to him that Love received him into her bower, and conducted her to his trembling arms. He saw the little Loves flutter around them, crown them with garlands, and gently agitate their wings to waft to them the perfume of flowers. The heart of the young man beat high; his burning cheeks were suffused with the tints of the carnation: and his arms, which were extended to clasp the beauteous prize, embraced nothing but empty air.

At length he awoke, and remained a long time in sweet delirium. "Gods!" cried he, with trembling lips, "where am I? What! has she escaped from my arms? Alas! I am here on my own shore-and oh, how distant is the isle which contains her! A dream, alas! a dream has deceived me-I feel it: it has made me miserable for ever."

From this time he still more frequently repaired to the sea-side sunk in a deep reverie, he walked, or he sat on the sand, and turned his eyes anxiously towards the isle. At night also, by the light of the moon, when a deep silence reigned over the country, and nothing was heard but the murmuring of the sea, he placed himself at the extremity of the shore, where he listened in an agony of attention, in hopes that some sounds from the isle might be borne to him. He often thought he heard plaintive accents, and sometimes a sweet voice (for the ardent imagination of lovers easily deceives them): he often called aloud, and fancied he was answered, though at an immense distance; or, when a star appeared in the horizon behind the isle, he thought he saw a light, or the blaze of a fire.

"Perhaps," he said, "perhaps she is seated alone by the flame of her nocturnal fire, thinking on her sorrowful destiny, and lamenting in vain, during the silence of the night, the loss of the days of her youth. O winds! why have I not your wings? Hasten, O ye winds! fly towards her, and tell her what a wretch languishes on these shores."

"But what," he sometimes said to himself, "what is become of my reason, unhappy that I am! what is the object of my love? a dream, a vain phantom! I slept; and my fancy presented an image more lovely by far than I have ever seen. I awoke; but this image has not disappeared like a dream deeply engraven on my imagination, it reigns over my whole soul. And yet this dream, this phantom, which has not perhaps, in the world, its reality, I love; I am pursued by it in every place; it nourishes in my heart a continual fire and torments, alas! too real; it draws me to this shore in spite of myself. Ah! blush and resume thy reason; become what thou wast before an airy vision infatuated thee; be tranquil and content; be assiduous in thy labour. Go, laugh at thy folly; quit the sea-side; and render thanks to the gods that thou art not become the derision of the whole country."

But it was in vain that he sought to conquer this strange passion; it was in vain that he resolved to fly the shore. In the midst of his most agreeable occupations, her image presented itself to him incessantly; it seemed as if an invisible divinity, with an irresistible force, drew him to the sea-side.

"O gods!" he would then cry, "will this love for ever torment me in vain ?-must the days of my youth be spent in sufferings which even hope can discover no bounds to? Yet surely this dream cannot be one of those produced by chance; my imagination could never have raised that idea of beauty, which surpassed so much all I have ever beheld.

"Without doubt a god has inspired this dream. But why? What can be his design? I cannot discover it. If the beauty that I have seen lives in that isle, why has he showed her to me? Why is it his pleasure that I should adore her? Why does he abandon me to despair, without assistance, without showing me any means of gaining the end of my desires? Since it is impossible to reach by swimming this far-distant isle, what can I do?-what ought I to attempt? The gods, it is true, have given to man aspiring thoughts, and a mind fertile in inventions: they leave him at liberty to exercise his eminent faculties; but who so daring as to devise means for walking on the sea? who so venturous as to trust himself on the ocean like a swan ?"

Seated on the strand, his whole soul roused, he gave himself up to deep meditation on the means of traversing the sea; for men had not yet learned the art of confiding themselves to the waves. What had they to do with other countries? since wherever grass grew for their flocks, wherever they found trees laden with wholesome fruit, wherever there flowed a clear stream, that spot furnished abundantly all their wants. Long did he meditate, long did he contrive, and reject each inadequate contrivance. One day, as sadly he sat, his eyes fixed on the sea, he saw from afar something which the waves impelled towards the shore; joy and hope sparkled in his eager eyes; the object still approached; at length he saw distinctly floating on the waves the enormous trunk of a tree, scooped hollow by time, that had been torn up by the roots by a storm. A timid fawn, pursued by some hunters, had saved itself by the aid of this trunk: it was seated in the hollow of the tree; a thick branch was bent over it,

and covered it with its shade; a gentle breeze completed the whole, by driving the trunk on shore by the side of the young man, who foreseeing his future success, and filled with a new-born hope, leaped for joy on the strand. Inspired with a thousand new ideas, he sought to clear the obscure image which this sight had presented to his imagination, and which, like a vision of the night, now vanished, and now re-appeared. He drew the trunk upon the sand, resolving next morning at dawn of day to begin a work of which as yet he had but a very imperfect idea. Doubt and hope agitated him by turns; sleep did not visit his eyelids. At break of day, furnished with a few rude implements (for then happy simplicity required but few), he flew to the shore.

"Yes," said he, "I have seen withered leaves, which the wind carried away, swim gently on the water; yes, and I have also seen, on the lake, near our cottage, butterflies who, fluttering about, have alighted on the leaves, without wetting their delicate feet-let me make a trial; nature has already done half the work; I will hollow out this tree so that I can conveniently sit in it." Thus saying, he gaily begun his work.

"O, thou!" he cried, "whosoever thou art, beneficent God!-thou who hast engraven on my heart this indelible dream, hear my prayers, and let my enterprise succeed."

He often stopped at his work and looked towards the isle, saying, "O thou, most lovely among mortals! what obstacles, what dangers will not love surmount! O, how sweet a hope makes me bound with joy! thou wilt not surely refuse me thy tenderness, when I shall arrive on thy island-I whose love makes me brave the ocean! Never did love inspire a bolder project !" Yet he would often lose courage, and abandon his work. "Madman that I am!" he would say: "how foolish is my enterprise! Suppose any one should say to me, my friend, what are you doing? What would he think of this answer? I am making this hollow to seat myself in it, and cross the vast sea." Then would he justly reply to me, "Where is thy unnatural father, that thus abandons his son to such frenzy ?"

Saying this, he looked with contempt at his unfinished work. Again would he take up the cause in his own mind: "Even," said he, "should my enterprise fail of success, I shall have lost nothing but a few leisure hours. Can I risk less for my love? This isle is certainly inhabited; what my father has told me renders it very likely; and my dream, which a Deity alone could have inspired, places it beyond all doubt; and if it be inhabited, ah! how wretched must be the inhabitants!-if the father or mother of the lovely unfortunate were dead, or if they should die, and she remain alone, abandoned, condemned to pass her youth in frightful solitude, consumed by melancholy and despair! No, it is no longer love, it is divine compassion alone that prompts me to succour her!" It was thus he lost and regained his courage.

Some days thus passed away, the tree was hollowed out; he had already, though imperfectly, formed a boat. He drew it then to a little gulf where the sea never ran high; there he gave his barque to the waves, and, placing himself in it, let it go at the will of the winds. He carefully observed the defects of his work however; the wind having driven it on shore, he recommenced his labours: he made several improvements in his barque and tried it often.

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Behold," said he, "one half of the work is finished! But how shall I direct my course in the open sea? How arrive at the isle, without exposing myself to become the sport of the waves ?" Then did a thousand ideas present themselves and were rejected. At last he thought, "Does not the swan direct its course by parting the water with its large feet? And does not every bird that swims do the same? An animal has taught me to swim on the trunk of a tree. I will learn from animals the means of bringing this new invention to perfection. If I make feet of wood, large in proportion as those of the swan, if I fix them at each side of the hollowed trunk to cut through the water!"

Transported with this idea, he hastened to cut wood for his purpose, and he soon formed oars; he then got into his boat, and tried them a long time without success. Every day he attentively observed the aquatic birds, and every day he discovered new means of governing his boat. He long confined himself to the little gulf, but experience having rendered him more daring, he ventured on the open sea; and having happily brought back his barque, he leaped with joy on shore.

"Behold it then realised," said he, "this project which has tormented me so long. To-morrow, with the first rays of the sun, I shall be on the sea; and if the winds favour me, I shall, in this little barque, undertake the voyage to the isle. It would be criminal not to make an effort to succour the unfortunate, however perilous the attempt may be."

Having said this, he fixed his boat in the little gulf, and returned to the cottage, for it was night.

[END OF PART FIRST.]

"I'm going a-milking, Kind sir," said she,

"And it's dabbling in the dew Where you'll find me."

"May I go with you,

My pretty maiden fair, With your red, rosy cheeks, And your coal-black hair ?" "Yes, you may go with me, Kind sir," said she,

"And it's dabbling in the dew

Where you'll find me."

"If I should chance to kiss you, My pretty maiden fair, With your red, rosy cheeks, And your coal-black hair? "The wind may take it off again, Kind sir," said she,

"And its dabbling in the dew Where you'll find me."

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If I should chance to run away,
My pretty maiden fair,

With your red, rosy cheeks,

And your coal-black hair?”

"The de'el may then run away wi' you, Kind sir," says she,

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THE ADVENTURES OF HAITIM TAÏ.

A PERSIAN TALE.

CHAPTER II.-(Continued.)

OR two or three days Haitim lay senseless; but as soon as his recollection was restored he searched for his talisman, which the robbers had fortunately left with his turban. The instant he brought it out, the pit became quite dry; he then applied it to his wounds, which were speedily healed.

Haitim, thus restored to perfect health, could not, mild as he was, avoid making the following reflections: "What a trick those cowardly villains have played me! Well, if we should meet again may give them something which will set their avarice for ever at Occupied with these thoughts he fell into a profound sleep, and in

I

rest."

“Oh,

a dream he beheld an aged man, who thus accosted him: Haitim! let not thy heart be cast down. Thinkest thou that Divine Providence has sent thee hither without some wise and unerring design? Listen, and I will tell thee the cause of thy falling into this apparent calamity.

"In this pit, the Creator, bountiful and gracious, hath kept hidden a treasure that is destined for thee. Arise and take possession of it, for thou art capable of employing it in that way which is most acceptable to the bountiful Giver. Let sadness no longer dwell in thy heart; for he who is discontented is unfit for the service of God."

To this mysterious man Haitim replied; "In every state that may befall me, I am always satisfied with the unerring decrees of Providence; and though these may exceed my comprehension, yet I submit with resignation. Should the sacrifice of my life tend to promote the service of God, I am ready to yield it."

“I am convinced," continued the old man, "that thy words are sincere; meanwhile take away this treasure, which is thine."

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"I am alone," said Haitim, "I cannot even liberate myself from this dungeon; of what use is it, then, to offer me so vast a treasure?" "To-morrow," replied the man, two people will pass this way who will set thee at liberty; and by their aid you can bring out the treasure and carry it away."

"It will be impossible for two people," said Haitim, "to release me from this prison; and as for the treasure, it is out of the question." "The two persons to whom I allude," replied the man, “are able to accomplish both the one and the other ;" and having thus spoken, he vanished, leaving Haitim to the enjoyment of his pleasant dream. As soon as the morning rays dawned in the east the two people arrived at the mouth of the pit, and called out, "Oh, Haitim! are you still alive ?"

To this he replied, "He who at first created me hath till now preserved me."

Each of the two strange beings that addressed him thrust a hand into the pit, which was of immense depth, and to Haitim's astonishment their hands reached the bottom where he lay. They called aloud to him to hold fast by their hands, which he did, and in an instant he was drawn up and set at liberty.

Haitim thanked his deliverers, and said to them, "In this pit there are vast treasures of gold and jewels. If you can bring them to light I will distribute the same in the service of God, by relieving the wants of the poor and the needy."

On hearing this, one of them threw himself into the pit, and handed up the treasure to the other, who remained outside. In the course of an hour all the hidden stores of the pit were brought up and packed together, so as to be easily carried, after which the two people took leave of Haitim and departed.

Haitim for some time viewed his treasure, and thus communed with himself: "How can I best dispose of all this wealth? If those accursed villains that lately maltreated me were here I should bestow it all upon them, that they might for once be satisfied, and cease from oppressing their fellow creatures."

He then selected from the stores a suit of apparel, in which he dressed himself; and having filled a large bag with the most valuable jewels, he departed in quest of the old woman and her seven

sons.

He had not advanced far when he espied the object of his search, sitting, as formerly, by the way-side. On seeing her Haitim was extremely delighted, and walking up to her, he put his hand into his bundle and pulled out a handful of the finest and most costly jewels, which he scattered around her.

The old woman, as before, gave the signal to her sons by exclaiming, "May heaven send one or two to aid me;" and forthwith the seven robbers presented themselves, and surrounding Haitim, asked him whither he was journeying.

Haitim addressed them thus: "My good friends, I have one request to beg of you, which I hope you will grant me."

The thieves desired him to speak, whereupon he thus continued : "You hunger and thirst for gold, for worldly wealth; abandon your present iniquitous way of life, and withhold your hands from oppressing your neighbours, and I will enrich you with gold and jewels to such an extent as will satisfy your utmost wishes."

To this exhortation the thieves replied, "Hunger and want have driven us to this avocation; and certainly if you give us all this wealth, we shall speedily abandon a course of life which is hateful to God and oppressive to man.”

"Well," said Haitim, "repent of your past deeds, and give me your solemn and sincere promise never to transgress in future, and I shall satisfy your wants.'

"

"But ere we can conscientiously give you this promise,” replied the thieves, "show us that immense treasure which you are to bestow

upon us."

Haitim opened his bag and displayed the treasures which he pos

sessed; on seeing which the thieves unanimously requested him to impose upon them whatever terms he chose.

"Swear to me," said Haitim, "a solemn oath in the following words: Before God the wise and supreme, who observeth and knoweth all things, we promise never to lay our hands on the property of our fellow-creatures, nor henceforth to injure any one; otherwise may the wrath of heaven be upon us, and may our past deeds, of which we sincerely repent, never be forgiven.""

Hereupon the thieves bound themselves by oath to follow his dictates, and expressed penitence for their past sins; after which Haitim, having thus reclaimed them from the path of error, divided his treasure among them and departed.

Having traversed part of the desert, he espied a dog lolling out his tongue, and exhausted with hunger and thirst. He at once supposed that some caravan, to which the dog belonged, must be at no great distance. On approaching the poor animal, it seemed in the most piteous manner to implore his aid.

Haitim felt for the misery of every living creature; he therefore lifted the dog in his arms, and carried it with him, in order to restore it with food and drink as soon as he could procure

some.

He had not proceeded far when he beheld a village at some distance before him, and thither he bent his steps.

On his arrival the people presented him with a barley loaf and some curdled milk, the whole of which he gave to the dog. The exhausted animal, thus satisfied with food and drink, fawned on Haitim, as if expressing its sense of his kindness, and then lay down at his feet.

Haitim began to stroke the animal with his hands, and was meditating on the power and wisdom of the Almighty, who created the countless myriads of creatures that fill the universe, each with some characteristic in form and colour peculiar to itself, when, his hand passing over the head of the dog, he felt some hard substance resembling a horn. He wondered what this could mean, for," said he, "I never heard of dogs having horns." He examined it further, and found that an iron nail had been driven into the head of the dog. He drew it out, and instantly the animal assumed the shape of a young man.

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Haitim sat for some time in silent abstraction, wondering at the miraculous occurrence which he had witnessed.

At last he addressed the young man, saying, "Tell me, sir, who you are, and how you have been transformed into the likeness of an irrational animal? From what mysterious cause have you now recovered your proper shape on my removing the nail from your head ?"

The young man, struck with Haitim's humane and amiable disposition, and full of gratitude for the service he had just rendered him, bowed his head to the dust as he replied, "Benevolent sir, suffice it to say that I am of the human race; that by the foulest craft I was transformed into that shape wherein you lately saw me, and from which, through the divine favour, and your humane attention, I am now delivered."

"I should like to know," said Haitim, "if agreeable to you, the cause of your having assumed the shape of a dog.

The young man, thus solicited, proceeded with his own history. Worthy sir, I am the son of a merchant; my father, not many years ago, made a journey to the capital of China, with a large stock of goods of various kinds, which he there disposed of to great advantage. In return, he supplied himself with the most valuable commodities produced in that country, which, on his arrival in Kheta he exchanged for gold, and thus became immensely rich.

"As I was his only son, he wished to have me settled in life, and induced me to marry a beautiful young lady.

"Shortly after my marriage he died, and I became possessed of the whole of his property, and for some time my life passed in perfect felicity.

"At length my wealth became considerably diminished; I therefore invested my money in purchasing goods at Kheta, and, like my father, made a journey to China, which, of course, compelled me to leave my home and country for a considerable period.

During my absence my wife formed an intimacy with one of my Abyssinian slaves, and also obtained this iron nail from some magicians.

་་

At length I returned home, and as soon as sleep overpowered my eyelids my infamous wife thrust the enchanted nail into my head, and instantly I was transformed into the shape of a dog. She then kicked me out of the house, and when thus driven into the public streets all the dogs of the city flew at me.

Winged with terror, I fled into the desert, and there for three days I had wandered without a morsel of food or a drop of water, until the auspicious hour when God the Supreme sent you to my relief."

When Haitim heard this extraordinary narrative he for some

time bent down his head in reflection, after which he addressed the young man, saying, "My dear friend, pray tell me where is your residence?" "It is about three days' journey from this place, in the city of Suri."

"That city," rejoined Haitim, "I know well, for there resides Harith, the merchant, whose beautiful daughter is so celebrated on account of her three questions. I am just on my return to that city, having found out the solution of her second question, which runs thus:-I have done nothing that can benefit me this night.”

"You speak truly," replied the young man, "as to Harith and his fair daughter. I know them well, being their fellow citizen, and I rejoice in the prospect of your company thither."

Haitim then advised the young man to preserve the magic nail with the utmost care, and as soon as he arrived at his house, to serve his wife with it as she had done to him, and the consequence would be the transformation of the abandoned woman into a spaniel.

They both set out, and in about three days arrived in the city of Suri, and proceeded straightway to the young man's residence. When arrived at the gate the porters and female slaves ran out from every room to welcome him. He made a sign to them to keep silence, and arming himself with a sword, he inquired of his domestics where the black Abyssinian was.

They replied, "With your wife."

Foaming with rage, he entered his wife's apartment, and seizing the enchanted nail, thrust it into her head, and she was instantly transformed into a spaniel. He then, to complete his revenge, severed the head of the Abyssinian from his foul carcase. He returned to Haitim, and, cordially taking him by the hand, conducted him into his hospitable mansion, and seated him on a throne. He tied a string round the neck of his wife, now transformed into a spaniel, and led her before Haitim, saying, "Behold my abandoned spouse; and there" (pointing to the headless trunk of the Abyssinian) "is the black slave who shared in her guilt."

When Haitim beheld the headless trunk of the slave he could not help saying to the young man, "Why have you killed this sinful wretch ?"

"I think," replied the other, "I have done him a service, "for I thus secure him from all further sin and iniquity, with which he would have loaded his polluted soul had he have been left longer in this world."

Haitim remained for that day as guest, and the next morning he took farewell of the young man and returned to the caravanserai, where he met with the lover of Harith's daughter.

He courteously addressed the youth, whose name was Naim, and made many inquiries after his condition, to which the other replied, "It is now several months since the voice was last heard in the wilderness, and from that circumstance Harith's daughter is expecting your return crowned with success."

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'Rejoice, my friend," said Haitim, "for I have really succeeded in procuring the most accurate information respecting the voice in the desert."

Haitim then made straight for the gate of Harith's abode, and announced his presence to the domestics, who forthwith informed their mistress that the Arabian prince had returned, and waited at her gates.

She ordered them to admit him, and, on Haitim's entrance, she eagerly requested to know the result of Haitim's adventures, of which he gave her a detailed account from beginning to end.

"You speak truly," said the lady, "the voice has now ceased to be heard, and you have accomplished my second task; it only remains for you to procure me the Shahmuhra from Mahpari, the King of the Peris."

Haitim then took leave of Harith's daughter, and returning to the caravanserai, said to his young friend, "now I depart in quest of the Shahmuhra."

The youth prostrated himself at Haitim's feet, and poured forth his gratitude.

Haitim raised him up, and embracing him, said: "Rejoice, my friend, for as soon as by the aid of God I shall have accomplished this third task, I shall put you in possession of your best beloved.

Haitim left the city of Suri, and, placing his firm reliance upon Divine Providence, set out in quest of the Shahmuhra. After advancing a short distance, he sat down to rest under the shade of a tree, not knowing in fact which way to proceed.

At length his mind recurred to the cave that led to the world of Deevs, and he resolved to wait upon Farokash their king, and receive his directions to the abode of Mahpari, thinking_that the Deevs could furnish him with the requisite information. He therefore rose up and made for the mouth of the cave, which he entered as formerly, and in the course of a week he reached its further extremity, and issued into the boundless desert by the route previously described.

The Deevs flocked around him from all quarters, and recognising their former visitor, they conducted him to their villages, and vied with each other in their hospitality and respectful attention.

Haitim thus advanced from town to town, till at length his majesty, Farokash, hearing of his approach, came out to receive him, and with all due honours conducted him to his palace, seated him upon a throne, and presented him with a variety of eatables the most delicious, and in short, testified in every way the pleasure he felt at the meeting.

After some time the King requested to know of Haitim the cause of his visit; to which the latter replied: "Sire, I am on my journey in quest of the Shahmuhra, which is in the possession of Mahpari; in this enterprise may I venture to solicit your aid."

"Young man," said Farokash, "you aim at things that are beyond the power of the human race. There is not one of my Deev subjects that can enter the dominions of Mahpari and return alive, far less then is it practicable by you, a mere mortal."

"Sire," replied Haitim, "the Almighty Power, that has preserved me in your kingdom, will watch over me when in the fairy-land, and thence conduct me back in safety. In the meantime, may I request your highness to furnish me with guides, who may show me the way thither, for otherwise I should wander astray."

"I wish," said Farokash, "you would abandon this rash enterprise, so inconsistent with common sense."

"How can I," replied Haitim, "without disgrace relinquish the task which I have undertaken? My word is pledged to accomplish t, and with me a promise is sacred."

On hearing this reply Farokash remained silent, as he felt assured that compliance with Haitim's request would be only hastening his

ruin.

Three days were spent in dispensing the rites of hospitality, after which Haitim addressed the King, and said, "Sire, allow me now to depart, for the occasion is urgent; let it not be said that the tormented lover has died in his protracted expectation of me; in such a case I should be responsible for his death, and what would be my answer before the Great Judge? The love-sick youth in whose cause I labour is sincere in heart and ardent in his affections; his life depends on my successful exertions, and my failure will be the cause of his death."

Hereupon the king of the Deevs summoned a few of his subjects and gave them instructions to the following effect: "You shall conduct this young stranger to the boundaries of Mahpari's dominions, and remain there until his return, if such be his fate."

The Deevs lifted Haitim on their shoulders, and with the speed of the wind began to traverse the wide-spreading desert.

In the course of a month they arrived at the confines of fairyland, where the Deevs halted, and, addressing Haitim, said, "We are now in sight of the mountain Kaf, and here commence the dominions of Mahpari, within which we dare not enter, for close upon the limits of that mountain are stationed thousands of peris ready to destroy us."

Haitim took leave of the Deevs, and fearlessly passed the bounds of the fairy regions, and from day to day approached nearer the mountain, whose top seemed to pierce the skies, and whose sides abounded with green trees in endless variety.

When he arrived at the base of the mountain the peris assembled from every side, and said, one to another, "Here comes one of Adam's race, whom we must instantly put to death, since he has the hardihood to approach this mountain."

Hereupon the peris rushed to the base of the mountain, and, laying hold of Haitim, bound his hands and feet with chains, saying, "Tell us, mortal, whence come you? What is your business? and who has conducted you hither ?"

"I come," said Haitim," "from the city of Suri, under the guidance of my Creator."

"Pray, are you come at the request of the daughter of Harith the

merchant ?"

Haitim reflected in his own mind, "Now, if I tell them the truth, and say that I am come in quest of the Shahmuhra, they will assuredly destroy me; and if I speak falsely it will be unworthy of me, having never done so in my life. In this case, then, silence is the best policy."

Meanwhile the peris came to the resolution of casting him into the fire, "For," said they, "he is in all probability come for the Shahmuhra." They quickly heaped together piles of dry wood, to which they set fire, and, throwing Haitim into the midst of it, they all set up a loud shout of laughter, and there left him.

Haitim, remembering his Maker, took into his mouth the talisman of the bear's daughter, which rendered him completely proof against fire. For three days he remained in that state, after which period he came out without even a thread of his garment being singed. Haitim had no sooner made his escape than he was again seized and bound by the peris, who thus addressed him: "Three days since

a man very like you fell into our hands, and we cast him into the fire and burnt him; pray, are you that individual, or some one else of the human race?"

"Oh, you troop of simpletons!" replied Haitim; "if, as you say, you burnt that individual, how do you imagine that he should be again alive? But the truth is, the Almighty has preserved me amidst the burning flames."

The peris, on hearing this, again threw Haitim into the fire, from which, after a considerable time, he calmly walked out unhurt. A third time they repeated the experiment, and at length, becoming convinced that he was not to be destroyed by burning, they carried him to the sea-shore, and cast him into the midst of the deep, and, leaving him to his fate, they departed.

Whilst Haitim was buffeting his way by swimming amidst the billows of the ocean, a large sea-serpent happened to espy him. This monster of the deep rushed upon him, and instantly swallowed him alive.

Haitim, thus rescued from drowning, on coming to his senses attempted to stand up and move about, whereby the sea-serpent became so desperately annoyed that it darted towards the shore, and with great exertion succeeded in disgorging him on dry land, after which it plunged into the deep.

Haitim lay in that spot for the space of two days and nights, helpless, and exhausted with hunger and thirst; after which time he rose up, and wandered he knew not whither, until he found himself in a wilderness of sand. Here he continued to wander in every direction, till a troop of peris happened to observe him; they immediately surrounded him, and said to one another, "Here is a mortal man; how can he have come hither?"

Addressing Haitim they said to him," You seem to be of the human race; pray, who brought you into our territory?"

Haitim replied, "The merciful Creator first conducted me into your dominions, but since my arrival I have been thrown into the sea, and swallowed by a monstrous serpent, from whose belly I was cast out two days ago on dry land. I am now exhausted with hunger; if you have any compassion within you, let me have something to eat, and water to quench my thirst."

The peris replied, "We dare not minister to your wants, not even a drop of water, for our king has ordered us to slay every one of the race of men or Deevs that may fall in our way; if we therefore delay a moment in putting you to death, the wrath of his majesty will assuredly overtake us.'

Here one of the peris said to his companions, "Our king is far hence and need know nothing of this affair; this wretched being is not come hither of his own accord. God is merciful! You know not from what distance he may have been brought by the serpent, and his being found here is accidental, as it was natural he should make an effort to preserve his life. He is one of the human race too, and our superior, nay, the noblest of the sublunary creation; let us convey him to our abodes, and afford him kind and hospitable treatment." "But," said the rest of the peris, "if we do spare him, and our king should hear of it, his majesty will certainly put us to death." On hearing this discussion Haitim addressed them, saying, "My friends, if it is your duty and interest to slay me, I am quite resigned, and will submit to my fate without further argument."

The peri, however, who had spoken in his favour, still held out, saying, "My worthy companions, our king is far distant, even seven days' journey hence; and who among us is likely to turn informer ?"

At length they all agreed to spare Haitim's life; whereupon they carried him to their dwellings, and gave him food and water, so that in a short time he became perfectly recovered.

The peris, charmed with Haitim's gracefulness and eloquence, crowded around him, and felt the greatest pleasure in listening to his conversation; they daily supplied him with the most delicious food and the most refreshing fruits, and spent their whole time in his society. Thus he soon became a general favourite, so that he ventured to ask their leave to depart, in order to accomplish his own affairs.

“Pray tell us,” said they, "what is your business here, and what brought you into our world?”

Haitim told them without reserve: "The Deev subjects of Farokash conducted me as far as your boundaries, beyond which they dared not venture. As soon as I entered your dominions, the peris that guard your coasts laid hold of me, and three times did they cast me into the burning flames, but from all their evil design the hand of the Creator protected me; they afterwards threw me into the sea, from which I escaped as I have already told you."