by the hand of this thy new votary, vouchsafe us the Thibaoo!"
All of us stood silently; and wonderful to relate, even at that late hour an ass brayed on the right hand. The Gooroo was overjoyed.
"There!" cried he to the others, "was there ever so complete an acceptation of a votary? The omen almost followed the prayer."
"Shookr Alla!" exclaimed my father, "it is now complete; he will go forth and conquer. There only remains for you to tie the knot."
"That I will do when we return," said the Gooroo; and when we reached our encampment, he took my handkerchief, and untying the knot which had been previously made, he retied it, placing a piece of silver in it. Presenting it to me, he said,
"Receive this now sacred weapon; put your trust in it; in the holy name of Kalee, I bid it do your will."
I received it in my right hand, and carefully tucked it into my waistband, that I might not lose it, and that it might be ready for action when required.
We remained in conversation for some time and then threw ourselves on our carpets to
