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traversed plains and deserts and mountains months and months, till he came to the land of China [and entering] the city of the sultanate, wherein was Alaeddin, repaired to the Strangers’ Khan, where he hired him a lodging and rested there a little.
Then he arose to go round about the thoroughfares of the city, that he might spy him out a means of compassing his fell purpose, the which was to take vengeance of his brother on Alaeddin. So he entered a coffee-house in the market, a mighty fine place whither there resorted great plenty of folk, some to play tables,[1] some draughts[2] and other some chess and what not else. There he sat down and heard those who sat beside him talk of an old woman, an anchoress, by name Fatimeh, who still abode in her place without the city, serving [God], and came not down into the town but two days in the month, avouching her to be possessed of divine gifts galore.[3] When the Maugrabin enchanter heard this, he
- ↑ Menkeleh. See my Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol. I. p. 129, note 1.
- ↑ Dsameh.
- ↑ Liha keramat kethireh. Kerameh (sing. of keramat), properly a favour or mark of grace, a supernatural gift bestowed by God upon His pious servants, by virtue whereof they perform miracles, which latter are also by derivation called keramat. Cf. Acts viii. 28: “Thou hast thought that the gift of God,” i.e. the power of performing miracles, “may be purchased with money.”
