Tale of Bulūqiyā (2)

Summary
The Tale of Bulūqiyā in the Arabian Nights clearly echoes the Gilgameš Epic.

Text
Bulūqiyā is king of the Sons of Israel, but he lives in Cairo. At his father’s death he finds a secret book concealed in a gold box in an ebony casket resting on a white marble column, which tells of the coming of Muhammad, so he plans to set out on his travels in order to foregather with the Prophet. His mother tries unsuccessfully to dissuade him. At this stage, still alone, he sets out by boat for Syria, but becomes stranded and abandoned on an island, for the ship sets sail while he sleeps. He meets giants serpents who praise Allah and Muhammad and tell him about plans for heaven and hell. Bulūqiyā is inspired, finds another ship and lands on a second island where he meets the Queen of Serpents who also knows that Muhammad will come. He goes on to Jerusalem, and there he meets ˁAffan who knows about Solomon’s ring and about the magic juice of the plant that enables men to walk over the sea, which the Queen of Serpents can find for them. When they have the ring they will be able to drink from the Water of Life in the Main of Murks (not the Fountain of Life) and so remain alive to see the coming of Muhammad.

They set off together back to the second island, capture the Queen of Serpents in a cage, make her show them the magic plant, prepare the juice and then release the Queen. She tries to dissuade them, saying that the ring is not for them, and they would have done better to take another plant which would enable them to live until the First Blast. They leave in a penitent spirit and she goes back to Mount Qaf. Then Bulūqiyā and ˁAffan travel across the Seven Seas with the help of the magic juice and find the tomb of Solomon guarded by a terrible serpent. In spite of conjurations uttered by both heroes, when ˁAffan tries to take the ring he is blasted to ashes by the serpent’s fiery breath. Bulūqiyā faints, and is rescued by the angel Gabriel. Gabriel advises him that he cannot obtain the ring nor drink from the Fountain of Life. Bulūqiyā travels on alone and repentant, still using the magic juice, back over the Seven Seas and has an adventure on each one. Finally he arrives on an island with apple trees guarded by a giant, who will not let him eat the fruit, and says it belongs to King Sakhr. When Bulūqiyā has told his story, the giant allows him to eat and then to travel on. He meets an army of King Sakhr’s mounted warriors, who take him to see Sakhr beyond Mount Qaf. Sakhr gives him a feast and tells him about the world’s origins, and about the seven hells, but does not continue with information about other features of the cosmos. He sends Bulūqiyā on a tour to regions beyond the everyday world, to meet other immortal beings and the angels at the highest level, from whom he hears how Mount Qaf encircles the earth, and about the sea of eternity, and the Day of Judgement.

Bibliography

Stephanie Dalley

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