jest gave power to harm her. I therefore advise you to go this evening to such and such a cave in such and such a wady, the usual trysting-place of the Jan in this district. As soon as you see the cave lighted up after sunset, enter boldly and demand your wife from those within.”
The peasant did as he was told. That same evening he took up his station near the cave described to him, and, as soon as he saw light stream from it, called Allah to aid and boldly entered. Within, the king of all the Jan was holding court. The peasant, undismayed, demanded his wife. The demon-king seemed neither surprised nor offended by his tone of authority, but quietly inquired of his subjects present whether any one knew where the woman was. “I saw her in our own country, the Jebel Kaf, a short time since, in such a place,” said one. “How long will it take you to fetch her, O Camel?” asked the monarch. “Jebel Kaf is a long way off, and I should need three years to go there and return,” was the reply. Then the ruler of the Jan asked another demon named “Horse” how much time he would need in order to fetch the woman, and he said, “Three months.” A third jinni named “ Wind,” being asked the same question, replied, “Three weeks.” All the rest of the Jan answered in turn each naming the time he required to do the errand. At last the king asked the man to detail the circumstances under which he had lost his wife, especially the words which he had used at parting from her. The peasant then confessed that he had thoughtlessly handed his wife over
