592 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [Sept. 



give you as many to-morrow again, and every day, if you will come here at sun- 

 rise." Transported with joy, the fisherman went to the baker's, to whom he gave 

 all his pearls and precious stones, thanking him for all the favors which he had 

 hitherto heaped on him. After that loaded with as much bread as he could 

 carry, and after having bought with the money which the baker had given him, 

 meat, fruit, and vegetables, the good Abdallah ran home to inform his wife of 

 the happy adventure which had happened to him. 



" Keep well your secret," said his wife to him ; " it is a thing that ought not to 

 be related to every one." '.' If I must conceal it from every one," replied the 

 fisherman, " I cannot at least make a mystery of it to the baker my bene- 

 factor." 



The next day, having got up very early, the fisherman went with a basket of 

 fruit to the sea shore, which he reached before sun-rise. He cried there : " Where 

 art thou, Abdallah of the sea ?" " What will you ?" replied a voice from the 

 depth of the waves ; and at the same instant the new friend of the fisherman came 

 out of the sea with a load of emeralds, rubies, and pearls. After having break- 

 fasted together, they retired each going his own way. The fisherman gave, in 

 passing, two more necklaces of pearls to the baker, and carried the rest home. 

 He went afterwards to the bazar, and shewed all the pearls and precious stones 

 to the syndic of the jewellers. " Stop him," cried the latter ; " he is the thief 

 who has stolen the queen's pearls V Abdallah allowed himself to be loaded with 

 bonds, and to be conducted before the king without saying a word. They pre- 

 sented to the queen the pearls which they took for hers, but she declared that 

 the pearls were much handsomer than those which had been stolen from her ; 

 that they did not belong to her, and that she would buy them at any price. 

 " Retire, infamous informers," said the king ; " as if God could not give riches to 

 the unfortunate also 1 Retire." When the jewellers had departed, the king turned 

 towards Abdallah : " Now inform me from whence did you get this treasure. I 

 am a king, and I do not possess such precious stones." Then Abdallah related to 

 him his connection with Abdallah of the sea. " Venerable man," said the king, 

 "riches ought to be joined to power; — aslongas I reign you need not fear violence ; 

 but I would not be answerable that after my death my successor will not cause 

 you to be put to death to seize on your treasures. I wish, therefore, to give you 

 my daughter in marriage and to make you my vizier, so that after me envy may 

 not assail you." After that the king ordered Abdallah to be conducted to the 

 bath, and caused him to be dressed in magnificent clothes. They sent letters 

 for his wife and children, who were loaded with marks of honour. The contract 

 of marriage was drawn up according to all the forms. Abdallah of the land 

 gave as portion to the princess all the treasures which he had received fiom 

 Abdallah of the sea. The next day the king having observed the vizier betake 

 himself with a basket of fruit on his head to the sea shore, asked him what he 

 meant by so doing. Abdallah replied that he was carrying breakfast to Abdallah 

 of the sea. The answer displeased the king. " This conduct, my son-in-law," 

 said he to Abdallah, " is not suitable for a vizier. Take your choice to remain in 

 the palace, or to drop instantly your load." 



Up to this point the French and Arabic versions correspond with great 

 minuteness. The French version, however, terminates in a very abrupt 

 and unsatisfactory manner. It conveys no moral, and leaves Abdallah the 

 inhabitant of the land to enjoy his good fortune, notwithstanding his ingra- 

 titude towards his benefactor. The French version proceeds — " Abdallah 

 liking better to preserve his place and the favour of the king, returned 

 no more to the sea shore and lived happily to the end of his days." 



The Arabic version is altogether different, and if it possesses no other 

 merit, it has at least the advantage of conveying a moral and teaching a 

 cheerful resignation to the will of Providence : it proceeds thus : — 



" Abdallah said, I fear to break the promise which I have made to him. I 

 shall then be accounted a liar, and the world will accuse me of falsehood." The 

 king replied, " You are right. Go, and God be with you." He then went into 

 the city, and the people recognized him. He overheard them saying, " This is the 



