1836.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 593 



king's relative : he is going to exchange fruits for jewels ;" but they who were ig- 

 norant and were not acquainted with him said, " O fortunate man, stay a little, 

 and let me form acquaintance with you." He paid no attention, however, to any 

 one, and proceeded onwards till he joined Abdallah of the sea, and presented him 

 with the fruit and exchanged them for jewels. Having so done, he returned to 

 the baker's shop, which he found closed, and learnt that this had been the case 

 for ten days. He then proceeded to consummate his marriage with the daughter 

 of the king, with whom he lived on terms of affection. He went daily to the 

 man of tbe sea and returned by the baker's shop, but found it always locked. 

 He was at a loss to conceive where the baker had gone, and asked the neigh- 

 bours where he had gone, and what had happened to him. They told him in 

 reply, that the baker had fallen sick and could not leave his house. Having 

 inquired where his house was situated, Abdallah sought him out. His friend 

 seeing him out of the window bearing a full basket, on his head, descended and 

 opened the door, and throwing himself upon him, embraced him and cried. Upon 

 this, Abdallah said to him, " Where have you been, my friend, this longtime ; I 

 have come daily to your shop, but have found it shut, and have been unable to 

 find you. Are you in distress ?" Tbe baker replied, " No, but I heard that the 

 king had seized you and charged you with being a thief, whereupon I became 

 afraid, and shut up my shop and concealed myself." Abdallah answered, This 

 is true ; and then recited his adventures with the jewellers and the king, and how 

 he had married the king's daughter, and had been made his vizier. He further 

 desired him to take as his portion what was in the basket, and not to be afraid. 

 Saying this, he left him in a happy mood, and returned to the king with his 

 basket empty. The king said to him, " O ! kinsman, I fancy that you could not 

 have met your friend Abdallah of the sea to-day." He replied, " I did meet with 

 him, but what I obtained from him I gave to my friend the baker, to whom I am 

 under an obligation." The king asked who is this person — to which he replied, 

 he is a baker by profession, and behaved to me in such and such a manner 

 during the period of my distress, and never neglected me. The king asked his 

 name. Abdallah, said he, is called Abdallah the baker — my name is Abdallah of 

 the land, and the name of my companion is Abdallah of the sea. The king 

 rejoined, My name also is Abdallah*, and the servants of God are brothers ; send 

 and bring him, we will make him our second vizier. Then were sent for him 

 the vizier and the nobles, who caused him to be clothed in the habiliments of a 

 vizier, and brought him into the presence of the king. He was then made the 

 second vizier, Abdallah continuing the first. 



Abdallah of the land, the first vizier of the king, continued after this fashion 

 a whole year, and never omitted for a single day to go with a basket of fruits and 

 to return with a basket of jewels and precious stones, and when fresh fruits were 

 not procurable he used to carry raisins, almonds, walnuts, figs, and such like. 

 Whatever he took was cheerfully accepted, and in return his basket was filled 

 with jewels according to custom. One day it happened that he took a basket 

 of sweetmeats. Abdallah of the sea accepted it, and took his seat upon the land 

 by the sea shore. They entered into conversation and mutually told stories, 

 when the following dialogue occurred. '" Is it true, my brother, that the prophet 

 (on whom rest the peace and blessing of God!) is buried among you ou dry land, 

 and do you know where he is buried ? I do, replied he of the land. In what 

 place ? In a city called Yusrub. Do the inhabitants of the land go to visit his 

 tomb ? Yes. Happy then, exclaimed Abdallah of the sea, are you denizens of 

 the earth, that you are enabled to visit the tomb of this gracious, clement and 

 merciful prophet who intercedes for all those who perform the pilgrimage ! 

 Have you, my brother, ever visited his tomb ? No, I was a poor man and had not 

 enough to pay my expenses on the road, but since I became acquainted with you 

 and you have bestowed upon me this exceeding prosperity, it is a duty incumbent 

 upon me to do so. I have a strong desire to visit the holy city, and nothing but 

 the affection 1 have for you prevents my doing so. I cannot, however, bear to 

 part with you for a single day. Do you, said he of the sea, prefer my friendship 

 to that of the prophet (on whom be the blessing and peace of God), who will 



* Servant of God. 

 4 H 



