da was overwhelmed with confusion at the course her father had
taken. Since he let his daughter clearly understand that he did not wish
her to remain unmarried, she at last replied: "My father, if my cousin
desires to have me in marriage, I shall not enter into his tent until he
undertakes to slaughter at my wedding a thousand camels, out of those
which belong to Gheshem, son of Malik, surnamed 'The Brandisher of
Spears.'" Kahled agreed to this condition; but the sheiks and the
warriors did not leave Zahir before he had collected all his possessions
for transportation to his own country. No sooner were these preparations
completed than Khaled marched forth at the head of a thousand horsemen,
with whose assistance he subdued the tribe of Aamir. Having thrice
wounded "The Brandisher of Spears," and slain a great number of his
champions, he carried off their goods and brought back from their
country even a richer spoil than Djaida had demanded. Loaded with booty
he returned, and was intoxicated with success. But when he asked that a
day should be fixed for the wedding, Djaida begged him to approach, and
said to him: "If you desire that I become your wife, fulfil first of all
my wishes, and keep the engagement I make with you. This is my demand: I
wish that on the day of my marriage, some nobleman's daughter, a
free-born woman, hold the bridle of my camel; she must be the daughter
of a prince of the highest rank, so that I may be the most honored of
all the daughters of Arabia." Khaled consented, and prepared to carry
out her wishes. That very day he started with his horsemen, and
traversed plains and valleys, searching the land of Ymer, even till he
reached the country of Hijar and the hills of Sand. In this place he
attacked the tribe-family of Moawich, son of Mizal. He burst upon them
like a rain-storm, and cutting a way with his sword through the opposing
horsemen, he took prisoner Amima, daughter of Moawich, at the very
moment when she was betaking herself to flight.

After having accomplished feats which rendered futile the resistance of
the most experienced heroes, after having scattered all the tribes in
flight, and carried off all the wealth of all the Arabs in that country,
he returned home. But he did not wish to come near his tents until he
had first gathered in all the wealth which he had left at different
points and places in the desert.

The young maidens marched before him sounding their cymbals and other
i