Tales of the Marvellous and News of the Strange (Hardcover Classics)

by Malcolm C (Tr Lyons

  ‘ “I remained perplexed and baffled and I asked every wise man whom I knew, but they could tell me nothing and I could find no information. When I was at the end of my resources I turned to that idol, asking questions and making inquiries, and for a whole year I stayed in front of it. Then yesterday I saw it move, and it called to me. I got up and prostrated myself before it. ‘Raise your head,’ it told me, and when I did so it told me that it had taken pity on me and it described how to get to the crown, which I memorized. Then it said: ‘Someone else will share in this quest with you,’ after which it fell silent, and I prostrated myself again in gratitude. I think that it is you who it meant would be my partner, so you can be happy to learn that you will come with me.” “I’m not your man,” I said. “Have you given up risking your life?” he asked, and I told him: “Our doctrine tells us that the time of our death and our daily bread are predetermined, and in matters like this there can be no fear.” “That is sensible,” he replied, “and someone like you will make a suitable companion and, the day being what it is, I have already got money for you and you need not bring provisions or anything else.”

  ‘I left him and, after having deposited my money, I dressed in travelling clothes and strapped on a sword and a dagger, after which I went back to him. He was delighted to see me and, after having said: “This is what we need for the journey,” he mounted an elephant and put me on another. When each of us was properly settled we set off and when night fell we sheltered in a cave, leaving the elephants to graze, and we slept until dawn. Then when day broke we mounted and rode off and we went on like this for twenty days, passing valleys and hills until we reached a huge mountain.

  ‘We made our way to a cave in it, where we halted and left the elephants to look for food. My companion then removed from his baggage a light tent, which we set up in the middle of a meadow beside a stream, and in it he spread out fine bedding. “Cook me some food in the cave and bring it to me here in the tent at the noon prayer every day until I have finished what I need to do,” he told me. I agreed and went back to the cave. I would then bring him his food every day at the time of the prayer and I would find him stretched out at the door of his tent like a drunken man. I would leave the food and the drink and go off until next day.

  ‘We went on like this for a whole month. At the end of that time he told me: “Don’t bring me anything tomorrow, and if you come and don’t find me, then get on one of the elephants and go off under the protection and guardianship of God. Don’t look for the crown, as there will be no way to find it.”

  ‘I was filled with sadness for him as I left him because of my fondness for him and because I had fixed my hopes on finding out about the crown. I passed a long night and in the morning I went up to the elephants and loaded them with my baggage before mounting. When I came to my companion’s camp I could see that his tent was ablaze and filled with thick smoke. In my astonishment I stopped to look, bewildered and not knowing what to do.

  ‘As I was standing there I heard a great crash coming from the mountain followed by another, and then came a strange voice which I could make out was telling me to go back. I returned to where I had come from and then on to where I had heard the voice coming from, but there was no one to be seen.

  ‘I spent that day waiting to see what would happen and then on the following day I saw my companion coming towards me. I embraced him and exclaimed: “God knows what sorrow and distress I have suffered because of you, but praise be to Him that He has brought you back to me in safety and allowed us to meet. So tell me your news.” “Bring me that saddlebag,” he told me and when I did he took out a splendid robe, which he put on, and scented himself profusely. “Be happy and content,” he told me, “as with God’s help and His favour we have got what we wanted.”

  ‘He then started up the mountain and told me: “When my messenger comes to you, don’t delay but put on clean clothes and perfume yourself.” He went off and in the afternoon a handsome young man came up, greeted me and told me to get up. I did so, putting on clean clothes and perfuming myself as I had been told. The young man climbed up the mountain with me and brought me to a great cave, where I found a horse saddled and bridled. He mounted me on this and led the way out to a great palace in the middle of a flowery meadow filled with plants.

  ‘He went in with me, and there I found my companion sitting on a raised seat with another by its side. We ate food that was brought to us, and I drank a ratl of wine that was passed to me. Lovely girls like moons, decorated with ornaments, arrived, sat down and sang most beautifully. For three days we stayed there in pleasure and enjoyment, and on the fourth I said to my companion: “May I be your ransom! Tell me your news.”

  ‘He said: “The crown had been entrusted to a group of jinn, marids, devils and sorcerers. When I had gone to my tent and begun on what I knew I had to do, they all collected around, intending to kill me, and, as you saw, they set fire to my tent and took me off to do this. In my despair I addressed entreaties to the Lord of Heaven, imploring Him to save me as I was His servant. Then, just as they were about to kill me, a huge cloud filled with flames overshadowed them, and the fire came down and burned them up together with their dwellings. I fled from there as fast as I could and when I came the people here welcomed me warmly, treating me with the greatest generosity and promising me help so that I might succeed in my quest. They sent off the man who fetched you, and you can be pleased and content, as tomorrow we can begin to open up the place we have been looking for and take the crown, if God Almighty so wills it.”

  ‘Early next morning we went to the place and began to dig. When we had been doing this for twelve days we came to a huge black rock covered with writing and remarkable pictures. When my companion started to read he showed signs of astonishment and when I asked why this was he told me: “Of course I am astonished, as the man who wrote this says that he will return again, take the crown and rule over the world as he did before. If this is true, then we shall not reach it.” “Man,” I told him, “what these people say is not true. Start to work, for I hope that the crown has been allotted to you by God.”

  ‘On his instructions I fetched ropes, which we tied to the rock, fastening the other end to the elephants, which we then struck. They dragged it clear, and under it could be seen an iron door overlaid with gold. After much effort we managed to open it and then we saw an underground creature which went before us as we followed it. It had lit a torch, and after we had gone for about three miles underground we reached a huge statue in the shape of a horse, but when we got near it we collapsed unconscious.

  ‘For two days and nights we stayed in that state, but then I heard soft footsteps and saw a man with legs like those of a riding beast and a human face. He looked at us and then left, coming back shortly afterwards with a yellow herb, which he put on our faces. When we had recovered and stood up, he went off quickly with us behind him until he brought us out at our camp.

  ‘While we ate and drank our rescuer stayed at some distance from us, but he approached when we called to him to come. We pointed to the food and drink, and he helped himself and then, becoming friendly, he spoke to us in the language of Sind, which my companion knew. He asked what my companion was looking for, and on being told, he said: “My brother, this crown was not left here unprotected. There are many black spells and astrological talismans as well as earthly marvels, and I think that you will face great difficulties.” “I can put up with difficulty,” my companion told him, “and I think that I shall get it.” He said: “I have become fond of you and I shall help you and pledge to do all that I can, and when it comes to what I cannot do, I shall give you the friendly warning of one who hopes for your safety. Tell me what you want done with the crown after your death if you get it, for however long you live someone unworthy of it may take it and you will be like a man who came and killed a virtuous ascetic. You know what should happen to someone like that, and it would be better for you to leave the crown alone. I can show you a place where ther
e are piles of gold and silver as well as gems of all kinds which you can take to your advantage without having to meddle with the crown.”

  ‘My companion was about to agree to this but he asked my advice, and I said: “We only want to look at marvels and to see what we have never seen before, and if we see the crown we can put it back in its place.” “This man’s advice will lead to your death,” the centaur said, “so fear God and save yourself.” “I must have the crown,” my companion told him, and he said: “Then I shall do what you want and choose.” He went on: “The first piece of advice I have for you is that you collect a large amount of this herb, without which you will not be able to pass the idols. Make sure that, if you are at a loss, you call ‘Mubashshir,’ three times, and I shall quickly come to you. But now I am going to leave you.”

  ‘He went off, and I said to my companion: “May I be your ransom! Never have I seen anything like him before.” He told me: “On this mountain and in these valleys there are many like him. They are wise creatures and they date from when an Indian king came to hunt here and one night when he was drunk he copulated with his mare, which was tethered to the pole of his tent, impregnating it. When he sobered up and remembered what he had done, he went off immediately, leaving the mare behind and forbidding anyone to hunt there. The mare gave birth to twins shaped like this, male and female, and they multiplied, as you can see, filling these mountains.” This was a great wonder.

  ‘Next morning we got up and collected a great quantity of the herb, after which we entered the cave, and when we got to the statue it did us no harm. We went past it and continued for about a mile until we got to another statue, which had outstretched arms and on whose breast was a huge pearl gleaming like a lamp. When we caught sight of it we could no longer see in front of us and were blinded. When we went back from it we recovered our sight but if we looked at it again the same thing happened. So we took a piece of clay and made it into pellets, which we started to shoot from a bow at the pearl until we had extinguished its brightness.

  ‘We walked forward, but when we got near the statue brazen hands emerged from the earth and took hold of our feet so that we could not move. I asked my companion whether there was anything he could do and when he said no, I told him to call “Mubashshir” three times. In next to no time the centaur emerged and asked us what was wrong. When we told him he laughed and said: ‘If you can’t cope with this small matter, you won’t be able to deal with anything else.’ We told him to do something to help us, and after leaving us for a time he came back with what looked like a whetstone and by rubbing this over the hands he cut through them and freed us from them.

  ‘He told us to keep the stone in case we needed it again. We went back and spent the night eating and drinking until, when morning came, we entered the tunnel and, on reaching the statue, we pulled out the jewel that was on its chest and moved on. We were then confronted by a gate of red gold with its key in the lock. It was covered in mysterious writings, and in front of it was a lump of gold. As we came near, the lump stirred and moved, with the ugliest face that I had ever seen appearing from it. This addressed us in a tongue that I could not understand and from its foot spurted a huge stream. As we turned in flight the face gave a great cry and came out to the side of the stream, while more and more water flooded out until it reached the top of the tunnel.

  ‘We were in despair and told ourselves that the water would never let us get to the crown. We thought of going back, but I told my companion to summon Mubashshir, as he might be able to find a way through. My companion called three times, and after only a short delay he came and asked what had happened to us. We told him about the water, and, after having looked at it, he led us to a spot near where we had first dug and told us to dig there. We did this until we had got down to a cubit’s distance from the first hole and there we found a flagstone. “Remove it,” he told us, and when we did we discovered an underground stream, for which we made an opening into which it poured.

  ‘We waited for some days until there was no more water left and then went back into the tunnel. When we got to the statue and the golden gate we saw behind it a large square space, in the middle of which was a golden chest, on top of which was perched an eagle with outstretched wings. Lamps were hanging there, and there was a huge sapphire. We entered and went up to the chest, but when my companion touched it his arm from shoulder to hand was covered in blisters. ‘This is yet another ordeal,’ he said.

  ‘In the upper part of the room I saw a golden container, and when we hurried to open it, in it we discovered green earth, which we thought must be alchemical material. My companion called three times on the centaur, and when he came and asked what the matter was we told him about this. He said: “Take the earth that is in the vessel and mix it with sap from a tree that I shall bring you. Then smear this on your hands and go up to the sarcophagus, for if God Almighty wills, you will reach your goal.”

  ‘We went out and, taking the sap, we mixed it with some of the earth from the container, smeared it on our hands and went up and opened the chest. There inside it was the crown wrapped in gold leaf. I was going to remove this from it when my companion shouted to me not to do that, and he lifted it out in its wrapping, before fainting with joy. He then called thrice on the centaur and, on seeing him come, he thanked him and kissed his hand. “I owe you a debt that I can never repay,” he told him, “and I shall never be able to thank you enough. Now tell me how to put it on, for it contains a jewel that no one can look at without being blinded, but its wearer will want to control it.” The centaur said: “I shall give you something to hold in your hand so as to counter what you fear. Now take what you want from here and go out, leaving the place as it was. I shall then fetch you what you want.”

  ‘We took the container and a quantity of gems as well as some of the golden lamps together with the great pearl, before putting everything else back as it had been. Then my companion said to the centaur: “Tell me what you have to say,” and the centaur replied: “Take the gall of an eagle and safflower and use that to make the image of a gazelle.” We made a net and used it to catch an eagle. We then took its gall and collected the safflower, from which we made a gazelle as we had been told, leaving it to dry and then carrying it in a box. Taking with us a large quantity of safflower, we mounted the elephants and went off by a different way from that by which we had come. I told my companion that he was going wrong, but he said: “I want to show you what I am going to do, so come with me and I shall bring you back to your people and give you these stones that I have with me, and you will keep me company.” I had no choice but to find out what he was going to do, and, when I had agreed to accompany him, he said: “Come with the blessing of God Almighty.”

  ‘We went on until we reached a large orchard, in whose centre was a lofty dome towering into the sky. It had iron doors, and round it was a great river with a bridge with iron gates, opposite which was a huge palace whose door was locked. We came to a place near this amongst the trees where we dug up a tent of brocade, which my companion erected, spreading out fine furnishings. “I want your help in what I am trying to do,” he told me, and I promised to follow his instructions. “In three days’ time,” he said, “all the kings of India will come to this orchard and lodge in this palace, and you will then see a marvel. I want you to take this incense and this herb and continue to use it to spread perfume before me without allowing anything to distract you.”

  ‘I promised to do that and got up to burn a great amount of charcoal. Two days later he took the bigger of the two elephants and ornamented it with various decorations. He then took out royal robes and a jewelled corselet, which he put on, taking the gazelle in his hand. He then produced a delicate gold image, set with gems, which he placed on the back of the elephant, with the crown still covered over in front of him, and he told me to spread the perfume when he gave the word.

  ‘On the third day I saw that the palace had been opened up, and the Indians came out with their banners, wh
ich they set up by the orchard gate, and they decorated the dome beautifully. Soon afterwards a large dust cloud appeared, and there were the kings’ elephants and their troops. When they came up it could be seen that the kings were riding on white elephants and dressed in the most splendid of robes. They came towards where we were in the orchard, and when they were near my companion told me to spread the incense with no slackening. I did as he told me, and when it rose in the air he uncovered the crown and set it on his head.

  ‘When they saw it all the kings threw themselves on the ground before him, removing their own crowns and rubbing their faces in the earth as they prostrated themselves to him. For a long time he said nothing but then he told them to raise their heads, and, as they did, he was moving on out of the reach of the incense. He advanced to the orchard, where all the Indians prostrated themselves before him. Then he dismounted from his elephant, and we went to the dome in the orchard, which was draped with coverings of brocade and where there were golden chairs on which shaikhs were seated. When they saw him they prostrated themselves, uncovered their heads and removed the coverings from their idol. My companion went in and prostrated himself before it, after which he came out and took his seat on a throne with the kings standing before him. He then commanded what they thought was not right and forbade what they thought should not be forbidden, following in the path of previous kings.