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what way canst thou understand the loveliness of that land!
1040. With three ropes they moored the ship to the shore of those gardens. Avt'handil clad his form in a cloak[1] and sat on a bench. They brought out men that were porters,[2] provided with drachmas.[3] That knight bargains, acts as chief (of the caravan), and thereby conceals himself.
1041. Thither came the gardener of him at whose garden they had landed; with ecstasy he gazes at the knight's face flashing like lightning. Avt'handil hailed him, he spoke to the man with faultless words: "Whose men are ye, who are ye? how call they the king reigning here?
1042. "Tell me all in detail," quoth the knight to that man; "what stuff[4] is dearer, or what is bought up cheap?" He said: "I see, thy face seems to me like the face of the sun. Whatever I know I will tell thee truly; I will by no means inform thee crookedly.
1043. "The Sea Realm is this, ten months' (travel) in extent, this is the qity of Gulansharo,[5] full of much loveliness. Hither everything fair cometh by ships sailing from sea to sea. Melik Surkhavi[6] rules, perfect in good fortune and wealth.[7]
1044. "Even if he be old, a man is rejuvenated by coming hither; drinking, rejoicing, tilting and songs are unceasing; summer and winter alike we have many-hued flowers; whoever knoweth us envieth us, even they who are our foes.
1045. "Great merchants can find nought more profitable than this: They buy, they sell, they gain, they lose; a poor man will be enriched in a month; from all quarters they gather merchandise; the penniless by the end of the year have money laid by.
1046. "I am gardener to Usen,[8] chief of the merchants. I shall tell thee somewhat of the manner of his ordinance:
