Malayan literature; comprising romantic tales, epic poetry and royal ...

SEDJARET MALAYOU
ONCE upon a time lived King Iskender, son of King
Darab. He traced his origin to Roum; Macedonia
was his native country, and Dhoul-Garnein his surname.
Now it happened that this prince set out upon his
travels to find the place where the sun rose ; and he arrived at
the frontier of India. There reigned in this country a very
powerful king, to whom half of India was in subjection; and
his name was King Kida Hindi. As soon as King Kida Hindi
heard of King Iskender's approach, he gave
orders to his
prime minister, who gathered together the armies and princes
who were subject to him. When all were met together, he
marched forth to meet King Iskender. The two armies en-
gaged and the conflict was carried on with extreme activity
on both sides, as is related in the history of King Iskender.
Kida Hindi was defeated and taken alive. Iskender ordered
him to embrace the true faith, and Kida Hindi embraced the
faith and became enrolled in the religion of the prophet Abra-
ham, the friend of God, to whom be the glory! Then King
Iskender caused him to be clothed in a garment like his own,
and bade him return to his own country.
King Kida Hindi was the father of a very beautiful girl,
whose equal was not to be found in her day. Her face had the
dazzling lustre of the sun or the moon ; she was modest and dis-
creet. Her name was Chehr-el-Beria. King Kida Hindi took
his prime minister aside and said to him :
" I have summoned you to ask your advice on the subject
of my daughter, whose equal in these days cannot be found.
I have formed the project of presenting her to King Iskender."
The minister answered :
" Your Majesty has made a wise
decision."
" Very well," replied the King, " to-morrow, God willing,
you shall go and find the prophet Khidar and relate to him the
whole matter."
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