rple, and others yellow; in short, there was fruit of all colors.
The white were pearls; the clear and transparent, diamonds; the deep
red, rubies; the paler, ballas rubies[42]; the green, emeralds; the
blue, turquoises; the purple, amethysts; and the yellow, sapphires.
Aladdin, ignorant of their value, would have preferred figs, or
grapes, or pomegranates; but as he had his uncle's permission, he
resolved to gather some of every sort. Having filled the two new
purses his uncle had bought for him with his clothes, he wrapped some
up in the skirts of his vest, and crammed his bosom as full as it
could hold.

[Footnote 42: Ballas rubies are rubies of the brightest color.]

Aladdin, having thus loaded himself with riches of which he knew not
the value, returned through the three halls with the utmost
precaution, and soon arrived at the mouth of the cave, where the
African magician awaited him with the utmost impatience.

As soon as Aladdin saw him, he cried out, "Pray, uncle, lend me your
hand, to help me out."

"Give me the lamp first," replied the magician; "it will be
troublesome to you."

"Indeed, uncle," answered Aladdin, "I cannot now; but I will as soon
as I am up."

The African magician was determined that he would have the lamp before
he would help him up; and Aladdin, who had encumbered himself so much
with his fruit that he could not well get at it, refused to give it to
him till he was out of the cave. The African magician, provoked at
this obstinate refusal, flew into a passion, threw a little of his
incense into the fire, and pronounced two magical words, when the
stone which had closed the mouth of the staircase moved into its
place, with the earth over it in the same manner as it lay at the
arrival of the magician and Aladdin.

This action of the magician plainly revealed to Aladdin that he was no
uncle of his, but one who designed him evil. The truth was that he had
learned from his magic books the secret and the value of this
wonderful lamp, the owner of which would be made richer than any
earthly ruler, and hence his journey to China. His art had also told
him that he was not permitted to take it himself, but must receive it
as a voluntary gift from the hands of another person. Hence he
employed young Aladdin, and hoped by a mixture of kindness and
authority to make him obedient to his word and will. When he found
that his attempt had failed, he set out to return to Africa, but
avoided the town