SEDJARET MALAYOU
LEGENDS OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO
[Translated by M. Devic and Chauncey C. Starkweather]
Once upon a time lived King Iskender, son of King Darab. He traced his origin
to Roum; Macedonia was his native country, and Dhoul-Garnein his surname.
Now it happened that this prince set out upon his travels to find the place where
the sun rose; and he arrived at the frontier of India. There reigned in this country
a very powerful king, to whom half of India was in subjection; and his name was
King Kida Hindi. As soon as King Kida Hindi heard of King Iskender's
approach, he gave orders to his prime minister, who gathered together the armies
and princes who were subject to him. When all were met together, he marched
forth to meet King Iskender. The two armies engaged and the conflict was
carried on with extreme activity on both sides, as is related in the history of King
Iskender. Kida Hindi was defeated and taken alive. Iskender ordered him to
embrace the true faith, and Kida Hindi embraced the faith and became enrolled
in the religion of the prophet Abraham, the friend of God, to whom be the glory!
Then King Iskender caused him to be clothed in a garment like his own, and
bade him return to his own country.
King Kida Hindi was the father of a very beautiful girl, whose equal was not to
be found in her day. Her face had the dazzling lustre of the sun or the moon; she
was modest and discreet. Her name was Chehr-el- Beria. King Kida Hindi took
his prime minister aside and said to him:
"I have summoned you to ask your advice on the subject of my daughter, whose
equal in these days cannot be found. I have formed the project of presenting her
to King Iskender."