154 THE ARABIAN NIGHTS’ ENTERTAINMENTS.

 

 

obstinate, he sent for them all together, and said, ‘ My sons, since I hava
not been able to persuade you in this matter, and as I have no inclina-
tion to use my authority to give the princess, your cousin, to one in
preference to another, I have thought of an expedient which will please
you all, and preserve harmony among you, if you will but hear me and
follow my advice. I think it would not be amiss if you were to travel
separately into different countries, so that you might not meet each
other: and I promise my niece in marriage to him who shall bring me
the most extraordinary rarity. I will give each of you a sum suited
to your rank, and for the purchase of the rarity you shall search after.’

The three princes cheerfully consented to this proposal, as each
flattered himself fortune might prove favourable to him, and give him
possession of the Princess Nouronnihar. The sultan gave them the
money he promised, and issued orders for the preparations for their
travels. arly next morning they all went out at the same gate of the
city, each dressed like a merchant, attended by a trusty officer habited
as a slave, and all well mounted and equipped. They proceeded the
first day’s journey together ; and at night, when they were at supper,
they agreed to travel for a twelvemonth, and that day year to meet
again at the khan where they were stopping; and that the first who
came should wait for the rest ; so that as they had all three taken leave
together of the sultan, they might return in company. The next morn-
ing by break of day, after they had embraced and wished each other
reciprocally good success, they mounted their horses, and took each a
different road.

Prince Houssain, the eldest brother, who had heard of the extent,
power, riches, and splendour of the kingdom of Bisnagar, bent his
course towards the Indian coast; and after three months travelling,
with different caravans, sometimes over deserts and barren mountains,
and sometimes through populous and fertile countries, arrived at
Bisnagar, the capital of the kingdom of that name, and the residence
of its maharajah. He lodged at a khan appointed for foreign merchants,
and soon learned that there were four principal bezetzeins, where mer-
chants of all sorts kept their shops, on a large extent of ground, in the
centre of the city, in the middle of which stood the maharajah’s palace,
surrounded by three courts, the gates of which were distant two leagues
from each other.

Prince Houssain went to one of these bezetzeins on the next day. It
was large, divided into several vaulted avenues, and shaded from the
sun, but yet very light. The shops were of the same size and propor-
tion; and all who dealt in the same sort of goods, as well as all the
artists of the same profession, lived in one avenue.

The number of shops stocked with all kinds of merchandise—as the
finest linens from several parts of India, painted in the most lively
colours, and representing men, landscapes, trees, and flowers; silks and
brocades from Persia, China, and other places; porcelain from Japan
and China; foot carpets of all sizes—surprised him very much; but