ian merchants have very handsome slaves with them, and
as I wish to buy some for the princess, you will stop them, and send
all the slaves that may be in the vessel to the royal presence. On
seeing them, I will pay the full value for such as may be approved of,
and the remainder shall be returned.'

"According to the king's orders, the governor of the port came himself
on board our vessel for this purpose. Near my cabin was [the berth of]
another person; he also had a handsome female slave locked up in his
chest. The governor sat down on that chest, and began to collect all
the female slaves [that could be found]; I praised God, and said,
'Well, no mention has been made of the princess.' In short, the
governor's people put into their own vessel all the female slaves that
were to be found; and the governor, laughing, asked the owner of the
chest on which he was sitting, 'Thou hadst also a female slave?' The
blockhead was frightened, and answered, 'I swear by your Honour's feet,
I alone have not acted in this manner; all of us from fear of you have
concealed our [handsome] female slaves in our chests.' The governor,
on hearing this confession, began to search all the chests. He opened
my chest also, and having taken out the princess, he carried her away
with the rest. I fell into a strange state of despair, and said to
myself, 'such a [dreadful] circumstance has occurred that thy life is
gone for nothing; and now we must see how he will treat the princess.'

"In my anxiety for her, I forgot all fear for my own life; the whole
day and night I spent in prayers to God [for her safety]. When the
next early morn arrived, they brought back all the female slaves in
their own vessel. The merchants were well pleased, and each took
back his own. All returned, but the princess alone was not among
them. I asked, 'What is the reason that my slave is not come back
[with the rest]?' They answered, 'We do not know; perhaps the king
may have chosen her.' All the merchants began to console and comfort
me, and said, 'Well, what has happened is past; do not afflict
yourself; we will all subscribe and make up her price, and give
it to you.' My senses were utterly confounded; I said, 'I will not
now go to Persia.' Then I addressed myself saying to the boatmen,
'O friends, take me with you, and land me on the shore.' They agreed,
and I left the vessel and stepped into the boat; this dog likewise
came along with me.

"When I reached the port,