ALADDIN, OR THE WONDERFUL LAMP. 373

at last arrived in the square before Aladdin’s palace, where,
as the crowd increased, the difficulty and press to get near
him was also greater. The strongest and most zealous beat
off the crowd to get a place for themselves, and hence several
quarrels arose, the noise of which reached the ears of the Prin-
cess Badroulboudour, who was sitting in the saloon with twenty-
four windows.

The princess demanded what the occasion of the noise was,
and as no person could inform her, she ordered some one to go
and see, and bring her an account. One of her women, without
leaving the saloon, looked through the lattice, and then came
and told her that it arose from a crowd of people, who were col-
lected round the holy woman, to be cured of a pain in their
heads, by her laying her hands upon them.

The princess, who for some time past had heard every one
speak in praise of this holy woman, but who had never yet
beheld her, felt a desire to see and converse with her. Having
mentioned something to this effect, the chief of the slaves,
who was present, said, that if she wished it, he was sure he
could get her to come, and that she had only to give her orders,
The princess consented to it, and he instantly despatched four
slaves, with an order to bring back this pretended old woman
with them.

As soon as the slaves were gone out of the gate of Aladdin’s
palace, and they were observed to make towards the place where
the holy woman was, or rather the magician disguised as such,
the crowd began to disperse ; and when he was thus more at
liberty, and. saw that they were coming towards him, he went
part of the way to meet them, and with the greater glee, as he
thus saw that his cunning scheme was in a prosperous state.
One of the slaves addressed him in these words; “ Holy woman,
the princess wishes to see you; follow us.” “The princess
honours me very much,” replied the pretended Fatima. “Iam
ready to obey her commands ;” and he then followed the slaves,
who immediately went back to the palace.

When the magician, clothed in this sanctified dress, perceived
the princess, he began a prayer, which contained a long cata-
logue of exhortation and wishes for her piety, her prosperity, and
the accomplishment of everything she could desire. He then
displayed all his hypocritical. and deceitful rhetoric, in order to