into my presence." Accordingly, seventy of them, inhabitants of different cities, exceedingly eloquent and fluent, attended instantly upon the summons of the King. A very fine house was assigned for them to stay in. After two or three days, when the fatigue of the journey had passed away, he had them called before him. When they beheld the King upon his throne, they offered their benedictions, and making their bows and obeisances, they took their places in their respective ranks.

This King was exceedingly just and righteous, in liberality and generosity he bore the pre-eminence over all his equals and compeers. The poor and needy of the time coming to him obtained nourishment. In no part of his dominions was any overbearing tyrant able to practise tyranny upon any poor underling. Those things which are forbidden in the Law were entirely unknown1 in his reign. Nothing was ever dear to his heart except the (giving of) pleasure and satisfaction to God. He with great politeness questioned the men, saying, "Why have you come into my kingdom? there has never been any correspondence between you and me ; what cause has there been then that you have come thus far?”

One person among them who was experienced2 and eloquent, performing his obeisance, began to speak, saying, 'We, having heard of the justice and equity of the King, are come into his presence. Up to this day no seeker of justice has ever turned away disappointed from this seat of prosperity. Our hope is, that the King will come to our redress." He said, “What is your desire?" He humbly said, “O just King! these animals are our slaves; of them some are recalcitrant, and others, although they are perforce submissive, still they are averse to our authority." The King inquired, "Is there any proof of this claim? for a claim without evidence is not listened to in a court of justice." 1 Lit." rose up, went away." 2 "Seen the world."

He said, "O King, upon this claim there are many reasonable and traditional proofs." He said, "State them." A person among them, who was of the race of Hazrat 'Abbas, (may the approval of God be upon him!) then mounted the rostrum, and began to speak this oration with eloquence and fluency :—

"Praise is due to that true Creator, who for the sustenance of the world has prepared so much and has made so many things upon the face1 of the earth; and for the sake of frail 2 man has created such various animals. Happy is the state of them who, giving satisfaction to him, are pursuing the road to futurity. What shall be said of those people who, showing disobedience, have unrighteously turned away from him? And blessings without limit are due to the True Prophet, Muhammad the Chosen, whom God Almighty sent after all the (other) prophets for the sake of the guidance of man, and whom he made chief of all. He alone is king of all Jins and men, and the support and refuge of every one in the Day of Judgment. Benedictions and peace be upon his holy3 offspring, by whose means religion and the world were regulated, and through whom the Muhammadan faith was spread. 4

"In fine, thanks are at all times due to that incomparable Creator who made Adam from a single drop of water, and by His omnipotence made him the father of children, and having formed Eve from him, peopled the face of the earth with thousands of human beings, and gave man rank above all created things. He made him ruler over all the land and sea, and fed him with all kinds of pure food. Accordingly He himself has said in the Kurán (Arabic, the meaning of which is) 'All animals have been created for you, take your

1'Arsa-area, plain, expanse.

2 Za'ifu-l bunyán-weak in constitution. 3 Pák -pure, holy.

4

Riwaj páya-obtained currency.

advantage from them, eat them, and make warm clothing from their skins and hair; in the morning send them to the pasturage, and in the evening bring them back again to their houses, for you they are a beauty and ornament.' And in one place he has thus said (Arabic)—' On the dry land and on the sea ride upon camels and in ships.'2 And in another place he has said thus (Arabic)—' Horses, mules, and asses were created that you might ride on them; '3 and again he has said, (Arabic)—' Ride upon their backs, and remember the bounties of God.'4 Besides this, many other verses of the Kurán have been revealed upon this subject, and it is to be understood also from the Bible and the Testament that animals were made for our sakes. In every way we are their masters, they are our slaves."

The King then turned towards the animals and said "This man has brought forward verses of the Kurán about his claim in reply to this, speak whatever comes into your minds." Having heard this, the mule, with a ready tongue, delivered this speech:

:

"Praise is due to the majesty of that One, holy, ancient of days, and free from wants, who existed before the foundation of the world, not (confined) to time nor to place. By the utterance of a single 'BE' He made manifest all creatures from (behind) the veil of obscurity.5 Having fashioned the sky from water and fire, He gave to it the dignity of loftiness. Having brought forth the race of Adam from a drop of water, He sent them hither and thither in the world, that they might engage in its cultivation, but not to ruin it. Protecting the animals in a befitting manner, they were to benefit by them, not to tyrannise over them and oppress them."

After this he proceeded to say-"It is not to be understood

1 Kurán, Súrat xvi. v. 5, 6.

3 Kurán, Súrat xvi. v. 8.

2 Kurán, Súrat xxiii. v. 22. 4 Kurán, Súrat xliii. v. 12.

5 Chaos.

from the verses which this man has cited that we are their slaves and they our masters, for mention is made in those verses of those blessings which God Almighty has bestowed upon them, and this verse of the Kurán is conclusive upon the point, (Arabic,) i.e.—‘God Almighty has made all the animals subject to you-just as He has made subject the sun and moon, the air and the clouds.' From this it is not to be understood that they are our masters, we their slaves; but rather, that God Almighty having created all things in the earth and in the sky, made one thing subject to another, so that they might all together derive benefit and keep off evil from each other. Consequently God Almighty made us subject to them simply for this purpose, that benefit might accrue to them, and detriment be averted-but not as they have supposed, and with fraud and calumny contend, stating, 'We are the masters, they are our slaves.'

"Before these men were created, we and our parents were dwelling upon the face of the earth without obstruction—we grazed in every direction, wandering wherever our hearts desired; and each of us was engaged in search of his means of subsistence. In fine, we consorted together among the hills, woods, and mountains, and nourished our young ones. Thankful for whatever God had ordained, we spent our nights and days in His praise—we knew no other than Him; dwelling in our homes in comfort, there was no one to interfere with

us.

"When, after this, an age had passed, God Almighty formed Adam from clay, and made him ruler over the whole face of the earth. As men became numerous, they took to roaming about in the woods and deserts. Then, too, they stretched out over us poor creatures the hand of oppression. Having caught horses, asses, mules, bulls, and camels, they began to exact service from them; and by force and tyranny they brought to pass (all) those evils which had never come to

the knowledge of our fathers and grandfathers. What could we do? Being helpless, we fled to the woods and deserts. Even then these persons in no way gave up the pursuit. With what various stratagems did they pursue us with their snares and nets! If three or four animals, fatigued and weary, anywhere fell into their hands, do not inquire as to their ' treatment, for, bound and fettered, they were carried off, and what various ills were inflicted upon them! Besides this, it is their practice to slaughter (the animals), to flay them, to break their bones, tear out their sinews, rip up their bellies, pluck out their feathers, fix them on spits, cook them,1 and having roasted them, to eat them. And with all this even they are not satisfied, for they make this assertion—'We are the masters, they are the slaves.' Whoever fled from them was (deemed) a culprit. There is neither proof nor argument in (support of) this claim. On the contrary, it is sheer tyranny and oppression."

'Lit. "burn them with fire."