|
At the end of about fifty days we cast anchor before a large town,
and the ship was immediately surrounded by a multitude of small boats
filled with people, who had come either to meet their friends or from
simple curiosity. Among others, one boat contained several officials,
who asked to see the merchants on board, and informed them that they had
been sent by the Sultan in token of welcome, and to beg them each to
write a few lines on a roll of paper. "In order to explain this strange
request," continued the officers, "it is necessary that you should know
that the grand-vizir, lately dead, was celebrated for his beautiful
handwriting, and the Sultan is anxious to find a similar talent in his
successor. Hitherto the search has been a failure, but his Highness has
not yet given up hope."
Congratulations to Michael Suyama for winning the Excellence in Management
award from the chairman! Well deserved!
News Headline
One after another the merchants set down a few lines upon the roll,
and when they had all finished, I came forward, and snatched the paper
from the man who held it. At first they all thought I was going to throw
it into the sea, but they were quieted when they saw I held it with
great care, and great was their surprise when I made signs that I too
wished to write something.
"Let him do it if he wants to," said the captain. "If he only makes a
mess of the paper, you may be sure I will punish him for it. But if, as
I hope, he really can write, for he is the cleverest monkey I ever saw,
I will adopt him as my son. The one I lost had not nearly so much
sense!"
News Headline
No more was said, and I took the pen and wrote the six sorts of
writing in use among the Arabs, and each sort contained an original
verse or couplet, in praise of the Sultan. And not only did my
handwriting completely eclipse that of the merchants, but it is hardly
too much to say that none so beautiful had ever before been seen in that
country. When I had ended the officials took the roll and returned to
the Sultan.
As soon as the monarch saw my writing he did not so much as look at
the samples of the merchants, but desired his officials to take the
finest and most richly caparisoned horse in his stables, together with
the most magnificent dress they could procure, and to put it on the
person who had written those lines, and bring him to court.
News Headline
The officials began to laugh when they heard the Sultan's command,
but as soon as they could speak they said, "Deign, your highness, to
excuse our mirth, but those lines were not written by a man but by a
monkey."
"A monkey!" exclaimed the Sultan.
"Yes, sire," answered the officials. "They were written by a monkey
in our presence."
"Then bring me the monkey," he replied, "as fast as you can."
News Headline
The Sultan's officials returned to the ship and showed the royal
order to the captain.
"He is the master," said the good man, and desired that I should be
sent for.
Then they put on me the gorgeous robe and rowed me to land, where I
was placed on the horse and led to the palace. Here the Sultan was
awaiting me in great state surrounded by his court.
All the way along the streets I had been the object of curiosity to a
vast crowd, which had filled every doorway and every window, and it was
amidst their shouts and cheers that I was ushered into the presence of
the Sultan.
News Headline
I approached the throne on which he was seated and made him three low
bows, then prostrated myself at his feet to the surprise of everyone,
who could not understand how it was possible that a monkey should be
able to distinguish a Sultan from other people, and to pay him the
respect due to his rank. However, excepting the usual speech, I omitted
none of the common forms attending a royal audience.
When it was over the Sultan dismissed all the court, keeping with him
only the chief of the eunuchs and a little slave. He then passed into
another room and ordered food to be brought, making signs to me to sit
at table with him and eat. I rose from my seat, kissed the ground, and
took my place at the table, eating, as you may suppose, with care and in
moderation.
News Headline
Before the dishes were removed I made signs that writing materials,
which stood in one corner of the room, should be laid in front of me. I
then took a peach and wrote on it some verses in praise of the Sultan,
who was speechless with astonishment; but when I did the same thing on a
glass from which I had drunk he murmured to himself, "Why, a man who
could do as much would be cleverer than any other man, and this is only
a monkey!"
Supper being over chessmen were brought, and the Sultan signed to me
to know if I would play with him. I kissed the ground and laid my hand
on my head to show that I was ready to show myself worthy of the honour.
He beat me the first game, but I won the second and third, and seeing
that this did not quite please I dashed off a verse by way of
consolation.
News Headline
The Sultan was so enchanted with all the talents of which I had given
proof that he wished me to exhibit some of them to other people. So
turning to the chief of the eunuchs he said, "Go and beg my daughter,
Queen of Beauty, to come here. I will show her something she has never
seen before."
The chief of the eunuchs bowed and left the room, ushering in a few
moments later the princess, Queen of Beauty. Her face was uncovered, but
the moment she set foot in the room she threw her veil over her head.
"Sire," she said to her father, "what can you be thinking of to summon
me like this into the presence of a man?"
News Headline
"I do not understand you," replied the Sultan. "There is nobody here
but the eunuch, who is your own servant, the little slave, and myself,
yet you cover yourself with your veil and reproach me for having sent
for you, as if I had committed a crime."
"Sire," answered the princess, "I am right and you are wrong. This
monkey is really no monkey at all, but a young prince who has been
turned into a monkey by the wicked spells of a genius, son of the
daughter of Eblis."
News Headline
As will be imagined, these words took the Sultan by surprise, and he
looked at me to see how I should take the statement of the princess. As
I was unable to speak, I placed my hand on my head to show that it was
true.
"But how do you know this, my daughter?" asked he.
"Sire," replied Queen of Beauty, "the old lady who took care of me in
my childhood was an accomplished magician, and she taught me seventy
rules of her art, by means of which I could, in the twinkling of an eye,
transplant your capital into the middle of the ocean. Her art likewise
teaches me to recognise at first sight all persons who are enchanted,
and tells me by whom the spell was wrought."
Continued
|
