379 THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

almost inevitable death ; but even this was not the last; he was
in danger a third time.

The African magician had a younger brother who was not
inferior to him in his knowledge of magic; and it may be said
that he surpassed him in wicked intentions. As they did not
always live together, nor even in the same city, one sometimes
being at the eastern extremity, while the other travelled in the
most western part of the world, they did not fail once every year -
to inform themselves, by means of their knowledge of geomancy
in what part of the world the other was, how he was going on,
and whether either wanted the assistance of the other.

Some time after the African magician had failed in his at-
tempt against Aladdin, his younger brother, who had not re-
seived any intelligence of him for a year, and who was not in
Africa, wished to know where he was, whether he was well, and
what he was about. Into whatever place he travelled he never
went without his square. geomantic box, as well as his brother.
He took then this box, and having arranged the sand, he cast
the points, drew the figures, and formed his horoscope. In
examining each part he discovered that his brother was no
longer alive, that he had been poisoned, and, that his death was
sudden. On searching further he found that this took place in
a capital situated in such a particular part of China; and that
he by whom he had been poisoned, was a man of low birth, but
was married to a princess, the daughter of the sultan.

When the magician was apprised of the melancholy fate of
his brother, he took the instant resolution to revenge his death;
he mounted his horse, and directly began his journey towards
China. He traversed over plains, rivers, mountains, and
deserts, and after a long journey, accompanied by almost incre-
dible fatigue and difficulty, he at length reached China ; and in
a short time afterwards arrived at that capital, which his expe-
riment in geomancy had pointed out. Certain of not being de-
ceived, nor of having mistaken one kingdom for another, he
arrived in this capital, and took up his abode there.

The very next morning the magician walked out, not so much
for the purpose of seeing the beauties of the place, which.did
not at all affect him, as with the intention of commencing his
measnres in order to put his pernicious design into execution.
He introduced himself into the most frequented places, arid wae