CAMARALZAMAN AND BADOURA. 273

this prince resided, and he was told the place. There were two
ways to it, one by land and the other by sea, the latter of which
was the shortest. Marzavan chose this, and embarked in a mer-
chant vessel, which had a good voyage till within sight of the
capital of the kingdom of Schahzaman. But unfortunately,
through the unskilfulness of the pilot, as the vessel was entering
the harbour, it struck on a rock, went to pieces, and sunk just
in sight of the castle in which prince Camaralzaman was then
residing.

Marzavan could swim extremely well; he therefore did not
hesitate to throw himself into the sea, and he steered his course
to the castle, where he was well received, and every assistance
given him. He had his dress changed, and was treated with
the greatest kindness, and when he had recovered from his
fatigue, he was conducted before the grand vizier, who was at
that time with the prince.

As Marzavan was a youth of a good person and engaging air,
this minister discovered almost insensibly, that he had number-
less sources of information: “I plainly perceive,” said he, “from
conversing with you, that you are not a man of common under-
standing ; would to God, that in the course of your travels, you
had learned some secret, that could cure a young man whose ill-
ness has plunged this court in the deepest affliction for some
time past.” 4

Marzavan replied, that if he were made acquainted with the
disease which the person was labouring under, perhaps he might
be able to find a remedy for it. The grand vizier then explained
to Marzavan the state in which Prince Camaralzaman was,
taking up his history from the very beginning. He spoke of his
strong objection to marriage, his subsequent imprisonment, his
violent love for an unknown lady, for which there was no other
foundation than a ring; in short, the vizier related every cir-
cumstance with the most faithful exactness.

Marzavan now felt convinced beyond doubt that Prince Cam-
aralzaman was the person with whom the princess of China was
so deeply in love. He did not mention his thoughts to the
grand vizier; he only said to him, that if he saw the prince he
should be better able to judge what remedies it might be necessary
to administer. ‘“ Follow me,” said the vizier, “ you will find the
king with him, who has already expressed a wish of seeing you.”