George P. James

George P. James. The String of Pearls

London:  Bentley, 1832.

Synopsis

Written in 1832, George P. James's novel, The String of Pearls, is a collection of five short stories which utilize a variety of fairy tale characteristics to teach a moral lesson. Strung together like a string of pearls, the stories fit together to create one complete composition.

The first story in the collection is entitled, "Hadgee Ibraham and His Son." Set near the Gulf of Persia, it concerns an old man named Hadgee Ibraham and his dissolute son, Hamet. Although Hamet possesses charity, he does not possess good conduct, an aspect of his character which greatly disappoints his father. In fact, Hadgee, recognizing his inability to prevent his son's "wicked ways" (11), takes for a pilgrimage to Mecca, as a means to avoid witnessing his son's misconduct. Prior to his departure, Hadgee begs his son once more to reconsider his behavior and tells him that he would "sooner expose himself to the discomforts of a wandering life than you" (11).

His father's words ring true to Hamet, and he immediately decides to reform, but finds himself at a loss as to how he should do so. As he thinks of his troubles, a veiled woman meets him on the street and asks him of his sorrows. Hamet reveals his dilemma and emphasizes his desire to prove to his father of his changed behavior. In response, the woman tells him that he can prove himself through "mortification and inconveniences" (15), and says that his father may face great dangers during his pilgrimage and that Hamet must assist him. She then gives Hamet a vial which contains a potion which will not only immediately bring him to his father, but will also turn him into any animal he desires. Before leaving, the two declare their love for one another, and it is agreed upon that his obedience and sincerity towards this venture is the only way to prove his affection for her.

Hamet takes the potion and wakes to find himself a camel walking near his father. Hadgee takes a liking to the new animal so much that he takes him as his own. As a camel, Hamet endures great hardships and sacrifices for his father's well-being. His shape changes, however, when during their journey, they are attacked by robbers, and to ensure their escape, Hamet changes into a horse.

Hadgee and Hamet arrive at Mecca where they remain for many months, and Hamet grows increasingly impatient with his life as a horse. Desirous to reveal himself to his father, Hamet tries to retake his human shape but is shocked to find that he cannot do so. Many evenings later, Hamet dreams of the beautiful lady telling him that he may now return to his human form in order to help his father. As Hamet ponders his life as a horse, Hadgee becomes anxious as to how he will get his horse back through the desert, and after considering his options, he remarks that he may leave him at Mecca. Upon hearing this, his friend attempts to dissuade him from his decision by telling him the story of the "charitable man and his dog" (24).

The story of the "Charitable Man and His Dog" takes place in Grand Cairo, a city which is notorious for its contempt for dogs. It is also known for inhabiting a fairy and the Charitable Man, a man who helps anyone in need. Having heard of his good deeds, the fairy takes the shape of a woman, meets him, and falls in love. Her desire to make him her own however, is frustrated, as that same day, the man comes across a burning house and saves a trapped woman. For saving her life, the woman offers him her hand in marriage, a decision her father happily condones.

The next day brings trouble, however, for the Charitable Man's future bride has disappeared and cannot be found anywhere in the city. In despair, he walks through the city and comes across a pack of dogs attacking one of its own. Benevolently, the man drives the pack away, a deed for which the victim shows great gratitude, as it refuses to leave his side. The man reluctantly allows the dog to remain with him, a decision which saves his life, as the dog eventually prevents robbers from killing him. Overwhelmed by gratitude, the Charitable Man promises never to part with her, only to face the king of Grand Cairo's proclamation that all dogs in the city should be killed, and that "whoever harbored a dog, should lose his head" (31). This announcement is of no consequence to the man, however, and he chooses to relinquish his life rather than his dog. As a result, the dog instantly changes into his missing bride, and it is revealed that the fairy had cursed her into the shape of a dog to test the Chartiable Man's devotion for his true love.

Having heard this story, Hadgee determines to take his horse with him until another man reminds him that it would be cruel to subject a horse to the long and dry travels through the desert. Dejected, Hadgee talks with his horse and laments his inability to take him with him. At these words, Hamet turns into a camel, and they begin a long journey across the desert. They happen to travel with irresponsible men who, having neglected to ration their food, soon find themselves without provisions. As a result, they begin to kill their camels in order to survive, and require that Hadgee do the same. Hadgee, however, refuses to do so, and as a result, the men attempt to murder his camel, whereupon Hamet returns to his natural human shape. Their attackers are defeated, and father and son come across horse riders who take them back to their village.

All ends well for Hamet whose proof of repentance allows him the beautiful woman's hand in marriage.

The next story is called "The Building of Bagdat," and it concerns the Caliph Almansur, a "magnificent caliph" (41) who desires to build the most beautiful and grand city in the world. His plans are grandiose and extravagant, and despite the workers' beautiful creations, none satisfies him, and he orders their death as punishment. Alarmed, his grand vizier, tells the caliph that he should request the services of the artists in Gurgistan, as they are well-known for their craftsmanship. After their arrival, the Gurgistan artists reveal their plans to the caliph, and all but Ahnaf disappoint him. Ahnaf's vision of a jeweled screen for the caliph is begun immediately, and impatient to see it, the caliph disguises himself to Ahnaf in hopes of anonymously viewing the unfinished work.

Known to the men only as a civilian, the disguised caliph is privy to the lives the artists lead in Gurgistan. Ahnaf speaks of his lovely fiancée, Isrillah, who is waiting his return. Enamored and consumed by this beauty, the caliph desires her for himself, and after revealing his identity, offers Ahnaf great rewards in exchange for her. Angered and insulted by such a proposal, Ahnaf rejects it outright, which, according to the caliph, justifies his death. Before the guards can reach Ahnaf, however, he stamps his feet and disappears. Enraged, the caliph uses a magician to ascertain the whereabouts of Ahnaf, captures him, and kidnaps Isrillah.

Isrillah is brought to the palace and is ordered to love the caliph, but she is unable to carry out such orders. The caliph reasons with her, but his promises of riches are unable to persuade her, and as a result, he threatens to punish her obstinacy with Ahnaf's life. The two lovers are brought together so that Isrillah can witness Ahnaf's death, but once he enters the room, Isrillah throws down a talisman which creates an enormous earthquake, destroying all of the caliph's land and riches. The caliph finds himself completely alone in unrecognized territory and ponders both his past actions and the current situation. Suffering from thirst, hunger, and discomfort, he comes across demons called Afrits. He is so desperate that he implores them for drink and food, but the situation ends in a melee. The caliph's victory is quick, and he soon finds himself in "utter darkness" (64). The darkness does not last, however, as he is soon brought before two people sitting upon a throne: Ahnaf and Isrillah. They tell him that his fate shall be eternity in hell if he does not reform, "subdue his pride and govern his inclinations" (65). After hearing this judgment, the caliph is immediately transported to his palace, which has returned to its beautiful and new condition. Isrillah and Ahnaf are brought before his judgment, and having learned his lesson, he grants them their freedom.

Once again, the caliph is transported to darkness with Ahnaf and Isrillah. A fairy appears who tells him that having been worried about the caliph's pride, she had deliberately sent Ahnaf to him and forced Isrillah to break the talisman so that the caliph could learn his lesson and change his ways.

"The Diver of Oman" details the adventures of Saidy, a renowned pearl diver. One day, he sees a beautiful woman being chased by a water monster, and he saves her by killing it. Grateful, she tells him that she is Princess Elheurah of the sea and offers him any favor he wishes for his heroic behavior. Saidy asks that she give him the ability to remain under water for as long as he desires, a wish that is immediately granted. In order to experience this new skill, Saidy allows Elheurah to take him to her brother's kingdom in the sea. After hearing of his sister's troubles, Elheurah's brother is so enraged that he projects his anger onto Saidy and demands his execution. Insulted and angered, Saidy escapes the kingdom and takes refuge on a deserted island, where he grieves his separation from his beloved princess.

The Princess Elheurah chides her brother, who after coming to his senses, begs her for forgiveness. They search far and wide for Saidy, but with no success, and the princess also finds herself grieving her separation from Saidy.

Tired of his lonely existence on the deserted island, Saidy swims to nearby land, which happens to be a kingdom run by a tyrannical king. In need of money, he seeks a jeweler to sell him the pearls he had picked up during his travels to Elheurah's brother's kingdom. The friendly jeweler takes him in, but Saidy at once notices the suspicious and cautious attitude his new friend assumes, and it is revealed to him that the city was once ruled by a just man, but is now ruled by the tyrant, El Khunkar who reigns with terror and bloodshed.

The next day, an eccentric man claims that the king shall be overthrown by a stranger, and as a result, the king orders that the city be searched for every stranger. Saidy, being a stranger, is brought before the king, and it is ordered that his head be cut off. Saidy, however, acts first and kills the king, securing his place on the throne. The people of the city rejoice at this change in authority and worship him to the fullest.

During his reign, a man is brought before Saidy due to his inability to pay his debt. The law of the land dictates that those who do not pay their debts must be sold into slavery as long as the king gives his consent. This man has delayed his marriage due to his insolvency, and when Saidy meets his fiancée, he is so enamored by her beauty, that he consents to the enslavement of the man. However, Saidy feels severe remorse for his selfishness, and as a means to rectify his wrongs, he abdicates the throne and grants the man his freedom from both slavery and his debt.

Saidy wanders around and finds himself at a wooden door in a lake. Upon opening the door, a dwarf admits him into the palace of the kingdom of giants. The dwarf tells him that his master is to be married to a beautiful woman, but that the woman does not love him, and therefore is required to be locked up whenever the king is away. Although no one is permitted to speak to her, the dwarf allows Saidy to do so, and he instantly recognizes her as his Princess Elheurah, who had been captured by the king during her search for Saidy.

Saidy and Elheurah conspire her escape and execute it the next day. According to plan, Elheurah feigns interest in the king and asks that they take a walk around the lake, as she is not feeling well. Overjoyed with her changed disposition, the king gladly takes her to the lake, where Saidy is waiting. Immediately, Elheruah jumps into the water to make her escape, and is followed by Saidy. Saidy, however, is unable to find her, and after several hours, his thirst and hunger necessitate his return to land. He finds himself back in the kingdom he had once ruled, and the citizens are overjoyed by his return and require that he once again take the throne. He rules unhappily until one day the man he had liberated from slavery and debt brings him Princess Elheurah. The man had once overheard the king call out Elheruah's name, and his wife having a sister by the same name, led the man to conclude that his sister-in-law was the woman Saidy desired. Now, with no obstacles to stand in their way, Saidy and Elheurah marry and rule happily in his kingdom.

"The Travels of Prince Acbar" takes place in India and tells of its king and his family. The king marries only after testing the faithfulness of his future bride, and together, they have a son, named Acbar, a precocious and graceful child. Acbar grows up with a love to travel, but at his father's death, the king makes his son promise that until he reaches the age of twenty-five, "he should never be absent from his capital above the space of eight-and-twenty days, except when he commanded his armies in war, and then the promise was not to hold" (130). Acbar reluctantly promises to abide by his father's last wish, despite his strong sense of wanderlust.

The prince's governor, Mahmood, an evil and conspiring man, uses his knowledge of Acbar's wanderlust to aggrandize himself in the kingdom. He tells Acbar that he knows a way for him to travel and still keep his promise to his late father. He binds Acbar to an oath that he tell no person of his intentions, and as a result, Acbar tells his mother that he is going on a hunting trip. Later, Acbar meets with his governor, who through the power of magic, conjures up a carriage and horses who fly them to Afghaunistan (sic). They find shelter in a "magnificent house" and Acbar meets the Queen of Afghaunistan, her sister, the Princess of Persia, and her elderly nurse. The queen welcomes him to her kingdom and offers him her younger sister, a woman who is very skilled in magic, and had predicted Acbar's arrival. The nurse also has powers of magic, and she warns Acbar of Mahmood's evil ways, a prediction Acbar refuses to believe. The Princess of Persia and Acbar declare their love for one another, and she reveals that she possesses a talisman with his picture on it, a charm she has owned since she was born. She explains that a magician had drawn up her horoscope and predicted that she would meet Acbar, and that her destiny would depend upon him. The magician produced Acbar's picture on the talisman, a charm which she was never to take off, as it "preserved her from all dangers" (148). The princess refuses to marry without her father's consent, but Acbar does not have the time to obtain this, as the king lives far away, and Acbar must return to India within the twenty-eight days. Thus, they are unable to marry during his first trip to Afghaunistan.

Acbar explores the country far and wide and laments his forced return to India. His disposition is so melancholy, that his mother allows him to take up another hunting trip, which serves as an excellent pretext to return to Afghaunistan to see his love. Once he arrives, the old nurse senses disaster, and she reveals that the grand vizier, brother to Mahmood, has overthrown Acbar's mother and has taken the throne for himself. Acbar immediately tries to return to India, but Mahmood is nowhere to be found. This is a time of severe catastrophe, as the people of Persia also begin to rebel against their king. Shielded from all harm by her talisman, Acbar and his princess ride out on a magical horse, who leads their way. Acbar looks back at the princess to find that she has fallen into a "profound sleep" (165), an enchantment brought upon by the nurse. Safe, Acbar stops for the evening and leaves the princess to sleep near a tree, while he explores the new territory.

As he explores the new land, he comes across a geni who tells him to follow him in order to see many wonders. The geni takes him to his land which is filled with exquisite beauty never imagined on earth. Struck with the land's magnificence, Acbar is almost persuaded when the geni offers him his palace and his three daughters. The offer is not without a condition, however, and Acbar is told that in order to possess these riches, he must "worship … Eblis" the devil (178). Angered, he refuses, whereupon the land shakes and everything vanishes from his sight. The geni appears again in order to tell Acbar that he had tested his virtue and is pleased with the result, and now vows to forever protect him and the princess. The king of birds, the simourg, then arrives and offers Acbar his help and protection, and flies him back to his dominions. As he flies over India, Acbar sees Mahmood's troops being defeated by the Queen of Afghaunistan's troops, and he rushes to thank her. They, along with the King of Persia, lament the loss of the Princess of Persia, but her nurse stamps her feet and brings back the sleeping princess, who wakes immediately. The lovers are immediately married, and live long, happy lives. After reigning for fifty years, King Acbar dies of illness, and his queen "took the loss of her husband so much to hear that she did not long survive him" (190).

The "Palace of Talisman" concerns the King of Tartary who is "without children or relations" (191), a fact which makes him miserable. Disconsolate and lonely, he leaves his court and rides through nature where he comes across two lions fighting over a small girl. Immediately, the king kills the more violent lion, and after doing so, the remaining lion transforms into a wounded woman. This woman was the widow of a magician who "was a powerful enemy to all orders of evil spirits" (191), and realizing that his daughter would most likely suffer in the hands of his enemies after his death, the magician asked Alkadin, a fairy, to bestow upon her a talisman, a possession which would always keep her safe from the dives' harm as long as she possessed it. It was to obtain this charm that the woman had left her daughter only to return and find her being carried away by a dive, who upon seeing the mother, turned into the lion now slain by the king's sword. After telling her story, the mother dies from her wounds and leaves her daughter in the hands of the king who adopts her and loves her as his own.

As the princess grows older, she is constantly deceived by dives who wish to capture the talisman. One day she encounters a dive disguised as a poor old woman who claims that possession of the talisman for only a minute will cure her ailing diseases. The princess almost finds herself persuaded by the old woman, but quickly realizes the trick and uses this experience as a lesson.

The dives and Afrits are "mad with rage" (196) knowing that with the talisman, the princess will always be protected from their evil ways. Their leader tells them to tempt her "with the weaknesses men call virtues" (198) to which all agree. After this discussion, the dives target the princess's nurse, a woman she adores and trusts. Disguised as a woman selling trinkets, a geni tells the nurse that there are treasures to be found if she follows her, a trick which leads to the nurse's death, and the geni's assumption of the nurse's character and appearance.

As the king grows older, his desire to see his daughter marry increases, and he lets this hope be known throughout many lands. As a result, many princes travel to offer proposals, but all but two dissatisfy him. The remaining two are the king of Ardemistan and the king of Tibet.

In the shape of the nurse, the geni whispers falsities about the king of Ardemistan to the princess, in hopes that she will grow disdainful of him, a plan which succeeds. The princess's dislike for him is strengthened when she meets the king of Tibet, a man with whom she instantly falls in love. The nurse falsely tells her that the king has declared that his daughter will marry the king of Ardemistan, and pretending to resolve the issue, she tells the princess that she should claim that the king of Ardemistan had tried to steal her talisman, which will immediately put him in the king's disfavor. The princess, however, refuses to engage in such vicious lies, and as a result, the geni engages in more trickery, but with no success. Unsuccessful, the geni attempts to gain hold of the talisman through fear by revealing himself, but the princess knows that as long as she holds the charm, no harm can be done, and the geni disappears in frustration.

Conflict is established when the princess hears that her love, the king of Tibet, has been slain by a beast, which, she confirms with her own eyes at the sight of his bloody body. Devastated, she questions her existence, and in her sorrow throws the talisman on the ground. However, the king is only asleep, and the blood is that of the beast he had just killed. Instantly, a geni rises up and snatches the talisman, as the fairy Alkadin arrives to chide the princess. Now in the power of the geni, the fairy takes pity on the princess and turns her into stone telling her that she will not be restored until someone retrieves the talisman from her own palace. The fairy encourages the king of Tibet to save her, and he diligently works with the king of Ardemistan to create a strategic plan for her rescue. With the king of Ardemistan's help, the king of Tibet finds the means to travel to the fairy's palace and endure hardship and adversity. After fighting his last enemy, the king of Tibet saves his princess who returns to life after the talisman is clasped around her neck.

The daughter and father are reunited, and it is decided that the king of Tibet shall marry the princess, and the king of Ardemistan shall marry the princess of Gazerabad, a couple who conceives "a violent affection for each other" (227) at first sight. In the end, the king of Tartary resigns his throne to the king of Tibet, and all live happily ever after.

-- Prepared by Whitney Helms, University of Nebraska, Spring 2006
© Whitney Helms, 2006.