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Ali ibn Ahmad Asadi: Garshasp-name
(1066) (History of Garsasp) Tus in Iraq
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Taken from: The Oral Background of Persian Epics: Storytelling and Poetry by
Kumiko Yamamoto
Le livre de Gerchasp: poeme persan. By Tus? Asad?, Cl�ment Huart,
Tusi the younger Asadi
A maharaja of India is defeated by a man called Bahou. A prince of Zabulistan called Gerchasp comes to his help.
A black servant (Zangi) of Bahu offers to assassinate Garsasp. The Zangi�s plan is briefly as follows: he will go and see Garsasp in private, insisting that he has an imported message to deliver, while Garsasp is reading the message he will try to stab him with a dagger. Bahu accepts the offer and sends the Zangi to Garsasp with a letter of surrender. As is planned, the Zangi attempts Garsasp�s live with a dagger when Garsasp is reading the letter. But Garsasp sees the dagger and throws the Zangi to the floor. He tells the Zangi to accompany him to Bahu�s tent, promising a commandership. The Zangi agrees to do so, and helps Garsasp to capture Bahu in his sleep. The Maharaja and Garsasp celebrate their victory before Bahu.
In the night (before the battle) there arrives an immeasurable army, followed by 6000 terrible elephants......I bring here from the land of the Zendjs thousands of brave warriors. Is it really necessary to have that big an army?........He chooses 50,000 trained horsemen, two generals, 1000 generals........he sends back the Zendjs that just arrived.
As his son is the ruler of Serendib they decide to send the army to fight him to.
From there to Zanguebar he sends the army going up to an island at the beginning of the ocean. Mountains and forests cover this big island, all the trees are aloe-wood and all the mountains minerals and diamonds........
The son of Bahou is defeated in a naval battle and seeks refuge in Zanguebar.
The son of Bahou brings together his whole family; then he makes them cross the sea very fast. His world closes around him very fast from all sites. He asks refuge at the king of Zanzibar.
The people of that country dress in two pieces: one around the waist, one around the ears. Nobody in that country owns a horse, nobody knows how to ride them. Their arms are a sword at the day of battle, then a fish bone, arrows and stones. When a noble or a king becomes eminent, they make him sit on an elevated throne; Four people carry this throne and put him high on their heads. A square piece of textile suitable for a king is strongly fixed onto the chassis of that throne. In that seat they are the object of goodness and yearning; in the land of Zanguebar he is given the name of endoul. When the king is taking some under his protection, then the turban and the seal are the sign; and in front of his face a veil is suspended; nobody can see him outside the elite of the nobles. Learning that the son of Bahou was approaching, he sends him this seal and royal bandage; then he has his throne transported as fast as possible, spreading his jewels all along the road. When he gets close to him, he stands up, asks many questions, welcomes him warmly, touches him softly, has him sit down, gives him honour, and that is how he was treated by this monarch. He marries into the royal family; he installs himself quietly and free of sorrows. Each of his soldiers takes a wife from among the natives.....
In later adventures the emperor of China is captured and brought to Persia. To make him forget China the most splendid presents are given to him.
Out of his treasure is given 100 bags of gold, 55 ornamented dresses, 200 Turkish slave boys with their attire, 30 slaves, beauties with pleasant faces, swords, jewels in big amounts,......and the lands of Zendj, Zaboul, all of Ghour, the continent from Balkh up to Kaboulistan and up to Sind........