On his return he had recourse to an operation of geomancy to find out where the lamp was—whether Aladdin carried it about with him, or where he left it. The result of his consultation informed him, to his great joy, that the lamp was in the palace. “Well,” said he, rubbing his hands in glee, “I shall have the lamp, and I shall make Aladdin suffer for stealing it.”
The next day the magician learnt, from the chief superintendent of the khan where he lodged, that Aladdin had gone on a hunting expedition, which was to last for eight days, of which only three had expired. The magician wanted to know no more. He resolved at once on his plans. He went to a coppersmith, and asked for a dozen copper lamps to be ready the next day, and desired the smith to take care that they should be handsome and well polished.
The next day the magician called for the twelve lamps, put them into a basket hanging on his arm, and went directly to Aladdin’s palace. As he approached, he began crying, “New lamps for old!” As he went along, a crowd of children collected, who hooted, and thought him, as did all who chanced to be passing by, a madman or a fool, to offer to change new lamps for old ones.
The African magician regarded not their scoffs, but still continued crying, “New lamps for old!” He repeated this
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