By the Sultan’s most excellent majesty, and my lord the grand Seneschal,

We Gander-beak, grand Seneschal of Congo, vizier of the first bench, trainbearer to the great Manimonbanda, chief and superintendant of the sweepers of the divan, give notice, that tomorrow morning at nine of the clock, the magnanimous Sultan will give audience to the widows of the officers slain in his service, in order to decree, on sight of their pretensions, what to him shall seem meet. Given at our office the twelfth of the moon of Regeb, in the year 147,200,000,009.

All the distressed women of Congo, and a great number of them there was, did not fail to read the proclamation, or to send their footmen to read it; and less still to be at the appointed hour, in the lobby of the audience chamber. “In order to avoid a crowd, let no more enter,” said the Sultan, “than six of these ladies at once. When we have heard them, let them pass through the back door, which leads to the outward courts. You, gentlemen, be attentive, and pronounce on their demands.”