hey were all
black, and as naked as the day they were born; they said something
to me; but I did not understand their language in the least. It was
a field of the _chana_ [346] pulse; the men, having lighted a large
fire were parching the ears [of _chana_] and eating them; and some
houses also appeared [near the spot]. Perhaps this was their usual
food, and that they lived in those houses; they made signs to me
also that I should eat. I plucked up some of the _graum_, roasted it,
and began to toss it into my mouth; and having drank a little water,
I laid down to sleep in a corner of the field.

"'After some time, when I awoke, a man, from among them came to me,
and began to show me [by signs] the road; I plucked up some more of the
_graum_, and followed the road [he pointed out]. A great level plain
appeared before me, vast as the plain of the day of judgment. [347] I
proceeded, eating the _graum_ as I went; after four days, I perceived
a fort; when I went near it, then I saw it was a very high fort,
all built of stone, and each side of which was two _kos_ in length,
and the door was cut out of a single stone, and had a large lock
attached; but I could see no trace of any human being. I proceeded on
from thence and saw a hillock, the earth of which was in colour black
as _surma_; [348] when I passed over the hillock, I saw a large city,
surrounded with a rampart with bastions at regular intervals; and a
river of great width flowed on one side of the city. Proceeding on, I
reached a gate, and invoking God, I entered it. I saw a person who was
dressed in the garment of the people of Europe, and seated on a chair;
the moment he saw I was a foreign traveller, and heard me invoke God,
he desired me to advance. I went up to him, and made him a _salam_;
he returned my salutation with great kindness, and laid on the table
instantly some bread and butter, and a roast fowl and wine, and said,
"Eat thy belly full." I ate a little, and drank [some of the wine],
and fell sound asleep. When the night came, I opened my eyes, and
washed my hands and face; he gave me again something to eat, and said,
"O son, relate thy story." I told him all that had happened to me. He
then said, "Why art thou come here?" I became vexed, and replied,
"Perhaps thou art mad; after hardships of long duration, I have at
last seen the appearance of [human] dwellings. God has conducted me
so far, and thou askest me why I am come here." He answered, "Go and
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