of Meer Moorad Beg.  Here he performed good service in the field, and becoming his master’s personal friend and favourite, had a fort and a small portion of territory assigned to him.  It was at the court of the Kundooz ruler that he first became acquainted with Zebah, the lovely rose of Cashmere, whom he eventually purchased from her father for his wife.[*] He started with his bride to take possession of his newly-acquired gift, an insulated fortress in the heart of a country abounding in those extensive prairies for which Toorkisth[=a]n is so justly celebrated.  On these magnificent savannahs he reared the Toorkman steed, and soon boasted an unrivalled stud.

[* Note:  It is customary in this country as well as in other parts of Asia to purchase the young women who may be selected for wives of their relations, the purchase money varying according to the degrees of beauty.] Towards the close of the first year he became a father, an event which was hailed with extravagant joy by all his vassals, the old retainers of his father foretelling the future achievements in the foray of the young Abdoollah Reheem.

A few months had scarcely elapsed, when the anxious mother spied an old crone moving about in the court-yard; their eyes happening to meet, Zebah screamed and fell into a swoon.  The young heir was instantly hurried away, but not before the old hag had cast a withering glance on the boy’s beautiful face; every one was now fully convinced that he had been struck by the “evil eye,” which was but too clearly proved by the event, for from that day he sickened and pined away till reduced to a mere skeleton.

Large sums of money were expended by the fond parents in the endeavour to discover a charm to counteract the effects of the “evil eye,” till at length in an auspicious moment it was proposed the boy should try the efficacy of the celebrated water of the “Dragon’s Mouth,” which is situated at the head of the enchanting vale of Bamee[=a]n, just beyond the western limits of Toorkisth[=a]n.  The slave girl who proposed this scheme related numerous and wonderful cures effected by the magic waters, and enumerated many hundred individuals, the lame, the blind, the infirm, the rheumatic, and those afflicted with bad temper, who had been perfectly cured by either drinking of the water or being immersed in the fountain itself.  She would not be positive which mode was the best, but certain she was that the cure was perfect and permanent; she herself had been ugly and cross-tempered, and now she left her audience to judge of her character and appearance.  This last proof at once determined the mother to adopt a plan, which after so many unsuccessful attempts she could not but consider as her last resource.