HATIM TAL 67 Whilst Hatim was cutting his way by swimming amidst the billows of the ocean, a large’nihang® (sea-serpent) happened to espy him. ‘This monster of the deep rushed upon him, and in an instant swallowed him alive. Hatim, this rescued from drowning, on coming to his senses attempted to stand up and move about, whereby the sea-serpent became so desperately annoyed that he darted towards the shore, and with great exertion, succeeded in disgorging him on dry’ land, after which he plunged into the deep, and there left him. Hatim in that spot lay helpless and exhausted with hunger and thirst for the space of two days and nights, after which time he rose up, and wandered he knew not whither, until he found himself in the midst of wilderness of sand. Here he continued to stray in all directions, till a troop of fairies happened to observe him: these immediately surrounded him, and said, one to another, “Here is a mortal man, how can he have come hither?” Addressing Hatim, they said to him, “ You seem to be of the human race, pray who brought you into our territory ?”— The merciful Creator,” replied Hatim, “ first conducted me into your dominions, but since my arrival I have been cast into the sea, and swallowed by a monstrous nibang, from whose belly I was ejected two days ago on dry land. Iam now exhausted with hunger; if you have any compassion within you, let me have something to eat, and water to quench my thirst.” ‘To this reply the fairies rejoined, “We dare not administer to you even a drop of water, for our king has strictly ordered us to slay every one of the race of men or demons that may come in our way; if we, therefore, delay a moment in putting you to death, the wrath of his majesty will assuredly overtake us.” Here one of the fairies said to his companions, “ Where is our king, and where are we?t ‘This wretched being is not come hither of his own accord! God is merciful! You know not from what distance he may have been brought by the nihang, and his being found here is accidental, as it was natural he should make an effort to preserve his life. He is one of the human race too, and our superior, nay, the noblest of the sublunary creation ; let us convey him to our abodes, and afford him kind and hospitable treatment."—« But,” said the rest of the fairies, “if we’ do spare him, and our king should hear of it, his majesty will certainly put us to death.” On hearing this discussion Hatim himself addressed them, saying, “ My friends, if it is your duty and interest to slay me, I am quite resigned without further dispute.” ‘That fairy, however, who spoke in his favour still held out, saying, « My worthy companions, our king is far distant, even seven days’ journey hence; and Ke who ¢ The word in the original is 2% which according to the Borhani-Kate is a species of the alligator ‘or water-nake, exceeding when fully grown the length of sixty guz (from 100 to 120 feet). + Meaning, « the hing is far hence, and shall know nothing of the matter.”