Page:Swahili tales.djvu/379

Rh here, my wife went to bathe. Then when she came out she died, and I buried her here. The genii went to her father to tell him, 'Your daughter is dead.' And her father said, 'Call Jan Shah, and let him come and marry another daughter.' And they came to tell me. I said, 'I do not wish it, I will dig another grave, and when I die, I will go into it. And this is my story.'

"And he remained till he died. And Bolukia went his way, and died on his journey."

And the King of the Snakes said to Hasseebu, "And you, when you go home, will do me evil." And he said, "I will do you no evil, send me home." And he said, "I know it, if I send you home, you will come back, and come and kill me. And he said, "I dare not; give me an oath, that I may swear it." And he said, "When you get home, do not go to bathe where many people are." And he said, "I will not." And he sent him home, and when they arrived, those who went with him returned, and they said, "Good-bye." And he went to his mother's house, and his mother rejoiced much.

Now in their town the Sultan was very ill, and for his medicine, it was necessary to get the King of the Snakes and kill him, and that his flesh should be boiled; that was the medicine.

And the Vizir had set people at the public baths, and told them, "If any one comes to bathe with a mark on his stomach, seize him."

Hasseebu stayed three days, and he forgot the words of his friend the King of the Snakes, and went to bathe.

And the soldiers seized him, and took him to the Vizir. And the Vizir said to him, "Take us to the place where the King of the Snakes lives." And he said, "I do not know it." And he said to them, "Bind him." And he was bound and beaten much, and his back was all torn. And he said, "Loose me, that I may take you."