When the chief of the demons saw that his wife was cured, he with the utmost kindness detained Hatim some time at his house, and most hospitably entertained him, and bestowed upon him every attention in his power. After some days he conducted him into the presence of the king, whose name was Farokash. When the demon chief was honoured with an audience from his king, having made a low obeisance, he respectfully stood before his Majesty, and thus represented his errand: “Sire, one of the human race is come into my possession; he is the most learned of the age, and the most skilful of physicians, possessed of a most benevolent heart. My wife was so afflicted with a pain in her eyes that her life was despaired of, and in one day he completely cured her.”

When Farokash, the monarch of the demons, heard this intelligence, his heart rejoiced, and he gave orders to the chief to produce this learned man with all speed. Hatim was presented to the king, who treated him with great courtesy, and made him sit beside him. His Majesty then stated his case, saying, “For some time I have been afflicted with a pain in my stomach, and amidst my own subjects no one has been successful in curing me. Remediless, I have had recourse to the human race, but none of them has as yet afforded me the least relief.”

Hatim said to the king, “Pray, tell me, Sire, are there many of your servants usually in attendance when you sit down to take food?” His Majesty replied, that every one of his servants usually stood in his presence at such times. Hatim then requested that he should be allowed to be present on that day when his Majesty should dine, which request was readily granted.

When the time of eating arrived, the table was laid out, and the food was placed upon it. When his Majesty was about to commence eating, Hatim requested him to desist for a little. He then took a joint of meat, and held it up so that every eye in the house might look upon it. He then ordered them to lay it aside under cover for about the space of an hour, after which he caused the cover to be removed, and lo! all the meat on the joint had in that short time become worms. Farokash was an observer of this wonder­ful occurrence, and remarked to Hatim, “Most learned Sir, this is truly strange.”— “This, Sire,” said Hatim, “accounts for the pain you suffer, and the cause of it is that a malig­nant eye has fallen upon the meat. Henceforth it will be necessary that you eat in private, and that all your attendants be previously satisfied with food; then your Majesty may eat to advantage, for the consequence will be a com­plete cure, and the pain will be removed.”

The king was highly pleased with Hatim’s advice, which he forthwith put in practice; and in a short time his pain entirely left him, and he enjoyed perfect health. He gratefully clasped Hatim in his bosom, and placed him upon a throne similar to his own. Hatim thus honoured, ventured to petition the king of the demons as follows: “Sire, you are now restored to health; may I beg that you will liberate such of my fellow-creatures as are now your prisoners, in order that they may return to their own country.”

His Majesty ordered that all the sons of Adam then in his possession should be ushered into his presence, which was no sooner said than done. He bestowed on each of them a splendid dress, entertained them hospitably, and having fur­nished them with necessaries for their journey, dismissed them. The king then addressed Hatim, saying, “Learned Sir, I have a favour to ask of you, if it be not much trouble for you to grant it?”— “It will afford me a sincere pleasure,” said Hatim, “to comply with your commands.”— “I have a daughter,” rejoined the king, “who has been sick for some time, and my wish is that you will for an instant visit her.” To this Hatim readily assented, and the king seizing him by the hand, conducted him into the more pri­vate apartments of the house, and gave orders that his daughter should attend.

As the daughter of Farokash entered, Hatim viewed her face, the colour of which had become all pale and yellow. He gave orders to bring some water and sugar. These he mixed together so as to form a pleasant draught; he then dropped into it the charmed pearl and handed the goblet to the king’s daughter to drink. In a short time she expe­rienced great relief, and when night came she enjoyed a most profound sleep. At length her father, somewhat alarmed, said to Hatim, “Pray tell me, most learned man, what means this long sleep?” Hatim replied, “Sire, rest you satisfied; if this sleep had not ensued we should have had cause to fear.”

For the space of three days Hatim continued to administer this draught to his patient, after which period she was allowed some small quantity of light food; and in the course of ten or fifteen days she was restored to perfect health, and her countenance assumed its natural appearance. Hatim then addressed Farokash, saying, “Your daughter is com­pletely cured, so I hope you will allow me to depart, in order that I may look after my own affairs.”

Farokash brought for Hatim’s acceptance such a mine of wealth, both in pure gold and in valuable jewels, as to be altogether beyond calculation. His Majesty at the same time apologized to Hatim for such an offer, saying, “This dross is indeed unfit to be presented to you, but it will suit your servants and attendants; I therefore hope you will accept it as a mark of my regard.” Here Hatim observed, “I am alone; how then shall I be able to carry it.” On hearing this, the king gave orders to his demon subjects, saying, “Let all this wealth be carefully packed up, and you shall accompany this worthy man, in order to carry it to whatsoever place he may desire you.”

Hatim took leave of the king, and having taken with him the whole of the jewels and gold, he departed under the guidance of the demons. In about six months he arrived at the extremity of the cave through which he had entered the dominions of Farokash. The guides accompanied him through the cave, and in the space of three days landed him safe at its mouth. Hatim asked them, “Have you any objections to go further?” They replied, “Our orders will not permit us to accompany you beyond the mouth of the cave;” and accordingly they laid down their burdens of gold and jewels on that same spot, and forthwith began to retrace their steps.

When the people that had been stationed at the mouth of the cave by Harith’s daughter saw the demons, they all ran off. Hatim shouted after them, “Good people, be not afraid; I am Hatim, the man who some time ago entered in order to explore this cave. I am now safely returned; why then do you run away from me?” The people then looked back, and seeing Hatim, they recognized him and returned.

Hatim having sent for the youth whom he had left in the caravanserai at his departure, said to him, “On you I bestow all this money and these jewels which I have procured.” He then caused the valuable effects to be conveyed into the city to the young man’s residence. The youth fell at Hatim’s feet, but the latter quickly raised him up, and kindly clasped him to his bosom.

Meanwhile the people belonging to Harith’s daughter conveyed to their mistress the news of Hatim’s arrival. The merchant’s daughter immediately sent for him, and requested to know the result of his adventure. He minutely detailed to her the nature of the cave, and every circum­stance connected with his journey among the demons. He then said to her, “Thus I have answered one of your ques­tions; let me now hear your next, that I may immediately sent about its solution.”

Harith’s daughter stated her second question, as fol­lows: “There is heard in the desert the voice of a man, who exclaims, ‘I have done nothing which can benefit me this night.’”

On hearing this, Hatim returned to the caravanserai, and after taking leave of the young man, he set out for the desert. One night, which happened to be that of Jumat, as he was reclining underneath a tree, and occupied in adoring the Supreme Creator, suddenly his ears caught the sound, “I have done nothing which might have been of service to me this night.” For the whole of that night Hatim continued to advance in that direction from which the sound reached his ear. When daylight came he again sat down under the shade of a tree, and began to deliberate with himself whether he should turn to the right hand or to the left.

While he was thus uncertain as to his route, he happened to espy a village on the confines of the desert. Thither he bent his steps, in order to take some repose till the night of Jumat should again arrive. When it came to the appointed hour, Hatim once more heard the sound repeated, and for the whole of that night continued to advance without arresting his steps for an instant.

When daylight shone upon him, he halted for the pur­pose of repose, and soon after his ears were assailed with the voice of sorrow and lamentation. He started up, and after advancing some distance he beheld a village, the inhabitants of which were all assembled together weeping and lamenting bitterly. Hatim approached, and asked one of them, “What is the cause of your weeping and lamenta­tion?” They answered, “Once a week a monstrous giant comes to our village, and devours one of our number; and if we do not appease him by the sacrifice of a human creature, he will raze our abodes to the dust, and destroy us all. At present the lot has fallen on the son of our chief; on Thurs­day the monster will come, and the four days that intervene till that time are devoted to weeping and mourning. The youth’s relations are at this moment standing around him, extolling his virtues and lamenting his fate. This, Sir, is the cause of the grief that now overwhelms our village.”

Hatim inquired of the people, “Which of this assembly is the chief’s son, and which the parents and relatives?” These were pointed out to Hatim, who approached the chief, and said to him, “Honoured Sir, pray, tell me what sort of monster is this, and what form does he assume? Meanwhile be under no anxiety, for I, as substitute for your son, will face the giant.” The chief replied, “Brave youth! may heaven reward your generosity; you seem a stranger too in our village.”— “Suffice it for the present,” said Hatim, “that I have drank of your waters, you have there­fore a claim upon my friendship; do you only describe to me in what form this monster usually appears.”

The chief of the village drew a sketch of the monster upon the sand; on seeing which, Hatim observed, “This must be giant Halūka by name; he is invulnerable against all weapons, but if you will follow my directions, I trust that, if it should please God the Supreme, I may be able to overcome him.” All the people anxiously asked him, “How is this to be done?” Hatim addressing the chief, said, “Are there any manufacturers of glass in your village?”— “There are,” said the chief, “two or three houses for that pur­pose?”

Immediately Hatim, accompanied by the chief, pro­ceeded to the houses of the glass manufacturers, and gave orders to the latter to this effect: “Within four days you must make a mirror of two hundred guz in length and one hundred in breadth. Such a mirror will be necessary for the expulsion of the giant, and if you comply not he will destroy the whole of your village. The glass manufacturer replied, “If you furnish us with the materials, we shall be able to have your mirror ready within the time specified.” Here the chief said to them, “Whatever amount of money may be of use to you, I shall furnish;” and he immediately sent them the sum they demanded. They then set about the forming of the mirror, and in the space of three days their task was finished.

When Hatim was informed that the mirror was ready, he commanded all the men of the city to assemble, in order to convey the mirror to a certain spot without the city by which the giant usually entered. The people readily obeyed him, and conveyed the mirror safe to the appointed spot, and there erected it. Hatim then told them to bring as many sheets as when sewed together might cover the sur­face of the mirror, which order was speedily executed by the chief and his attendants.

Hatim now addressed the multitude, saying, “My good friends, you may in the meantime retire to your houses without the least uneasiness of mind. This night you may sleep in security; and if any of you is desirous to see the result of my stratagem, let him remain here with me.” The son of the chief promptly spoke out, “I will be your companion;” but his father forbade him, saying, “Already my wealth is expended in order to purchase your safety, why then do you venture to face the giant?”

On hearing this remark, Hatim said to the chief, “There is nothing to fear, so you may rest satisfied that no harm will befall your son. If he should suffer the least injury, you shall be at liberty to do with me what you choose.” Here the youth himself boldly answered, “A few days ago, you had all resolved to sacrifice me to this monster; you will allow then, that I am under no great obligations to you. I prefer the society of this brave and skilful man, who has been the means of my preservation. Would you be thought void of religion and reckless of fame? When a man who is an utter stranger places himself in so perilous a situation in order to avert the evil that threatens you, is it consistent with religion and honour to leave him alone, and like cow­ards retire to your house?”

All the people, on hearing this address, insisted on remaining in company with Hatim; and having dressed some food in the open plain, they ate and rejoiced, saying, “This night the giant shall be destroyed.” The whole of that day passed, and when night arrived, a most terrific yell assailed their ears, such as usually accompanied the approach of the giant. They all shuddered, and their faces assumed a yellow hue. “Fear not,” said Hatim, addressing them; “keep strict silence, and be not under the least apprehension. You shall soon behold some rare spot; the monster is coming, as is indicated by that fiendish howl.”