Then a man from Sarandib (Ceylon) arrived who claimed to foretell the future. We asked him about our own circumstances and he brought us glad tidings that proved unerringly accurate. I bought an Indian slave-girl, and we travelled on to Aden. There I said to my vizier, “Go to Zabid, spread word that I am dead, and sound out the situation.”

I myself went up to Jibla (1) and investigated al-Mukarram’s position, after which I made for Zabid. The vizier told me pleasing news: our supporters were many. I therefore trimmed my beard, covered one eye with a strip of cloth, let my fingernails grow long, and headed for the house of the vizier Ibn al-Qum. I overheard him saying, “If I could find even a dog from the house of Najah, I would place him on the throne”—this because a feud had arisen between him and his companion Ibn Shihab.

Ibn al-Qum’s son came out and said, “Hey Indian, can you play chess?” I replied, “Yes.” We played, and I defeated him; he flew into a rage, for he was one of Zabid’s leading youths. His father said to him, “No one can beat you except Jayyash—and he is dead.” I then played the father and deliberately withheld mate; he became fond of me and treated me as an intimate, all the while repeating, “May Allah hasten your coming, O family of Najah!”

I started corresponding with the Habash (Abyssinians) until five thousand spearmen had gathered around Zabid. I ordered my vizier to retrieve the ten thousand dinars I had on deposit, and I spent them on those troops.

One day Ibn al-Qum’s son struck a slave of his, and the tip of his whip caught me. I said, “I am Abū al-Tāmī.” His father asked, “What is your name?” I answered, “Baḥr (Sea).” He said, “A fitting kunya.”

On another occasion he told his son, “If I manage to beat the Indian, I shall send you, when the year is up, to al-Mukarram.” I purposely eased my play, so he defeated me. Wild with joy, he stretched his hand toward my face, which angered me. I rose, stumbled, pulled myself together (2), and proclaimed, “I am Jayyash b. Najah.”