254 JOURNEY TO CENTRAL AFRICA.

third game, thy having been once victorious will magnify his opinion of his own skill ; for where we never suffer defeat, we at last regard our conquests with indifference.'

" The result was precisely as Zubeydeh had predicted. The Caliph was charmed with the foreign prince, and in a few days made him his Vizier. The wood-cutter filled his exalted station with dignity and judgment, and became at once a great favorite with the people of Baghdad. The month of obedience which he promised to Zubeydeh was now drawing to a close, when she said to him : ' Cease to visit the Caliph, and do not leave thy palace for two or three days. When the Caliph sends for thee, return for answer that thou art ill.' She foresaw that the Caliph would then come to see his Vizier, and gave the wood-cutter complete instructions, concerning what he should say and do.

" Haroun Al-Kaschid no sooner heard of the illness of his Vizier, than he went personally to his palace, to see him. He was amazed at the size and splendor of the edifice, f Truly,' said he, striking his hands together, 'this man hath found the ring of Solomon, which compels the assistance of the genii. In all my life I have never seen such a palace as this.' He found the Vizier reclining on a couch of cloth-of-gold, in a chamber, the walls whereof were of mother-of-pearl, and the floor of ivory. There was a fountain of perfumed water in the centre, and beside it stood a jasmine-tree, growing in a vase of crystal. ' How is this ? ' said the Caliph, seating himself on one end of the couch ; ' a man whom the genii serve, should have the secrets of health in his hands.' ' It is no fever,' said the Vizier ; ' but the other day as I was washing myself in the fountain, before the evening prayer, I stooped too hear the jas-