exposed to view a magnificent palace in the hollow of the mountain.
So eager was I for the treasures which displayed themselves to my view, that, like an eagle seizing her prey, I fell upon the first heap of golden coin that was near me. My sacks were all large, and I would have filled them all, but I was obliged to proportion my burden to the strength of my camels. The dervish paid more attention to the jewels than the gold, and I soon followed his example, so that we took away more jewels than gold. After we had filled our sacks, and loaded our camels, the dervish used the same incantations to shut the treasury as he had done to open it, when the doors closed, and the rock seemed as solid and entire as it was before. I observed, however, that the dervish, before he went away, took a small bottle out of the cave and put it into his breast, first showing me that it contained only a glutinous sort of ointment.
We now divided our camels. I put myself at the head of the forty which I had reserved for myself, and the dervish placed himself at the head of those which I had given him. We came out of the valley by the way we had entered, and traveled together till we came to the great road, where we were to part; the dervish to go to Bussorah, and I to Bagdad. To thank him for so great a kindness, I made use of the most expressive terms, testifying my gratitude for the preference he had given me before all other men in letting me have a share of
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