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As soon, however, as they saw the copper fittings on my scientific instruments, the monkeys, no doubt taking them for some deadly engines, fled on all sides, uttering the most piercing cries. I often also spent my evenings with Châli on one of the external galleries that looked on to the lake of Vihara.
The ruins supposed to be those of Persepolis are situated near Istakar, about forty miles north from the modern city of Shiraz, in the province of Fars or Persia proper; but the names in the original are often so corrupted as to defy even conjecture. Sylas is probably meant for Shiras. Named Chali in the original; but it is to be noted that the ch of the Italian is pronounced as k in English.
My house now seemed to be one large class, and my little friends, dressed in beautiful silk stuffs, and in materials embroidered with gold and silver, ran up and down the long galleries and the quiet rooms like little human animals. At last, one evening, without my knowing exactly how it happened, the oldest of them, the one called Châli, and who looked so like an ivory statue, became my wife.
I felt a confused, powerful, above all, a poetical, sensation, the sensation that I possessed a whole race in this little girl, that mysterious race from which all the others seem to have taken their origin. The prince, however, continued to load me with presents. One day he sent me a very unexpected object, which excited a passionate admiration in Châli.
The others continued to play in the palace, like a lot of happy kittens, and Châli never left me except when I went to the prince. We passed delicious hours together in the ruins of the old castle, among the monkeys, who had become our friends.
The man became more and more embarrassed, and murmured, "You had better not ask about it." "But I want to know." "She stole " "Who Châli? What did she steal?" "Something that belonged to you." "To me? What do you mean?" "The day you left she stole that little box which the prince had given you; it was found in her hands." "What box are you talking about?" "The box covered with shells."
I was a long time in making up my mind, kept back by my tenderness for my little friend, but at last I was obliged to fix the day of my departure. The prince got up fresh hunting excursions and fresh wrestling matches, and after a fortnight of these pleasures I declared that I could stay no longer, and he gave me my liberty. My farewell from Châli was heartrending.
My sultan has seen the kawar of the Moslems and the mearrah of the Jews; and he sees here the kawar of the animals. All the animals which die in Tangier by the hand of God, horse, dog, or camel, are brought to this spot, and here they putrefy or are devoured by the birds of the heaven or the wild creatures that prowl on the chali. Come, my sultan, it is not good to remain long in this place."
At night, however, when I was alone, I sent for Haribada, and after several misleading questions I said to him: "Do you know what has become of little Châli, whom the rajah gave me?" He immediately assumed a sad and troubled look, and said, in evident embarrassment: "We had better not speak of her." "Why? She was a dear little woman." "She turned out badly, Sir." "What Châli?
But Châli never got tired of looking at it, of admiring it ecstatically. From time to time she would say to me, "May I touch it?" And when I had given her permission she raised the lid, closed it again with the greatest precaution, touched the shells very gently, and the contact seemed to give her real physical pleasure. However, I had finished my work, and it was time for me to return.
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