out of the saddle, and hurled him at his horse's feet. Hassan was about to sever his rival's head from his body, when Nujoom interposed, observing that the prostrate cavalier had received hospitality in his tent. The indignant lover, therefore, contented himself with cutting the hair off his rival's forehead, tying his hands behind him, and letting him return in this condition to his tribe.

Intelligence of this exploit circulated amongst the Arabs, and no one dared thenceforward appear to demand the hand of Nahoomeh.

Hassan, being constrained by this occurrence to declare his love, waited the decision of Nujoom with inexpressible anxiety. His youth and his want of fortune made him dread a refusal. Plunged in bitter reflections, he began to resign himself up to despair, when a devoted slave assured him that he had heard Nujoom say to his wife, that he should accept his nephew as a son-in-law with pleasure, if he was richer, since he esteemed his bravery and generosity. This news revived the embers of hope in the heart of Hassan; he sought his uncle, arranged with him the amount he was to give, in order to obtain the hand of his beloved, and declared that he was determined to sally forth with his companions in arms, and conquer with his lance the dowry of Nahoomeh.

Before he quitted the tribe, Hassan sent a message to his mistress, requesting her to meet him Soon he saw her hasten, with

without the camp. the fleetness and the grace of a timid gazelle. Hassan informed her of his design, and bade her an affectionate adieu. Terrified at the dangers he was about to encounter, for her sake, Nahoomeh shed a flood of tears, and exclaimed, "Dearest love, may heaven watch over thee!" Her sobs prevented more. Hassan kissed her forehead, and hastened to rejoin his companions in arms. They marched towards the country of Anadan, traversed Meljem and Gwelan, and their journey was of long duration.

During Hassan's absence, a warrior named Assaf, ranging, upon an occasion, with some of his attendants, over the country which intervened between his own and other tribes, left his party, and came alone to reconnoitre the encampment of the Mazenites. Whilst he was admiring their rich pasturages, he perceived near a lake a bevy of young maidens, amongst whom was the fair Nahoomeh, who frolicked freely with her companions, emerging from the lake with more lustre and majesty than the star of night in all her plenitude. She smiled, and shewed two rows of pearls intrenched behind lips of coral. Assaf, on beholding her, remained

motionless; he experienced a sentiment he had never felt before. The young damsels perceived him, and remarked that his eyes were fixed upon Nahoomeh. They formed a rampart around her, and, concealing her in the midst of them, cried to Assaf, "have you lost every feeling of decency, that you come here and direct your impudent glances towards women? Surely this is not a mark of bravery or courtesy."

This reproof caused him to retire, but he withdrew slowly, his heart deeply impressed with the image of Nahoomeh. Lord of the tribe of Kahtan, Assaf was remarkable for gigantic stature, and a voice of thunder. He had under his orders a numerous army, which, in a short space of time, impoverished the land on which it encamped, and was forced to seek other pasturage, the inhabitants of which fled at the alarming report of its approach.

When he reached his home, Assaf despatched an ancient female of his tribe, to endeavour to discover who the maiden was whom he had seen; he enjoined the messenger especially to learn whether or not she was free. The skilful emissary soon ascertained that her name was Nahoomeh, the daughter of Nujoom, and that she was not married; with this intelligence she hastened to her master.

Assaf instantly employed one of his relations to proceed to the tribe of Mazen, and announce to Nujoom, that Assaf, having seen his daughter, required him to send her to him with the requisite paraphernalia of a bride, and that he was ready to give whatever dowry Nujoom might think fit to name, telling him to be satisfied that, as soon as he had the honour of being allied to him, he, Nujoom, would have no enemies to fear. He added to this proud message, that if Nahoomeh was not sent willingly, he would take her by force, and would then treat her as a slave; that he would annihilate the tribes of Mazen and Tamides, without sparing widows, orphans, or babes at the breast.

Nujoom returned an answer, by the envoy of Assaf, that his daughter had been promised to his nephew; that he had no further power of disposing of her; that he hoped that Assaf would not conceive any animosity against him on account of this unavoidable refusal; that if, nevertheless, he took any hostile steps, and attempted violence, he knew how to defend himself, and to protect women and children. This reply only served to irritate the passion of Assaf, who vowed that he would get possession of Nahoomeh and treat her as a slave.

At this juncture, Hassan returned with a considerable booty in flocks, camels, and rare and

curious articles. He paid his uncle the stipulated dowry, and set apart five hundred sheep for the nuptial entertainment. Upon learning the menaces of Assaf, Hassan exclaimed, "we must not wait till he comes to attack us; I will go and implore the aid of the powerful King Zaer, who brought me up at his court; I will return with the invincible warriors of Abs and Abnan, and will repel this insolent neighbour far from our lands."

These words calmed the mind of Nujoom, who consented that the nuptials of his nephew and daughter should succeed the entertainment which Hassan wished to give to his friends in order to celebrate his safe and fortunate return. For seven days, the Mazenites gave themselves up to festivity; songs of gaiety and groups of dancers were heard and seen on all sides. On the eighth day, Nahoomeh, adorned with magnificent raiment, was about to be united to her cousin, when some travellers interrupted the ceremony by announcing that Assaf had assembled a considerable force, and was preparing to attack the tribe of Mazen. The travellers added, that Ebn Hassan and Ebn Messad had already arrived at the place of rendezvous, with the tribes of Assed and Jani, and that Aoof, the Terjemite, had joined them, burning with a desire to avenge his affront.