the bottom of the sea a
fish, the bigness of which is known only to Allah, and which every day
comes to land. It remains there till noon to adore the Almighty. No
person interrupts its prayers: when they are finished, it plunges
again to the bottom of the sea."

The fish appeared as usual, and the genie said to Dakianos, "Though
the fish will not believe your power, it has, however, declared to all
the fishes of the sea that you are the god of the earth. It fears
nothing, and comes now to inform itself. You will know the truth of
what I have declared to you," continued he, "if you will only
condescend to say to him, 'I am the god of the earth.' Your voice
will freeze him with terror--he cannot hear it without surprise, and
will certainly take flight."

This proposition pleased Dakianos, and he called the fish, and said to
it, "'I am the god of the earth.'"

These words of infidelity made the fish immediately plunge to the
bottom of the sea, in the fear he was under lest the Almighty Power
should dart His thunder to punish that impostor. Dakianos easily
persuaded himself that the fish was an infidel, and that his presence
had made him take flight. From that moment he believed all the
deluding words of the genie, and soon had no doubt left of his
divinity. Not only his subjects adored him, but people came from all
corners of the world to give him those marks of adoration which he
exacted; for he caused all those to be thrown into a burning furnace
who refused to adore him.

In the number of the ten thousand slaves who stood always before him
with their hands crossed upon their breasts, there were six Greeks who
possessed his confidence, and who approached the nearest to his
person. They were named Jemlikha, Mekchilinia, Mechlima, Merlima,
Debermouch, and Charnouch. They were generally placed in an equal
number upon his right and left hand. Jemlikha was one whom he most
favoured, nature having endowed him with all her charms: his words
were sweeter than the honey of Arabia, and his wit sparkling and
agreeable; in a word, this young man united in himself all
perfections. Their employments engaged both him and his companions to
pay that homage to Dakianos which was due to God alone.

One day, as Dakianos was at table, Jemlikha held a fan to drive away
the flies that might incommode him: there came one which settled
itself with so much obstinacy upon the dish he was eating that he was
obliged to give it up. Jemlikha, s