Meeting VIII

In the province of Kars there lived a ruler, Ahmed- Pasha by name. He had a daughter of great beauty, whose name was Parizadda. Kurroglou became enamoured of her solely from the flattering accounts given of her by other people. The lady on her part, lost no opportunity of making him understand that he would not be rejected. The messenger between the two lovers was a certain peasant, whose business was to trade in red-apples from Kars to Chamly-bill. It was from this man that Kurroglou received the accounts of Parizadda’s beauty, and the latter drew from the same source the news of Kurroglou’s valour. Whenever the peasant came with his apples to Chamly-bill, he invariably brought Kurroglou a letter or a message from the pasha’s daughter, and then returned to Kars with an answer from him.

One day Kurroglou took his weapons, and went out hunting. He looked and saw a horseman galloping down the road from Kars. The horseman was no other than the above-mentioned peasant with apples. “Peasant, for whom dost thou carry these apples?” The peasant, who did not recognize Kurroglou, said, “I am carrying them for Kurroglou.” “What will he give thee for thy trouble?” “May my soul fall a sacrifice to him! For an ass’s burden of them, he gives me so much money, that I have enough to support myself and my family during a whole year.” Kurroglou was well pleased to hear this disinterested praise; he said, “Look again, apple-monger. Well, dost thou recognize thy Agha?” The peasant after having examined his face, recognized Kurroglou, and falling down before his horse’s feet, he kissed the ground. “Hast thou no news from Parizadda?” “She told me that T should verbally command her services to thee.” Kurroglou said, “As she has sent me no letter, I must now go myself to see her in Kars.” The peasant said, “All the elders are absent from the town just now.” “So much the better; carry these apples to Chamly-bill and take the usual remuneration for them from Ayvaz.”

This said he turned his horse’s head and rode towards Kars, whilst the peasant hastened to Chamly-bill.

Having gone over a small distance the peasant thought in his heart, “Fool, may thy house fall in ruins! Does not thy family, as well as thyself live upon Kurroglou’s bread, and shouldst thou not be with him now when he is most likely to want thy services?”

The peasant had a little sabre of common iron, all rusty and notched. With this sabre he sawed through the ropes, with which the sack that contained apples was attached to the horse; he then tied the sabre to his waist and hastened in pursuit of his master. “What dost thou come here for?” inquired Kurroglou. “O my benefactor, May I fall a victim to thee! Thou art now going to my native town and hast no one there who would serve thee, and take the bridle of thy horse.” Kurroglou said, “I find every where my bread; firstly, upon the edge of my sabre; secondly, upon the head of my club; thirdly, if the above two means should fail, I have at my command the talent of an aushik. I will accept thy services; but remember not to prattle before anybody in Kars who I am. All the inhabitants of that town are my enemies.” “My Lord, am I not a man? How could I betray thee?”

Thus they rode on from one menzill to another, until they arrived in Kars. Kurroglou told the apple-monger to keep Kyrat in some comfortable stable. Having examined the place selected for the above purpose, he again enjoined the peasant that Kyrat should want for nothing, and that for God’s sake he should not betray his secret. “Hast thou seen the camel?” “I have not seen as much as his dung.”

Kurroglou had this precautionary habit, that whenever he came to a strange place, the first thing he did was to examine all the neighbourhood, and to mark well in his memory those spots which might afford him a retreat in case of any emergency. He then walked all over Kars, and noticed particularly the situation of an old church, from which a single good bowman would be able to repel a hundred thousand besiegers. Leaving this place, he proceeded cautiously to the house of the pasha’s daughter; he gave a rap on the door. “Who is there?” “A falchi;—and I can likewise conjure spirits” The maid-servant hastened to announce it to her mistress, and then opened the door by the latter’s order.

Kurroglou entered the court-yard and saw Parizadda, seated on the bank of a piece of water, and amusing herself with sprinkling water about. She inquired, “What wilt thou tell the fal from?” Kurroglou said, “From a shoulder-blade (spatula) of mutton.” “Canst thou tell my fortune indeed?”

“I can describe most minutely all that will happen to thee, from the beginning to the end.” “Dost thou drink wine?” “Why not, provided it be given to me?” He said this, because he had had no wine for some time, and his heart beat with delight at the very mention of its name.

“Girls, fetch some wine for the falchi here!” The Turks usually take wine in a tea-cup. An immense leathern sack of the forbidden liquor was soon brought in. Kurroglou continued to swallow one cup after another without even wetting his mustachios. he was soon tired of this sort of retail drinking; and, taking the sack in his hands, he poured it, at one draught, without breathing, into his throat, and then threw it from him as a mere empty bag. Parizadda called out, “Bring some wine!” Another leathern bag of wine was brought, and its contents disappeared so rapidly that Parizadda had no time to remark it; she, therefore, began to scold the maid-servant for the delay in bringing the wine. “Lady, in the last sack there were about thirty pounds of wine; I allowed no one to drink of it, and 1 do not know what has become of it, unless©86 the falchi has drunk it himself.” Parizadda inquired, “Falchi, didst thou drink it all?” Kurroglou, who was a little the worse for drinking, replied, and day of his death, in consequence of which he prepared a torn! for himself, in the mosque of Imaum-Ri/a in the city of Koum.

“B y m 7 Ayvaz’s soul, I did!” He took the guitar from his pocket, and began to play a tune. All the women present were delighted. “Canst thou give us a song?” inquired the pasha’s daughter. Kurroglou, in answer, improvised as follows:_

Improvisation.—“I came in a falchi’s garb. I approached with silent and modest steps. A sincere faith, and the protection of the Prophet’s family, have given me strength.”

Parizadda exclaimed, “This pretended falchi must be an impostor; give him a thrashing, my girls.” The waiting-women rushed on him with their fists and nails. What were their blows to him? He fancied he was sleeping luxuriously, but that some one or two fleas were biting him. He went on playing and singing.

“Improvisation.—“Thou hast thrown stones upon me. My eye was dimmed with tears. I was forced to fight with fists against thy gipsy waiting-women.’

One of the women, Jinn Kardash by name, who had been absent during the scene we have just described, came and inquired what it was all about. Her fellow-servants told her that an Oguz had come to the harem. Jinn Kardash was so silly as to believe it. She attempted to give him a slap in the face, but she could not reach it with her little hand. She then thought, “Let me give him a bite in the leg, that he may be induced to lower himself, and thereby expose his face to be boxed by me.” When Kurroglou felt that something was stirring about his feet,’ he thought it was a lap-dog; he shook one of his legs, and, as the piece of water was close by. Jinn Kardash fell into it. Parizadda was greatly amused by this occurrence. Kurroglou addressed her, saying, “Let me first finish the song, and thou shalt then be at liberty to have me beaten again.”

Improvisation.—“A hero ought to thirst for some higher object. He must die, but his name remains after him. Listen to Kurroglou’s words, I came here to seize Parizadda, and to elope with her.”

“Is it possible?” exclaimed Parizadda. “Art thou Kurroglou?” “It is indeed very kind of thee, my dear young lady; thou hast first ordered me to be beaten most unmercifully, and then, forsooth, deignest to inquire whether I am Kurroglou. or not?” “1 ani not certain of it yet, but I have got thy likeness; let me see whether thou hast told the truth.” The copy, being confronted with the origifor sharpening the weapons, others, as resting-,>hna> (,r th loaders of the Oguzes. nal, removed every doubt on the subject. Parizadda then began to apologize to Kurroglou; she entwined her arms around him, and he also passed his arm round her neck. And in this manner they entered the apartments to sip wine and make love. She felt great sorrow when Kurroglou refused to accept a supper from her, because he had already made a promise to pass the evening elsewhere.

Listen now, whilst I relate what became of the apple-monger. No sooner had Kurroglou enjoined him not to mention anything about his arrival to anybody than the peasant hastened to the bazaar to purchase all the articles requisite for a splendid supper to entertain his benefactor withal. He went to a baccall to get some rice and butter, and said to him, “Merchant, take care to furnish me with the best rice and butter thou canst get, worthy of Kurroglou’s palate.” He then proceeded to the butcher, and said, “Let me have the nicest meat possible; I shall have Kurroglou for supper to-night.” He went to the baker to get some bread, and said, “Sell me some loaves, made of the finest flour, that I may have no reason to be ashamed in Kurroglou’s eyes. 5 ’ In this manner, all the purchases he made< he made them in Kurroglou’s name. There is a proverb devised by learned men, saying, “A wise foe is better than a foolish friend.”

The news of Kurroglou’s arrival spread rapidly over the bazaar. Some one hastened with the news to Reyhan-Arab, who at that time was hunting with the pasha of Kars, Ahmed Pasha. During that time, Kurroglou was returning from Parizadda’s palace to the house of the peasant. He found a tent pitched in the court-yard for his use, which he entered, and took a seat in it. As he was wont to do, he now placed within his reach Kyrat’s saddle, his weapons and armour, as well as a quiver full of arrows, and a bow. Along the four sides of the tent, four bed carpets had been spread by the peasant, one at each separate wall. After Kurroglou had said his namaz, he looked, and lo! a torch appeared at the door leading into the yard. He jumped up from his place, and beheld a crowd of Turks rushing into the yard. “Peasant, what means this noise?’ “Faith, my lord, I cannot tell. Armed Turks have surrounded thy tent, but they are afraid of entering it; all they dare to do is to tear with their lances the curtains of which its sides are, composed.”

Poor Kurroglou was amazed with astonishment: he even forgot his armour and his seven weapons. By mere accident he stumbled over the quiver that lay under the pillow of his bed. lie seized the bow. Each arrow shot with his great toe bleated like a calf that seeks the cow, its mother. Reyhan- Arab whispered to his warriors, “O! may your ‘G <W --_ 4 houses fall in ruins! idlers that you are, you have given him time enough to lay hold of his bow; now woe to us all! Let us fly from the court-yard.”

Kurroglou fought his way through, until he reached the church before-mentioned, the platform of which he then climbed. Reyhan-Arab, perceiving that the armies of the whole world could do nothing to the runaway in his stronghold, gave orders that masons should be collected for the purpose of undermining and pulling down the church. He then stationed himself under the arch of the door, and superintended the work, in the hope that, after the building should have fallen, Kurroglou would find his death in the tumbling ruins of the masonry.

Kurroglou sat on the roof of the church, with a bow in his hand, and gazed on wildly, to see how all this would end. In this manner he passed the entire night, until the morning of the following day. The twilight shone, and brought light to the world as a present: the radiant sun-monarch then appeared seated on a throne of gold in the fourth heaven. Kurroglou was following with his eyes the progress of Reyhan-Arab’s work; whilst the latter, sheltered by the arch of the door, looked on Kurroglou’s huge shade spread on the ground, in a sitting posture, with a bow in his hand. He exclaimed, “I know Kurroglou well! A man who was weaned by his mother as he has been will not surrender, before he sees the bodies of at least five or six hundred Turks wallowing in gore.” The stonemasons continued to work away without stopping.

Hearken now what became of the apple-monger. He came to the church, and saw four stone-masons occupied in breaking and undermining its foundan tion. He was aware of the existence of a secret passage that led from the caves of the church to its roof. Through this passage he crept up to Kurroglou. His head hung’.down from his neck, and his hands were crossed upon his breast. “O my lord, my benefactor, may my house fall in ruins!” Kurroglou said to the peasant in an angry voice, “Avaunt! vanish from my eyes. One arrow is still left me, and with that arrow I shall now transfix thee, villain!” “My lord, I myself prefer death to a life like this.” Kurroglou was moved by the boor’s tears, and said in a whisper, “Take an inkstand and some paper from thy pocket, I am going to sing a song; thou must write it down word for word, and then carry it to Ayvaz at Chamly-bill. He can reach this place in six or seven days, and then we shall be able to manage things well enough. That is just the time they require for pulling down this massive building. If he should come too late, he must look for my corpse somewhere under the ruins of the church.” He then sang:—

Improvisation.—“Brave warriors, hear the tidings of my present state. I have been left in the church; what shall 1 do now? I have been compassed by Reyhan-Arab, both on my right and my left side. I have been left in this church; what shall I do now?”

Reyhan-Arab heard the air, and said, “Children, Kurroglou is singing already; a sure sign that he fears for his life. Complaint does not provoke laughter, but impotent anger does so.”

In the meantime the peasant continued to put down faithfully in writing all the words of Kurroglou’s song. The latter went on improvising:—

Improvisation. — “I must, I must see my friends. I am your old companion and servant, yours Demurchy-Oglou and Daly-Hassan, and thine, O my Ayvaz! I am left alone in the church; what shall I do now? My Kyrat’s eyes are, shedding a tear. Shall I make a sacrifice to you of his soul and of his head? The stones will soon be broken asunder by the masons. 1 was left in this church; what am I to do now? Kurroglou says: ‘we have fallen into the hands of enmity. A piebald traitor was found amongst us. Both Kyrat and the sword are beyond the reach of my hand. I have been left in this church; what am I to do now?’”

Whilst Kurroglou sang, the peasant wrote, and Reyhan Arab listened. Kurroglou said at last: “Now, apple-monger, thou must make a scroll of this note, thrust it under the lining of thy cap, and then to horse as soon as possible.” The peasant crept out of the church through the secret passage, and galloped towards Chamly-bill.

Listen now to the news from Ayvaz. His master’s absence soon began to cause him great uneasiness. He gathered the band round him and said, “God knows where Kurroglou may be at this moment? Let each one of you seven hundred and seventy-seven warriors, examine his armour, his weapons, and his saddle, and be ready at a moment’s notice. The madcap is gone in the direction of Kars; who can tell if the wind from Parizadda’s bower has not blown through his brains?” The whole band then proceeded towards Kars, making inquiries and searching the country as they went.

One morning Ayvaz looked and beheld a man on horseback, riding at full speed like a shooting star. Thinking it was Kurroglou himself, the whole band threw their horses in a gallop towards the horseman. “Ha! is this thee, thou rascally apple-man? we have mistaken thee for our chief.” In reply, the peasant took out the note from his cap. When Ayvaz had perused it, his face grew yellow. “What a horror! Kurroglou, at this moment, is in an Armenian church, surrounded by a host of Turks. Four masons are occupied in pulling down the walls, and the building may fall down upon him this very moment!” The brigands began to weep, and implored Ayvaz, as he was the adopted son of their leader, to give them further orders.

Brethren, we shall have time enough to weep if we should dig out his dead body from the ruins; but now, as he is still alive you must follow me.”

Every body promised to fight to the last. Demurchy-Oglou said to Ayvaz, “My lord! I shall slay a hundred” Kimchy-Oglou said, “I shall slay at least a hundred.” Daly-Hassan said, “If any of you should presume to touch the Turks, I shall defile his wife; Yes, I take all of them upon myself.”

Ayvaz said, “It appears then, that old women and children will alone be left for me to slay. Be it as it may, I must wash the rust off my sword with the blood of the Sunnites.”

At the time this conversation was taking place, the horses of the seven hundred and seventy-seven banditti were going at a brisk gallop. After a short ’ ime Kars presented itself before their eyes. Rapid as their passage was, they managed to plunder one half of the city. When it was reported to Reyhan Arab, that the suburbs had been plundered and set on fire by the brigands, be mounted upon his horse, whose name was Aktclin-Korizy, and hastened to intercept their progress, exclaiming, “Why are you ravaging the tow n, you had better hasten to rescue your master, who is now dying’ of hunger upon the Armenian church. Look there, there!”

The brigands turned their eyes in the direction pointed to them by Reyhan Arab, and in reality saw their chief on the roof of the church. Kurroglou with a bow in his hand, was still seated on the same stone on which he had placed himself the first day. By this time the masons had effected an extensive breach. Kurroglou recognised his men at once.

Reyhan Arab continued to shout, and said, “Leave off the work of plunder and destruction, I am the only man here, you may kill me if you seek for revenge, but do no harm to the innocent citizens Is not the town yours, have you not taken it! Push me not to despair, for if I should be victorious, I will have your leader, as well as every one of you hashed like force-meat.”

Ayvaz was sensible that Reyhan Arab’s words were full of good sense. He turned to Demurchy- Oglou, and said, “Thou has promised to slay a hundred Turks, kill but one Reyhan Arab now, and the town will be our own.” Demurchy-Oglou was well acquainted with the courage of the chief, whom he was now recommended to put to death he therefore said, “Make no mention of my name at all. It is but lately that I left my bed after seven months’ illness. 1 grow bald and have lost my strength.” “Is it really so; bravo, warrior, 1 know thee now.” He then turned to Kimchy-Oglou saying: “I shall make thee a present of the hundred corpses thou hast promised us, in exchange for this one here. “My lord, make no mention of me. For the last ten months, I have felt continually that some undigested morsel lies at my heart. Thou hast not forgotten the bravery with which I behaved at Erzroum. But at this moment I have lost the strength of my arm to such a degree that I cannot lift the sword or any other weapon.” “Thy face is white—I know who thou art now” “Well.

Belly-Ahmed, what sayst thou to it? Thou art one of the elders, and superior in rank to all these men; bring down from Reyhan’s neck yonder cabbage, which he is wont to call, emphatically, ‘my head.’” “Honoured lieutenant, hast thou not seen with thy own eyes what proofs of valour and courage I gave at Alkhass, as well as at Revanduz? Thou hast seen what numbers were killed by me on those occasions. This cursed fever has been plaguing me for the last twelve months. My former strength and manhood have evaporated from my limbs.” Ayvaz said nothing in reply, but turned to Daly- Hassan: “What sayst thou to it?” “O! may I insult thy own as w T ell as Kurroglou’s mother!

What business had he to creep into a hole like this? Is he an Armenian, that he should go to pray in a church? No, no! an idea of fighting for a madman has never crossed my head.” “Thy answer is indeed worthy of a warrior,” said Ayvaz; thou hast not refused, but thou hast grown angry, and rather sententious.”

The proverb says, “When a girl is grown old, and has no husband, she rushes to hang on her aunt’s neck. Ayvaz saw himself brought to the necessity of accepting a duel with Reyhan Arab, although his age was no more than eighteen at that time. He pushed his horse against Reyhan Arab. His adversary recognising him, said, in mild voice, “My child! Kurroglou has many tiger-like warriors; each of them can take upon himself a hundred enemies in a day of battle. Not one of them has stirred; why shouldst thou be the only one to come forward to accept an unequal fight with me?” “I am their inferior, a more humble servant of Kurroglou than they are. I ought, therefore, to fall the first victim upon the road that leads to his rescue. After me, they will all pass in turn under the edge of thy sword.”

Reyhan Arab was mightily pleased with this answer, and said, “Blessed be the bread and the salt thou hast eaten in thy master’s house. Mayst thou meet with no unfriendly face in all thy life and may thy face be always white.” Whilst Royliau Arab was saying these words, Ayvaz had already made an attack against him. Kurroglou looked from the distance, and said in his heart to the crowd of his banditti, who stood motionless, “Base cowards! you have entangled your beards in a thick flock, like so many cows or donkeys, and you suffer this child to fight with Reyhan Arab.” He saw that Ayvaz engaged in battle in a manly manner; he said in his heart, “O my son! I wish 1 was struck blind, rather than to see thee in this dangerous contest. If God would but allow me to free myself from my present captivity, I should burn the fathers of these rascally banditti.” He then sang as follows:—

Improvisation. —“Oh, ram-warrior, thou mayst well exclaim, ‘Here I am. Thou hast good reason to boast, and to say, ‘Behold I have put on my armour of steel!’ Thou mayst well exclaim, ‘Behold I have engaged in battle; nor shall I turn my back before fifty men!’”

When Reyhan heard that Kurroglou had commenced singing as soon as Ayvaz had closed with him, he said in his heart, “Old buck, thou shalt soon be taught by me how to cry, instead of sing- 111 S Kurroglou went on singing: —

Improvisation. —“I cannot bear those Sunnites.

1 shall pull down the walls and the turrets; I shall put to the sword and slay to the last all the living things you possess. You must pay me dearly for this child.”

Ayvaz continued to fight as became a man. Kurroglou sang on: —

Improvisation.—“Aly is my help! His faithful servant, Gamber, is my protector. I have found strength in my own spirit; this enabled me to fight in the face of a whole army.

Ayvaz was now retreating before his adversary, continuing to fight and to parry his blows. Reyhan Arab pressed him hard, but Ayvaz’s ear was turned towards Kurroglou’s song, who w r ent on:—

Improvisation.—“A warrior ought to be inspired with a desire of some exalted object. The hero must die, but he leaves his name immortal. Kurro-says, Parizadda’s possession i9 far sweeter to me than my ow r n soul.”

Reyhan Arab was transported with great rage when he heard the name of the pasha’s daughter; and let his club descend with so much violence on Ayvaz s head, that the poor lad’s eyes grew dim; he was on the point of falling from his horse; however, he contrived to keep in the stirrups. Kurroglou saw from the distance that Ayvaz had been stunned by the blow, and he cursed the Arab in his heart with all his might; he felt the blow as if he had received it in his own head. But when Kurroglou saw that the blow had inflicted no wound, and that Ayvaz continued to fight as gallantly and dexterously as before; when he saw that he was only deficient in the knowledge of some of the subterfuges of duelling, his joy became great beyond measure. And raising his voice, he began to give him instructions:—

Improvisation.—“Ayvaz, my soul, my eye! On, on, thou must strike with the sword in the same direction as if thou wouldst whet its edge. Nothing should quench the thirst for blood in thee. The horse thou bestridest is a noble steed. An astonishing strength is in thy arm. On, on, my lad! Thy comrades are base cowards. Let thy sword be whetted!”

Ayvaz’s ear was directed to Kurroglou’s song, and he struck such a blow with his club on Reyhan Arab’s temple, that the world grew dark in the latters eyes, like one of the longest nights of autumn; he began to fly. Ayvaz then fastened his club under his waist-belt, and drawing his sword, he rushed in pursuit of his adversary. Kurroglou sang to him in a loud voice:—

Improvisation.—“Our religion is an ancient one; our (days follow each other in a strange manner.

By this time Reyhan Arab had regained his presence of mind. Ayvaz aimed a blow at him on the right, upon which Reyhan inclined his head to the left, but there he met with the edge of his opponent’s sword, which came down under his neck with such astonishing force, that it did not stop until it cut through to the very bottom. The two halves of his cleft corpse fell under the horse’s feet. Ayvaz then dismounted and cut off Reyhan Arab’s head with a knife. He stuck the head on the point of his lance and showed it to the banditti, who were so overcome by fear that they all caught a real ague, which held them bedridden during the next twelvemonths! A panic fell on the souls of the Turks. The brigands now advanced, went on slaying and thrusting without encountering any resistance, just as a butcher slays his sheep. Kurroglou was on the point of fainting from excess of joy. He sang as follows: —

Improvisation.—“Thou must invoke God’s assistance, my son. Let Aly be thy refuge. Kurroglou says, Ayvaz-Baly! cut with thy sword right and left, let it be sharpened.”

Ayvaz came to the church, and made a low obeisance to Kurroglou, “My Lord, why dost thou not come down to us?” “Trie, my son, but I am so happy that I have forgotten whether I am alive or not.” Ayvaz hastened to join him. Kurroglou rose from his seat, threw his arms round Ayvaz’s neck and kissed both his cheeks, saying, “May God bless my bread and salt which I gave thee. I have seen now that I have a son indeed, and that the fire will never be extinguished on the hearth of my house. He then ordered the peasant to be summoned to his presence. “Where is my horse?” “He is now a cave underground, in which I have concealed him.” “Go and fetch him to me.”

When Kyrat was brought it appeared that both his mouth and his hoofs were covered with blood. It was afterwards ascertained that some Turks having discovered the cave had endeavoured to take the horse with them; but the noble courser killed every one of them. Kurroglou took his weapons, and getting on horseback he ordered all the property of Ahmed Pasha, as well as that of Reyhan Arab, to be confiscated. He then rode alone to see Parizadda, and said in his heart, “If she should consent to go with me of her own accord, I shall then take her, but I will use no violence against her.” The first words she spake to Kurroglou were, “Now thou art going away, warrior, and wilt leave me here alone? Poor me! on whom can I place my hopes henceforth.

An explanation of this metaphorical expression will he found further on.

Oh no, leave me not behind, but take me with thee.” Kurroglou then placed her behind him on Kyrat’s back. “Whom hast thou got with thee?” inquired Ayvaz. “What is this wench? hast thou not got enough of stuff like this at Cliamly-bill? They must all be fed and clothed” “Never mind, son, thou knowest the proverb: ‘A great deal of medicine is required to cure a great deal of pain.’ We shall not die of hunger, and must be comfortable.”

Thus they proceeded on their way home, from one menzill to another. The banditti were equally afraid and ashamed to show their faces before their chief. At a good distance on Kurroglou’s rear, with down-cast countenances, they followed the mules loaded with the booty.

The peasant apple-monger dared not remain longer in Kars. Taking his wife and children with him, he rode with the robbers until they arrived happily at Chamly-bill.

Kurroglou immediately sent Parizadda to the harem, but he did not go thither himself. Princess Nighara understood the reason of his reluctance; and having ordered that Ayvaz should be called to her, said, “I guess, my lord Kurroglou has been pleased to take another girl into his household. Truth, we were not at all in want of her. Me is ashamed of me now, and will not show his face to me Go, tell him not to look shy; I am not angry. On the contrary, I recommend thee to prepare as soon as possible, all that may be necessary for our master’s wedding.”

The festivities continued during seven nights and days. Neither wine, nor meat, nor music, nor joy were spared. Chamly-bill resounded with the mirth of its inmates.