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

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MALAYAN LITERATURE
Second Story
There was in the country of Damas a king who was named
Radja Chah Djouhou. This King wished to go hunting in the
deserted forests. His first minister said to him, bowing low :
" O my lord, King of the world, why does your Majesty wish
"
countries ?
to go hunting in foreign
King Chah Djouhou replied :
" I insist upon my plan of
going to hunt in foreign lands, in forests far removed from
ours. I wish to go from place to place, from plain to plain.
Such is my will.'* The prince set out therefore accompanied
by his ministers, his chiefs, and his servants.
They had all been hunting for some time and had not yet
found a single bit of game. The prince had directed his march
toward the forests of the country of Bagdad. These forests
were of immense extent. The heat was excessive, and the
prince, being very thirsty, wanted a drink of water. The
people who generally carried water for the King said to him :
" O lord, sovereign of the world, your Majesty's provision
of water is entirely exhausted."
The prince then asked of his officers and servants :
of you
"
Which
can get me water ? I will reward him with riches and
with slaves."
These words were heard by one of his officers named Asrafel-Kaum.
He said :
*' O my lord, sovereign of the world,
give me the vase which will serve for water, and I will go and
seek water for your Majesty."
Then the prince said to the people who had brought water
for his use, " Give my emerald pitcher into the hands of Asrafel-Kaum."
The latter bowed low and started to seek water. Seeing
from afar a very large fig-tree, he advanced in that direction.
Arriving near the tree he saw at its base an oratory and a
pond. At the oratory there was a woman of very great beauty.
The splendor of her countenance shone like that of the full
moon at its fourteenth day. Asraf-el-Kaum, astonished and
"
Is this a
moved with admiration, thought
in his heart :
human creature, or is it a peri ? " and Asraf-el-Kaum saluted
the princess Djouher-Manikam, who returned the salutation.