When it was the Two Hundred and Eighth Night，She said，It hath reached me，O auspicious King，that as soon as Kamar alZaman had finished his poetry and had taken his rest，he arose and entered the citygate[311] not knowing whither he should wend. He crossed the city from end to end，entering by the landgate，and ceased not faring on till he came out at the sea
gate，for the city stood on the seashore. Yet he met not a single one of its citizens. And after issuing from the landgate he fared forwards and ceased not faring till he found himself among the orchards and gardens of the place；and，passing among the trees presently came to a garden and stopped before its door；whereupon the keeper came out to him and saluted him. The Prince returned his greeting and the gardener bade him welcome，saying，'Praised be Allah that thou hast come off safe from the dwellers of this city！ Quick，come into the garth，ere any of the townfolk see thee.'Thereupon Kamar alZaman entered that garden，wondering in mind，and asked the keeper，'What may be the history of the people of this city and who may they be？'The other answered，'Know that the people of this city are all Magians： but Allah upon thee，tell me how thou camest to this city and what caused thy coming to our capital.'Accordingly Kamar alZaman told the gardener all that had befallen him from beginning to end，whereat he marvelled with great marvel and said，'Know，O my son，that the cities of AlIslam lie far from us；and between us and them is a four months' voyage by sea and a whole twelve months' journey by land. We have a ship which saileth every year with merchandise to the nearest Moslem country and which entereth the seas of the Ebony Islands and thence maketh the Khalidan Islands，the dominions of King Shahriman.'Thereupon Kamar al Zaman considered awhile and concluded that he could not do better than abide in the garden with the gardener and become his assistant，receiving for pay one fourth of the produce. So he said to him，'Wilt thou take me into thy service，to help thee in this garden？'Answered the gardener，'To hear is to consent；'and began teaching him to lead the water to the roots of the trees.