n as
possible, that I may send it to him before the divan breaks up." The
genie told him his command should be immediately obeyed, and
disappeared.

In a little time afterward the genie returned with forty black slaves,
each bearing on his head a heavy tray of pure gold, full of pearls,
diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and every sort of precious stones, all
larger and more beautiful than those formerly presented to the sultan.
Each tray was covered with silver tissue, embroidered with flowers of
gold: these, together with the white slaves, quite filled the house,
which was but a small one, the little court before it, and a small
garden behind. The genie asked if he had any other commands, and Aladdin
telling him that he wanted nothing further, he disappeared.

When Aladdin's mother came from market, she was much surprised to see so
many people and such vast riches. As soon as she had laid down her
provisions, she was going to pull off her veil; but her son prevented
her, and said: "Mother, let us lose no time; before the sultan and the
divan rise, I would have you return to the palace with this present as
the dowry demanded for the princess, that he may judge by my diligence
of the ardent desire I have to procure myself the honour of this
alliance." Without waiting for his mother's reply, Aladdin opened the
street-door, and made the slaves walk out; each white slave followed by
a black with a tray upon his head. When they were all out, the mother
followed the last black slave; he shut the door, and then retired to his
chamber, full of hopes that the sultan, after this present, which was
such as he required, would receive him as his son-in-law.

The first white slave who went out made all the people who were going by
stop; and before they were all clear of the house, the streets were
crowded with spectators, who ran to see so extraordinary and magnificent
a procession. The dress of each slave was so rich, both for the stuff
and the jewels, that those who were dealers in them valued each at no
less than a million of money; besides, the neatness and propriety of the
dress, the noble air, fine shape and proportion of each slave were
unparalleled; their grave walk at an equal distance from each other, the
lustre of the jewels, curiously set in their girdles of gold, and the
egrets of precious stones in their turbans, put the spectators into such
great admiration, that they could not avoid following them with their
eyes as far