They all obeyed his orders, for they feared him greatly. Their doors remained
opened for several nights, and they never suffered the slightest loss. But after a
while a man complained to the Sultan, saying, "Last night someone stole from
me 400 tahil."
The Sultan said: "Can you swear to it?"
The man swore to the facts, and the Sultan had 400 tahil counted out to him in
place of those he had lost. The following Friday, after prayers, forbidding
anyone to leave the mosque, the Sultan said: "O servants of the Lord, know that
400 tahil have been stolen from the shop of a certain man. Unless you denounce
the robber, not one of you shall escape, but to-day shall all of you be put to
death."
Now, as he had rigorously commanded attendance at Friday's prayer service, the
whole town had come to the mosque. They were seized with fright, for they
knew that the Sultan kept his word, and they denounced the robber. The latter
gave back the 400 tahil and received his punishment.
A long time afterward the Sultan Zayad asked, "At what place in my kingdom do
they fear robbers most of all?"
"In the Valley of the Beni Ardou, in the country of Bassrah, for there they are
numerous."
Sultan Zayad one day had the highways and paths of the valley strewn with gold
and silver, precious stones, and stuffs of great price. All these things lay there a
long time and not one was taken. Then the Sultan ordered them to take up these
riches and give them to the fakirs and the poor. Then he rendered thanks unto
God that he had thus securely established his law among his subjects.
Now it was in the times when Nouchirvau governed with justice and equity,
protecting his subjects and causing his kingdom to prosper. One day he asked the
grandees of his court, "Are there in my kingdom any places deserted and without
inhabitants?"
The grandees who were there answered, "O king of the world, we know not in
all your Majesty's realm a place which is not inhabited."
Nouchirvau kept silence, and for many days did not leave the palace. He