The Book of Sindib D; Or, the Story of the King, His Son, the Damsel, and the Seven Vaz RS, from the Persian and Arab., with Intr., Notes, and Appendix, by W.A. Clouston (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1884 Excerpt: ...with her to the bath, and handed her a string of jewels, worth two thousand gold dinars, to take charge of while she bathed. The religious woman placed it upon the sajjada,1 and began to say her prayers. Suddenly a magpie alighted from the roof of the palace, and fled away with the string of jewels in its claws, unobserved by the pilgrim, and ascended to one of the turrets. When the queen came from the bath, she searched for the string of jewels, but not finding it, demanded it of the pilgrim, who said: "It was here this instant, and I have not moved from this place. Whether any of your domestics may have taken it up or not, I cannot tell." The queen was enraged, and complained to the sultan, 1 A prostration cloth, mat, or carpet. who commanded the pilgrim to be scourged till she should discover the jewels. She was beaten severely, but confessed nothing; after which she was imprisoned, and remained a long time in durance; till one day the sultan, sitting upon the terrace of the palace, beheld a magpie, with the string of jewels twisted round its claws. He commanded the bird to be caught, released the pilgrim, of whom he entreated pardon, kissed her hands, begged forgiveness of God for what he had done, and would have made atonement to her by a valuable present, but she would not accept it. She left the court; and having resolved in her mind, for the remainder of her life, not to enter the house of any one, retired to the mountains, till she died. May God have mercy upon her 1 The Damsel then related, as an example of the crafty disposition of men, the Story of Prince Bahrain and Princess Ed-Detma? There was formerly a princess, than whom no one of her time was more skilful in horsemanship and throw 1 This is similar to our popular tale of "Th...