ES-SINDIBAD OF THE SEA 165

head standeth a man having in his hand a golden
javelin, and behind him a man in whose hand is
a great mace of gold, at the top of which is an
emerald a span in length and of the thickness
of a thumb. And when he mounteth, there mount
at the same time with him a thousand horsemen
clad in gold and silk ; and as the King proceedeth,
a man before him proclaimeth, saying, ‘This is
the King of great dignity, of high authority!’
And he proceedeth to repeat his praises in terms
that I remember not, at the end of his panegyric
saying, ‘This is the King, the owner of the
crown the like of which neither Suleyman nor
the Mihr4j possessed!’. Then he is silent; and
one behind him proclaimeth, saying, ‘He will
die! Again I say, He will die! Again I say,
He will die!’ And the other saith, ‘Extolled
be the perfection of the Living who dieth not!’
Moreover, by reason of his justice and good
government and intelligence, there is no Kadee
in his city; and all the people of his country
distinguish the truth from falsity.” And the
Khaleefeh wondered at my words, and _ said,
“How great is this King! His letter hath
shown me this; and as to the greatness of his
dominion, thou hast told us what thou hast

witnessed. By Allah, he hath been endowed
I