h your sublime highness's knowledge, to which
that of the sage Lokman was but in comparison as the seed is to the
water-melon, I hardly need say that it was the ancient kingdom of
Souffra.

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"Menouni, you are quite right," observed the pacha. "Proceed."

"Fortunate is your slave to stand in the presence of so much wisdom,"
continued Menouni, "for I was in doubt; the splendour of your presence
had startled my memory, as the presence of the caravan doth the zebra
foal of the desert."

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In this delightful kingdom, where the nightingales sang away their
existence in their love for the rose, and the roses gave forth their
perfume until the air was one continued essence of delight, such as is
inhaled by the true believers when they first approach the gates of
Paradise, and are enchanted by the beckoning of the houris from the
golden walls, there lived a beautiful Hindu princess, who walked in
loveliness, and whose smile was a decree to be happy to all on whom it
fell; yet for reasons which my tale shall tell, she had heard the
nightingale complain for eighteen summers and was still unmarried. In
this country, which at that time was peopled by Allah with infidels, to
render it fertile for the true believers, and to be their slaves upon
their arrival, which did occur some time after the occurrences which I
now relate; it was not the custom for the females of Souffra to lead the
life of invisibility, permitted only to those who administer to the
delights of the followers of the Koran; and although it was with
exceeding modesty of demeanour, still did they on great occasions expose
their charms to the public gaze, for which error, no doubt if they had
had souls, beautiful as they were, they would have been damned to all
eternity. Civilisation, as Menou hath said, must extend both far and
wide before other nations will be so polished as to imitate us in the
splendour, the security, and the happiness of our harems; and when I
further remark to your highness--

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"Proceed, good Menouni," interrupted Mustapha, "his highness is not fond
of remarks."

"No, by our beard," rejoined the pacha; "it is for you to tell your
story and for me to make remarks when it is over."

"I stand in the presence of wisdom," sai