Arabian Nights: 259th Night: Jullanar of the Sea - 30

The following night Shahrazad said:

King Badr, after the shipwreck, was landed in the city of Magicians. The old man, a favabean seller hosted him, and gave him food. According to the favabean seller the chief witch of the city used to catch any young man who enters the city, enjoys him lavishly and then turn him into an ass, or mule. Thus the city was now full of asses and mules.  The name of the witch was Lab, which means 'the sun.' These mules and asses, when any stranger or new comer tries to enter the city kick them out, so as to save them from the misfortune they suffer.  On hearing this tale, King Badr was terrified, and shook like a thunderbolt, saying to himself, "Hardly did I believe that I had been delivered from sorcery, when God cast me into the den of worse sorcerers."  Then he pondered over what to do.  The old man saw him trembling with fear, and said, "Son, go and sit at the door of the shop and see how many inhabitants there are in the city.  Do not be afraid, for the queen and all the inhabitants respect me and like me and will not cause me any trouble."

King Badr went and sat at the door of the shop to look at the people.

But morning overtook and Shahrazad lapsed into silence.

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