e for answer, "How can
the _wazir_ give his daughter to a wretch so poor and destitute as
myself? Will it be when I embrace his faith? This is what I never can
do." He replied, "The custom of this city is, that whoever prostrates
himself before the idol, if he be a beggar and demand the king's
daughter, the king must deliver her up to him in order to gratify
his wish, and that they may not grieve him. Now I am in the king's
confidence, and he esteems me, for which reason all the nobles and
officers of state of this place respect me. In the course of every
week, they go twice to the pagoda on a pilgrimage, and there they
perform their worship; so they will all assemble there to-morrow,
and I will carry thee with me." Saying this, he gave me something
to eat and drink, and sent me away to sleep. When the morning came,
he took me with him to the pagoda; when we arrived there, I saw that
people were going to and fro, and performing their devotions.

"'The king and nobles in front of the idol, near the priests, with
heads uncovered, were respectfully seated; also unmarried girls
and handsome boys, like _Hur_ and _Ghilman_ [351] were drawn up
in lines on the four sides. The good old man spoke to me and said,
"Now do whatever I say." I agreed, and said, "Whatever you command,
that I will perform." He said, "First, kiss the king's hands and feet,
then, lay hold of the _wazir's_ dress." I did so. The king asked, "Who
is this, and what has he to say?" The man replied, "This young man is
my relation, and he is come from far to have the honour to kiss your
majesty's feet, and with this expectation, that the _wazir_ will exalt
him by [admitting him] into his service, if the order of the great
idol and your majesty's approbation be [to that effect]." The king
said, "If he will embrace our faith and sect, and adopt our customs,
then it will be auspicious [for him]." Immediately, [the drums of]
the _nakkar-khana_ [352] of the pagoda struck up; and I was invested
with a rich _khil'at_; they then put a black rope round my neck, and
dragged me before the seat of the idol, and having made me prostrate
myself before it, they lifted me up.

"'A voice issued from the idol, saying, "O respected youth, thou hast
done well to enter into my service; rely on my mercy and favour." On
hearing these words, all the people prostrated themselves, and began to
roll on the ground, and exclaimed, "Long may you prosper! why should
it not be!" When the ev