Then they cast off and sailed till they came to a third island，called the Island of the Zunonjwho are a people of the blacksthat eat human flesh. When the blacks saw themthey boarded them in canoes and taking all in the shippinioned them and carried them to their king who bade slaughter certain of the merchants. So they slaughtered them and ate their flesh；and the rest passed the night in prison and sore concern. Butwhen it was [mid]nightthe ape arose and going up to Aboul Muzefferdid off his bonds. When the others saw him freethey said'God grant that our deliverance may be at thy handsO Aboul Muzeffer！'But he replied'Know that he who at delivered meby God's leavewas none other than this ape；and I buy my release of him at a thousand dinars.'And we likewise，'rejoined the merchants'will pay him a thousand diners eachif he release us.'With thisthe ape went up to them and loosed their bonds，one by onetill he had freed them allwhen they made for the ship and boarding herfound all safe and nothing missing. So they cast off and set sail；and presently Aboul Muzeffer said to them'O merchantsfulfil your promise to the ape.'We hear and obey，'answered they and paid him a thousand diners eachwhilst Aboul Muzeffer brought out to him the like sum of his own monies，so that there was a great sum of money collected for the ape.
Then they fared on till they reached the city of Bassorawhere their friends came out to meet them；and when they had landed，the Sheikh said'Where is Abou Mohammed the Lazy？'The news reached my motherwho came to meas I lay asleepand said to me'O my sonthe Sheikh Aboul Muzeffer has come back and is now in the city；so go thou to him and salute him and enquire what he hath brought thee；it may be God hath blessed thee with somewhat.'Lift me from the ground，'quoth I'and prop me up，whilst I walk to the river-bank.'So she lifted me up and I went out and walked onstumbling in my skirtstill I met the Sheikh，who exclaimedat sight of me'Welcome to him whose money has been the means of my delivery and that of these merchantsby the will of God the Most High！ Take this ape that I bought for thee and carry him home and wait till I come to thee.'So I took the apesaying in myself'By Allahthis is indeed rare merchandise！'and drove it homewhere I said to my mother，'Whenever I lie down to sleepthou biddest me rise and trade；see now this merchandise with thine own eyes.'
Then I sat downand presently up came Aboul Muzeffer's slaves and said to me'Art thou Abou Mohammed the Lazy？'Yes，'
answered I；and beholdAboul Muzeffer appeared behind them. So I went up to him and kissed his hands；and he said to me'Come with me to my house.'I hear and obey，'answered I and followed him to his housewhere he bade his servants bring me the money[and what not else the ape had earned me]. So they brought it and he said to me'O my sonGod hath blessed thee with this wealth，by way of profit on thy five dirhems.'Then the slaves laid the treasure in chestswhich they set on their headsand Aboul Muzeffer gave me the keys of the chestssaying'Go before the slaves to thy house；for all this wealth is thine.'So I returned to my motherwho rejoiced in this and said to me'O my sonGod hath blessed thee with this much wealth；so put off thy laziness and go down to the bazaar and sell and buy.'So I shook off my slothand opened a shop in the bazaarwhere the ape used to sit on the same divan with meeating with me when I ate and drinking when I drank. Butevery dayhe was absent from daybreak till noon-daywhen he came backbringing with him a purse of a thousand dinerswhich he laid by my sideand sat down. Thus did he a great whiletill I amassed much wealthwherewith I bought houses and lands and planted gardens and got me slavesblack and white and male and female.
One dayas I sat in my shopwith the ape at my sidehe began to turn right and leftand I said in myself'What ails the beast？'Then God made the ape speak with a glib tongueand he said to me'O Abou Mohammed！'When I heard him speakI was sore afraid；but he said to me'Fear not；I will tell thee my case.
Know that I am a Marid of the Jinn and came to theebecause of thy poor estate；but to-day thou knowest not the tale of thy wealth；and now I have a need of theewherein it thou do my willit shall be well for thee.'What is it？'asked Iand he said'I have a mind to marry thee to a girl like the full moon.'
'How so？'quoth I. 'To. morrow，'replied he'don thou thy richest clothes and mount thy mulewith the saddle of goldand ride to the forage-market. There enquire for the shop of the Sherif and sit down beside him and say to him'I come to thee a suitor for thy daughter's hand.'If he say to thee'Thou hast neither money nor condition nor family，'pull out a thousand diners and give them to him；and if he ask moregive him more and tempt him with money.'I hear and obey，'answered I；
'to-morrowif it please GodI will do thy bidding.'
So on the morrow I donned my richest clothes and mounting my mule with trappings of goldrodeattended by half a score slaves，black and whiteto the forage-marketwhere I found the Sherif sitting in his shop. I alighted and saluting himseated myself beside him. Quoth he'Haplythou hast some business with us，which we may have the pleasure of transacting？'Yes，'answered I；'I have business with thee.'And what is it？'asked he. Quoth I'I come to thee as a suitor for thy daughter's hand.'And he said'Thou hast neither money nor condition nor family；'whereupon I pulled out a thousand diners of red gold and said to him'This is my rank and family；and he whom God bless and keep hath said'The best of ranks is wealth.'And how well saith the poet：
Whoso hath moneythough it be but dirhems twainhis lips Have learnt all manner speech and he can speak and fear no slight.
His brethren and his mates draw near and hearken to his word And'mongst the folk thou seest him walka glad and prideful wight.
But for the moneyin the which he glorieth on this wise，Thou'dst find himmidst his fellow-menin passing sorry plight.
