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"Bereydah abou Mubarek dying not long after his son's return, Mubarek succeeded to his father's fortune and his father's house, and lived quietly and happily in Bagdad during the remainder of his days." The story of Mubarek being ended, and the company having thanked Abu 'Atahiyeh for having related it to them, the Caliph, in his character as host, addressed himself to Sidi ibn Thalabi.
"'How, asked Mubarek, 'is it possible that any house can have been prepared for me, seeing that until this moment I have had no idea or intention of coming hither?
"'What! exclaimed the other, in surprise, 'do you kill and devour each other? "'No, answered Mubarek; 'not each other, but other animals, such as the camel, the sheep, and the goat. "They heard this avowal with almost the same disgust as we should an avowal of man-eating, and explained that in their world they neither killed nor ate any living thing.
With these people to do what they conceived to be right was part of their life, and to do either less or more was to them incomprehensible. Their life was their religion, their work was their prayer, and their enjoyment was their praise. "Mubarek and the fairy spent a very long period in visiting and viewing all the beauties and wonders of this strange world.
How long a period they had no means of estimating, since there light is perpetual as on one bright morning that never knows an end. "At length, not because they were tired, for weariness is there unknown, Mubarek determined again to return to the house that had been given him. He desired to enter upon the regular performance and enjoyment of the duties of the new existence in this other world.
"The vessel chanced to be one bound for Bussora, whither in due time Mubarek arrived, and hastening to Bagdad, found his father, now an old man, and who had long mourned his death, still alive and overjoyed to again behold his son.
"This fruit seemed to Mubarek to consist of all sorts of precious stones the topaz, the jasper, the onyx, the carbuncle, the emerald, the ruby, and many others, and having brought their plates filled with this fruit into the house, these strange people sat down and ate them with much relish, praising highly their delicious flavour and nutritious qualities.
"Saying this, they conducted Mubarek and the fairy to a spacious and beautiful palace which stood not far from the spot where they were standing. "The house, like all those in this city, appeared to be composed of immense blocks of crystal or translucent marble of many hues.
"'Have you, then, asked Mubarek, 'no religion? "'What is that? said they; 'the word is new to us. "'Do you not, asked Mubarek, 'serve God? "'Allah forbid that it should be otherwise, said they. 'He has created us and placed us in this world, and what He wills we do. We do not comprehend your meaning. "Perceiving this to be indeed the case, Mubarek did not continue to speak of religion.
"Mubarek, who fortunately succeeded in reaching the land, although with the loss of all that he possessed, wandered about for some time in a most forlorn and starving condition. At length, meeting some natives of the country, he was conducted by them to a large town on the coast, which was the capital of the kingdom.
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