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ES-SINDIBAD OF THE SEA 163

be described ; and afterwards I went back to the
King, and begged him to give me permission to
return to my country. He gave me permission
after great pressing, and bestowed upon me an
abundant present from his treasuries; and he
gave me a present and a sealed letter, saying to
me, “Convey these to the Khaleefeh Haroon Er-
Rasheed, and give him many salutations from us.”
So I replied, “TI hear and obey.” Then he wrote
for me a letter on skin of the khdwee, which is
finer than parchment, of a yellowish colour; and
the writing was in ultramarine. And the form
of what he wrote to the Khaleefeh was this :—
“Peace be on thee, from the King of India, before
whom are a thousand elephants, and on the battle-
ments of whose palace are a thousand jewels.
To proceed: We have sent to thee a trifling pre-
sent: accept it then from us. Thou art to us
a brother and sincere friend, and the affection
for you that is in our hearts is great’: therefore
favour us by a reply. The present is not suited
to thy dignity ; but we beg of thee, O brother, to
accept it graciously. And peace be on thee!”
And the present was a cup of ruby, a span high,
the inside of which was embellished with precious
pearls; and a bed covered with the skin of the
serpent that swalloweth the elephant, which skin