have beaks that crumble the hardest rock； appointing a certain dole of fish to their wage。 They betake themselves to the mountain chosen by the owner of the house and hew therein the house。 whilst the owner catches fish for them and feeds them； till the cavern is finished； when they depart and the owner of the house takes up his abode therein。 After this wise do all the people of the sea； they traffic not with one another nor serve each other save by means of fish； and their food is fish and they themselves are a kind of fish。'
Then he said to him； 'Enter。' So Abdallah entered and the merman cried out； saying； 'Ho； daughter mine！' whereupon there came to him a damsel with a face like the round of the moon and long hair； heavy buttocks； languishing black eyes and slender waist； but she was naked and had a tail。 When she saw the fisherman； she said to her father； 'O my father； what is this lacktail thou hast brought with thee？' 'O my daughter；' answered he； 'this is my friend of the land； from whom I use to bring thee the fruits of the earth。 e hither and salute him。' So she came forward and saluted the fisherman with eloquent tongue and fluent speech； and her father said to her； 'Bring victual for our guest； by whose ing a blessing hath betided us；' whereupon she brought him two great fishes； each the bigness of a lamb； and the merman said to him； 'Eat。' So he ate； in his own despite； for stress of hunger； because he was weary of eating fish and they had nothing else。
Before long； in came the merman's wife； who was fair to look upon； and with her two children； each having in his hand a young fish； which he munched as a man would munch a cucumber。 When she saw the fisherman with her husband； she said； 'What is this lacktail？' And she and her sons and daughter came up to him and fell to examining his breech and saying； 'Yea； by Allah； he is tailless！' And they laughed at him。 So he said to the merman； 'O my brother； hast thou brought me hither to make me a laughingstock for thy wife and children？' 'Pardon； O my brother；' answered the merman。 'Those who have no tails are rare among us； and whenever one such is found； the Sultan taketh him； to make him sport； and he abideth a marvel amongst us； and all Who see him laugh at him。 But； O my brother； excuse these young children and this woman； for they lack understanding。' Then he cried out to his family； saying； 'Hold your peace！' So they were afraid and kept silence； whilst he went on to soothe Abdallah's mind。
Presently； as they were talking； in came half a score mermen； tall and strong and stout； and said to him； 'O Abdallah； it hath reached the king that thou hast with thee a lacktail。' 'Yes；' answered the merman； 'and this is he； but he is not of us nor of the children of the sea。 He is my friend of the land and hath e to me as a guest and I purpose to carry him back to the land。' Quoth they； 'We cannot depart without him； so； if thou have aught to say； arise and e with him to the king； and whatsoever thou wouldst say to us； that say thou to the king。' Then said the merman to the fisherman； 'O my brother； my excuse is manifest； and we may not gainsay the king； but go thou with me to him and I will do my endeavour to deliver thee from him； if it please God。 Fear not； for he deemeth thee of the children of the sea； but； when he seeth thee； he will know thee to be of the children of the land； whereupon he will surely entreat thee with honour and restore thee to the land。' 'It is thine to decide；' replied Abdallah。 'I will put my trust in God and go with thee。'
So he took him and carried him to the king； who； when he saw him； laughed at him and said； 'Wele to the lacktail！' And all who were about the king fell to laughing at him and saying； 'Yea； by Allah； he is tailless！' Then Abdallah of the sea came forward and acquainted the king with the fisherman's case； saying； 'This man is of the children of the land and he is my friend and cannot live amongst us； for that he loves not the eating of fish； except it be fried or boiled； wherefore l desire that thou give me leave to restore him to the land。' 'Since the case is so；' answered the king； 'I give thee leave to restore him to his place； after due entertainment。 Bring him the guestmeal'
So they brought him fish of various kinds and colours and he ate； in obedience to the king's mandment； after which the latter said to him； 'Ask a boon of me。' Quoth he； 'I ask of thee that thou give me jewels；' and the king said； 'Carry him to the jewelhouse and let him choose that whereof he hath need。' So his friend carried him to the jewelhouse and he chose out what he would； after which the merman brought him back to his own city and pulling out a purse； said to him； 'Take this deposit and lay it on the tomb of the Prophet； whom God bless and preserve！' And he took it； knowing not what was therein。
Then the merman went forth with him； to bring him back to land； and by the way he heard singing and merrymaking and saw a table spread with fish and folk eating and singing and holding high festival。 So he said to his friend； 'What ails these people to rejoice thus？ Is there a wedding toward amongst them？' 'Nay；' answered Abdallah of the sea； 'only one of them is dead。' 'Do ye then；' asked the fisherman； 'when one dieth amongst you； rejoice for him and sing and feast？' 'Yes；' replied the merman； 'and ye of the land； what do ye？' 'When one dieth amongst us；' said Abdallah； 'we weep and mourn for him and the women buffet their faces and rend the bosoms of their garments； in token of mourning for the dead。' The merman stared at him with wide eyes and said to him； 'Give me the deposit。' So he gave it to him。
Then he set him ashore and said to him； 'Henceforward our love and our friendship are at an end； and thou shalt no more see me； nor I thee。' 'Why sayst thou this？' asked the fisherman； and the other said； 'Are ye not； O folk of the land； a deposit of God？' （206） 'Yes；' answered Abdallah。 'Why then；' asked the merman； 'is it grievous to you that God should take back His deposit and wherefore weep ye over it？ How can I entrust thee with a deposit for the Prophet； whom God bless and preserve； seeing that； when a child is born to you； ye rejoice in it； albeit God the Most High setteth the soul therein as a deposit； and yet； when He taketh it again； it is grievous to you and ye weep and mourn？ Since it is uneath to thee to give up the deposit of God； how shall it be easy to thee to give up the deposit of the Prophet？' （207） Wherefore we reck not of your panionship。' So saying； he left him and disappeared in the sea。
The fisherman donned his clothes and taking the jewels； went up to the king； who received him with open arms and rejoiced at his return； saying； 'How dost thou； O my soninlaw； and what is the cause of thine absence from me this while？' So he told him his story and acquainted him with that which he had seen of marvels in the sea； whereat the king wondered。 Moreover； he told him what the merman had said ＇about the mourning for the dead＇； and the king replied； 'Indeed thou west at fault to tell him this。' Nevertheless； he continued for some time to go down to the seashore and call upon the merman； but he answered him not nor came to him； so； at last； he gave up hope of him and abode； he and the king his fatherinlaw and their families； in the happiest of case and the practice of righteousness； till there came to them the Destroyer of Delights and the Severer of panies and they died all。 And glory be to the ＇Ever＇Living One； who dieth not； whose is the empire of the Seen and the Unseen； who can all things and is gracious to His servants and knoweth all that pertaih to them！
End of Volume 8。
//。。 。【月光】整理