Page:Swahili tales.djvu/359

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HASSEEBU KAREEM ED DEEN.
339

And they sent some to her. And so, every day, one took her rice, one took her oil, one took her meat, one took her cloth, every day.

Enough here, let us return to where Hasseebu was.

He remained the first day, the second day, and the third day, and he knew his companions had cast him off, and was comforted. And he walked about inside the pit, and the pit was very large. At night he slept inside, and in the morning when he awoke he took a little honey and ate. Till one day he sat thinking, and he saw a scorpion fall to the ground, a very large one, and he killed it.

And he sat and considered, "Where did this scorpion come from? Perhaps there is a hole somewhere, I will go and look for it." And he went, and saw a little hole, and saw light far off, and he picked with his knife, and the hole became very broad, and he passed, and saw beyond, clear space and light, and went on. When he reached it he found an open space, and came out upon a very large place.

And he saw a path, and followed the path, and went on, and found a large stone house; and he saw many chairs, and the door was of gold, and its padlock of gold, and its key of pearl; and he took it and opened, and saw inside a large reception-room, and many chairs, and he saw one chair of gold, inlaid with pearls and jewels, and precious stones; and he saw a couch very beautifully spread, and he went and lay down.

So at once he hears many people coming. And they came to the house, and saw the door open, and they came inside, and he who had come was the king of the snakes.

And his soldiers filled the courtyard, and he and his vizirs entered inside, and they were astonished, and