this is the cause of procreation and propagation of offspring. For the beauty of one species is not agreeable to another species. Every animal fixes its heart only upon a female of its own species, and does not desire the female of any other animal, however much better she may be than its own. In the same way also, men have affection for their own particular species. Those people who are black do not like people of white bodies, and those who are white do not set their hearts upon the black. . . . . Therefore, your beauty is no ground of superiority that you should consider yourselves to excel us.

"And when you say that you have great acuteness of sense, it is also a mistake. Many animals have better understanding and sense than you. Thus there is the camel, who has long legs and a long neck, and whose head contends with the air; but notwithstanding this, he, in dark nights, descries the place on which to set his feet, and passes along roads of which the passage seems impossible, while you require torches and lamps. And the horse hears the tramp of the traveller from afar, and it has often happened that having heard the steps of the adversary, he has aroused his rider, and saved him from his foe. If a person takes an ox or an ass once along any (previously) unseen road, and turns him loose, he escapes from that place, and comes back safe to his own home; he does not at all forget it. But if you have passed along a road several times, still, whenever there is occasion for you to pass along that road (again), you are bewildered and forget it. Sheep and goats give birth in one night to hundreds of young ones, and in the morning proceed to the pasturage; and when they return from thence in the evening, the young ones severally recognise their mothers, and the mothers their young ones. But if one of you remain for some time abroad, and then return home, he forgets mother and sister, father and brother. Then where is the judgment and acuteness of sense of which you have made such great boast?

"If you had any sense at all, you would not boast about those things which God Almighty has given you without any labour or trouble (of your own). For the wise and prudent consider that to be a (ground of) boast which they have acquired by their own industry and labour, as when they master the theological sciences, or acquire great qualifications by their own efforts and exertions. But you have not even one of these things to boast of over us; your claim is without evidence, your animosity without meaning."

CHAPTER IV.

Setting forth the complaint which every Animal brought forward separately against Mankind.

THE

`HE King, turning towards the men, said, “You have heard his answer; now say whatever else there remains for you to say." They replied “There are still many proofs remaining by which our claim is established; these are some of them - Buying and selling (the animals), feeding and giving (them) drink, putting garments on them, preserving (them) from cold and heat, shutting one's eyes to (their) faults, saving them from the ferocity of wild beasts, tenderly giving (them) medicine when they are sick. These kindnesses 1 we

show them out of 2 compassion and mercy. The same practice prevails among all masters, of keeping an eye of compassion and mercy upon their slaves."

The King having heard this, ordered the animal to give him an answer, and he said—“ This man maintains that they buy and sell animals, but this practice prevails also among men; thus the inhabitants of Persia, when they gain a victory over Turkey, 3 sell the Turks, and when the Turks prevail over Persia; they deal out the same treatment to the Persians. The inhabitants of India observe the same practice towards the

'Sulúk-lit. "treatment," but frequently used, as here, for kind treat

ment.

2 Ba-nazr-with the view or intent.
3 Rúm-Rome, Turkey, Asia Minor.

Sindians, and the Sindians towards the Hindus; the Arabs towards the Turcomans, and the Turcomans towards the Arabs. In fine, whenever one overcomes and gains a victory over the other, he considers the family of his (defeated) foe to be his slaves, and sells them. How can one know for certain who is slave and who is master? These are changes and vicissitudes which, according to the behests of the stars, prevail among men, for so God Almighty says, (Arabic,) ‘I make the times to change among men, from one vicissitude to another.' Wise men know this fact.

66 And he says that they feed and provide drink for the animals, and in other ways show kind treatment to them; but this does not arise from their compassion and kindness, but rather from fear lest the animals should perish, and injury happen to their property; for thus interruption would happen to their riding, lading, and other advantages."

After that, every animal individually made complaint of their tyranny before the King. The ass said, "When we fall into captivity with men, they lade upon our backs, bricks, stones, iron, wood, and great burdens. With what labour and toil do we get along. They have always got sticks and whips in their hands, and beat us over our buttocks. If the King were to see us at such a time he would feel regret and pity. Where are compassion and kindness to be found among them such as this man has supposed?"

Then the bull said, "When we fall into their bonds, they bind us to the plough, and harness us to mills and oil-presses, put muzzles on our mouths and bandages over our eyes. Holding in their hands whips and sticks, they beat us over our buttocks and faces."

After this the sheep said, “When we fall into their bonds, how many evils do we suffer. To supply their children with milk they take away our little young ones from their mothers, and binding them hand and foot, carry them off to the sham

B

bles; never do they give ear to the cries and wails of these injured ones. There, without (giving them) grain or water, they slaughter them, tear off their skins, rip up their bellies, break open their skulls, tear out their livers, carry them to the butchers' shops, and cut them up with knives, stick them on spits, and bake them in ovens. We, seeing all these evils, remain silent and say nothing."

The camel said, "When we become captives in their hands, this is our state. Having put ropes in our noses, the camel-drivers pull them; and then lading very heavy loads upon our backs, they take us in dark nights along hilly and mountainous roads. In short, our backs are galled by the jolting of the saddles, and the soles of our feet wounded by the stones; hungry and thirsty, they drive us wherever their heart desires, and we poor wretches being helpless, submit to them."

The elephant said, "When we become their captives, they put ropes upon our necks, and chains upon our feet; and taking the goad of iron in their hands, they beat us on the right side and on the left, and on the head."

The horse said, "When we are in bondage with them they put bits1 in our mouths, saddles on our backs, girths upon our loins; and they, wearing their mail and armour, ride us in battle-fields. Hungry and thirsty, our eyes stuffed with dirt and dust, we go into the battle, and (there) we receive sword-cuts on our faces, javelins and arrows in our breasts, and we swim in a sea of blood."

The mule said, "When we become subject in slavery to them, we endure the most astounding hardships. They fasten ropes to our feet, put bridles and bits into our mouths. They do not release us for one instant, so that we may go to our mates and satisfy our natural longings. The grooms and saddle-men put pack-saddles on our backs and ride us. 1 Lagám, bridle, .bit, or both together.