A King arranged marriage for his son with a neighbouring King’s daughter and decided to send the Prince to meet his future wife, accompanied by his Vazir. He didn’t know that the Vazir was disloyal. A cousin of the Princess wished to marry her, but had been rejected. That cousin sent a message to the treacherous Vazir to either kill the Prince or somehow to spoil his chance to marry the Princess. As they journeyed through a desert, the Vazir told the Prince that there was a spring of fresh water close by called El-zahra. The Prince dismounted and, washing his hands and face, he drank from the spring. Immediately, he turned into a woman, for it was a magical spring and the Vazir had known that. The Prince wept and asked the Vazir to return. He decided not to go back home or to meet the Princess till he found a solution or till he died!
As the Prince sat grieving, a horseman rode up to him and asked him why he was sad. The Prince told his story and the man replied, “You have been betrayed by your father’s Vazir. He is the only man who knew the secret of this spring!” The man took the Prince with him, telling him he could help him. He said, “I am the son of the King of Djinns.” At the palace of the Djinns, the Prince was looked after with great courtesy before they reached the Dark Land where there was a spring of sparkling water. “This is the Spring of the Women,” said the Djinn. “Drink and be well!” The Prince drank the water and in a flash he became his usual self! The Djinns sent him to the Princess whom he married. Then, he returned with his bride to his father to tell him of the treachery of the Vazir.
