34 THE STORY OF KHERUDIN. 



to make a royal palace and a landing place and a pathway 

 of pure gold, and also that the palace should have a diamond 

 cupola." 



The king snake said, " When does my beloved want this 

 done ? " 



Kherudin answered, " I want it done to-night." 



So that very night after the king snake had concentrated 

 all his will on fulfilling Kherudin's request, everything came 

 into being perfectly complete. The glamour of the palace 

 burst all over the whole country side, and all the retainers 

 and all the great men were terrified and went before the king. 

 The king too was greatly astonished, but in a little while he 

 recollected the request that he had made of Kherudin. 

 Then he became very glad and told all his retainers ; each of 

 whom afterwards went back to his own house. The king was 

 very pleased indeed to see what Kherudin had done. As soon 

 as ever it was day, the whole population came together to see 

 the king's palace. They were all astonished. When each 

 one was satisfied with gazing on this most wonderful sight 

 they all went back to their own homes. 



Later on Kherudin went to his mother and said, " Mother, 

 go and ask the king when he is going to marry me to his 

 daughter." 



Siti Kasimah at once went before the king. When she 

 reached the royal presence she made obeisance, lifting her ten 

 fingers in homage, and said, " Pardon your majesty, a thousand 

 thousand pardons, your slave trusts peradventure to be pardon- 

 ed for preferring her request, since she has for such a long time 

 obeyed the royal behest. Your slave has been asked by her 

 youngling Kherudin to enquire from your majesty what is to be 

 done about your former promise." 



When the king heard Siti Easimah's request he pondered 

 thus in his heart : " Of a certainty I spring from a race of kings 

 who have come down from father to son from the olden days, 

 and this Kherudin is the son of a merchant. If I marry my 

 daughter to him I shall be put to shame when the kings in the 

 other countries come to hear of it. But if I break my word he 



Jour. Straits Branch 



