"O Talib, thou hast spoken truth and I desire that
thou be my messenger to Moosa for this purpose." To this, Talib replied:
"Most willingly, O Prince of the Faithful." And the king said to him:
"Go in dependence on the blessing of God, and his aid." Then he gave
orders that they should write for him a letter to his brother
Abd-El-Azeez, his viceroy in Egypt, and another letter to Moosa, his
viceroy in the Western Country, commanding him to journey, himself, in
search of the bottles of Solomon. He sealed the two letters, and
delivered them to Talib, commanding him to hasten, and he gave him
riches and riders and footmen to aid him in his way.

So Talib went forth on his way to Egypt, and when the Emeer Moosa knew
of his approach, he went forth to him and met him, and rejoiced at his
arrival; and Talib handed to him the letter. So he took it and read it,
and understood its meaning; and he put it upon his head, saying: "I hear
and obey the command of the Prince of the Faithful." He determined to
summon his great men; and they presented themselves; and he inquired of
them respecting that which had been made known to him by the letter;
whereupon they said: "O Emeer, if thou desire him who will guide thee to
that place, have recourse to the Sheikh Abd-Es-Samad; for he is a
knowing man, and hath travelled much, and he is acquainted with the
deserts and wastes and the seas, and their inhabitants and their
wonders, and the countries and their districts. Have recourse therefore
to him, and he will direct thee to the object of thy desire."
Accordingly he gave orders to bring him, and he came before him; and,
lo, he was a very old man, whom the vicissitudes of years and times had
rendered decrepit. The Emeer Moosa saluted him, and said to him: "O
Sheikh Abd-Es-Samad, our lord, the Prince of the Faithful, hath
commanded us thus and thus, and I possess little knowledge of that land,
and it hath been told me that thou art acquainted with that country and
the routes. Hast thou then a wish to accomplish the affair of the Prince
of the Faithful?" The sheikh replied: "Know, O Emeer, that this route is
difficult, far extending, with few tracks." The emeer said to him: "How
long a period doth it require?" He answered: "It is a journey of two
years and some months going, and the like returning; and on the way are
difficulties and horrors, and extraordinary and wonderful things. But,"
he said, "God will assuredly make this affair easy to us th