— 26 —

too with grain and food sufficient for my followers

for many days. As for the King Tikma he did not delay long before he despatched under his uncle Marbu a large force, which spread consternation throughout the land of King Duweiyu. In truth the King and his troops were inspired with so great a terror that they fled away secretly under cover of darkness.

There is no God but God and Mohammed is His prophet.

CHAPTER 2. THE KING.

The Merchant Becomes King, 1865. When dawn broke, I saw what had befallen

the king Duweiyu, and fear overcame me so that my

reason departed from me. Then I began to consider

the way of escape; and, while I was in such

circumstances, lo ! there came to me a messenger from king Tikma, saying that, on account of my marriage with his daughter and of the previous

friendship that had subsisted between us, the king

refrained from attacking me, but desired me to

retire from the country of Duweiyu, which had now

passed beneath his sway. Furthermore, he promised me that he would allow me to go wheresoever I

wished, and that I should be in no danger from