When Janshah saw this tablet…
Morning now dawned and Shahrazad broke off from what she had been allowed to say. Then, when it was the five hundred and fourth night, SHE CONTINUED:
I have heard, O fortunate king, that when Janshah saw this tablet and read what was on it, he found that it went on to say: ‘You will then come to a huge river whose current is blindingly fast but which dries up every Saturday. On its bank there is a city entirely populated by Jews who deny the religion of Muhammad and among whom there are no Muslims at all. This is the only city that there is in that land. As long as you stay with the apes, they will have the upper hand over the ghuls. Know that this tablet was written by Solomon, son of David, upon both of whom be peace.’
After having read the tablet Janshah wept bitterly and, turning to his mamluks, he told them what it said. He then rode off, surrounded by the apes, who were delighted by their victory over the ghuls. They returned to their fortress, and there for a year and a half Janshah remained as their ruler. At the end of that time, on his orders they rode out to hunt accompanied by him and his mamluks and, after having passed through wastes and deserts, they went on from place to place until he came to what he recognized from the description given on the marble tablet as the Valley of the Ants. When he saw it, he ordered his mamluks to halt. The apes halted too and for ten days they stayed there eating and drinking. Then, one night, when Janshah was alone with the mamluks, he told them that he proposed to escape through the valley to the city of the Jews, in the hope that God might rescue them from the apes and they might be able to go free. ‘To hear is to obey,’ they told him.
He waited until a small part of the night had passed and then he got up, as did the mamluks. They took up their arms, belting on swords, daggers and other such weapons, and then moved off together, travelling from early night until morning. When the apes woke up and could not find them, they realized that Janshah and the mamluks must have escaped. One party mounted and rode towards the eastern pass while another made for the Valley of the Ants. This group caught sight of Janshah and the mamluks as they were approaching the valley. They hurried in pursuit, but their quarry made off into the valley. Before long the apes were in a position to attack them, and they were about to kill them all when suddenly from beneath the surface of the valley out came ants like a flock of locusts, each as big as a dog. When they saw the apes, they rushed at them and ate a number of them, and although a number of ants were killed, it was they who got the upper hand. Individual ants would attack an ape and cut it in two, while it took ten apes to deal with a single ant by seizing it and tearing it apart. This furious battle lasted until evening, and at that point Janshah and the mamluks made off along the floor of the valley.
Morning now dawned and Shahrazad broke off from what she had been allowed to say. Then, when it was the five hundred and fifth night, SHE CONTINUED:
I have heard, O fortunate king, that when evening came, Janshah and his mamluks made off along the floor of the valley. They went on until morning, but then the apes again attacked Janshah, who shouted to his mamluks to strike at them with their swords. The mamluks drew their swords and began striking out right and left. An ape with tusks like those of an elephant advanced against one of them, cutting him in half with a single blow, and then, as the apes’ numbers were too great, Janshah made his escape to the far end of the valley. Here he saw a huge river, but beside this were ants in enormous numbers and when these creatures saw him coming they surrounded him. One of the mamluks used his sword against them, cutting some of them in two, but when the other ants saw that, they attacked him in numbers and managed to kill him. While this was going on, the apes came down from the mountainside and gathered in force to charge at Janshah. Seeing this, Janshah stripped off his clothes and jumped into the river, accompanied by the surviving mamluk, and the two of them swam into the centre of the stream. On the far bank Janshah could see a tree; stretching out his hand, he managed to catch one of its branches and, by holding on to it, he pulled himself on to the shore. The mamluk, however, found the current too strong for him and was carried away and dashed against the mountain, leaving Janshah standing on the bank alone. While he was squeezing the water from his clothes and drying them in the sun, the apes and the ants kept fighting fiercely, until at last the apes retired to their own land.
So much for them, but as for Janshah, he stayed weeping until evening and then, as he was very frightened and distressed by the loss of his mamluks, he went into a cave to hide. He slept there until morning, when he set out on his way and travelled for a period of nights and days, feeding on grasses, until he came to the mountain that burned like fire. After he had got there, he carried on until he reached the river that dries up once a week on Saturdays. He saw how large it was and he also saw that on its shore was a great city, the city of the Jews that he had seen mentioned on the tablet. He waited there until Saturday and when the river had dried up, he walked across it to the city. Nobody was to be seen, and so, after he had walked for a while, he opened the door of a house that he had reached and went in. The people whom he found there were silent, saying nothing at all, but when he told them that he was a stranger and hungry, they gestured to him to eat and drink but not to speak. After he had taken food and drink, he slept there that night, and in the morning the master of the house gave him a friendly welcome and asked him where he had come from and where he was going. At that, Janshah wept bitterly and told the man his story, giving the name of his father’s city. His host was filled with amazement and said: ‘We have never heard of your city, but we used to be told by merchants, coming with their caravans, of a country there called Yemen.’ Janshah asked him how far Yemen was from the Jewish city, to which he replied that the merchants in those caravans claimed that to here from their own lands was a journey of two years and three months. ‘When will the next caravan come?’ Janshah asked. ‘Next year,’ the man answered.
Morning now dawned and Shahrazad broke off from what she had been allowed to say. Then, when it was the five hundred and sixth night, SHE CONTINUED:
I have heard, O fortunate king, that when Janshah asked the Jew when the caravan was due, he was told that it would come next year. When Janshah heard this, he wept bitterly in grief both for himself and his mamluks, as well as for his separation from his mother and father and for what had happened to him in the course of his travels. ‘Don’t weep, young man,’ said the Jew. ‘You can stay with us until the caravan comes and then we shall send you off with it back to your own country.’
For two months after that Janshah stayed with the Jew, going out every day into the city streets to look at the sights. One day, when he was wandering around as usual, he heard a crier calling out: ‘Who wants to get a thousand dinars as well as a slave girl of the rarest beauty by doing a job for me from early morning until noon?’ No one answered him, and Janshah said to himself: ‘This must be dangerous work for otherwise the man would not be offering a thousand dinars and a beautiful girl for a short task.’ He then went up to the crier and said: ‘I will do it.’ On hearing this, the man took him off and brought him to a large house in which he discovered a Jewish merchant seated on an ebony chair. The crier stood before him and said: ‘Merchant, for three months I have been calling out in the city and this young man is the only person who has answered me.’
When the merchant heard this, he welcomed Janshah and took him to a richly furnished room where he ordered his slaves to bring food for him. Tables were set out and when various types of foods had been brought in, the two of them ate and then, after having washed their hands, they drank from what was fetched for them. After this, the merchant got up and produced a purse containing a thousand dinars which he gave to Janshah, and he also brought in a lovely slave girl. ‘Take the girl and the money,’ he said, ‘in exchange for the work that you are going to do.’ Janshah took them, seating the girl at his side, and after reminding Janshah that he would have to work the next day, the merchant left him.
&nbs
p; That night Janshah slept with the girl, and in the morning he went to the baths. On the orders of the merchant his slaves brought expensive clothes of silk and, after having waited for him to come out of the baths, they dressed him in these and escorted him back to the house. The merchant called for harps, lutes and wine, and he and Janshah drank, played and laughed until half the night had gone. The merchant then went off to his own harem leaving Janshah to sleep with the slave girl until morning. He went again to the baths and when he had got back the merchant came up to him and said: ‘I want you to do the job that I have for you.’ ‘To hear is to obey,’ said Janshah.
On their master’s orders the servants fetched two mules, one of which the merchant mounted, telling Janshah to ride the other. He did this and he and the merchant travelled from early morning until noon, by which time they had reached a towering mountain. The merchant now dismounted and told Janshah to do the same. When he did, the merchant gave him a knife and a rope and told him to slaughter his mule. Janshah rolled up his sleeves and, going up to the mule, he tied the rope around its legs, threw it on the ground and cut its throat with the knife. He then skinned it and cut off its legs and its head until all that was left was a heap of flesh. ‘Slit open its belly,’ the merchant ordered, ‘and then get inside. I shall sew it up and you must stay there for an hour and tell me whatever you see inside it.’ Janshah did this and when he had been sewn up inside the mule, the merchant left him and went some distance off…
Morning now dawned and Shahrazad broke off from what she had been allowed to say. Then, when it was the five hundred and seventh night, SHE CONTINUED:
I have heard, O fortunate king, that when the merchant had sewn up the belly of the mule with Janshah inside it, he left him and went some distance off, concealing himself in the flanks of the mountain.
Some time later an enormous bird swooped down on the mule, snatched it up and flew off to deposit it on the mountain top, intending to eat it. Janshah, sensing what the bird was doing, cut open the mule’s belly and came out, and at the sight of him the bird took fright and flew away. Janshah got to his feet and started to look to the right and the left, but all he could see were human corpses dried out in the sun. ‘There is no might and no power except with God, the Exalted, the Omnipotent!’ he exclaimed on seeing this, and then, looking down, he caught sight of the merchant standing at the foot of the mountain and staring up at him. When the merchant saw him, he shouted to him: ‘Throw me down some of the stones that are round you and I’ll show you a way down.’ So Janshah threw down some two hundred of these ‘stones’, they being sapphires, chrysolites and other precious gems. ‘Now show me how to get down,’ called Janshah, ‘and I’ll throw you some more.’ But the merchant collected the gems, loaded them on to the mule that he had been riding and went off without a word, leaving Janshah alone on the summit, where he began to call for help and to weep.
For three days he stayed where he was, but after that he got up and started to walk along the mountain ridge. For two months he carried on, eating grasses, until eventually he reached the edge of the mountain. From its skirts he could see in the distance a valley with trees and fruits where birds were glorifying the One Almighty God. Janshah was delighted by this sight. He set out for this valley and walked for some time until he came to a corrie in the mountain through which rain floods drained. He climbed down this and went on until he got to the valley that he had seen. When he had made his way into this, he started to investigate, looking to his right and his left, and walking on until he came to a lofty castle towering into the sky. He approached this and went up to its gate, standing by which he saw a handsome old man whose face gleamed radiantly and who carried in his hand a sapphire staff. Janshah went up and greeted him and the man returned the greeting cordially, saying: ‘Sit down, my son.’
When Janshah had taken his seat by the castle door, the old man asked him: ‘Where have you come from to this land which has never yet been trodden on by the foot of man, and where are you going?’ When he heard this, the extent of his sufferings caused Janshah to weep so violently that he was almost choked by tears. ‘Stop crying, my son,’ the old man told him, ‘for you are distressing me,’ and he then got up and brought some food, which he put down in front of Janshah, telling him to eat. When Janshah had done so and had given thanks to Almighty God, the old man asked him to tell him his story, with an account of his experiences. Janshah did this, describing everything that had happened to him before they met, and the old man was filled with astonishment at what he had to say.
Janshah, for his part, then asked him to whom the valley and the great castle belonged. ‘Know, my son,’ replied the old man, ‘that the valley and everything in it, together with the castle and its surroundings, are the property of our lord Solomon, son of David, upon both of whom be peace. My name is Shaikh Nasr, king of the birds, and it was to me that Solomon entrusted this castle.’
Morning now dawned and Shahrazad broke off from what she had been allowed to say. Then, when it was the five hundred and eighth night, SHE CONTINUED:
I have heard, O fortunate king, that Shaikh Nasr, king of the birds, told Janshah: ‘Our lord Solomon entrusted this castle to me. He taught me the language of the birds, and appointed me as ruler over all the birds in the world. Every year they come to the castle, leaving again after I have inspected them, and this is why I stay here.’ On hearing this, Janshah wept again and said: ‘My father, how can I find a way to get back to my own country?’ ‘My son,’ answered the old man, ‘you are close to Mount Qaf and the only way you can leave here is when the birds come, as I will then tell one of them to carry you home. Meanwhile, stay in the castle with me; eat, drink and enjoy yourself looking around its rooms until the birds arrive.’
So Janshah stayed with him and started to explore the valley, eating the fruits, taking pleasure in the sights, laughing and playing. He remained there, enjoying the pleasantest of lives, until it was almost time for the birds to come from their various regions to pay their visit to Shaikh Nasr. When the shaikh knew that they were about to arrive, he got to his feet and told Janshah: ‘Janshah, take these keys and open the rooms in the castle. You may then look at whatever you find, but there is one room which you must take care not to open, and if you disobey me, open it and go in, no good will ever come to you.’ After having reinforced this warning, he left Janshah and went off to meet the birds, who, on seeing him, flocked to him and kissed his hands, one species after another.
So much for Shaikh Nasr, but as for Janshah, he got up and started to look round the whole of the castle, opening all the rooms, until he came to the one that Shaikh Nasr had warned him not to open. He looked with admiration at its door, whose lock, he saw, was made of gold, and he said to himself: ‘This room is more splendid than all the others. What can it contain that has made Shaikh Nasr forbid me to enter it? I shall have to go in and see what is there, as God’s servants must bring to a finish whatever has been decreed for them by fate.’ He stretched out his hand, opened the door of the room and entered. There he found a large pool, beside which was a small pavilion built of gold, silver and crystal, with windows of sapphires, paved with green chrysolite, hyacinth gems, emeralds and other jewels, set on the ground like pieces of marble. In the middle of this pavilion was a golden fountain filled with water, and around the fountain were statues of wild beasts and birds made of gold and silver, with water spouting from their bellies. When a breeze blew, wind would enter their ears and each would make its own characteristic noise. To the side of the fountain was a great hall in which was set a huge sapphire throne studded with pearls and other gems, over which was a canopy of green silk embellished with jewels and precious stones fifty cubits in width. Within this hall was an inner chamber containing the carpet that had belonged to our lord Solomon, upon whom be peace, while the pavilion itself was surrounded by a vast garden with trees, fruits and streams, as well as with beds of roses, sweet basil, eglantine and scented herbs of all kinds. When the breezes blew
, the branches of the trees would bend, while the garden, as Janshah could see, contained all sorts of fruits, both fresh and dry. The whole of this was held in this one chamber.
Janshah, who was filled with astonishment, started to explore the garden and the pavilion, together with their wonderful contents. He looked at the pool and saw that its pebbles were gems, costly jewels and precious stones, while the pavilion itself was full of treasures.
Morning now dawned and Shahrazad broke off from what she had been allowed to say. Then, when it was the five hundred and ninth night, SHE CONTINUED:
I have heard, O fortunate king, that Janshah saw the quantity of treasures in the chamber. Having looked at this with wonder, he went into the pavilion and climbed up to the throne in the hall beside the pool. He went beneath the canopy set over it, and after having slept there for some time, he got up, walked out of the pavilion door and took his seat on a chair set in front of it, from where he admired the beauty of the place.
While he was sitting there, three birds looking like doves came flying through the air to settle beside the pool. After having played around for some time, they took off their feathers and emerged as three girls, beautiful as moons, without a match in the world. They then went down to swim in the pool, playing and laughing, and filling Janshah with admiration for their beauty, grace and elegant figures, and then they came out of the water and went around looking at the garden. When Janshah saw them there, he almost went out of his mind and, getting to his feet, he walked towards them. When he got near, he greeted them and after they had returned his greeting he asked them: ‘Who are you, you dazzling ladies, and where have you come from?’ The youngest of them replied: ‘We have come from the realm of Almighty God in order to enjoy ourselves here.’ ‘Pity me,’ he said to her, filled with admiration for their beauty. ‘Show sympathy and have compassion for my plight and for what I have had to live through.’ ‘Stop talking like that,’ she told him, ‘and go off on your way.’ On hearing this, Janshah burst into tears and with deep sighs he recited these lines:
The Arabian Nights: Tales of 1,001 Nights: Volume 2 Page 51
