on the skin of a
certain animal of great value, very scarce, and of a yellowish color.
The characters of this letter were of azure, and the contents as
follows:

"The King of the Indies, before whom march one hundred
elephants, who lives in a palace that shines with one
hundred thousand rubies, and who has in his treasury twenty
thousand crowns enriched with diamonds, to Caliph Haroun al
Raschid.

"Though the present we send you be inconsiderable, receive
it, however, as a brother and a friend, in consideration of
the hearty friendship which we bear for you, and of which we
are willing to give you proof. We desire the same part in
your friendship, considering that we believe it to be our
merit, as we are both kings. We send you this letter as from
one brother to another. Farewell."

* * * * *

The present consisted (1) of one single ruby made into a cup, about
half a foot high, an inch thick, and filled with round pearls of half
a dram each. (2) The skin of a serpent, whose scales were as bright as
an ordinary piece of gold, and had the virtue to preserve from
sickness those who lay upon it.[66] (3) Fifty thousand drams of the
best wood of aloes, with thirty grains of camphor as big as
pistachios. And (4) a female slave of great beauty, whose robe was
covered with jewels.

[Footnote 66: "There is a snake in Bengal whose skin is esteemed a
cure for external pains by applying it to the part affected."--Hole.]

The ship set sail, and after a very successful navigation we landed at
Bussorah, and from thence I went to the city of Bagdad, where the
first thing I did was to acquit myself of my commission.

I took the King of Serendib's letter, and went to present myself at
the gate of the Commander of the Faithful, and was immediately
conducted to the throne of the caliph. I made my obeisance, and
presented the letter and gift. When he had read what the King of
Serendib wrote to him, he asked me if that prince were really so rich
and potent as he represented himself in his letter. I prostrated
myself a second time, and rising again, said, "Commander of the
Faithful, I can assure your majesty he doth not exceed the truth. I
bear him witness. Nothing is more worthy of admiration than the
magnificence of his palace. When the prince appears in public,[67] he
has a throne fixed on the back of an elephant, and rides betwixt two
ran