oliman!" Having said
this, and whirled herself round in a magical manner, which struck
Morakanabad with such terror as caused him to recoil, she ordered her
great camel Alboufaki to be brought, and the hideous Nerkes with the
unrelenting Cafour to attend. "I require no other retinue," said she to
Morakanabad; "I am going on affairs of emergency; a truce therefore to
parade! Take you care of the people; fleece them well in my absence; for
we shall expend large sums, and one knows not what may betide."

The night was uncommonly dark, and a pestilential blast ravaged the plain
of Catoul that would have deterred any other traveller, however urgent
the call; but Carathis enjoyed most whatever filled others with dread.
Nerkes concurred in opinion with her, and Cafour had a particular
predilection for a pestilence. In the morning this accomplished caravan,
with the wood-fellers who directed their route, halted on the edge of an
extensive marsh, from whence so noxious a vapour arose as would have
destroyed any animal but Alboufaki, who naturally inhaled these malignant
fogs. The peasants entreated their convoy not to sleep in this place.

"To sleep," cried Carathis; "what an excellent thought! I never sleep
but for visions; and, as to my attendants, their occupations are too many
to close the only eye they each have."

The poor peasants, who were not over-pleased with their party, remained
open-mouthed with surprise.

Carathis alighted, as well as her negresses, and severally stripping off
their outer garments, they all ran in their drawers, to cull from those
spots where the sun shone fiercest the venomous plants that grew on the
marsh; this provision was made for the family of the Emir, and whoever
might retard the expedition to Istakar. The wood-men were overcome with
fear when they beheld these three horrible phantoms run, and, not much
relishing the company of Alboufaki, stood aghast at the command of
Carathis to set forward, notwithstanding it was noon, and the heat fierce
enough to calcine even rocks. In spite, however, of every remonstrance,
they were forced implicitly to submit.

Alboufaki, who delighted in solitude, constantly snorted whenever he
perceived himself near a habitation; and Carathis, who was apt to spoil
him with indulgence, as constantly turned him aside, so that the peasants
were precluded from procuring subsistence; for the milch goats and ewes,
which Providence had sent towards the distric