He did the same for ten days
together, pursuing the bird, and keeping her in his eye from
morning till night, lying always under the tree where she
roosted. On the eleventh day, the bird still flying, Camaralzaman
observed that he came near a great city: the bird made towards
it, flew over the walls, and the prince saw no more of her; so he
despaired of ever recovering the princess of Badoura's talisman.
Camaralzaman, whose grief was beyond expression, went to the
city, which was built on the sea-side, and had a fine port. He
walked up and down the streets, without knowing where he was, or
where to stop. At last he came to the port, in as great
uncertainty as ever what he should do. Walking along the
river-side, he perceived the gate of a garden open, and an old
gardener at work in it. The good old man, looking up, saw he was
a stranger and a Mussulman; so he asked him to come in, and shut
the door after him.
Camaralzaman entered, and, as the gardener bade him shut the
door, demanded of him why he was so cautious. Because, replied
the old man, I see you are a stranger and a Mussulman newly
arrived; and this city, being inhabited for the most part by
idolaters, has a mortal aversion to us Mussulmen, and use the few
of us who are here with a great deal of barbarity. I suppose you
did not know this, and it is a miracle that you have escaped,
considering how far you have come through them; these idolaters
being very apt to fall upon the Mussulmen who are strangers, or
to draw them into a snare, unless those strangers are instructed
how to deal with and beware of them.
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