is basket, and bade him choose
which he liked best. The eunuch picked out one, and carried it to the
princess; but the exchange was no sooner made than the place rang with
the shouts of the children, deriding the magician's folly.

The African magician gave everybody leave to laugh as much as they
pleased; he stayed not long near the palace, but made the best of his
way, without crying any longer; "New lamps for old ones." His end was
answered, and by his silence he got rid of the children and the mob.

As soon as he was out of the square between the two palaces, he hastened
down the streets which were the least frequented; and having no more
occasion for his lamps or basket, set all down in an alley where nobody
saw him: then going down another street or two, he walked till he came
to one of the city gates, and pursuing his way through the suburbs,
which were very extensive, at length reached a lonely spot, where he
stopped for a time to execute the design he had in contemplation, never
caring for his horse which he had left at the khan; but thinking himself
perfectly compensated by the treasure he had acquired.

In this place the African magician passed the remainder of the day, till
the darkest time of night, when he pulled the lamp out of his breast and
rubbed it. At that summons the genie appeared, and said: "What wouldst
thou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of all
those who have that lamp in their hands; both I and the other slaves of
the lamp." "I command thee," replied the magician, "to transport me
immediately and the palace which thou and the other slaves of the lamp
have built in this city, with all the people in it, to Africa." The
genie made no reply, but with the assistance of the other genies, the
slaves of the lamp immediately transported him, and the palace entire,
to the spot whither he was desired to convey it.

As soon as the sultan rose the next morning, according to custom, he
went into his closet, to have the pleasure of contemplating and admiring
Aladdin's palace; but when he first looked that way, and instead of a
palace saw an empty space such as it was before the palace was built, he
thought he was mistaken, and rubbed his eyes; but when he looked again,
he still saw nothing more the second time than the first, though the
weather was fine, the sky clear, and the dawn advancing had made all
objects very distinct. He looked again in front, to the right and left,
but