar?."--"Beware, frail man," said the fairies, "how you speak of Mahpar?; we are his subjects, and he has enjoined us not to suffer a man or demon to enter his dominions; should he hear of our affording you an asylum, he would instantly slay us all."

In answer Hatim said: "If it is our destiny to enjoy longer life, no one can slay us; and if you are afraid of the consequence, you can bind me hand and foot, and carry me as a captive into the presence of your king."--"What you propose," rejoined they, "is utterly absurd; you have already shared of our hospitality; you and we have eaten salt together; do you imagine, then, that we can deliver you up to certain destruction?"--"Be under no hesitation," replied Hatim, "on account of any danger that threatens me, for it is my resolution to have an audience of Mahpar? as soon as possible; therefore convey me thither at all risks." The fairies were sadly perplexed on hearing Hatim's mad design, and deliberated amongst themselves what was best to be done in the case. At length they resolved to detain him as prisoner, and in the meantime despatch a messenger to learn the king's pleasure regarding him, and act accordingly. One of the fairies was immediately sent to his Majesty, with instructions thus to address him: "Sire, we have just seized on the sea-shore one of the human race, who is now our captive; if such be your royal pleasure, we are ready to conduct him into your august presence."

Share on: WhatsApp @Hash Facebook Tweet