Folio 155b

In every city there is a great wall in which the people take refuge.

They relate that a dragon appeared on that island and destroyed the people's livestock. In the end the inhabitants agreed among themselves to slaughter two cows every day, skin them and set them before it. The dragon would come and swallow them, and never touched the rest of the herd.*1

When the time of Alexander came, they went and complained to him, saying: «If this dragon stays alive a while longer, our animals will be wiped out, then it will eat us, and our cities too will be laid waste.»*1

Alexander gathered his sages and took counsel. By common decision they slaughtered two cows and skinned them. They filled them with pitch (tar), sulphur, saltpetre and arsenic; they also made iron hooks and put them inside. Then they poured tar over them and left them at the usual place.

When its time came, the dragon arrived and swallowed them, taking them for its food. After that it did not come for its food for several days. They went to look: the mixture had turned to fire, the iron hooks had torn open its belly, and the dragon had perished.*2

They gave praise to God the Exalted and sent word to Alexander; Alexander was overjoyed.

After this they brought him a great many gifts. Among them all was a rabbit: its body was yellow in colour and it had two black horns. Whatever animal saw it would take fright and flee.*3

And here is the picture of the two.