Page:Muhammad Diyab al-Itlidi - Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the Time of the Early Khalîfahs - Alice Frere - 1873.djvu/123

94 wrote a letter by them, enumerating the presents, and saying, "If thou art indeed a prophet, declare which among the slaves are youths, and which are girls; and without opening the casket make known its contents, and pierce the jewels, and thread the stones without the help of men or of genii." And she said to the Mamlûks, "If King Solomon speak to you, answer him gently like women." And she commanded the women to speak like men. Then she said to Mundzîr, "If King Solomon receive you with anger, fear not, for then he is but a man, and I am as strong as he. But if he receive you graciously, he is a prophet, and you must hearken to his words."

So Mundzîr set forth with the gift, and the Hud-hud flew swiftly to King Solomon and told him all that had taken place.

Then King Solomon ordered genii to make bricks of gold and silver, and to pave a road with them for twenty-seven miles from where he was, and to build a wall on either side of the road, having the upper part and the edge of gold and silver. Then he inquired of his people, "Where are the most extraordinary creatures to be found?" They replied, "In such and such a sea there are fish spotted with divers