The palace being by the sea-side, the new king, or rather the
Princess Badoura, espying the ship as she was entering the port,
with all her flags flying, asked what vessel it was; she was told
that it came annually from the city of the idolaters, and was
generally richly laden.
The princess, who always had Prince Camaralzaman in her mind amidst
the glories which surrounded her, imagined that the prince might be
on board, and resolved to go down to the ship and meet him. Under
presence of inquiring what merchandise was on board, and having the
first sight of the goods, and choosing the most valuable, she
commanded a horse to be brought, which she mounted, and rode to the
port, accompanied by several officers in waiting, and arrived at
the port just as the captain came ashore. She ordered him to be
brought before her, and asked whence he came, how long he had been
on his voyage, and what good or bad fortune he had met with: if he
had any stranger of quality on board, and particularly with what
his ship was laden.
The captain gave a satisfactory answer to all her demands; and as
to passengers, assured her that there were none but merchants in
his ship, who were used to come every year and bring rich stuffs
from several parts of the world to trade with, the finest linens
painted and plain, diamonds, musk, ambergris, camphor, civet,
spices, drugs, olives, and many other articles.
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