The prince pursued his journey without any extraordinary adventure for a whole month, and at the expiration of it arrived at a spot from which branched out three roads.  At the junction of them was erected a lofty pyramid, each face fronting one of the roads.  On one face was inscribed, “This is named the Path of Safety:”  on the second, “This is called the Way of Repentance:”  and on the third, “Whoever follows this road will not probably return.”  “I will pursue this last,” said the prince to himself, and accordingly striking into it, proceeded onwards for twenty days, at the end of which he encamped near a desolated city, crumbling into ruin, wholly destitute of inhabitants.  He commanded his attendants, as no provisions could be found in the city, to kill five sheep of the flocks he had brought with him, and dress them for their refreshment in various ways.  When all were ready, and the simmaut was spread out, having performed his ablutions, he sat down with his principal followers.

The prince and his company had scarcely seated themselves, when, lo! there advanced from the desolated city a Genie, whom the prince seeing, stood up, and thus accosted, “Hail! and welcome to the sovereign of the Aoon, friendly to his brethren, and ruler of this extensive desert.”  He then addressed him, flatteringly, in fluent language and eloquent expression.  The hair of this Oone Genie hung shaggily over his eyes, and flowed in matted tresses upon his shoulders.  The prince took out a pair of scissors, and having condescendingly cut his hair, pared his nails, and washed him, seated him at the cloth, and placed before him the dish dressed peculiarly for himself.

The Oone ate, and was delighted with the affability of the prince, whom he addressed, saying, “By Allah, O Mahummud, son of a sultan!  I am doomed to death by thy arrival here; but what, my lord, was thy object in coming?” Upon this the prince informed him of his having seen the bird, his vain attempts to take her, the account he had received from the old man, and his resolution, in consequence of his information, to penetrate to the kingdom of Kafoor, to visit the gardens, and bring away some of the wonderful birds.

When the Oone heard this, he said, “O son of a sultan, that country to thee is impenetrable, thou canst not reach it; for the distance from hence is a journey of three hundred years to the most laborious traveller; how then canst thou hope to arrive at it, much more return?  But, my son, the good old proverb remarks, that kindness should be returned with kindness, and evil with evil, and that none are so cruel or so benevolent as the inhabitants of the desert.  As thou hast treated me kindly, so, God willing, shalt thou have a return for thy goodness; but thou must leave here thy attendants and thy effects.  Thou and I only will go together, and I will accomplish thy wish in gratitude for what thou hast done for me.”  The prince immediately retired from his encampment with the Oone, who said, “Mount upon my shoulders.”