you know the way, I beg you once more to tell me, and not refuse.'
When the dervish found he could not prevail upon Prince Bahman, and that he was obstinately bent on pursuing his journey, notwithstanding the wholesome advice he gave him, he put his hand into a bag that lay by him, and pulled out a bowl, which he gave to him. 'Since I cannot prevail on you to take my advice,' said he, 'take this bowl, and when you are on horseback throw it before you, and follow it to the foot of a mountain, where it will stop. As soon as the bowl stops, alight, and leave your horse with the bridle over his neck, and he will stand in the same place till you return. As you go up the hill, you will see. right and left, a great quantity of large black stones, and will hear on all sides of you a confusion of voices, which will say a thousand irritating things to discourage you and prevent your climbing to the top of the hill; but take care, and be not afraid; and, above all things, do not turn your head to look behind you, for at that instant you will be changed into a black stone like those you see, which are all so many gentlemen who have failed. If you escape the danger, of which I give you but a slight description, and get to the top of the mountain, you will see a cage, and in that cage is the bird you seek: ask him where are the singing tree and the yellow water, and he will tell you. I have nothing more to say; this is what you have to do, and the danger you have to avoid; but if you would take my advice you would not expose your life. Consider once more, while you have time, that the difficulty is almost insuperable.'
'I am very much obliged to you for your repeated advice,' replied Prince Bahman, after he had received the bowl, 'but I cannot follow it. However, I will endeavour to conform to that part of it which bids me not look behind me as I go up, and I hope to come and see you again soon, and thank you more when I have got what I am in search of.' After these words, to which the dervish made no answer than that he should be overjoyed to see him again, and wished it might be the case, he mounted his horse, took leave of the dervish with a low bow, and threw the bowl before him.
