(late 6985).--H. C.]

[5] Trees.

[6] Opobalsamum.

[7] A recent traveler in China gives a perfectly similar description of
sacred trees in Shansi. Many bore inscriptions in large letters. "If
you pray, you will certainly be heard."--_Rev. A. Williamson_,
_Journeys in N. China_, I. 163, where there is a cut of such a tree
near Taiyuanfu. (See this work, I. ch. xvi.) Mr. Williamson describes
such a venerated tree, an ancient acacia, known as the Acacia of the
T'ang, meaning that it existed under that Dynasty (7th to 10th
century). It is renowned for its healing virtues, and every available
spot on its surface was crowded with votive tablets and inscriptions.
(Ib. 303.)

CHAPTER XXIII.

CONCERNING THE OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAIN.

Mulehet is a country in which the Old Man of the Mountain dwelt in former
days; and the name means "_Place of the Aram_." I will tell you his whole
history as related by Messer Marco Polo, who heard it from several natives
of that region.

The Old Man was called in their language ALOADIN. He had caused a certain
valley between two mountains to be enclosed, and had turned it into a
garden, the largest and most beautiful that ever was seen, filled with
every variety of fruit. In it were erected pavilions and palaces the most
elegant that can be imagined, all covered with gilding and exquisite
painting. And there were runnels too, flowing freely with wine and milk
and honey and water; and numbers of ladies and of the most beautiful
damsels in the world, who could play on all manner of instruments, and
sung most sweetly, and danced in a manner that it was charming to behold.
For the Old Man desired to make his people believe that this was actually
Paradise. So he had fashioned it after the description that Mahommet gave
of his Paradise, to wit, that it should be a beautiful garden running with
conduits of wine and milk and honey and water, and full of lovely women
for the delectation of all its inmates. And sure enough the Saracens of
those parts believed that it _was_ Paradise!

Now no man was allowed to enter the Garden save those whom he intended to
be his ASHISHIN. There was a Fortress at the entrance to the Garden,
strong enough to resist all the world, and there was no other way to get
in. He kept at his Court a number of the youths of the country, from 12 to
20 years of age, such as had a taste for soldiering, and to these he used
to tell tale