“Along these plains of burning sand No bird can move, nor ant, nor fly, No water slakes the fiery land, Intensely glows the flaming sky. No tiger fierce, or lion ever Could breathe that pestilential air, Even the unsparing vulture never Ventures on blood-stained pinions there.” But a rain had fallen and partially cooled the scorched earth, so that this danger was safely passed. THE BRAZEN FORTRESS. When the darkness of night had fallen upon the landscape, Isfendiyār and a few chosen men advanced rapidly and carefully up the long, precipitous path, and examined the bulwarks of the brazen fortress that crowned the summit of the cliff. They found its iron bulwarks and brazen gates impregnable on every side, and returned to the command discouraged and dismayed. It had been a difficult undertaking, and they came into camp just as the tints of morning were lighting up the eastern sky. It was indeed useless to attempt to storm this metallic fort, where neither sword nor spear nor battle-ax could be wielded to advantage, therefore Isfendiyār collected a hundred camels, and loaded a few of them with embroidered cloths, and others with pearls and precious jewels, while upon each of the others two chests were placed, and one warrior was hidden in each chest.[259] Other warriors were disguised as camel drivers and servants, so that altogether this caravan, which carried apparently only merchandise, was quite a warlike host.