en-Naoui said to his officers:
"Which of you would be able to take the King of Samoudra?"
One of his officers very strong and brave, Aoui Ditchou, bowed and said: "Lord,
if your Majesty will give me 4,000 chosen warriors, I will take the King of
Samoudra alive and bring him to the foot of your Majesty's throne."
The King gave him the 4,000 warriors and 100 ships. When they were ready
Aoui Ditchou sailed toward Samoudra, feigning that the ships were bent on
commerce up to the very moment when they reached the end of the voyage.
Then he caused it to be said that he was an ambassador of the King Chehr-en-
Naoui, and the King of Samoudra sent some officers to receive him.
Landing, Aoui Ditchou put into four chests four lusty houlou-balongs, to whom
he said: "Presently, when you are in the presence of the King of Samoudra, open
the chests, leap out, and seize the King." The chests were fastened from within.
They took them ashore in state as presents from the King Chehr-en-Naoui. When
they were in the presence of the prince, a message couched in flattering terms
was read, and the chests were brought in. Immediately the houlou-balongs
opened the chests, sprang out, and seized the sovereign. The soldiers uttered
fierce cries and unsheathed their arms to attack the band of Chehr-en-Naoui's
men. But the latter cried:
"If you fall upon us, we will kill your King."
So the soldiers paused in their attack. Aoui Ditchou and his people returned,
bringing with them the King of Samoudra. They crossed the sea and regained
their own country. There the prisoner-King was conducted by Aoui Ditchou
before King Chehr-en-Naoui, who was very joyful and loaded the head of the
expedition and all his companions with honors. As for the King of Samoudra,
they made him a poultry-keeper.
Now let us talk of Sidi Ali Gaiath-ed-Din. Having consulted with the principal
ministers in the country of Samoudra, he equipped a ship and purchased a cargo
of Arabic merchandise, for the inhabitants of Pasey at that time all knew the
Arabic language. Sidi Ali and the soldiers whom he embarked on the ship with
him took all the ways and manners of the Arabs. The minister being on board
and all being made ready, they set sail for the country of Chehr-en-Naoui, where
they arrived after a short voyage. Sidi Ali landed and went to present himself to