In a few days they reached the desert, where, underneath a shady tree, exhausted with hunger and thirst, they fell asleep. To Husn Banu a man appeared in a dream, saying; “Be not sorrowful, underneath this tree is buried the trea­sure of the seven regions, which wealth the king of truth has here kept hidden for thy sake; arise and take possession thereof.” She said, “I am a woman and alone, how can I bring it out of the earth?” To this, the man replied, “Do thou dig a little with a spade; let the means be applied by thee, and God will grant success. Moreover, no one is able forcibly to deprive thee of this weath: arise then and build a city on this spot.”

The lady and her nurse accordingly got up, and with a piece of wood began to dig the earth, when instantly a pit full of yellow gold presented itself. It seemed like seven houses filled with pure gold and also chests full of jewels of every description. There were likewise four cups of rubies and costly pearls of the size of duck’s eggs. Husn Banu rejoiced, and in conformity with the true faith, she stooped to the ground and rendered thousands of thanks to God the Most High. She then handed some of the gold to her nurse, and said, “Mother, do you return to the city and procure us people, and bring us some food to eat and raiment to put on, and at the same time look out for labourers and architects, for on this spot I will build a solid edifice.” The nurse objected, saying, “How can I leave you here alone until some one else arrive?” Whilst they were in this conversation, who should pass by but the foster-brother of Husn Banu dressed in a mendicant’s habit. He recognized them, and fell at the feet of Husn Banu, who weeping from joy lifted him up to her side, and consoled him, saying, “Brother, be of good cheer; God, the great and glorious, has bestowed on us abundance of wealth, even beyond calculation. Take part of it and proceed to the city; bring hither all my dependents and relations, and purchase tents and bring them, for on this spot we shall build lofty edifices, forming a spa­cious city; but you must not communicate this secret to any one.” The brother having taken part of the gold came to the city; and having assembled Husn Banu’s former depen­dents, who wandered begging about the streets, he pro­cured elegant tents, and returned with them. Husn Banu delighted, had the tents erected; and soon after her brother went a second time to the city; and waited on the principal builders, saying, “Send along with me your brother craftsmen; my master intends to build a mansion in the desert; he is a most generous man, and will reward you amply.” The builder (to whom he spoke) sent one of his brothers, by name Muâmmir, along with Husn Banu’s foster-brother, and both returned to where that lady resided. The builder selected a pleasant spot, and there erected a lofty mansion; and Husn Banu bestowed on him a liberal remuneration. The builder, thus delighted, sent for his friends and strenu­ously laboured in the rearing of edifices, the digging of wells, and the building of lofty palace.

Husn Banu shewed them the greatest kindness, and said, “Now we must have a city built here.” Muâmmir replied, that it was not lawful to build a city without an order from the king; but if his Majesty should grant permission, it would then be an easy matter. Husn Banu admitted the truth of this remark; and having dressed herself in man’s apparel, she mounted an Arab steed, and summoned several of her attendants. She also carried with her for a present, a cup full of rubies and a casket of brilliant jewels, and thus proceeded to the city, where she arrived a few days after. She then made some valuable presents to the king’s officers, who speedily conveyed the information to their master, that a certain merchant had arrived from abroad; that he wished to offer his presents to the king; that he now stood at the gate, a man of beautiful countenance and of elegant form. The king gave orders to bring him in, and Husn Banu accordingly entered, and after performing her obeisance to the king, she presented to him the casket of jewels and the cup full of rubies. When the king beheld the jewels and cup, he was highly delighted, and said, “Sir, whence art thou?” She replied, “My father was a merchant of Iram, and in the course of events he died at sea. As I happened to be passing this way and had heard of your Majesty’s good qualities, my desire of expressing my attachment and of tendering my most humble services* became excessive. It is the wish of your slave to pass the remainder of his life in the service of your Highness. When admitted to kiss the threshold of your sublime gates, my prosperity will become permanent and my happiness complete. Now I have no kindred; I am an orphan, and have pitched my tents in a tract of the desert, where I hope, through your Majesty’s kindness and generosity, I may be allowed to build a city.” At this statement the king shewed much sympathy, and presented the stranger with a dress of honour, adding with the greatest courtesy and affection, “As you have no father to you, and let me be as a father to you, and let me adopt you as my son.” Husn Banu, with profound obeisance, replied, “Since your Majesty has adopted me into the royal family and has raised from the dust this abject slave, let me state that my name is Behram; may I hope that my name will be deemed fit for this threshold, of which may the head be exalted.” Hereupon Kurdan Shah bestowed on Husn Banu the name of Mahrū Shah,* and said, “My dear son, the desert is far distant, you must build your city near my capital, and I shall call your city by the name of Shahabad.” Husn Banu respectfully replied, “May the king’s life-time be long. I have taken a fancy to that desert, and beside it would be disrespectful to build any city in the vicinity of your Majesty’s capital. May I hope that an order will be issued to the principal architects enjoyning them to make preparation for the building of a city.” Kurdan Shah gave his orders to the architects to that effect, and taking a most affectionate leave of Husn Banu, said, “My dear son, when will you return? You must not deprive me long of your visits.” Husn Banu, making a profound obeisance, said, “I hope that once every month I may kiss the threshold of your Majesty.”

Pleased and delighted, Husn Banu returned to the desert and ordered Muâmmir to draw up the plan of a city; and having sent for more artists to proceed speedily with the building, Muâmmir engaged in the building of the edifices which were to form the city, and promoted the work night and day with all expedition. Husn Banu from month to month made a journey to the city to visit the king, whose kindness and affection towards her were daily increasing. After two or three years a spacious city was built, and its name was called Shahabad; after which, Husn Banu ordered the builders to be munificently rewarded. It happened one day after Husn Banu had arrived to wait upon the king, that his Majesty was proceeding to visit the dervise formerly men­tioned, and his eye having caught Husn Banu, he said, “My dear Mahrū Shah, to-day I am going to visit the most emi­nent man of the age; if you have desire to do me a favour pray accompany me; for to have seen this saint of the time is of itself eternal felicity.” In reply, Husn Banu said, “Truly my happiness in this two-fold; first, in being honoured with the sight of this eminent personage; and, secondly, attending your Majesty thither;” but in her heart she said that the sight of such a fiend was an abomination. In short she accompanied the king to the abode of the dervise, and in conformity with his Majesty’s example, paid her respects to that pious man. Kurdan Shah spoke much in praise and commendation of Mahrū Shah (or Husn Banu,) for who in the meanwhile held down her head and listened, thinking in her own mind that, “these praise are on account of the jewels and cup (which I presented), for otherwise I am the daughter of Burzakh the merchant, and this king once expelled me from this city.”

When the king was about to take leave of the dervise, Husn Banu respectfully stoop up and said, “If your holiness will deign to visit my house, I hope it will not be (doing a thing) unbecoming the condescension of the illustrious.” The execrable dervise said, “I will assuredly come.” Then Husn Banu observed, “The house of your slave is far distant, but in the capital is the residence of Burzakh the merchant, a house which is very commodious, and which (I hope) you will honour with a visit.” She then addressed the king, saying, “The house of Burzakh happens to be unoccupied; may I be favoured for a few days with the use of it, that I may perform my respects to his Holiness without his having the trouble of going to a distance; and after giving him a feast, I shall proceed to my own city.” The king asked her,* “Whence, my son, have you known the name of Burzakh?” Husn Banu replied, “There are many men in this city who were in his service, of them I have learned it (as they said) that such a house was suitable for a few days’ residence.” The king said, “I bestow upon you that house as a present.”

Husn Banu having made her obeisance came to her father’s house, and when she found it fallen to decay she gave vent to many a tear, and issued orders to have it repaired. Meanwhile she herself went to the city, and about a month after she sent to her father’s house the materials for the entertainment, consisting of trays of gold and silver, and the whole of the vessels also of gold and silver; and having taken a cup full of rubies and jewels likewise, she carried them with her. She then sent forward her attendants to the mansion, and went herself before the king, and said, “Now I will go for some days to the house of Burzakh; to-morrow I expect to entertain the renowned dervise with a banquet, and pass some time in attendance upon him.” On this, the king observed, “It is well, such being the choice of my son; but consider this house even as your own.” Husn Banu stood up and spoke: “This befriended slave of your august Highness is truly fortunate, but is unable to express a suitable acknowledgment. All the choice remaining in this slave is in the will of your Majesty, wheresoever you command me there I will stay.” The king added, “where­soever you be, let your heart be at ease.”*