CHAPTER XIX.

On the matters of the Lion.

N the third day, as all the men and animals were stand

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ing in ranks before the King, he looked towards them all, and the jackal appeared in the front. He asked, "Who art thou?" and he replied, "I am the representative of the animals." The king said, "Who sent thee?" and he said, "The Lion Abú'l Háris sent me." He said, "What country does he dwell in? and who are his subjects?" The jackal said, "He dwells in the woods and wilds, and all beasts and cattle are his subjects." He asked. "Who are his allies?" The jackal said, "The hunting leopard, the hog-deer, the stag, the hare, the fox, and the wolf, all are his friends and allies." The king said, "Describe his figure and character." The jackal said, "He is bigger in form than all animals, and superior in strength; in awe and dignity he surpasses all; his bosom is broad, his waist fine, his head large, his fetlocks strong, his teeth and claws hard, his voice loud, and his form terrific. No man or animal is able, through fear, to go in front of him. He is upright in every matter, and has no want of friends and allies for any business. He is so generous that when he has taken prey he divides it among all animals, and he himself eats according to his necessity. When he sees a light from a distance he goes and stands near it, and then his rage abates. He rends neither woman nor child. He has a great liking and love of music. He is afraid of nothing except the ant, for this insect prevails over him and

his offspring, like as the gnat prevails over elephants and bulls, and the fly over man." The King said, “What sort of treatment does he exhibit towards his subjects?" He said, "He shows great kindness and attention to his subjects;" and after this he said, "I will set forth at length his peculiarities."

CHAPTER XX.

Account of the Dragon (Súbán) and Sea-serpent (Tinnín).

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FTER that the King cast his regards on the right hand and on the left, when suddenly a voice fell upon his ear. He perceived the locust imparting motion to his two wings, and singing with an exceedingly soft voice. He asked him who he was, and he replied, “ I am the representative of all the worms and ants, and their king sent me hither." He asked him who he (the king) was, and where he dwelt, and he answered, "His name is Dragon; he dwells upon high hills and mountains near the region of cold, where there are no clouds or rain, and no vegetation at all. Animals perish there from the severity of the cold." The King asked who were his army and subjects, and he said, "All snakes, scorpions, &c., are his army and subjects, and they live in every place upon the face of the earth." The King asked why he had separated from his army and subjects, and had gone to live upon such an acclivity. He answered, "Because there is a poison in his mouth, from the heat of which all his body burns. Through the coldness of the icy region he dwells there in comfort." The King told him to describe his appearance and character. He answered, "His appearance and character are exactly like those of the sea-serpent."

The King said, “Does any one know the qualities of the sea-serpent so as to describe them?" The locust said, “The frog, who is the ambassador of the aquatic animals, is in attendance in the presence; deign to inquire of him." The

King looked towards him. He was standing on a hillock by the side of the sea, and was engaged in prayer and praise. The King asked him who he was, and he said, “I am the ambassador of the king of the aquatic animals." The King then commanded him to communicate his name and abode.1 The frog said," His name is 'Sea-Serpent;' he dwells in the salt sea; all the aquatic animals, turtles, fish, frogs, and crocodiles, are his subjects."

The King told him to describe his form and appearance, and he said, “In bulk he is bigger than all aquatic animals. His appearance is extraordinary, and his figure terrific; hist body2 is long; all the animals of the sea are afraid of him ; his head is large, his eyes bright, his mouth broad, and his teeth numerous. All the water animals he catches he swallows in countless numbers. When, from over-feeding, he gets indigestion, he bends his body like a bow, and supports himself by the strength of his head and tail, and thus protruding the middle of his body from the water, he elevates it in the air. Then, by the heat of the sun, the food in his belly becomes digested. But often, when in that state, he faints, and then the clouds which rise from the sea take him up, and cast him on the dry land. He then dies, and becomes the food of wild beasts. But sometimes being raised aloft with the clouds, he falls within the confines of Gog and Magog, and serves them as food for several days. In short, all the animals of the sea are afraid of him, and flee from him ; but he is afraid of no one, except a small animal, about the size of a gnat, of which he is greatly in dread. For when this creature bites him, its poison affects the whole of his body, and at length he dies, and all the aquatic animals assemble, and feed upon his flesh for a long time. Just as he devours other animals that are small, so do they all con

1 Nishan-mark, sign; seat, address. Nám o nishán-name and address. 2 Kadd-lit. stature.

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gregate and eat him. The same is the practice of birds of prey and other birds. Sparrows and others eat gnats and ants, and sparrow-hawks and falcons make prey of them. Then the great hawks and eagles and vultures prey upon the sparrow-hawks and falcons, and devour them. And finally, when they die, all the worms and ants and small creatures devour them.

“The same is the case with men, for they all eat the flesh of deer, hog-deer, goats, sheep, and birds; and when they die little worms devour their bodies in the grave. It is the same case with the whole world. Sometimes the big animals eat the little ones, and sometimes the little ones use their teeth upon them. Hence the wise have said, 'The death of one is the gain of another.' And so God Almighty has said, (Arabic, i.e.) 'We make the times to change from vicissitude to vicissitude among men, and no one knows this fact but the wise.""1

After that he said, "I have heard that all the men suppose that they are the masters, and that all the animals are their slaves. How is it that they do not perceive, after the account which I have given of the state of the animals, that all animals are equal?-there is no difference between them. Sometimes they feed, and sometimes they become the food of others. I cannot understand what the men have to boast about over the animals, for their position is just the same as ours, the good and evil will become manifest after death, all will mingle in the dust, and in the end they will return to God."

After that he said to the King, "When the men advance their claim to be the masters, and to have all the animals as their slaves, this trickery and false assertion of theirs give rise to great astonishment. They are exceedingly stupid to utter a statement so contrary to sense. I am surprised how they can (venture to) declare that all rapacious, grazing, and hunt

1 Kurán, Súrat iii. v. 134.