The sultan took little notice of any of the other writings, but considered mine, which was so much to his liking, that he says to the officers, Take the finest horse in my stable, with the richest harness, and a robe of the most sumptuous brocade, to put upon that person who wrote those six hands, and bring him hither to me.  At this command the officers could not forbear laughing:  the sultan grew angry at their boldness, and was ready to punish them till they told him.  Sir, replied the officers, we humbly beg your majesty’s pardon; these characters are not written by a man, but by an ape.  What do you say! says the sultan, are not these admirable characters written by the hands of a man?  No, sir, replied the officers, we do assure your majesty that it was an ape who wrote them in our presence.  The sultan was too much surprised at this account not to desire a sight of me; and therefore says, Do what I command you, and bring me speedily that wonderful ape.

The officers returned to the vessel, and showed the captain their order, who answered, that the sultan’s commands must be obeyed.  Whereupon they clothed me with that rich brocade robe, and carried me ashore, where they set me on horseback, whilst the sultan waited for me at the palace with a great number of courtiers, whom he gathered together, to do me the more honour.

The cavalcade being begun, the harbour, the streets, the public places, windows, terraces, palaces, and houses, were all filled with an infinite number of people, of all sorts, who were curious to come from all parts of the city to see me; for the rumour was spread in a moment, that the sultan had chosen an ape to be his grand vizier; and after having served for a spectacle to the people, who could not forbear to express their surprise by redoubling their shouts and cries, I arrived at the palace of the sultan.

I found the prince seated on his throne, in the midst of the grandees.  I made my bow three times very low, and at last kneeled and kissed the ground before him, and afterwards sat down in my seat in the posture of an ape.  The whole assembly admired me, and could not comprehend how it was possible that an ape should understand so well to give the sultan his due respect; and he himself was more astonished than any man.  In short, the usual ceremony of the audience would have been complete, could I have added speech to my behaviour; but apes do never speak, and the advantage I had of having been a man did not allow me that privilege.

The sultan dismissed his courtiers, and none remained by him but his chief of the eunuchs, a little young slave, and myself.  He went from his chamber of audience into his own apartment, where he ordered dinner to be brought.  As he sat at table, he gave me a sign to come near, and eat with him.  To show my obedience, I kissed the ground, stood up, sat down at table, ate with discretion, and moderately.