“Well, don’t bother yourself just now. Let’s eat; I guess you are hungry, and I know I am.”
Then the king gave orders, and some of the other snakes brought the finest fruits, and they ate and drank and conversed.
When the repast was ended, the king desired to hear Hasseeboo’s story; so he told him all that had happened, and then asked to hear the story of his host.
“Well,” said the king of the snakes, “mine is rather a long story, but you shall hear it. A long time ago I left this place, to go and live in the mountains of Al Kaaf′, for the change of air. One day I saw a stranger coming along, and I said to him, ‘Where are you from?’ and he said, ‘I am wandering in the wilderness.’ ‘Whose son are you?’ I asked. ‘My name is Bolookee′a. My father was a sultan; and when he died I opened a small chest, inside of which I found a bag, which contained a small brass box; when I had opened this I found some writing tied up in a woolen cloth, and it was all in praise of a prophet. He was described as such a good and wonderful man, that I longed to see him; but when I made inquiries concerning him I was told he was not yet born. Then I vowed I would wander until I should see him. So I left our town, and all my property, and I am wandering, but I have not yet seen that prophet.’
“Then I said to him, ‘Where do you expect to find him, if he’s not yet born? Perhaps if you had some serpent’s water you might keep on living until you find him. But it’s of no use talking about that; the serpent’s water is too far away.’
“‘Well,’ he said, ‘good-bye. I must wander on.’ So I bade him farewell, and he went his way.
“Now, when that man had wandered until he reached Egypt, he met another man, who asked him, ‘Who are you?’
“‘I am Bolookeea. Who are you?’
“‘My name is Al Faan′. Where are you going?’
“‘I have left my home, and my property, and I am seeking the prophet.