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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tales of the Caliph, by H. N. Crellin
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Tales of the Caliph
+
+Author: H. N. Crellin
+
+Release Date: August 6, 2007 [EBook #22258]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES OF THE CALIPH ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Al Haines
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+TALES OF THE CALIPH
+
+
+BY
+
+H. N. CRELLIN
+
+
+
+AUTHOR OF
+
+'ROMANCES OF THE OLD SERAGLIO,' 'THE NAZARENES,' ETC.
+
+
+
+
+A NEW EDITION
+
+
+London
+
+CHATTO & WINDUS, PICCADILLY
+
+1895
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+THE CALIPH AND THE PIRATES
+  The Arab Merchant's Story
+
+THE CALIPH AND THE BLIND FISHERMAN
+  The History of the Blind Fisherman and his Brother
+
+THE CALIPH AND ABDURRAHMAN
+  Abdurrahman's Story
+
+THE CALIPH AND THE FIRST JAR OF OINTMENT
+  First Adventure: The Caliph and the Emir
+
+THE CALIPH AND THE FIRST JAR OF OINTMENT
+  Second Adventure: The Caliph and Abou Hassan
+  The Story of Murad Essed, the Unfortunate Merchant
+  The Story of Abou Hassan, the Fortunate Merchant
+
+THE CALIPH AND THE SECOND JAR OF OINTMENT
+  The Story of Hunoman
+
+THE CALIPH AND THE SLAVE MERCHANTS
+  The Narrative of Sidi ibn Thalabi
+  The Barber's Story
+
+THE CALIPH AND SIDI IBN THALABI--THE BANQUET
+  The Story of Mubarek, as told by Abu 'Atahiyeh
+
+THE CALIPH AND THE MAGIC TUBE
+
+
+
+
+TALES OF THE CALIPH.
+
+
+That stories such as those in the "Arabian Nights," and fairy tales of
+every kind, should delight us all, men and women no less than boys and
+girls, is very natural.  We find it charming to escape for a period,
+however brief, from all the familiar surroundings of modern life, and
+on opening a volume to pass at once into another region, where all is
+strange, and where the sceptical glances of science never intrude to
+banish magic and the supernatural.
+
+Emboldened by these reflections, we may forthwith commence the
+narration of certain noteworthy occurrences concerning the celebrated
+Caliph Haroun Alraschid.  He was in the habit, as every one knows, of
+wandering very frequently through the town after nightfall in various
+disguises to see for himself that justice was done, and also, it may be
+confessed, by no means loth to encounter such adventures as he might
+meet with.  Many of these have been already related, but others, no
+whit less interesting and extraordinary, remain still untold.
+
+Some of these adventures were very diverting and naturally pleasing,
+but others involved so many dangers and such hardships that it is
+indeed surprising that the Caliph should ever again have ventured on
+these nocturnal ramblings.
+
+An adventure of the latter and more serious description happened as
+follows, and may be entitled:
+
+
+The Caliph and the Pirates.
+
+The Caliph, being on a tour of inspection through the various provinces
+of his empire, chanced on a certain occasion to be stopping at Bussora.
+And one evening, disguised, as was his wont, as a merchant, and, as
+usual, accompanied only by his faithful Grand Vizier, Giafer, he
+strolled through the bazaars silent and observant.  Meeting with
+nothing worthy of arresting his particular attention, he wandered on
+until he came at length to some very narrow and mean lanes near the
+waterside.  In one of these, and when passing the door of a low
+caravanserai, or public-house, frequented chiefly by sailors, they
+noticed some men approaching, who were carrying great sacks quite full,
+and so heavy that each sack was carried by two men, who, on reaching
+the door of the caravanserai, entered.  The Caliph, tired with his
+ramble, and curious to learn what might be in the sacks, beckoned to
+Giafer and followed the men into the caravanserai.  The interior was so
+dark, being lit only by a few small oil lamps, that it was at first
+difficult to distinguish objects clearly.  However, their eyes having
+become accustomed to the gloom after a few minutes, the Caliph and his
+Vizier, who had entered quietly and unobserved, and had seated
+themselves on a low sofa or divan which ran round the sides of the
+apartment, perceived that the company were all rough, seafaring men of
+a very fierce and truculent aspect.  Among them one was seated, who
+appeared by his dress and demeanour to be the chief or captain of the
+band.  This man, addressing those who had brought in the sacks, asked
+them what they had there.  To which they replied, "Things from Abbas
+Bey."  At this answer the Caliph's interest increased, inasmuch as
+Abbas Bey was a palace official; and because many things had lately
+been stolen from the palace, but although many suspected persons had
+been punished and dismissed, yet the thefts had not been certainly
+traced to any one.  These great sacks contained, therefore, without
+doubt, all kinds of valuable property from the palace, and Abbas Bey
+was the traitor who had delivered it to the thieves.  The anger of the
+Caliph, who was a man prone to the fiercest bursts of passion, could
+scarcely be restrained.  Nevertheless, he managed to preserve silence
+and a calm demeanour, the more especially since he desired to learn
+what would next be done.  He had not long to wait, for, some wine
+having been given to the men who brought the sacks, the captain ordered
+them to go at once on board, as he should set sail that very night.
+The Caliph hearing this, whispered to Giafer that he should go out with
+the men as they left with the sacks, and that he should instantly
+proceed to the nearest guard-house and fetch a company of soldiers,
+with whom he should surround the house and take all within prisoners.
+Giafer, doing as he was bid, left the house with the men as they came
+out again with the sacks, and hastened to fetch the guard as the Caliph
+had ordered.
+
+Unluckily, it happened that the captain of the pirates--for such they
+were--being more alert and observant than his men, had noticed the
+presence of the two strangers, and had remarked the Caliph whisper to
+his companion, and the departure of the latter.  Instantly divining
+that their proceedings had been discovered, and that the man who went
+out had gone to betray them to the authorities, the captain whispered
+an order to the two or three who sat nearest to him, and immediately
+they rose, fell upon the Caliph, gagged and bound him; and all so
+suddenly and swiftly that he had no time to offer any kind of
+resistance.  Then the captain, commanding his men to bring their
+prisoner in the midst of them, proceeded at once to their vessel, which
+lay at no great distance.  The night was dark, and that band of
+well-armed, resolute men could not easily have been overpowered, even
+had there been any to attempt such a thing.  But, in fact, they met no
+one on their short journey from the caravanserai to the waterside.  In
+a few minutes, therefore, after the departure of the trusty Giafer, the
+Caliph found himself lying bound and helpless on board a ship, which at
+once set sail and carried him he knew not whither.
+
+The next day one of the crew came and removed the cloth they had tied
+over his mouth to gag him, and brought him some food.  Then the unhappy
+Caliph declared to the man who he was, and demanded that the captain
+should be brought before him.  But the fellow only laughed, and going
+afterwards to the captain, said: "The merchant you have taken has lost
+his wits, and he proclaims himself to be the Commander of the Faithful,
+and says that we are but his slaves."  The captain laughed heartily and
+said, "Nevertheless, he is stout and strong, and may be sold for a fair
+price when we come to the port we are bound for."
+
+Leaving the Caliph to proceed on the voyage he had begun so
+unwillingly, we must return to the Grand Vizier, who, as soon as he
+found himself outside the caravanserai, had hastened to the nearest
+guard-house, and, calling the captain of the guard, had ordered him to
+assemble his men and accompany him immediately.
+
+When he got back to the caravanserai he posted his men so that none of
+the inmates should escape, and then, entering with the captain and ten
+soldiers, was aghast to find the place empty.  At once he hastened with
+his whole force to the waterside; but too late!  Nothing could be seen
+of the pirate ship, which was already lost in the darkness.
+
+Fortunately the Vizier, always a reticent and prudent man, had not
+mentioned the Caliph, and he now ordered the company to return to their
+guard-house, merely remarking that the robbers had for this time
+escaped him.
+
+Returning to the palace, he was for some time lost in doubt as to the
+best course for him to pursue under the circumstances.  That the Caliph
+should escape from the clutches of the desperate gang who had carried
+him off seemed little likely.  And yet so many and such strange
+adventures had been experienced by them both, and they had found their
+way out of so many dangerous scrapes into which the Caliph's curiosity
+and daring had involved them, that no good fortune seemed impossible.
+
+Moreover, he reflected that Haroun had at this time no son old enough
+to succeed him, while Ibrahim, his half-brother, and next heir
+according to Moslim usage, was the Vizier's declared enemy.  His
+accession to the throne would therefore mean infallibly the destruction
+of the Vizier and his whole family.
+
+He resolved, after much consideration, to take the boldest course as
+being really the safest, as indeed it frequently is.
+
+Taking with him a small escort, he left Bussora at daybreak, and
+proceeded as fast as the horses would carry them to Bagdad.  On his
+arrival he wrote immediately a note to Zobeideh, Haroun's favourite
+wife; told her that the Caliph, while engaged in one of his usual
+nocturnal rambles, had temporarily disappeared, and suggested, in the
+interest of herself and her son, that she should give out that, being
+indisposed, the Caliph had retired for a short time to one of his
+palaces in the provinces, and had confided the government meanwhile
+into the hands of his old and trusty Vizier.  In this way, and with the
+connivance of Zobeideh, the astute Giafer managed to retain without
+question the government of the country during the absence of the Caliph.
+
+
+To return to the Caliph.  For three days the pirate ship pursued her
+course in fair weather, and without incident.  On the fourth day she
+sighted a merchantman, to whom she gave chase.  But the captain of the
+merchantman, seeing his danger, crowded on every stitch of canvas he
+possessed, and having a fair wind, and an uncommonly fast ship, he kept
+so far ahead that, the sun going down, the pirate lost sight of him,
+and he escaped.
+
+This chase had carried the pirates far out of their course, and on the
+next day a great storm arose, and they were obliged to shorten sail and
+run before the wind.  At length one huge wave which broke over the
+ship, having swept no less than eight of the crew overboard, the
+captain, who found himself short-handed, gave orders that the prisoner
+should be released, that he might do his part in the endeavour to save
+the ship and all their lives.  The ship having sprung a leak--or,
+indeed, more probably several, for the water poured in upon them
+apace--the crew, including the Caliph himself, became exhausted with
+continuous pumping, and the captain, therefore, descrying a coast-line,
+determined to run the ship boldly ashore, in the hope that some of them
+at least might be saved.  And in fact, although the ship when she
+touched the beach was stove in and broken up by the force of the waves,
+yet the Caliph, the captain, and three of his men were washed ashore,
+and lay on the beach in a very faint and exhausted condition.
+
+Here they were found by certain natives of that region, who gave them
+food and drink to revive them.  Then, without either binding or in any
+way ill-treating them, they conducted them along a broad and level road
+which ran inland towards the capital of the country.
+
+In about an hour's time, being all wearied and thirsty, the sun being
+now very fierce, they descried with great pleasure a village at no
+great distance, which was very pleasantly situated at the foot of a
+steep hill, in the shadow of which it lay, embowered in a profusion of
+palms and date-trees.  Here the villagers were scattered in groups,
+feasting and merry-making, it being a festival held in honour of some
+local magnate, whose daughter had that day been married.  The villagers
+received their fellow-countrymen, as also the Caliph and the pirates,
+with every demonstration of good-will, bringing them fresh milk to
+drink, and bread, made of a mixture of rye and oats, with plenty of
+dates, to eat.
+
+Here the whole party rested for some hours, but when their conductors
+wished again to resume their journey, the three pirates flatly refused
+to depart, saying that they were well off where they were, and would go
+no further--at least for that day.  It was intimated to them that the
+king of that country would suffer no stranger to dwell there unless he
+had first seen him and granted his permission.  However, all was in
+vain; they no longer regarded the authority of their captain, and,
+being three men to one, he could not compel them to obey.  Leaving
+them, therefore, the Caliph and the captain set out again, hoping
+before nightfall to reach the town where the king, who had already been
+informed of their arrival, was expecting them.
+
+For some distance their road lay through a pleasant and well-cultivated
+country, dotted at intervals by hamlets and scattered cottages, which
+were surrounded by groves of orange-trees or clumps of dates and palms.
+At length, as they advanced, the ground became broken and hilly, the
+road was steep, and far in the distance they saw, on a great plateau or
+table-land, the sparkling domes and minarets of a majestic city.
+
+The sun was already low as they drew near to the city, and they were
+congratulating themselves on being able to enter the town before the
+darkness should be upon them, when suddenly they came to the edge of a
+vast and precipitous abyss, which completely severed the country they
+had been traversing from the heights on which the city had been built.
+The road they could see continued its course on the other side, but,
+spanning the dizzy chasm, the only bridge was the trunk of a gigantic
+tree, which lay stretched across it.  Without hesitation or difficulty
+the natives of the country passed over, trusting themselves without
+apparent concern to walk at that tremendous height along the rough
+surface of the primitive bridge, which afforded so uncertain and
+precarious a foothold.  The captain, having the nerves and nimbleness
+of a sailor, followed them fearlessly and safely.  But for the Caliph
+the adventure was extremely perilous.  However, seeing the others
+cross, with his wonted intrepidity and hardihood he ventured to follow
+them.  But on reaching the middle of the narrow and uneven footway, and
+looking down into the tremendous depths below, becoming giddy he
+threatened to fall headlong, and only by a strong effort of the
+resolute will that distinguished him, and steadying himself by looking
+earnestly at a fixed spot in front of him, he succeeded in reaching the
+other side in safety.
+
+Shortly after passing over this dangerous bridge they began to find
+themselves in the suburbs of the city.  On either side the road there
+were fine houses situated in beautiful gardens, and they had not
+proceeded far before a guard met them, sent by Selim Sadek, the king.
+
+Selim was very desirous to see and speak with the two brave men who
+unaided had crossed the tree-bridge in safety--a feat no stranger
+previously had succeeded in accomplishing.
+
+When they reached the palace--which was a noble and imposing pile of
+buildings, situated on a steep hill, and overlooking not only the city,
+but extensive plains and lakes stretching away as far as the eye could
+see--they were shown into apartments where baths and food were prepared
+for them.  After bathing and enjoying an excellent repast, they retired
+to rest, being greatly fatigued with their journey.
+
+The Grand Chamberlain, after he had seen that the king's orders had
+been duly carried out, and that the strangers had been properly
+received and lodged, hastened to report to his master what had been
+done.  Selim, on receiving his report, inquired what his guests were
+like.  The Chamberlain replied, "Both of them, your Majesty, are fine,
+well-built men; and both are exceptionally brave, as their bearing,
+when they came to the bridge, amply proved; but in all other respects
+they are very unlike.  The one is but a rough fellow, probably a sea
+captain, who stared about him in astonishment when he came into the
+halls of your palace, although they are by no means the best.  We
+noticed, also, that he eyed the plate, although it was but silver, not
+only with admiration, but somewhat greedily, as though he would, if
+opportunity had offered, have gladly seized and gone off with it.  The
+other stranger, on the contrary, seemed to view the magnificence of the
+palace with the greatest indifference, and took everything, even to the
+attendance of the attendants and great officers, so much as a matter of
+course, that I feel persuaded," said the Chamberlain, "that he must be
+a very great personage, perhaps even a king, in his own country."
+
+This account of the strangers given by his Grand Chamberlain inflamed
+the curiosity of Selim to the highest degree, and the next morning
+early he seated himself on his throne in the great audience-chamber of
+his palace, and commanded that the two strangers should be brought
+before him.
+
+When they were come he inquired who they were, and where they were
+going when they encountered the storm that had wrecked their vessel.
+To this the Caliph, who in the new robes that had been supplied them
+looked a man of great dignity and good breeding, replied by announcing
+that he was the Caliph Haroun Alraschid, and relating all that had
+occurred from the time he entered the caravanserai at Bussora until the
+time when the pirate ship was wrecked.
+
+When King Selim heard that the man before him was the renowned Caliph
+Haroun Alraschid, whose fame had spread throughout all the world, he,
+being a good Moslim, came down off his high throne, and, making
+obeisance to the Commander of the Faithful--"Sire," said he, "a happy
+day is this for your servant that he should be privileged to see your
+face or to do aught for your illustrious Majesty.  And first, say by
+what death does it please you that this vile pirate and traitor shall
+die?"
+
+The captain, who from conversations he had held with the Caliph during
+their journey since the wreck had become convinced of the true position
+and rank of his captive, stood silent with bowed head awaiting his
+sentence.
+
+King Selim having led Haroun Alraschid up the steps of the throne and
+seated him upon it, would himself have stood upon the steps, but the
+Caliph bade him come up and be seated by his side.
+
+Then, looking towards the captain of the pirates, who had already been
+seized by the king's officers, he said, "Although this man has
+committed that which is very worthy of death, yet because God, the most
+Merciful, has spared him in the tempest and the wreck, I also will
+spare him this once; therefore give him a hundred pieces of gold that
+he may not be tempted by poverty further to do wrong, and let him go."
+
+When this magnanimous sentence had been pronounced, the pirate captain
+laid his hand upon his beard and, bowing his head, said to the Caliph,
+"O Commander of the Faithful, and you, King Selim, if from this time
+forth I rob any more, I shall deserve mercy from neither God nor man."
+
+Then said King Selim: "Since the Commander of the Faithful has pardoned
+thee, and that thou mayest not further be tempted, I enrol thee, as
+thou art a brave man, among the officers of my guard."
+
+Therefore they invested him with the robes of his office and gave him a
+hundred pieces of gold as the Caliph had commanded, and thenceforth he
+became one of the bravest and most trustworthy officers of King Selim.
+
+On the next day the Caliph inquired of the king respecting the three
+men who had remained behind at the village festival.  But Selim
+informed him that they had a law in that country prohibiting any
+stranger from dwelling with the people of the land until the king had
+granted his permission.  Therefore, when the men had been found by the
+officials of government living at that village without having first
+obtained leave and authority so to do, they would be led immediately to
+execution.
+
+"Then," said the Caliph, "by this wholesome law your people are
+protected from the evil influence of villains, and in this case we are
+rid of three men who were not only thieves and pirates, but lazy,
+worthless, and mutinous fellows, who refused to obey and follow even
+their own captain.  The action of your law has but forestalled what
+would have been my own sentence upon them."
+
+The Caliph remained a whole month with King Selim, accompanying him on
+grand hunting expeditions, and being entertained with all the
+magnificent and varied pleasures the royal court could devise.
+
+At the end of that period he had intended to have set out on his return
+to Bagdad.  But just at that moment a messenger arrived from a
+neighbouring king with a very insolent message for Selim and a
+declaration of war.  This king, whose name was Gorkol, had asked the
+daughter of Selim in marriage for his son.  But King Selim, being a
+good Moslim, had refused to give his daughter in marriage to the son of
+a heathen, and one, moreover, who was reported to be proficient in the
+vilest arts of magic.  Hence the declaration of war.  The Caliph, being
+naturally of a very fierce and hasty temper, resented hotly this insult
+to his host.  He therefore announced his intention to accompany the
+latter, who gathered together an army to chastise the insolent heathen.
+
+The military display as the Caliph and the king left the capital was
+most imposing.  The army consisted of twenty thousand men, half of whom
+were infantry and half cavalry.  There were also elephants and camels
+with stores, and a great multitude of camp-followers.
+
+For five days they marched through Selim's dominions, and on the sixth
+day entered the territory of King Gorkol.  The frontier was marked by a
+range of hills, and the passage of so large a force over these was a
+toilsome and tedious operation.  The Caliph and king had each a large
+tent for his own use, and a small army of officers and attendants to
+wait on him.
+
+On the night of the seventh day, after a very exhausting march over
+difficult ground, the army encamped in a spacious valley into which
+they had descended just as night was approaching.
+
+Whether the enemy managed to get at them unobserved, being stealthy and
+knowing every feature of the country, or whether the sentinels, being
+weary, slept at their post, is uncertain, but suddenly before daybreak
+the great army was awakened by shouts and blows to find the foe was
+upon them.  In the darkness and the excitement of the moment all was
+confusion.  Different parties of the royal troops starting hurriedly to
+arms, wildly attacked each other.  The strife being furious and
+hand-to-hand was terrific and deadly; and when daylight appeared the
+enemy, pressing boldly forward to the centre of the camp, overcame all
+the resistance of which the thinned and disorganized army was capable,
+and captured both the king and the Caliph.
+
+The two princes were carried with every mark of indignity into the
+presence of the heathen monarch, who, insulting them with references to
+their defeat, demanded of them that they should abandon the Moslem
+faith and worship the idols of the gods of his people, who had, he
+said, given his troops the victory.
+
+But the Caliph answered that although Allah, whose name be praised, had
+permitted them to be worsted in the confusion of a night attack, yet
+they still trusted in him, and they would never vary in the least
+degree from the glorious words of the Prophet: "Allah is God, and there
+is no God but Allah."
+
+Hearing this, King Gorkol ordered them to be confined separately in two
+dungeons of his castle, there to remain until a great festival of the
+gods which was approaching should arrive, when he would sacrifice them
+both to the gods whom they had dared to despise.  Locked in the gloomy
+vaults, and seeing no one but the jailer who once a day brought them
+the scanty and hard fare necessary to keep them alive till the day of
+vengeance should come, their position seemed altogether desperate and
+their fate assured.
+
+But in the case of King Selim he had, unknown to his captors and
+concealed in the folds of his turban, a ruby of great size and of
+immense value.  With this he hoped to be able to bribe his jailer and
+effect his escape.  And in fact so well did he manage that before a
+week was passed he was travelling homewards in the disguise of a
+merchant, accompanied by the jailer, who dared not remain in his own
+country in possession of the ruby because, according to the custom
+prevailing in that kingdom, all precious stones must be surrendered to
+the king under penalty of death by torture.  He therefore fled with
+Selim, disguised as his slave.
+
+The king had made great efforts to induce the jailer to effect the
+release of the Caliph at the same time as himself, but as Haroun
+Alraschid was in charge of another jailer, it could not be managed.
+Selim was obliged therefore, to his great grief, to leave the Caliph to
+his fate; but he hurried back to his own dominions with the utmost
+speed, determined to at once return with another army to avenge the
+death of the Caliph, whose life he could not hope to arrive in time to
+save.
+
+The Caliph, having about him neither jewels nor money, had no means of
+propitiating his jailer or abating the rigour and severity of the
+treatment to which he was subjected.  Once a day only, early in the
+morning, the jailer appeared, and, without opening the great heavy door
+of the dungeon, he opened one panel only, and through that opening
+handed to his prisoner the two small loaves, or rather, flat cakes, and
+the flask of water which must supply his wants till the following
+morning.
+
+Five days had thus passed, and there seemed no possibility of the
+Caliph escaping the painful and humiliating death to which he was
+destined by the heathen king.  The festival to be held in honour of the
+gods of the country was approaching, and two days hence the people, who
+were already becoming greatly excited, both by religious fury and also
+by drinking great quantities of a strong and fiery spirit which they
+distilled, were to be gratified by the sight of the sacrifice by
+horrible tortures of their unfortunate prisoners.
+
+Just before daybreak on the sixth day, the same morning on which Selim
+and his jailer were effecting their escape, the Caliph awoke, and
+thoughts of the frightful situation in which he found himself prevented
+him from again falling asleep.  In great distress of mind he prayed
+earnestly to God that strength might be given him to enable him to
+sustain with firmness and fortitude the pains he might be called upon
+to endure.  After which prayer he felt calmer and more composed.
+Presently, being very hungry, he tried in the dim light to find a small
+piece of bread which he had not yet eaten.  He had placed it on a
+narrow ledge near to the place where he slept, but in the darkness he
+pushed it with his hand before he had grasped it, and it fell upon the
+floor.  Groping about to find it, his hand came suddenly upon something
+which felt soft and cool--an object apparently about the size and shape
+of a hen's egg, yet not hard like an egg-shell, but elastic and
+yielding readily to the pressure of the fingers.  What it was the sense
+of touch did not enable him to guess, and as yet the light was
+insufficient to permit him to distinguish anything clearly.  And,
+marvellous to relate, as the light increased, although all the objects
+around him became visible, yet this something which he had felt, and
+which he still felt to be grasped in his hand, was nevertheless not to
+be seen.  This circumstance surprised the Caliph very much, and he sat
+cross-legged on the straw which had been placed in the corner of the
+dungeon for him to sleep on, just as he had been used to do on the
+splendid divan in his palace, still grasping the unknown object in his
+hand, and yet still unable to see what it was.  After he had sat thus
+for some time cogitating what this might mean, the hour came round when
+the jailer should come and bring him his food for the day.
+
+Now it so happened that the Caliph's jailer when bringing his food had
+to pass the dungeon in which Selim had been confined.  This morning as
+he passed he was amazed to observe that the door was unfastened, and,
+looking in, he perceived that the vault was empty.  Fearful that his
+prisoner might likewise have effected his escape, he hurriedly set down
+the food and ran on to the dungeon containing the Caliph.
+
+The latter was surprised to hear his jailer running rapidly along the
+passage, and still more surprised when the man, after looking through
+the panel, withdrew the huge bolts and, opening the door, came into the
+great gloomy vault, looking excitedly about him.  Then after a few
+moments, apparently bewildered and terror-struck, he turned about, went
+out, closed the door behind him, and, without waiting to replace the
+bolts, walked quickly along the passage and disappeared.
+
+The Caliph, although unable to guess to what he owed his good fortune,
+did not neglect to avail himself of it.  Pushing open the door, and
+stopping to close it and bolt it behind him, he walked down the
+corridor without knowing where and to what it might lead him.  This
+passage or corridor seemed at first sight to terminate with a dead wall
+at the end of it.  But, proceeding further along it, he presently
+perceived a side-passage turning out of it at right angles, and this
+smaller passage, which was short, terminated in a flight of steps
+leading evidently into the castle-yard.  The door at the top of the
+steps was partly open, and when he reached it the Caliph could hear and
+catch glimpses of a group of soldiers standing and chatting together
+not far from the doorway.  He stood for some moments uncertain what he
+should do.  If he opened the door and went out, doubtless he would
+immediately be seized; on the other hand, to stay where he was meant no
+less certain destruction, as at any moment some one might enter and
+find him there.  He had just determined to step out boldly and risk
+detection, in the hope that in the bustle of the castle-yard his exit
+might pass unnoticed, when a gust of wind blew the door wide open, and
+he stood face to face, not ten paces distant, with that group of
+soldiers he had heard conversing.
+
+For a moment he stood horror-struck, expecting to see them rush forward
+and secure him.  To his extreme surprise, none of them, not even those
+facing him, took the slightest notice of his presence.  They appeared
+not even to see him, but perhaps they took him for one of the
+innumerable retainers of the Court; at any rate, the Caliph, plucking
+up courage, stepped out and walked quietly away.
+
+As he was crossing the courtyard, a great mounted warrior on a powerful
+black steed came pounding along, and would apparently have ridden right
+over the Caliph just as though he was unaware of his existence, but
+Haroun drew quickly aside, and the horse shied, thereby drawing upon
+itself many hard blows from the fierce and haughty rider.
+
+Passing out of the castle-gates, and turning eastward, as he judged, by
+the position of the sun, the Caliph proceeded in the direction which
+would enable him, he hoped, in due time, to reach his own country.  He
+had not gone far when he met a rough country fellow who carried a long
+piece of wood on his shoulder, and Haroun would have been struck full
+in the face with it had he not stepped quickly on one side to avoid it.
+But the man, although he passed close by him, neither looked at nor
+spoke to him, and seemed altogether unconscious of his presence.
+
+It now first dawned upon the Caliph that the strange and invisible
+substance which he had picked up in the dungeon, and which he still
+carried in his hand, possessed indeed the marvellous property of
+rendering him entirely invisible to other men.  This accounted for the
+remarkable panic of his jailer, who, when he looked into, and even
+entered his dungeon, failed to see him; it explained why the soldiers
+had permitted him to leave the building unmolested, why the horseman
+had nearly ridden over him, and why the clown who had just passed had,
+without knowing it, nearly brained him with his load.
+
+Much comforted and strengthened by the discovery of this wonderful
+exemption from observation which he now enjoyed, he walked on briskly,
+till the sun, being now high in the heavens, and the heat very great,
+he came to a village, and entering boldly an inn there, and passing
+through into an empty apartment, he lay down upon a not very soft divan
+he found in it, and straightway fell asleep.
+
+The Caliph being tired with the walk and the excitement of the morning,
+slept so long and soundly that it was night and quite dark when he
+awoke.  And being even then but half awake he did not realize that he
+was no longer in the castle-dungeon; therefore, perceiving that it was
+not yet light, he turned over and went to sleep again.  In a few hours'
+time, in the midst of a dream that he was in his own palace at Bagdad
+and presiding at some great feast, he awoke once more, saw that it was
+beginning to be light, remembered where he was, and found himself
+exceedingly hungry.  Going, therefore, very quietly into the next
+apartment, he found the innkeeper lying there soundly asleep, and on
+the table the remains of a substantial supper.  At once seating
+himself, the Caliph was not long in finishing the repast and assuaging
+the pangs of hunger.
+
+Having all his life been used to eat and drink whatever he required,
+without any thought of payment, it is very likely that he might have
+eaten his meal and departed without the least concern or thought of the
+fact that he possessed at that moment nothing to pay for it.  However,
+it so fell out that he was enabled to recompense his involuntary host
+very handsomely.  For after he had finished eating, and before he rose
+from his seat, he heard a slight rustling sound outside the room, as
+though some one were stealthily approaching.
+
+Now the Caliph, before lying down to rest on the previous afternoon,
+had taken the precaution to bestow the mysterious and wonderful charm
+he had picked up, in a place of safety.  He had put it inside his
+turban, in such a way that he could feel it pressing like a soft
+elastic pad upon his forehead.  And therefore, in virtue of his contact
+with that charm, he was still invisible to every other human being.
+
+Such being the case, the thief peering into the room saw no one but the
+keeper of the inn, who was sleeping very soundly.  Entering, therefore,
+with noiseless tread, his feet being bare, he approached the sleeper,
+and extracted very dexterously a small packet of coin which he carried
+secreted in his girdle.  With this packet the thief glided from the
+room, and stopping outside but a single instant to place it inside the
+folds of his own turban, he walked briskly away.
+
+The Caliph followed him closely.  About a hundred yards from the door
+of the inn there flowed a small stream or brook, across which the only
+bridge was a couple of planks.  Just as they arrived at this point the
+Caliph took off the fellow's turban, and, with a push from behind,
+threw him into the water.  The stream was neither deep nor swift, and
+the thief soon picked himself up, scrambled to the other side, and
+then, without once looking back, took to his heels, being fully
+persuaded that it was the man he had just robbed who had pursued and
+overtaken him.  The Caliph, after taking the parcel of coin out of the
+turban, which he then threw away, walked quietly back towards the inn,
+without deigning to bestow another thought on the thief whom he had
+thrown into the water.
+
+Before he reached the door of the inn, he saw the innkeeper, who had
+awoke and discovered his loss, rush out of the house wild and
+bareheaded, his turban having tumbled or been knocked off in his
+excitement.  Running past the invisible Caliph, and loudly cursing all
+villains and robbers, and especially that one who had just taken his
+money, he caught sight of the thief himself, scrambling up, dripping
+wet, on to the opposite bank of the stream, and, with much
+vociferation, he continued in hot pursuit.  The noise he made brought
+out, of course, all those who had been passing the night at the inn,
+and very naturally they all commenced at once to follow the pursuer and
+pursued.
+
+The Caliph then quietly entered the deserted house, and placing the
+packet of money carefully in the innkeeper's turban, where he would be
+sure to find it on his return from the chase, he left, and taking
+another road, and one leading, as far as he could judge, in the
+direction of his own dominions, he continued his journey.
+
+He walked along for some hours without meeting any one except a few
+peasants, or encountering any noteworthy incident whatsoever.
+
+At length he became tired with his long march, and the heat of the
+noontide sun became so oppressive, that, espying a thick clump of trees
+at a short distance from the road, he gladly made his way to that
+pleasant shelter, lay down on a grassy bank, with a log for his pillow,
+and composed himself to rest and sleep.
+
+On waking, after two or three hours of very sound and refreshing sleep,
+he found that owing to some change in his position his turban had
+fallen off.  This, in itself not very serious or remarkable accident,
+gave him on the present occasion much apprehension and concern.  For in
+his turban he had placed, as has been mentioned, the invisible object,
+whatever it might be, which had in some inexplicable manner conferred
+upon him also, while he was in contact with it, the condition of
+invisibility.
+
+He took up the turban most carefully, he felt in it, he put it on, but
+nowhere could he encounter the soft, cool sensation with which he had
+become familiar.  He groped laboriously all round the spot where he had
+been lying, but in vain.  Whether the object had rolled away, or
+whether it had been carried to a distance by the breeze, or possibly
+had even been dissipated altogether, he could not determine.  One thing
+only was clear and beyond conjecture--the charm was lost for ever.
+
+Coming at last most unwillingly to that conclusion, he sat down
+cross-legged upon the grass as on a divan, resting his elbow upon the
+log which had served him for a pillow, and began to consider how he
+should manage to make his way back to his own dominions through that
+land of idolaters.  He had no idea of the distance to be traversed, but
+he reflected that, having no longer the aid and protection of being
+invisible, and being possessed of no money, his difficulties must
+necessarily be great.  Moreover, he was not without considerable
+anxiety as to what might have occurred at Bagdad while he had been
+absent.  Giafer, indeed, to whom all the details of the government of
+the country had practically been confided for many years, he could
+thoroughly trust.  But Ibrahim, who would probably have succeeded to
+the Caliphate, was known to hate the Grand Vizier, and would not only
+put him to death, but might also, not improbably, have taken measures
+to rid himself of Zobeideh and her son.  Oppressed by these gloomy
+thoughts the Caliph sat for a long time without moving.
+
+At length, hearing the tramp of horses in the distance, he looked up,
+and was overjoyed to behold two men coming along the road, whom he at
+once knew by their dress to be Arab merchants.  Each was on horseback,
+and they had with them, besides several other horses, some mules and
+asses laden with packages.  And there was also a kind of closed
+carriage or palanquin, borne by some slaves, in which no doubt was
+conveyed a lady or female slave of great value.
+
+Now, when the Caliph saw these men approaching, he rose up quickly and
+went to meet them.  When he drew near, he saluted them and inquired
+whither they went.
+
+To which they replied: "To Bagdad."  And they inquired of him how it
+came to pass that he should be on foot and alone in that pagan kingdom,
+seeing it was evident by his dress that he was a Moslim.
+
+Now, the Caliph had already learnt by experience that to proclaim his
+true rank would be only to court a suspicion of madness, therefore he
+replied briefly, that he too was from Bagdad and was returning thither,
+but that unhappily he had been taken prisoner by the idolaters, and
+robbed of all that he had, except only the clothes upon his back.  He
+begged them, therefore, to lend him a horse and to take him with them
+to Bagdad, in which city he had plenty both of friends and funds, and
+where he would reward them handsomely for their kindness.
+
+To this they answered that since he was in distress he was very welcome
+to come with them, and that without any claim on their part for fee or
+reward, the more especially as they would be glad, while travelling
+through that wild and lawless country, to have another strong man of
+their party.  With that they lent him a horse, and he, nothing loth,
+but glad enough to get his feet off the ground and his face turned
+towards home, rode cheerfully along with them.
+
+The Caliph soon discovered that the two merchants were very intelligent
+men and agreeable fellow-travellers.  The name of the one was Abdallah,
+and of the other Ahmed.
+
+After the Caliph had been some time in their company, and their
+conversation had become more intimate and familiar, he ventured to
+inquire how they had fared on their present expedition, and in what
+sort of merchandize they had embarked their fortune.
+
+"You must know," said Abdallah, who was always the chief speaker, "that
+both Ahmed and myself are well acquainted with several of the officers
+in the Palace of the Commander of the Faithful, whom Allah exalt, and
+also of some in the Palace of Zobeideh, his favourite wife.  We always
+endeavour therefore, when trading in foreign countries, to buy such
+things as will sell well at court.  The prices we get for our goods are
+in that way very satisfactory, although the profit we actually make is
+less than you might suppose, because all those officials who gain us an
+introduction to the palaces must have rich presents and high fees to
+recompense them for their trouble."
+
+"And the Caliph, what sort of a man is he?" asked Haroun.
+
+"He is," answered Abdallah, "a just man, and very brave, but fierce,
+hot-tempered, and hasty.  And as he is very apt to lose his temper,
+those who have to do with him are very liable to lose their heads."
+
+"But sometimes he is no doubt very much provoked," said Haroun.
+
+"Nay," said Abdallah, "when he is in an ill-humour, he would order your
+head to be struck off as readily as he would order his dinner."
+
+"I can scarcely believe that," answered Haroun.  "Did you not say that
+he loves justice?"
+
+"Undoubtedly," answered Abdallah, "he is anxious to have a just
+administration of the laws, and I have been told that in order to see
+for himself what goes on, he frequently walks through the city
+disguised as a merchant."
+
+"And that," said Ahmed, "I consider to be by no means commendable."
+
+"On what account?" demanded Haroun.
+
+"Because," said Ahmed, "if on one of those excursions any accident
+should happen to the Commander of the Faithful, the State would lose
+more than ever it gained from all his rambles and inquiries."
+
+Haroun could not but admit to himself the justice of this observation,
+and yet he was by no means pleased with it, as one never is with any
+reflection on our own conduct.  Therefore, when Abdallah said, that for
+his part he thought the Caliph did quite right in determining to see
+things with his own eyes, and that a man ought not to weigh too
+scrupulously the dangers which might lie in the way of doing his duty,
+Haroun could have embraced him in the fulness of his satisfaction.
+
+"But," said Haroun, to turn the conversation, "you have not yet told me
+what good or ill-fortune you have met with on this expedition, nor what
+ventures you are bringing back with you to Bagdad."
+
+As Haroun said this, his eye rested upon the palanquin which was being
+carried by the slaves, and Abdallah, noticing his glance, and guessing
+that he was curious to learn something of the occupant, began as
+follows:
+
+
+THE ARAB MERCHANT'S STORY.
+
+"Before setting out on the expedition from which we are now returning,
+Ahmed and I consulted long as to the countries we should visit, and
+what sort of goods it would be most profitable to bring back with us.
+We at length agreed to journey through Egypt into the central parts of
+Africa, and bring from thence some of those large and rare specimens of
+precious stones of which we had often heard.  And we did not doubt if
+we could secure some of these that we should be able to dispose of them
+to such advantage at the Court of the Caliph as at one stroke to make
+our fortune.
+
+"Having agreed upon this plan we purchased and took with us such
+articles of merchandize as we judged would sell to the best advantage
+in Egypt.  In fact, on arriving at Cairo, we remained some time doing a
+very profitable trade.
+
+"At length, when the proper time of year came round for commencing our
+journey into the interior, we provided ourselves with the articles most
+likely to find favour with the natives, and after two months, during
+which we travelled very slowly, and suffered many hardships, we reached
+the country of a great nation or tribe of Ethiopians, at whose chief
+town, Daarkol, we halted awhile, and did some trade by barter, but not
+much, the people possessing few things of any value to us except small
+quantities of gold dust.
+
+"What we sought of them most eagerly was information concerning that
+tribe of whom we had heard, in whose country were found the diamonds,
+rubies, sapphires, and other precious stones, to obtain which was the
+object of our journey.
+
+"That tribe lived, it appeared, still several hundreds of miles further
+up the country, but what annoyed us much more was the information that
+they would exchange their precious stones for nothing else than ivory,
+of the exact value of which they were very well acquainted.
+
+"This altogether extinguished the hope with which we had started of
+making our fortunes by importing to Bagdad splendid specimens of
+various precious stones.  For when we considered the vast expense of
+procuring large quantities of tusks, the difficulty of getting slaves
+to carry them up the country, and of feeding those slaves on so long a
+journey, together with the danger of being robbed of such cumbersome
+and valuable property by some of the many wild tribes through whose
+territories we must pass, we were fain to conclude that we must needs
+abandon that part of our enterprise.
+
+"As we were one day sitting in a very gloomy mood discussing this
+matter, an African merchant with whom we had become acquainted, and who
+happened to be passing, saluted us; and we, having invited him to be
+seated with us, 'What,' he asked, 'is that which you cannot do? for as
+I came up I heard you pronounce these words: "No, it is not possible to
+do it."'
+
+"With that I explained to him, without mentioning particularly the
+country of the precious stones, that Ahmed and myself had intended to
+proceed still further into the interior to trade with the people, but
+many of them, as we were now informed, exchanged only against ivory.
+And it appeared to us impossible to do any profitable trade if we must
+convey such a heavy and valuable commodity as ivory over long distances.
+
+"The African merchant, when he heard this, smiled, and asked, 'What
+would you give now to anyone who should get you out of this difficulty?'
+
+"I answered that, as it was a difficulty which we had often discussed,
+but could see no way out of, and as it threatened to make our journey
+into Africa comparatively unprofitable, we should be very willing to
+give any man who could render us effectual assistance a hundred pieces
+of gold for his trouble.
+
+"'No,' said he, 'you offer too little.  I can myself most effectually
+aid you, but I must have five hundred pieces of gold.'
+
+"We protested that we could not give so much, that we had it not, that
+it would ruin us; in short, all the pleas that merchants, as you knew,
+advance when they are chaffering with each other.  But after several
+days, seeing that the African merchant stood quite firm and would abate
+nothing from his price, we agreed to give him the five hundred pieces
+of gold for the secret he was to discover to us, namely, of how we
+should provide ourselves with ivory for trading with the tribes, no
+matter how far up the country they might be situated.
+
+"We having on our part produced five bags containing one hundred gold
+pieces in each, which we counted out to him, he produced and gave to us
+in return five small jars, each containing about two quarts of a seed
+about twice as large as a bean.
+
+"'Take these,' said he, 'with you; they are small and not heavy to
+carry.  And when you are come near to the country of that people with
+whom you wish to trade, select a piece of land about two or three acres
+in extent, and plant these seeds singly and about ten feet apart.  In
+about a month great tubers will be observed swelling out of the ground
+which by the end of the second month will have increased to hemispheres
+four or five feet in diameter.  From each of these bulbs or tubers as a
+base great projections will be thrown out, which in five or six weeks
+will attain the size and appearance exactly of huge tusks of the finest
+ivory.  Cutting these, and stacking them for a short time to dry, you
+will then be provided with what appears to be a splendid lot of tusks
+not far from the place where you require them.  And should you
+experience any difficulty in transporting them, you may apply for
+labourers from the tribe you are about to visit, on the plea that your
+carriers who have brought them so far have deserted and gone back.'
+
+"Perceiving now that our African merchant was a proficient in all the
+magical arts of his country, we wished to decline his aid, and have
+nothing further to do with him; but he flatly refused to restore our
+money, and left us not without uttering some threats of vengeance upon
+us.
+
+"As we had bought the seeds at so high a price, we carried them with
+us, without, however, intending to make use of them; for we thought
+that as true believers we ought to shun every product of the accursed
+magic of Africa.
+
+"But after some time had elapsed, and when at the end of a long and
+difficult journey we approached at last the borders of that country
+where the people dwelt who possessed the precious stones, we halted,
+and determined at least to plant those seeds, and ascertain whether
+they would indeed grow in the wonderful way the African merchant had
+told us.
+
+"Selecting, therefore, a suitable piece of ground, we planted the
+seeds, setting each singly about ten feet apart every way.  And the
+ground being damp and marshy, we soon perceived the bulbs showing above
+ground, and they grew apace, so that in three or four weeks after their
+first appearance they became great semi-spherical projections, like
+huge round balls half embedded in the earth.  Or they might be compared
+to very gigantic onions; and about the end of six or seven weeks after
+the seed was sown we had our ground covered with regular rows of them;
+and then from the centre of each bulb a slight projection like the tip
+of a small horn might be observed to rise.  These grew and increased
+very rapidly, so that within a few weeks they had attained the imposing
+proportions of immense tusks.
+
+"Cutting them and stacking them to dry, by placing ten or a dozen of
+them together like sheaves of corn, we found that upon the most careful
+inspection they did not in any respect differ in appearance from tusks
+of the finest ivory; while their great size and symmetry of form could
+seldom be equalled by what may be termed elephant ivory.
+
+"It now became a question whether we should use them for the purpose of
+barter to obtain the precious stones.  Our first sentiment, as I have
+said, was that we, as good Moslems, would have nothing to do with the
+productions of the infernal magic of the African.  But our interest and
+the desire to accomplish the object of our journey by getting the
+precious stones finally prevailed.  We argued that as we had fairly
+bought the seed, and had planted and prepared the vegetable tusks by
+our own exertions, therefore we were fairly entitled to make use of
+them, and we decided to continue our journey to Behar, the country
+inhabited by the tribe which possessed the precious stones.
+
+"When we arrived there we were conducted before Amavaroo, the king of
+Behar, to whom we presented ourselves as ivory merchants who had
+visited his country desiring to exchange ivory for precious stones.
+The king readily gave us permission to barter with his people, the more
+especially because we had brought with us as a present for himself two
+or three of the tusks, than which he had never beheld any finer.  He
+was lost in admiration and delighted to obtain such splendid specimens;
+and he inquired eagerly where we had left our stock.
+
+"Acting on the suggestion made to us by the African merchant, we said
+that it lay about three days' journey behind us.  That we had left it
+there because our carriers who had brought it so far had deserted; and
+we prayed him, therefore, to supply us with carriers to bring it into
+his kingdom.
+
+"The trouble always experienced by merchants trading in those regions
+in obtaining, and especially in retaining carriers, was so well known
+that the king was by no means surprised at our predicament, but ordered
+a sufficient number of his people to accompany us and transport our
+ivory.
+
+"The most common mode of carriage with these people is to place the
+load upon the head and, balancing it there, to walk away merrily under
+their burthen.  And it is surprising how heavy a load they will thus
+carry.  But they could not manage to take our tusks in that fashion.
+They carried them on their shoulders, four men to a tusk, three near to
+the thick or butt end, and one near the point.  In this way we brought
+all our ivory to Behar, and the tusks were so perfect and exceptional
+in size that we could obtain almost any equivalent we pleased for them.
+And in fact of such marvellous size and beauty were most of the gems
+that we got in exchange that our fortune on our return to Bagdad
+threatened to be fabulous, and it seemed evident that it would be
+necessary for us to wander over the whole world to the capital of every
+great king in order to find purchasers of such superb and unique
+specimens.
+
+"As we had presented many of the tusks to the king and his principal
+chiefs we had become exceedingly popular--the happy possessors of our
+ivory being, no less satisfied with their bargains than we felt with
+ours.  So that when at the end of two months we wished to depart,
+having bartered or given away all our stock, they would not let us go,
+but insisted that we should prolong our stay for another month, during
+which they feasted and entertained us to the best of their ability.
+
+"Now there was one circumstance concerning our vegetable ivory of which
+we were ignorant, viz., that just as it was produced quickly, so it
+decayed quickly.  Three months had sufficed to raise it from the seed,
+and within three months from the time that they came to maturity, the
+apparent tusks begin to perish.  Black spots and patches appear all
+over the surface, and in the course of a few weeks the entire tusk rots
+away and is destroyed.
+
+"It thus happened that one morning, towards the end of our three
+months' sojourn at Behar, the chiefs who came as usual to our house or
+hut to greet us, wore no longer the pleasant and friendly aspect they
+were wont to do, but looked surly and fierce.  And immediately seizing
+and binding us, they carried us before King Amavaroo, who, seated on
+the leopard's skin which served him for a throne, was looking as gloomy
+and morose as his followers.
+
+"Then men came with the tusks they had received from us, one man
+following another with his purchases, and in every tusk the black spots
+and patches of decay were beginning to appear.  To complete our ruin,
+when those tusks which we had presented to Amavaroo were brought into
+his presence, they each and all were found to be in a similar
+condition.  Both the king and his people were very naturally furious.
+They took from us and out of our house all the jewels we had obtained,
+and gave them back to those who had exchanged them for the worthless
+ivory, and then, after holding a very stormy council, they conducted us
+with every kind of insult out of their town into the plains beyond.
+There, having stripped us naked, they beat us with branches of nettles
+and branches of prickly holly, and finally, tying our hands and feet
+together, they left us to be scorched by the sun during the day, and to
+be devoured by the wild beasts that prowled about at night.  Here we
+lay all day in a most pitiable plight, and there undoubtedly we should
+have perished, had it not been for the gratitude and kindness of a
+slave whom, during our stay at Behar, we had many times befriended and
+protected, as far as lay in our power, against the tyranny of a very
+cruel bully, who was his master.  This poor fellow stole away at
+sundown, came to us, freed us from our bonds, brought us some of our
+own clothes which he had managed to get hold of, and, going with us,
+became our guide on the slow and painful course of our journey
+northward.  He brought us also a small packet of very handsome stones,
+which had been dropped by some one during the exciting events of the
+morning, and which he had seen and picked up on his way to us.
+
+"This seemed at the time a perfect godsend.  There were not many
+stones--about a dozen--and they not nearly so large as many of those we
+had received in exchange for our ivory.  At the same time they were of
+the utmost value to us now, as we should be able to dispose of them at
+the first place where we might meet with Arab merchants, and we should
+thus provide ourselves at least with such things as were absolutely
+necessary for our return journey to Bagdad.
+
+"Meanwhile, our progress was slow and our subsistence precarious,
+consisting chiefly of such roots, fruits, and insects, as we were able
+to discover.  In this matter of catering the slave was much more
+proficient than we, and proved an invaluable aid to us.
+
+"After many weeks of hardship and danger, we arrived at last in the
+neighbourhood of Daarkol, the town in which we had met the African
+merchant, from whom we had bought those accursed seeds.  As the sun was
+intensely hot, and a couple of hours' walking would now bring us into
+the town, where we could sell some of the precious stones and relieve
+our most urgent necessities, we threw ourselves down under the shelter
+of a clump of trees and were soon fast asleep.
+
+"It appears, although we had then no suspicion of such a thing, that
+the African merchant, who was a complete villain, had been diligently
+watching for our return.  He had designed to surprise and overpower us,
+and take from us the precious stones we should have obtained for his
+fraudulent ivory, he getting thus at a stroke the fruits of the
+expedition without undergoing the fatigues, difficulties, and dangers
+it necessarily involved.
+
+"Being informed, therefore, by one of his spies of our arrival, he
+stole upon us very quietly while we slept, and bringing with him a
+party of his slaves, he quickly overpowered us, and binding us hand and
+foot, he robbed us of the jewels we had, and that not without horrid
+imprecations because there were so few.  After which he immediately
+departed, leaving us lying under the trees bound and helpless.
+
+"Here we remained for more than two hours.  At length, as the day wore
+on, and it became cooler, we perceived a party of merchants, with whom
+we had been very well acquainted when we were at Daarkol before,
+passing along the road which was distant about two or three hundred
+yards from the clump of trees where we lay.  We shouted as loud as we
+could, and they, hearing the shouting, came presently towards us.  They
+were truly surprised and concerned to find Ahmed and myself, whom they
+had known formerly as respectable and well-to-do merchants, lying
+bound, dirty, and ragged upon the ground.  They freed us, and we told
+them of the villainy of the African merchant, and related to them all
+that had befallen us, from the time he sold us the seeds, until the
+assault he had made upon us and the robbery he had committed that
+afternoon.  They advised us to lay our case before Lootzee, the king of
+that country, who lived in the town of Daarkol; although, as regards
+the African merchant, who was well known as a bad character, he would
+no doubt by this time have taken refuge in flight.
+
+"This advice was good; but for men so completely destitute, as we now
+were, to obtain an audience of the king was no easy matter.  Like most
+monarchs, he was surrounded by courtiers and state officials, who must
+be bribed with considerable presents before they would exert themselves
+on behalf of any suitor or complainant, no matter how real his
+grievance, or how urgent his case might be.  It is quite possible,
+therefore, that we might have failed to obtain an audience, had it not
+happened, fortunately for us, that King Lootzee was attacked just at
+this time by a severe form of fever to which the natives of that part
+of Ethiopia are peculiarly liable.  Hearing of the king's illness, and
+knowing of a certain herb which was a sovereign remedy in that disease,
+we procured some of the herb and prepared an infusion of it.  We then
+borrowed of some merchants of our acquaintance such sums as they would
+lend us, and sending this as a present to the Vizier or chief officer
+of Lootzee, we asked audience of the king that we might present to him
+a medicine of great efficiency in his complaint.  The Vizier submitting
+our petition to Lootzee, he gave orders to admit the merchant from
+Bagdad, and in short, after taking sundry doses of the medicine, the
+fever left him, and he was restored to his usual health.
+
+"This cure so much delighted him, that he made us a present of the
+horses, mules, and all those things which you see we have with us, and
+in addition he gave us a sum of money that we might be enabled to
+purchase something to take back to Bagdad, so that we might not, after
+all our toil and risk, return altogether empty-handed.
+
+"For a long time we doubted and debated what we should buy.  But
+hearing one day that there was in the town a Circassian woman slave of
+surpassing beauty, who had been captured by some marauders from a
+caravan while on her way to Bagdad, we determined to purchase that
+slave in the hope of selling her for a great price to Haroun Alraschid,
+the Caliph, to whom may Allah be merciful, and for whom she was
+destined by those merchants who had been robbed of her."
+
+
+Now when Haroun Alraschid had heard the story of Abdallah, the Arab
+merchant, and had learned that the occupant of the carriage or litter
+borne by the slaves was so lovely a creature, and, moreover, was a
+slave intended for himself, he would fain have seen her.  In his
+character as a merchant he offered to buy her, and bid the great price
+of five thousand pieces of gold, to be paid immediately they should
+arrive in Bagdad.  But Abdallah was resolute, and inflexible in his
+refusal to part with her, or let her be seen, saying that no man either
+had nor yet should see the face of the slave, until she should be
+presented in good time to the Caliph himself.
+
+Haroun was sorely tempted to declare himself to be the Caliph, and to
+insist on seeing the beautiful captive, but reflecting both that it
+would be difficult to convince Abdallah of his rank at that time, and
+also being unwilling to lose the pleasure he anticipated in observing
+the merchant's astonishment, when he should discover his
+fellow-traveller to have been the Caliph, Haroun controlled his natural
+impatience, and that all the more readily because they were near their
+journey's end.
+
+
+Leaving Abdallah and Ahmed with the Caliph in their company to continue
+their journey, we must return to Bagdad, and to the course of affairs
+in that city since the Caliph's disappearance.
+
+Giafer, who had so long, as Grand Vizier, had the administration of the
+Empire in his hands, managed for the first month or six weeks to
+conduct the affairs of State as usual and with unquestioned authority.
+
+But as week after week passed without tidings from the absent Caliph,
+not only did both Giafer and Zobeideh lose hope of his return, but
+ominous rumours began to circulate secretly among the Court and the
+people, regarding the cause of the Caliph's absence.  As a matter of
+course, Ibrahim, the next heir according to Moslem usage, was
+especially active both in prosecuting inquiries as to the probable fate
+of Haroun, and also in concerting measures to effect his own accession
+to the throne.
+
+Three months had elapsed since the disappearance of the Caliph, when
+one morning at the Grand Vizier's usual state reception of the Ulema
+and Emirs of the Empire, Ibrahim, addressing Giafer, said, "Grand
+Vizier, three months have now passed since we have had among us the
+glorious and august presence of the Commander of the Faithful; tell us,
+therefore, where he is, and why he no longer appears to give audience
+and render justice to his people?"
+
+At this speech Giafer felt that his hour was come, for he knew that the
+prince would not have uttered those words until he had taken measures
+to seize upon the throne.
+
+Therefore he answered, "I cannot tell where the Commander of the
+Faithful may be at this moment, but may all his subjects remain loyal
+to him, and Allah be his shield and preserver, wherever he be!"
+
+Then said Ibrahim, "O Giafer, the blood of your master is upon your
+hands, where have you hidden him?"  Turning to the guards, who entered
+as he clapped his hands, he ordered them to secure the Grand Vizier,
+and continued: "If you do not before this time to-morrow bring back
+Haroun Alraschid into this hall, I shall know what to think, and as
+surely as I am Caliph you shall die."
+
+So saying the prince seated himself upon the royal divan, and forthwith
+appointed Hafiz, a favourite of his own, to be Grand Vizier.  He next
+ordered the new Grand Vizier to put Zobeideh, Haroun's favourite wife,
+and Prince Emin, her son, in prison, and declared that on the morrow,
+when he judged Giafer, he would also pronounce sentence on the others.
+
+That night the new Caliph spent in feasting and revelry, but Giafer,
+and Zobeideh and her son, Prince Emin, likewise spent the hours in
+depression and grief, looking forward to death in the morning.
+
+When the day dawned, and the new Caliph, after morning prayers, had
+assumed his seat on the Imperial divan, he commanded Giafer to be
+brought before him.  Then, with a sinister smile, he demanded of the
+prisoner, "Where is the most illustrious Caliph Haroun Alraschid?  Say,
+Giafer, what hast thou done with him?"
+
+To this Giafer replied, "Haroun Alraschid, my master, is in the hand of
+God.  But where he may be at this moment, I have told you that I do not
+know."
+
+"No one can know so well as thou where he is," said Ibrahim, "for did
+he not go to Bussora with thee and has never returned?  Doubtless thou
+hast killed him, and hast hidden his body, otherwise he would be here,
+therefore thy life is forfeited," and with that he made a sign to the
+mutes, who immediately took Giafer and passed the fatal cord about his
+neck.
+
+As they waited with trained docility for the usual sign from the Caliph
+to draw tight the silken cord and despatch their victim, a great shout
+was heard, and outside the palace acclamations filled the air, and
+cries of--"Haroun Alraschid returns!  Welcome, Prince of the Faithful!"
+
+Ibrahim hearing these words, after a few moments' hesitation, made the
+sign to the mutes, and Giafer's life would have ended, but on the
+instant an officer standing by, who owed his position to the Grand
+Vizier, cut through the cord with his sword.  As he did so, Haroun,
+pale with anger and his eyes flashing, entered the door of the
+audience-chamber.  Ibrahim, pale as ashes, sat on the throne petrified
+with terror.  As Haroun's eyes fell upon the shrinking prince sitting
+on his throne, and on the form of Giafer kneeling with part of the
+severed cord still about his neck, the veins stood out upon his
+forehead, and rage rendered him speechless.  He beckoned to Mesrúr, the
+ever faithful, who instantly pulled Ibrahim from his seat, and, taking
+him aside into an antechamber, forthwith struck off his head.
+
+That Haroun reinstated Giafer as Grand Vizier, and took Zobeideh and
+Prince Emin out of prison, needs hardly be said.  That he received
+Abdallah and Ahmed very graciously, and that he bought the fair captive
+of them at a truly royal price, is not surprising.  But it is perhaps
+somewhat surprising that all the dangers and hardships he underwent, in
+consequence of his capture by the pirates, did not suffice to wean him
+altogether from such perilous adventures in the future.
+
+He was of so daring and fearless a temper, however, that it made no
+further difference than this, that ever afterwards when he wandered
+about in disguise Mesrúr accompanied him as well as the Grand Vizier.
+
+
+
+
+The Caliph and the Blind Fisherman.
+
+One evening Haroun Alraschid sat in a splendid apartment of his palace
+in Bagdad.  The evening meal was finished, and the slaves had carried
+away the magnificent service of gold plate on which it had been served.
+The Caliph was gloomy and ill-humoured, and the officers and attendants
+in waiting silent, vigilant, and not unapprehensive; for when the brow
+of the monarch was clouded none could tell when the storm might burst
+forth, nor whom the lightning of his wrath might strike.  Before long,
+however, and much to their relief, Giafer was sent for, and the Caliph,
+rising and signing his officers to leave him, wandered out alone into
+the garden of his palace.
+
+Here Giafer on his arrival found him.  He was sitting moodily listening
+to a concert of vocal music performed by some of the ladies of his
+harem, who were posted out of sight and at some little distance in a
+small grove.  Just as Giafer entered the garden the Caliph clapped his
+hands and said to a slave who ran to him, "Go, tell the singers to keep
+silence, for I am in no humour to listen to them."  Then, perceiving
+the Grand Vizier, he said to him, "Giafer, I have sent for thee because
+I am restless and pleased with nothing this evening; suggest,
+therefore, what I shall do."
+
+Then Giafer replied: "Prince of the Faithful, if you are tired of your
+palace and of the gardens and the singing of your women, and if you
+care not to view the dancers"--the Caliph shook his head--"nor to
+listen to the tales or the poems of Abu 'Atahiyeh----"
+
+"Not this evening, though they are good," said Haroun.
+
+"Then what say you to our sallying forth disguised into Bagdad,"
+continued Giafer, "that we may observe what goes forward, and perchance
+meet with some adventure that may amuse you?"
+
+"That is what I will do," said Haroun, brightening up at the
+suggestion; "come, Giafer, let us put on the garb of merchants and go
+out."
+
+In a short time Haroun and Giafer sallied forth, with the faithful
+Mesrúr following, also in disguise, not far behind them.  They wandered
+through the bazaars until they had seen a great part of Bagdad; but
+they met with no adventure and saw nothing particularly strange or
+noteworthy throughout all their ramble.  The Caliph, who had at first
+been much more cheerful, began at length to be tired with the walk, and
+again in a somewhat ill-humour.
+
+Giafer, noticing this, proposed that they should take a short cut
+through the lower and meaner parts of the town, and so return to the
+palace.
+
+As with this intent they passed the end of a narrow and steep street
+leading up from the river, they observed a man whose figure and
+condition at once arrested the Caliph's attention.  He was a tall and
+handsome man with the upright, dignified bearing of a soldier; he had
+regular features, a large hooked nose, and a long black moustache now
+turning somewhat grey.  His clothes were very old and ragged; over his
+left shoulder he carried a net, and in his right hand a bag evidently
+containing a few fish.  He was obviously a fisherman just returning
+home from his work on the river's bank; but what particularly attracted
+the Caliph's attention was the fact that the man was blind.  In his
+left hand he carried a stick with which he touched sometimes the path
+and sometimes the walls of the houses as he passed along, as though to
+assure himself of his position.  And though he was thus evidently
+blind, yet he walked forward, not timidly or slowly, but boldly and
+steadily, as if he were very well acquainted with his route.
+
+The Caliph at once approached him and entered into conversation.  He
+asked him whether he, being blind, caught the fish himself, or whether
+he was aided by some one else; whether he had good fortune and caught
+much, and how many fish he now had in his bag.
+
+To these inquiries the man replied that, although blind, yet he managed
+to fish very well, and usually had good fortune in the number of fish
+that he caught, but that on this day he had been unlucky, and had only
+five fish in his bag.  Of these he said he should sell three, and two
+he should cook for the supper of himself and his brother.
+
+"And what is the occupation of your brother?" asked the Caliph.
+
+"He, alas!" said the man, "is of no occupation; his back is injured so
+that he cannot move from his bed."
+
+"And you fish for the support of both?" said Haroun.
+
+"Of course," replied the man, with grave simplicity.
+
+"Fisherman," said the Caliph, "I will buy your three fish, and, since I
+am tired, we will come, I and my friend who is with me, and you shall
+cook all the five fish, and we will sup together."
+
+"Sir," said the fisherman, "my poor hovel is not fitted to receive
+guests; yet, if you are content to take things in the rough as you will
+find them, come and be welcome."
+
+"Fisherman," said Haroun, "soldiers should be able to accommodate
+themselves to circumstances, and I am a soldier, as I judge that you
+also have been."
+
+"Commander," said the fisherman, "I have, as you suppose, served the
+Caliph, whom may Allah preserve and exalt, and in his service I lost my
+sight."
+
+"Comrade," said Haroun, "when we have eaten your fish, and you have
+rested, you shall relate to us the story of your life, which I doubt
+not contains many stirring and noteworthy incidents."
+
+As he was saying this they came to a very mean cottage in the narrow
+street, or rather lane, through which they were passing, and the old
+fisherman, entering, beckoned them with a sort of dignified politeness
+to follow him.
+
+In the cottage, which was lit by the smoky flame of a single small
+lamp, they found, lying in a corner of the room on some rags, another
+tall, athletic-looking man, who appeared in every respect a very twin
+brother of their acquaintance the fisherman, except as regards the
+eyes, which were black, bright, and piercing.
+
+"Mohammed," said the fisherman, addressing his brother, "I bring with
+me two gentlemen I have met with; they have bought three of the five
+fish I have caught, and they will join us in our supper.  I smell the
+loaves that they are baked upon the hearth, and very quickly I will
+prepare and cook the fish."
+
+"Gentlemen," said he, folding an old and tattered cloak and laying it
+on the floor, "there is no other divan I can offer you, therefore pray
+be seated upon this cloak, and I will hasten to make ready your fish."
+
+The Caliph and Giafer, having seated themselves, conversed with
+Mohammed, who appeared to them, from the expression of his features, to
+be suffering much pain.
+
+He was unable, he told them, to rise, owing to an injury to his back,
+and his brother Suleiman, although blind, not only supported them both
+by fishing, but cooked their food and attended to all necessary
+household duties.
+
+The Caliph was much touched and interested by these two fine old
+fellows, their pitiable plight, their uncomplaining cheerfulness under
+such misfortunes, and their brotherly affection.
+
+"Suleiman," he said, "has promised after supper to relate to me your
+history; and I desire to hear it," he added, "not simply from motives
+of curiosity, but because I hope to be able to help you both and
+possibly to set right any wrongs or injustice from which you may have
+suffered."
+
+The fish and hot cakes Haroun enjoyed more than all the sumptuous
+repasts which were prepared for him at his palace, novelty and fatigue
+giving a whet to his appetite.  And these being consumed and the frugal
+meal finished, he reminded Suleiman of his desire to learn the
+particulars of his history.
+
+Suleiman, saying that there was little to tell, but that he was quite
+willing to tell that little, began as follows:
+
+
+THE HISTORY OF THE BLIND FISHERMAN AND HIS BROTHER.
+
+"As poor as we now are," said Suleiman, "our father was an officer much
+trusted by El Hadi, the late Caliph."
+
+At this name Haroun looked very black, for El Hadi had desired to set
+Haroun aside in favour of his own son Jaafer.  However, the blind
+fisherman perceived nothing of this, but continued--
+
+"Our father had three sons--myself, the eldest, and Mohammed, my
+brother here present, and by another wife, Moussa, his youngest boy,
+and, as often happens, his favourite.  My father was but seldom in
+Bagdad, being almost constantly engaged abroad in one foreign war or
+another.  Very early in life Mohammed and I accompanied him, and were
+entrusted with important posts under him in the armies he commanded.
+
+"Not to weary you with a long catalogue of our battles, I tell you at
+once that about five years ago our father was killed in a very hotly
+contested fight, in which, just when our men were giving way before a
+furious charge of the enemy's cavalry, our father rallied them and led
+them in person against the foe, thereby securing victory for us, but
+falling himself in the very charge which secured it."
+
+"Gallant man!" exclaimed the Caliph.  "And what did El Hadi do for the
+sons?"  Seeing that Suleiman did not answer--"Nothing!" he muttered,
+"and Haroun has never known of the matter."
+
+"This battle," continued Suleiman, "having broken the power of the
+enemy, and the war being at an end, Mohammed and I returned to Bagdad,
+intending to share the property left by our father between ourselves
+and Moussa, our younger brother, in three parts or equal shares, as we
+had understood our father to desire.
+
+"But on our return we found that Moussa, who holds the position of a
+Cadi, or judge, had already taken possession of the whole of the
+property, and he altogether refused to share it in any way with us,
+alleging that our father had promised to leave him all that he had.
+
+"This assertion we knew to be false.  And El Hadi having died just at
+that time, and the new Caliph being supposed to mislike both him and
+his adherents, we applied to Ali ibn Moulk, the Governor of Bagdad,
+asking him to consider our case and enforce a just division of our
+inheritance.  But Ali, though he took whatever presents we could afford
+to give him, did nothing, having no doubt received from Moussa still
+handsomer presents than it was in our power to afford.
+
+"Seeing that our cause in no way advanced, we, who had always been used
+to an active life, soon got tired of waiting in idleness the good
+pleasure of the Governor, and therefore applied for and obtained
+commands in an army sent by the new Caliph against a province that had
+revolted.
+
+"For three years we were employed in distant expeditions, and at
+length, at the end of that time, when storming a fortress held by a
+body of insurgents, a splinter entering one of my eyes destroyed the
+sight of it, and the inflammation extending from it not long after
+destroyed the sight of the other, rendering me totally blind; while
+Mohammed, poor fellow, still more unfortunate, was hurled backwards
+from the walls of the same fortress and injured his back so severely,
+that he has been unable to get about, and has suffered constant pain
+ever since.
+
+"When we got back to Bagdad from this most unlucky campaign, our money
+being almost exhausted, I called again upon Moussa, and, relating to
+him what had befallen us, I asked him once more to make a fair and
+equitable division of the inheritance with us.  But he once more
+refused to do so, repeated his assertion that all the property had been
+left to him, offered me a hundred dinars, which I angrily refused, and
+sent a slave to guide me, as he said, into the quarter of the town
+where I was then living.  He evidently made a sign to the slave whom he
+sent with me, for I quickly perceived that he was conducting me, not
+towards that part of the town in which my caravanserai was situated,
+but along the steep streets leading down to the river.  When we got on
+to the bank of the stream, and almost at the water's edge, he said he
+must return to his master, telling me to continue straight forward, and
+that I should find the road all clear.  Greatly incensed at the perfidy
+of this villainous slave, I suddenly seized him and flung him into the
+river before me.
+
+"I was about to retrace my steps, when a voice near to me exclaimed:
+'Halloo! some one has cast himself into the river, and my nets will be
+destroyed.'
+
+"'Cannot you see,' I said, 'that I threw that scoundrel into the river?'
+
+"'Nay,' said the voice, 'I cannot see, for I am blind.'
+
+"'Allah be merciful to us!' I cried.  'Art thou also blind?'  And I
+told him my history as you have heard it, and why I had flung the slave
+into the water.  By the way, what became of the fellow I know not--he
+was probably carried away by the stream, for I heard no more of him.
+
+"Then I asked the blind man what it was that he had said of his nets
+being broken.
+
+"He answered, 'I am a fisherman, and I doubt not but the rascal will
+have destroyed some of my nets, but never mind that, so long as he got
+his deserts.'
+
+"'What! can a man that is blind be a fisherman?' I exclaimed.
+
+"'Certainly,' he replied; 'I have caught fish for my living this ten
+years, and I will teach you to fish, if you like.'
+
+"I thanked him, and gratefully accepted his offer."
+
+"And thus it came to pass," said Suleiman to Haroun and Giafer, "that I
+became a fisherman, and by this means have been enabled to maintain
+both Mohammed and myself for the last two years."
+
+The emotions experienced by the Caliph and the Grand Vizier as they
+listened to Suleiman's narrative were not altogether the same.
+
+Haroun was so infuriated when he heard of the hard-hearted iniquity of
+the Cadi, and the taking of bribes and refusal of justice by Ali ibn
+Moulk, the Governor of Bagdad, that he could scarcely restrain himself
+from summoning Mesrúr and sending at once for their heads.
+
+On the other hand, Giafer listened to the accusations against the
+Governor of Bagdad, who was a personal friend of his own, with the
+greatest consternation.  Therefore, being anxious at any rate to gain
+time, Giafer, at the end of Suleiman's discourse, whispered to the
+Caliph, earnestly entreating him to preserve his incognito, and to
+suspend his decision at least for the present.
+
+When they came out of the fisherman's cottage, having paid him for the
+fish, and promised to communicate with him again shortly, Giafer urged
+upon the Caliph the injustice of condemning the Governor of Bagdad,
+without giving him the opportunity to reply to the charge brought
+against him by Suleiman.
+
+"Giafer," said the Caliph, "I hear what you say, and I grant your
+request.  Ali ibn Moulk shall have the opportunity provided for him, to
+clear himself from this charge in the best possible way, viz., by
+actually refusing to take a bribe, and by actually executing justice on
+Moussa the Cadi.  I will myself provide him with that opportunity.  But
+look you, the Governor of Bagdad is your friend, I know; you gave him
+his office, did you not? and now you are pleading his cause.  Very good
+so far, but see that no rumour of this night's story reaches his ears,
+neither by a message, nor by a little bird, nor even by a dream; for if
+he hear of it I will take off your head also, by Allah I will, by Allah
+I will, by Allah I will; therefore look to yourself, my Giafer."
+
+When the Grand Vizier heard this burst of rage, his heart sank within
+him.  He had undoubtedly intended to convey a friendly warning to Ali,
+but he felt now that it would be dangerous and useless, and he was
+completely convinced that Ali's fate was sealed.
+
+Early next morning the Caliph sent for the Grand Vizier, and said to
+him--
+
+"Giafer, go dress yourself as you were dressed last night, take a
+hundred pieces of gold with you and give them to Suleiman, and tell him
+to repair immediately to the Governor of Bagdad, and demand from him
+justice in the matter of his inheritance.  And mind, not one word more
+nor less."
+
+Giafer touched his head in token of implicit obedience to the commands
+of the Caliph, and going at once, carried to Suleiman the hundred
+pieces of gold, and the message that he should immediately make another
+application to the Governor of Bagdad.
+
+Suleiman was very unwilling to go to the Governor, saying, that to seek
+for justice in that quarter was but like fishing in a gutter where a
+man could catch nothing, but must lose his time and his bait.
+"However," he concluded, "since your friend sends me this money, as you
+say for no other purpose, I will carry it to the Governor and bestow it
+as he desires."
+
+Directly after the Caliph had despatched the Grand Vizier to Suleiman,
+he called an officer and sent him with a message to the Governor of
+Bagdad, instructing the officer to observe carefully any applications
+which might be made to the Governor for justice, and report the
+particulars on his return.
+
+That evening Haroun again disguised himself, and went, with Giafer and
+Mesrúr in attendance as before, to visit Suleiman and Mohammed.
+
+On reaching the cottage he demanded of Suleiman how he had fared in his
+application to the Governor.
+
+"At first," said Suleiman, "he received me very roughly, but when I
+produced the gold he became more civil, and promised to see what he
+could do for me.  As he has told me the same on each previous occasion,
+I do not build many hopes on that promise," said Suleiman, smiling.
+"But he was very urgent to find out where I had obtained the money I
+gave him, and when I told him that a gentleman whom I had met had lent
+me the money, he said--
+
+"'It is well, get from him another hundred, and your case may be
+managed.'
+
+"But, sir," said Suleiman to the Caliph, "I will take no further coin
+from you, for the rapacity of the Governor is like a bottomless pit
+that would swallow all that you have."
+
+What Suleiman told him agreed perfectly with the report of the officer
+whom Haroun had sent to Ali that morning.
+
+"Suleiman," said the Caliph, "I believe you are right; moreover, I
+think I can forward your suit better than by sending any more gold
+pieces to Ali.  To-morrow morning one of my slaves will bring you a
+bundle of clothes: dress yourself in them, and in the evening come
+boldly to the house of the Governor, and bring with you the ring I now
+place upon your finger.  When you arrive give the ring to one of the
+Governor's officers with this message: The bearer of this ring demands
+an audience of the owner of it.  Meanwhile here are ten pieces of gold
+to relieve you of the necessity of going out fishing till I see you
+again."
+
+Suleiman thanked Haroun warmly for his generosity and kindness, and the
+Caliph and Giafer returned to the palace.
+
+The following morning the Caliph sent an officer to the Governor of
+Bagdad with a message informing him that Haroun would sup with him that
+evening.  Delighted with such a mark of royal favour and condescension,
+Ali ibn Moulk prepared a most sumptuous entertainment; he had a great
+tent erected in the garden of his palace, and singing women and dancing
+girls in readiness to amuse his august guest.
+
+In the evening Haroun Alraschid arrived in state at the palace of the
+Governor, and found the gardens illuminated with thousands of small
+lights, and every conceivable preparation made to receive him.
+
+Seated on a splendid divan in the great tent in the garden, the Caliph
+listened sometimes to the songs of a number of the best singers of
+Bagdad, who were stationed a short distance away and out of sight, and
+conversing sometimes with the Grand Vizier, the Governor of Bagdad, and
+other great officials who were with him in the tent.  After he had been
+seated thus for some time, an officer of the Governor's household came
+into the tent and said a few words to him in an undertone.
+
+"What is that?" demanded the Caliph.  "Officer," said he, "do you not
+know that where I am present no message can be brought except to me?"
+
+The officer bowed, and said at once, "A man in the uniform of an
+officer of the guard gave me this ring and bade me bring it in and say,
+'The bearer of the ring is here, and demands an audience of the owner
+of it.'"
+
+The Caliph asked for the ring; then putting it on his finger, he said,
+"The ring is mine, admit the man who brought it."
+
+Amidst the silence of all, the officer returned immediately with
+Suleiman leaning on his arm, the tall, dignified form of the old
+soldier showing to great advantage in the splendid uniform in which he
+was now attired.
+
+"Suleiman," said the Caliph, as he entered, "you are welcome."
+
+"Ah," said Suleiman, "my friend, you are here; and you will speak to my
+lord the Governor on my behalf."
+
+All present were so much astonished to hear this old blind officer
+addressing the Caliph in that frank, bold way as "my friend," that they
+knew not what to say.
+
+The Caliph looked at the Governor of Bagdad, who was speechless with
+terror, and said fiercely, "You hear this man!"
+
+The officer on whose arm Suleiman was leaning whispered to him
+hurriedly, "It is the Caliph; it is Haroun himself."
+
+"Ah," said Suleiman, aloud, "then my cause is safe; I need say no more."
+
+"Ali ibn Moulk," continued the Caliph, in a voice thick with passion,
+"Governor of Bagdad, into your hands has been committed the task of
+doing justice in this city.  What then shall be done to him who denies
+justice and who takes bribes; who takes the last coin from the poor and
+the oppressed, and yet gives no heed to their petitions for redress?
+Allah pay me for it if I permit such iniquity."  Then turning to
+Mesrúr, who stood behind him, he said, "Take him out."
+
+Mesrúr with his assistants immediately seized Ali, and, taking him out
+into the garden, severed his head from his shoulders with one blow of
+his sword.
+
+When the Governor of Bagdad had been taken out of the tent, the Caliph
+said, "Bring in now Moussa the Cadi."
+
+Moussa, who had during the evening been arrested by order of the
+Caliph, and had been brought to the palace of the Governor of Bagdad,
+was now brought in under guard.
+
+Haroun ordered the Cadi at once to make over formally the whole of his
+property to his two brothers, Suleiman and Mohammed, the Caliph adding
+with his usual grim humour, "As you are a man of the law, it is fit
+that you do justice in a legal way."  And then added, addressing
+Mesrúr, who had just entered, "And now impale him."
+
+Mesrúr immediately advanced towards the Cadi to take him out and
+execute the doom pronounced by the Caliph.
+
+But Suleiman said, "He is my brother, the son of my father; let me pray
+you at least to spare his life."
+
+Then the Caliph said, "For thy sake, Suleiman, I spare him; let him be
+sent to the army in the field and enrolled as a common soldier.  Thus,
+at any rate," he added, "he may earn an honest living."
+
+"Emir," said the Caliph to Suleiman, in conclusion, "for such is your
+rank henceforth, your brother Mohammed has been conveyed by my order in
+a litter to your house, and there you will find him duly provided for.
+And I desire that you yourself attend me at the palace three times a
+week at least, that I may have the benefit of your conversation and
+counsel."
+
+The blind fisherman, now a rich Emir and a prime favourite with the
+Caliph, saluted his sovereign and was silent.
+
+
+
+
+The Caliph and Abdurrahman.
+
+When seated in his palace at Bagdad, Haroun Alraschid could look across
+the river Tigris, down to which his garden sloped, and could watch the
+bustle, the arrival and departure of soldiers, courtiers, and citizens,
+which was incessantly taking place in the courtyard of the Grand Vizier's
+palace, which was situated opposite to him on the other side of the river.
+
+Sometimes, when he was tired of the occupations and amusements offered by
+his own palace and gardens, he would, instead of sending for Giafer to
+come to him, mount his horse and proceed to pay an informal visit to the
+Grand Vizier.
+
+On one of these occasions, when Haroun was seated in the audience-chamber
+of the Grand Vizier's palace, he said, "I have more than once, when on my
+way to visit you here, remarked a certain small house and garden situated
+near the river, and the walls being low I have while riding past observed
+an old man sitting in the garden, whose appearance has attracted my
+attention.  He is a fine tall man, with a long white beard and a handsome
+benevolent cast of countenance, but what has chiefly struck me is the
+look of calm and serene cheerfulness and contentment which he always
+wears, although he is old, and, judging by the place he lives in, by no
+means rich.  He interests me, I feel curious to hear the story of his
+life, which I do not doubt would contain many strange and noteworthy
+incidents, therefore bring him this afternoon with you to my palace that
+I may question him and satisfy my curiosity concerning him."
+
+Giafer of course promised to obey the royal command, and accordingly on
+the same afternoon when proceeding to the Caliph's palace he called at
+the little house which had been indicated to him and asked to see the
+owner.  The slave who opened the door was greatly surprised and not a
+little frightened when he recognized the officer on horseback with his
+numerous attendants, who inquired for his master, as no less a personage
+than the Grand Vizier himself.
+
+Giafer dismounted, and being shown at once into the little garden,
+discovered sitting there placidly enough the venerable form of the old
+man of whom the Caliph had spoken.
+
+"Sir," said Giafer, "our master, the Caliph, has ordered me to bring you
+with me to-day to the palace, as he wishes to speak with you.  I have
+therefore brought with me a led horse, so that if it should not be too
+fatiguing for you to mount you may ride with me to the palace."
+
+"My lord," said the old man, who was quite unembarrassed, and who was
+strong, and stooped but little in spite of his years, "I accept, with
+many thanks, your kind offer of a horse, and will accompany you at once
+to wait upon the Prince of the Faithful, since he so wills it."
+
+The mounting was somewhat difficult, but when once seated on horseback,
+the old man rode so well and with such an aspect of ease and natural
+dignity, that he pleased his escort and astonished his neighbours, who
+watched his departure, much marvelling for what purpose he had been sent
+for to the palace.
+
+On his arrival he was received very graciously by the Caliph, who told
+him that he had frequently observed him sitting in his little garden, and
+desired that he would relate the particulars of his life and fortune.
+
+"Sire," said the old man, "I have but little to tell your Majesty, and
+scarcely anything that deserves your notice; but at your command I will
+with pleasure narrate the few noteworthy incidents of my life, and that
+as briefly and faithfully as possible."
+
+
+ABDURRAHMAN'S STORY.
+
+"My name," said the old man, "is Abdurrahman, and fourscore and three
+years ago I was born in this city, not very far from the spot where I now
+dwell.  My father, who was a merchant, and fairly prosperous, furnished
+me, when I was twenty years of age, with a stock of goods with which to
+commence to trade, and, as young merchants are wont to do, I departed to
+try my fortune in foreign countries.
+
+"The first country I visited was Persia, and arriving at Shiraz, the
+capital, I remained for many months engaged in selling, at the best
+profit I could obtain for them, the goods I had brought with me from
+Bagdad.
+
+"At length, having disposed of almost all my stock, I began to consider
+what kind of merchandize it would be most advisable that I should buy to
+take back with me, and trade with on my return.
+
+"But as I sat one day in the shop of a jeweller of my acquaintance in the
+bazaar, a circumstance occurred which at once put to flight all ideas of
+an early return to my native land.
+
+"A young lady entered, whose fine apparel and elegant bearing immediately
+attracted my attention.  Two slaves waited on her, and stopped outside
+the shop while she entered.
+
+"Why I should have been especially attracted by this young lady I should
+probably have found it difficult at that moment to explain.  But my eyes
+were no longer under my control, and I thought surely no one ever moved
+more gracefully.  I was young then, and a young man's imagination, like a
+high-mettled steed, soon runs away with him.  Yet, being young, and
+probably in those days not altogether ill-looking, it is not unlikely
+that the lady was, on her side, not at all displeased to observe my very
+evident admiration; and taking pity upon me, or rather, I should say,
+determined instantly to complete her conquest, she contrived, as though
+by accident, to remove her veil for one moment, exposing thus to my
+astonished gaze a countenance of the most surpassing beauty.
+
+"After purchasing sundry articles from my friend the jeweller, and giving
+them to her slaves to carry home for her, she left the shop, not without
+bestowing upon me a parting glance, which penetrated my heart and filled
+me with the most delicious and indescribable excitement.
+
+"As soon as she was gone I inquired eagerly of my friend who this
+dazzling young beauty was, and whereabouts she lived.
+
+"'She is,' he said, 'the daughter of Mazoudi Khan, a very rich man, who
+lives in a fine house not far from the palace of the Shah himself.  I
+should advise you,' he added, 'to forget as soon as possible that you
+have ever seen her, for you know the proverb, "He who lifts his eyes too
+high, is apt to fall and break his neck."'
+
+"The advice was no doubt good, but as well might a man in a fever be
+advised to keep cool.  As well might a man parched with thirst be advised
+to shun water and to think no more of it.  I had seen her face, the face
+of the first beautiful woman it had ever been my lot to behold.  I was
+twenty-one years of age, and my prudent acquaintance advised me to forget
+her!
+
+"My lord, you may guess how I lay awake all that night, and how I
+returned as early next day as I decently could to the shop of my friend,
+in the ardent, if rash, hope of again meeting the object that now
+constantly engrossed me.
+
+"The young lady, who was nowise disposed to avoid me or break my heart,
+came to the shop still earlier than on the previous day, and, while
+examining some jewels, she listened, without any sign of disapproval, to
+the few but passionate words of admiration and love which I ventured to
+address to her.
+
+"'Sir,' she answered, 'if I should say that I feel displeased at what you
+tell me, it would not be true; but, alas! it is useless for you thus to
+address me.  My father is about to marry me to a friend of his, who is
+very rich and nearly as old as himself.'
+
+"With that the lovely creature shed tears, and presently choosing some
+jewels, she went away, leaving me full of grief and distracted with anger
+and jealousy.
+
+"After this I met her again several times in the same place, and, to my
+utmost consternation, learned at length that her marriage with Mirza Aga,
+her father's old friend, would take place in a fortnight.
+
+"At first I implored her in my desperation to fly with me from Persia,
+and accompany me to my home at Bagdad.  But with much good sense she
+pointed out that this was impossible; that we should both infallibly be
+caught before we could get three parasangs away from Shiraz, and be
+brought back to certain death.
+
+"I was altogether at a loss what to do, but finally I bought a large,
+old-fashioned house, situated in a very retired and lonely position in
+the suburbs of the city, and determined, if possible, to persuade my
+charmer to retire with me to that retreat, where I doubted not we might
+remain undiscovered until the fury of her father should abate.
+
+"The house I bought was surrounded by a very high wall, and had a large
+quadrangle within laid out as a garden, with fruit-trees and fountains of
+clear water.  I furnished the place handsomely, and bought several slaves
+to attend upon us.  But, alas! I could find no opportunity to take the
+lady thither, she being always accompanied by at least two of her
+father's slaves, who jealously guarded her.
+
+"The day fixed for her marriage with the ancient bridegroom having
+arrived, I loitered about ready to follow and observe the bridal
+procession, being in a state of mingled rage and despair not easy to
+describe.
+
+"Now among the Persians it is the custom when the wedding-day arrives
+that the friends of the bride shall escort her from her home towards the
+house of her husband, while he, on his part, comes with his friends to
+meet her.  As soon as he sees his bride he throws an orange or other
+fruit at her, and rides off again towards his house, and whosoever
+catches him before he arrives there, is entitled to his horse and clothes
+or a ransom in lieu of them.
+
+"The distance which the bridegroom thus advances to meet his bride,
+varies in each case according to circumstances.
+
+"The lady Perizadeh, being the daughter of so influential a man as
+Mazoudi Khan, it was arranged that Mirza Aga, who was her inferior in
+rank, should advance two-thirds of the distance that had to be traversed.
+
+"It thus happened that when the two cavalcades encountered each other,
+and the bridegroom, according to custom, threw the orange and rode off,
+he had some considerable distance to ride.  As your Majesty is aware, the
+Persians are to be reckoned among the best horsemen in the world; but
+Mirza Aga was no longer young; and whether it were owing to that, or
+whether his horse was in fault, I know not, but before he had ridden far,
+with all the members of the two parties pursuing him at the top of their
+speed, his horse suddenly stumbled, and he was thrown upon his head and
+killed on the spot.
+
+"During the scene of confusion which followed, while all were crowding
+round the fallen man, to render help or to endeavour to ascertain the
+nature and extent of his injuries, the bride was left for the moment
+alone and unguarded.  Seizing the opportunity, I sprang up behind her on
+her horse, and turning at once down a side street, was in a few seconds
+out of sight, and reached in safety the house I had bought, and which I
+had, as I have said, prepared for our reception.
+
+"As soon as the bride was missed--which, owing to the excitement and
+confusion, did not occur immediately--it was of course assumed that she
+had, when frightened by the accident, turned round and ridden back again
+to her father's house.  Mazoudi Khan therefore went home at once to see
+and console her; but when he found that she had not returned, he
+despatched his whole retinue in different directions, to scour the
+country in search of the robbers who had, as he supposed, carried off his
+daughter.
+
+"Even when his followers came back unsuccessful, he still expected
+shortly to recover his child, as he entertained no doubt that the bandits
+would find means before long to communicate with him respecting her
+ransom.
+
+"Meanwhile, we lived with the utmost privacy in the house I had
+purchased, never going outside the walls, or doing anything whatever to
+attract attention to us.
+
+"In this way a whole year passed by.  A son was born to us, and I named
+him Diraz.  And the lovely Perizadeh and myself continued as enamoured of
+each other, and as happy in each other's society, as we had been at first.
+
+"About a twelvemonth after the day--ever memorable to me--on which I had
+effected the capture of the destined bride of the unfortunate Mirza Aga,
+I happened to hear that Mazoudi Khan was seriously ill, the loss of his
+daughter, whom he tenderly loved, having depressed his spirits to an
+alarming degree.
+
+"After much debate we determined that Perizadeh, taking her baby with
+her, should go to her father and implore his forgiveness for both of us.
+I sent her, clad as handsomely as I could afford, with a slave to carry
+the baby, and two other slaves to attend upon her; and I waited the
+result of the interview between her and her father with no little anxiety.
+
+"I knew that a proud and wealthy man like Mazoudi Khan would have
+rejected, with much disdain, a young and unknown merchant like myself,
+had I demanded his daughter in marriage; but I hoped now, that the sight
+of his child whom he mourned as lost, and of his grandchild--towards whom
+a grandfather's heart is always especially open--would soften him, and
+cause him to relent.  In this I was not disappointed.
+
+"He sent for me, forgave me, welcomed me as his son-in-law, and appointed
+us a house near to his own.
+
+"And not long afterwards he obtained for me an official post at the
+Persian Court, where I remained happy and contented for the space of
+twenty years.
+
+"By that time, both my father-in-law and my lovely Perizadeh had died,
+and my son Diraz, now grown a fine young man, was entered as a gholam,
+that is, one of the royal body-guard.
+
+"Ten years more passed by uneventfully, and I looked forward confidently
+hoping to see my son appointed to the government of a province, or some
+other position of dignity and emolument.  But, alas! just when this
+seemed most certain, an indiscretion, an act of madness on the part of my
+unhappy son, brought ruin on us both.
+
+"Among the women at that time in the harem of his Majesty the Shah, was a
+very beautiful slave, who had been captured during a war which had been
+waged against an infidel nation, whose territory extends beyond the
+northern frontier of the Shah's dominions.
+
+"This slave, beautiful as the full moon, Diraz, rash and presumptuous
+youth that he was, managed to catch sight of, and immediately he became
+desperately, recklessly enamoured of her.
+
+"Forgetting the duty we owed to our master the Shah, and taking advantage
+of his official position as gholam shahee, which enabled and authorized
+him to travel by post at speed, pressing horses as he went, he managed to
+steal the beautiful slave, and got such a start before her loss and his
+absence were discovered, that he was not overtaken, but escaped with her
+out of the kingdom.
+
+"When the Shah heard of the matter, he very naturally was furious----"
+
+"Very naturally, indeed," said the Caliph, with a grim smile.
+
+"Well, very naturally also," continued Abdurrahman, "his Majesty sent for
+me, upbraided me for having such a son, and ordering all that I had to be
+confiscated, commanded me to leave his kingdom forthwith, and find and
+bring back my son and his slave.
+
+"In great grief I retraced my steps mechanically to my house, but a
+gholam, bearing the royal edict, had arrived there before me, and my own
+slave repulsed me from my own door.
+
+"I set out, therefore, at once on my journey northwards, travelling not
+like my son had done, by relays of the swiftest horses that could be
+forced into the service, but slowly and wearily on foot.  It took me many
+weeks to accomplish the distance he had traversed in a few days; but not
+to inflict upon you the tedious incidents of my journey, I will only say
+that I arrived at length in that region to which I believed my son had
+carried the beautiful slave.  Not without considerable risk, on account
+of the hatred felt by all the people of that infidel nation, against true
+believers, I succeeded in reaching the capital, where I soon learnt on
+inquiry, that a gholam of the Shah of Persia had arrived recently,
+bringing with him a lady of extreme beauty, who was, it appeared, the
+daughter of the king of that country.
+
+"The king had received his daughter, and my son also for her sake, with
+every demonstration of joy and satisfaction.  And the young people,
+married, and very happy, were now living in the royal palace.
+
+"I managed soon to let my son know of my arrival, and he came at once to
+the khan where I was staying, and welcomed me with much affectionate
+delight; all the more because since his departure from Shiraz he had
+begun too late to consider the vengeance with which the incensed Shah
+might only too probably visit me in consequence of his misdoing.
+
+"He conducted me forthwith to the palace, and introduced me to my
+daughter-in-law, the beautiful slave with whom he had eloped; and also to
+his father-in-law, the king of that country, who received me very
+graciously, and bestowed upon me, in recompense for the loss I had
+sustained, a fine house and a thousand purses of gold.
+
+"The country in which we now were was a mountainous one, and very bleak
+and cold in the winter; and my son Diraz had not been there six months
+before he took so violent a chill that he died after a few days' illness.
+
+"About a month later the princess, my daughter-in-law, gave birth to a
+female child.  Nothing now was so dear to me as my little granddaughter,
+and when, five years afterwards, both my daughter-in-law and the king her
+father were carried off by a fever which was very prevalent and fatal in
+that country, I determined to return with my grandchild to my native
+city, there to spend my remaining years in peace.
+
+"We journeyed very slowly, stopping for months together in many of the
+cities on our way.  At length we arrived safely in Bagdad, and settled
+down in the little house and garden by the river, where I live in peace
+and contentment with my granddaughter as my only companion; she is my
+treasure and the brightness of my house."
+
+"The young lady," said the Caliph, "must by this time be old enough to be
+married: if I find her a husband will you provide her a dower?"
+
+"Sire," said Abdurrahman, "when I die, and I am now old, what little I
+have will be hers, but till then her only dower consists of two small
+jars of ointment."
+
+"What jars are those?" asked the Caliph; "and where did you get them?"
+
+"The jars," answered Abdurrahman, "were entrusted to me by my
+daughter-in-law just before her death.
+
+"'Preserve them carefully,' she said, 'and unopened, for the ointment
+they contain is most precious, and of a rare and even magical efficacy.
+When my little girl is old enough for marriage offer them for sale, but
+take not less than a thousand pieces of gold for the one jar, and not
+less than ten thousand pieces for the other.  If no one can be found
+willing to pay that price for them do not part with them, keep them
+rather, and direct that they be buried with you.'
+
+"I have never yet," continued the old man, "offered the jars of ointment
+for sale, and truly it seems so improbable that any one will ever be
+inclined to pay so preposterous a price for them, that doubtless they
+will be interred with me as the princess, my daughter-in-law, requested."
+
+"By Allah, not so!" said the Caliph; "I will buy them myself.  And your
+granddaughter, who I take it on your word is a very charming young lady,
+I give with her dower of eleven thousand pieces of gold to the son of
+Giafer."
+
+The Grand Vizier and Abdurrahman bowed and touched their foreheads in
+token of entire submission to the will of the Prince of the Faithful.
+
+The Caliph then dismissed them with the injunction to make preparations
+for solemnizing the marriage as soon as possible.
+
+
+
+
+The Caliph and the First Jar of Ointment.
+
+
+FIRST ADVENTURE:
+
+THE CALIPH AND THE EMIR.
+
+A few days after the marriage of Abdurrahman's daughter with the son of
+the Grand Vizier, the Caliph ordered his treasurer to bring him the two
+jars of ointment which he had bought of Abdurrahman.
+
+When he saw them they were so very small that he could not avoid an
+exclamation of surprise.
+
+"By Allah," said Haroun, "but the old man has had a good price!"
+
+Although the jars were both very small, yet they were not of the same
+size, one being half as large again as the other.
+
+"And," said Giafer, "I must inform your Majesty that the larger jar is
+that which cost a thousand pieces of gold, and the smaller ten thousand
+pieces."
+
+"Hand them to me," said the Caliph, "that I may see them more closely."
+
+Then holding the jars in his hands, he read the inscription on the
+larger jar: "The Ointment Marvellous.  This jar to be opened by no one
+but the purchaser thereof, who will be informed by a writing contained
+in the jar of the uses and wonderful properties of the ointment."  On
+the smaller jar were the words, "Most Marvellous Ointment," and
+following those words an inscription precisely similar to that on the
+larger jar: "This jar to be opened by no one but the purchaser thereof,
+who will be informed by a writing contained in the jar of the uses and
+wonderful properties of the ointment."
+
+When he had read the inscriptions on the jars, the Caliph handed back
+the smaller jar to the Grand Vizier, and ordered him to return it to
+the treasurer to be carefully preserved until he should require it.
+
+Then opening the larger jar, he took out a writing he found immediately
+inside.  This was folded, and upon the outside was written, "To be read
+by the purchaser of the ointment only."
+
+The Caliph therefore opened it and read these words: "Whosoever thou
+art who hast bought this small jar of ointment for the price of one
+thousand pieces of gold, being as yet ignorant of the power and virtues
+of the ointment, rejoice, for thy faith and liberality are not wasted.
+Whensoever thou shalt anoint thine eyes with the ointment in this jar,
+for the space of three hours afterwards thou shalt see through all
+solid substances that lie fifty feet in front of thee as though,
+instead of being opaque and dense as stone or brick, they were clear
+and translucent as a diamond of the first water.  But of this power
+tell no man anything, lest thou lose it."
+
+When the Caliph had read these words, he sat some time silent.  The
+Grand Vizier standing beside him was curious to learn the secret of the
+ointment, and wondered at the long silence of his master.
+
+At length the Caliph rose, and placed the jar of ointment with his own
+hands in a cabinet which he locked, and of which he himself kept the
+key.
+
+Giafer, whose curiosity was fully aroused by the taciturnity of Haroun
+on this occasion, could not help asking, "Is your Majesty satisfied or
+disappointed with your purchase of the ointment?"
+
+"It remains to be proved," said the Caliph, smiling, "whether the
+ointment is as valuable as is asserted.  When the proper opportunity
+presents itself, I will test it.  Meanwhile, Grand Vizier, the proverb
+is never to be forgotten, 'The inquisitive are ever in danger.'"
+
+After this Giafer perceived that it would be wiser to say no more.
+
+They then conversed some time on various public questions and State
+affairs, and at length, when dismissing Giafer, the Caliph said, "Do
+not fail to come at the usual hour this evening that we may wander
+disguised through Bagdad, as I have already arranged to do."
+
+Giafer arrived at the palace punctually at the hour appointed by the
+Caliph, and, disguised in the habits of merchants, Haroun and his
+Vizier sallied forth according to their wont, accompanied only by
+Mesrúr, who followed them at a short distance.
+
+Before leaving the palace, Haroun Alraschid, retiring for a few moments
+from his attendants, had applied to his eyes some of the ointment out
+of the jar he had placed in his cabinet.
+
+On reaching the streets and looking about him, he discovered to his
+great joy and contentment that the efficacy of the ointment had been
+nowise exaggerated by what was stated in the writing which he had found
+within the jar.
+
+Wherever they went he could see, instead of the mere blank outer walls,
+the interior of the dwellings, and the inhabitants of every house
+employed in any avocation that they might happen at that moment to be
+engaged in.  In one room he would see three or four men seated
+together, the evening meal being finished, and discussing quietly the
+occupations of the day or the prospects of the future.  In another room
+the women of the family would be visible to him, with their faces
+uncovered; thought of horror and insult for the men could they but have
+guessed it!  Here, some were eating sweetmeats, sipping sherbet and
+gossiping.  There, others were engaged adding to their charms by
+staining their eyelids, dyeing their hair, or other adornments of the
+toilet which it is not lawful for men to imagine, much less to behold.
+
+The Caliph walked along this evening looking first on this side, then
+on that, and appeared so much interested with all he saw that he seemed
+altogether oblivious of Giafer's existence, and spoke to him never a
+word.
+
+Giafer found the walk rather dull.  And the more dull he found it the
+more surprised he was at the unusual patience exhibited by the
+Commander of the Faithful, who uttered no impatient exclamations, but
+whose countenance bore an expression of satisfaction and interest far
+enough removed from any kind of irritability or ill-humour.
+
+They had wandered in this way for a long time through many of the
+least-frequented and least-interesting thoroughfares of the city, the
+Grand Vizier scarcely knowing whether he were more bored by the walk or
+astonished at the evident satisfaction of his master, when suddenly the
+Caliph stood still, leaning against the wall of a house and staring
+intently at the blank wall of the house immediately opposite.
+
+After they had stood thus for some minutes, the Caliph looking fixedly
+and with evidently increasing interest and excitement at the dead wall
+opposite, Giafer became seriously alarmed, fearing that his master had
+either lost his wits or was going to have a fit.  He was, in fact, so
+much frightened by the extraordinary behaviour of the Caliph, which had
+continued all the evening, that he continued to stand beside him and
+watch him, himself motionless and speechless.
+
+All at once the Caliph, still gazing intently before him, grasped
+Giafer by the arm and whispered to him as though others were present--
+
+"Go, take Mesrúr with you; go round that house, down the turning
+yonder, and arrest them as they come out of the gate."
+
+For a moment Giafer, who seriously believed that the Caliph had become
+demented, hesitated.  But the habit of obedience prevailed, and putting
+his hand to his head, the usual sign of implicit devotion to the royal
+will, he beckoned Mesrúr, whose figure at a little distance from them
+was the only living object visible in the street, and they disappeared
+together down the narrow turning which the Caliph had indicated.
+
+We must now explain what it was that caused the Caliph to remain so
+long gazing at the house before the outer wall of which he was standing.
+
+As he came along the street he saw in the garden of the house, which
+lay immediately behind the high wall in front of him, a sight very
+different from any of those which had hitherto been disclosed to him.
+
+Lying on the grass beneath a wide spreading tree in the middle of the
+garden was the apparently lifeless form of a very beautiful young lady.
+Her clothes were of the finest materials, and her neck, arms, and
+ankles were adorned with magnificent jewellery, composed of gold,
+diamonds, pearls, and other precious stones.  Standing beside her, and
+looking down upon her with a disturbed and angry countenance, was an
+old man, richly dressed, and evidently the master of the house, whose
+face, now distorted with passion, must at all times have worn a fierce
+and malevolent expression.  After thus standing and watching her for a
+few minutes the old man, stooping down, took hold of her hand, as
+though to ascertain that she were really dead; and when, as he released
+it, the arm fell heavily again to the earth, he again stood
+contemplating for some minutes the youthful and lovely figure at his
+feet.  Presently he clapped his hands, and some slaves appearing, he
+gave them some brief directions, on receiving which they went again
+into the house, returning shortly with a great empty sack or bag.  In
+this they placed gently and carefully enough the body of the young
+lady, and lifting the sack, carried it between them towards a side gate
+opening into a narrow lane that ran down by one side of the walled
+enclosure which formed the garden of the mansion.
+
+The Caliph saw the old man point with his finger to this side gate,
+evidently bidding them carry forth their burden at that entrance.
+
+It was at this moment that he had grasped the arm of the Grand Vizier,
+and had whispered to him the order to proceed at once with Mesrúr and
+arrest the men he should find coming along the lane.
+
+Giafer, as we have seen, after a brief hesitation went back to where
+Mesrúr was standing, and acquainting him rapidly with the Caliph's
+order, they crossed the street and entered the lane as they had been
+commanded.
+
+They had not proceeded many steps down the lane before they met the
+slaves bearing the great sack.
+
+Giafer and Mesrúr drawing their swords, demanded sternly what they had
+there, and whither they were going.
+
+The slaves, when they saw two men with drawn swords barring the way,
+put down their burden quickly and would have fled, but Mesrúr
+exclaimed--
+
+"Stop, for I will cut down the first man among you that dares stir hand
+or foot."
+
+Then one of the slaves answered and said, "Sirs, we are carrying this
+package by order of our master, therefore please to let us pass."
+
+But Giafer said, "Slaves, who is your master?  And what have you in
+this sack, and whither do you carry it?  I command you, in the name of
+the Prince of the Faithful, to answer these questions truly."
+
+"Sir," said the slave who had spoken already, "our master is the Emir
+Bargash ibn Beynin, who lives in this house at the side of which we are
+standing, and he will, if he chooses, tell you what is in the sack and
+whither it is going, but we dare not say anything."
+
+The Grand Vizier might probably have returned a very rough answer to
+this speech, or even have cut down the slave who uttered it, but at
+that moment the Caliph himself entered the lane, accompanied by a guard
+of soldiers, who happened to be patrolling the city in that direction,
+and whom the Caliph had summoned to his assistance.
+
+Directing some of the soldiers to escort the slaves and their burthen
+to the palace, he ordered the officer of the guard with the rest of his
+men to enter the house of the Emir, and to conduct him also at once to
+the palace.  He furthermore strictly charged the officer to permit the
+master of the house to hold no communication whatever with any of its
+inmates before leaving, and as soon as possible to send a guard to
+seize and hold possession of the place until the Caliph's pleasure
+should be known concerning it.  After giving these orders Haroun
+Alraschid returned with Giafer to the palace.
+
+When he had changed his clothes and assumed his seat on the imperial
+divan, he commanded the Emir to be brought in before him.  Then,
+addressing him, he said with a stern expression--
+
+"This evening my officers have stopped and arrested a party of slaves
+belonging to your household, who were carrying in a sack the body of a
+young lady.  They say that they carried it from your house by your
+command.  Explain to me, therefore, who the lady is, and what your
+slaves were ordered to do with her."
+
+The Emir Bargash ibn Beynin, having prostrated himself before the
+throne of the Caliph, replied--
+
+"Prince of the Faithful, I hasten according to your command to declare
+to you the whole truth concerning the young lady whose body my slaves
+were carrying in the sack.  That young lady was my niece.  She was
+Persian by birth, my nephew having married her while staying in that
+country, and brought her back with him about a year ago, when he
+returned to his native land.  For the last three or four months they
+have been staying with me in my house in this city.  I must here inform
+your Majesty, though I say it with sorrow and regret, that my nephew,
+who is a man of violent passions, ever treated his young wife with
+scandalous severity and harshness.  Often, but in vain, I have
+remonstrated with him as to his conduct.  At length, this evening, when
+going into my garden, I found my niece lying there lifeless.
+Everywhere I sought my nephew, but could not find him.  I was convinced
+that he had in some way been the cause of his wife's death, and that he
+had fled to escape the consequences of his barbarous act.  But, being
+myself not a little apprehensive of the danger which might threaten
+myself if the dead body were discovered in my house, I confess that I
+ordered my slaves to remove it and place it in the river."
+
+The Caliph listened with much attention to the account given him by the
+Emir.  After the latter had finished his narration, Haroun Alraschid
+dismissed him with the injunction immediately to make diligent search
+for his nephew, and to arrest him and bring him at once to the palace
+as soon as he could find him.
+
+The Caliph being now very tired retired to rest.
+
+Meanwhile the body of the young lady, which had been carried to the
+palace, was taken to the women's apartments, the ladies of the harem
+being all of them devoured with curiosity to see the fair unknown.
+When the body had been taken out of the sack in which it had been
+placed, all were astonished at the extreme beauty of the stranger, and
+the richness and value of her dress and ornaments.  At length one of
+the ladies who were gathered together around her declared, after
+looking at her attentively and placing her hand over her heart, that
+she was convinced that life was not yet extinct.  Resorting to all the
+remedies of use in cases of prolonged fainting fits, consciousness was
+at last restored, and, after partaking of some slight nourishment, the
+lovely patient fell into a natural sleep, during which she was watched
+with sympathizing eyes by several eager volunteers.
+
+Early next morning, as soon as the Caliph had risen and was dressed,
+one of the Chamberlains of the palace acquainted him with the recovery
+of the young lady, and that she was now so much better that she was
+sitting and conversing with the other ladies in the harem.
+
+The Caliph immediately sent the Chamberlain to announce that his
+Majesty was about to pay them a visit.  When the Caliph entered the
+apartment where she was, the young lady, with all the ladies of the
+harem who were sitting with her, rose to receive the Commander of the
+Faithful, and prostrated themselves before him.
+
+Bidding them rise, and placing the young lady on the divan near to him,
+he inquired after her health; and when she answered that she was much
+better, and nearly recovered from her illness of the previous evening,
+he told her to relate to him the occasion of the serious and almost
+fatal fainting fit into which she had fallen.
+
+"Sire," said the young lady, with tears in her eyes, "all my trouble,
+and the fact that I am now here, arises from the vile conduct of a
+relative, from whom I had every reason to expect very different
+treatment.
+
+"My father was a wealthy merchant, living at Teheran, and I his only
+daughter.  He gave me the name of Abadeh, and spared no expense to
+render his house and garden--where I lived until I was sixteen years of
+age--as bright and charming as it is possible for any young girl to
+desire.
+
+"Nothing I wished for was denied me; and when one day, while on my way
+to the bath, I saw Suliman, the nephew of the Emir Bargash ibn Beynin
+of Bagdad, who was visiting Teheran, and could neither rest nor he
+happy because I was continually thinking of him, my dear father no
+sooner had learned the cause of my disquiet than he arranged a marriage
+between us, giving Suliman such a handsome dower with me as made him
+think himself a very fortunate young man."
+
+Haroun Alraschid, who was a very polite man among ladies, here
+interposed the remark that Suliman had much cause to consider himself
+fortunate, irrespective of the dower.
+
+Abadeh, blushing at the Caliph's compliment, continued--
+
+"For a whole year we lived very happily together, when, on the death of
+my dear father, my husband, no longer having any inducement to remain
+in Persia, determined to return to his native country.
+
+"After a journey marked by no noteworthy incident, we arrived at length
+in Bagdad.  Hiring a house next to that occupied by my husband's uncle,
+the Emir Bargash ibn Beynin, we have resided there now nearly a year,
+in the greatest contentment and happiness, and constantly visited by
+the Emir, who has always professed to be extremely pleased with our
+society.
+
+"Yesterday evening, however, he sent one of his female slaves to bid me
+come at once to his house, as Suliman was suddenly taken ill.
+
+"I was just dressed to receive my dear husband, whose return I every
+moment expected.  I hurried down therefore from my chamber just as I
+was, forgetting even in my excitement to throw my yashmak over me, and
+crossing the narrow yard between our houses, I entered the Emir's
+garden.
+
+"He met me in the midst of the garden, and in answer to my eager
+inquiry for my husband, he said: 'You cannot see him, it is too late;
+he is dead.'
+
+"'Impossible!' I cried; 'it cannot be, take me to him at once.  Let me
+at least try what can be done for him.'
+
+"Then this Emir--this wicked, this infamous man--took me in his arms,
+in spite of my struggles, and kissed me and said: 'Think no more of
+Suliman, who is gone, and whom you will not see again.  Now you belong
+to me--I love you, I have loved you for months, and never more shall we
+part.'
+
+"As he said these things, and I perceived his villainy, which I had
+never even suspected until that moment, and thought how he had possibly
+murdered his nephew, of whom he had pretended to be so fond, I fainted
+off in the arms of the perfidious wretch, who, finding that I continued
+so long insensible, no doubt concluded that I was dead.  Indeed, I
+remember nothing more until I found myself here in the palace, and most
+kindly tended and watched.  What has become of my dear husband I know
+not; but oh, sir!" said she, falling down before the Caliph, "find him,
+find him for me again if it be possible, and punish the Emir as he
+deserves!"
+
+"Rise," said the Caliph, "rise, beautiful lady, and be comforted.  If
+Suliman be alive he shall be restored to you.  And whether he be alive
+or dead the doom of the Emir is certain."
+
+So saying, he at once went out of the harem, and summoning Giafer, he
+said: "Send at once and fetch the Emir Bargash ibn Beynin.  And let
+some officers go also and bring hither, if they can find him, Suliman,
+the nephew of the Emir, who lived in the next house to him."
+
+An hour afterwards the officers returned, and reported that they could
+find neither the Emir nor, his nephew.  The former, taking some of his
+slaves with him, had left his home about an hour before the arrival of
+the officers sent to arrest him, and no one knew whither he had gone.
+While as for his nephew, Suliman, he had left home on the previous day,
+and had not since been heard of.
+
+When this account was brought to the Caliph, he was furious.
+
+"Go," said he, to the Grand Vizier, "destroy the house of that vile
+scoundrel, the Emir Bargash ibn Beynin; leave of it not one stick or
+stone upon another.  And bring me both the Emir and his nephew--dead or
+alive I will have them.  Two days I give you to seek them, and if you
+fail to find them, by Allah, your head shall not remain above your
+shoulders."
+
+Giafer trembled at the rage of his master, and went forth out of the
+palace knowing no more where to look for the Emir and his nephew than
+did the Caliph himself.
+
+At first he said to himself, "I may as well go home to my own house and
+set my affairs in order, for in two days I must die, for how can I find
+in this great kingdom the two men I am in search of?  I might as well
+seek in a sand-heap two particular grains of sand."
+
+However, as he rode along very slowly and moodily, it suddenly occurred
+to him--"It is at least my duty to do at once that part of the Caliph's
+order which is feasible."  Therefore, sending for the proper workmen,
+he proceeded immediately to the Emir's house, and superintended its
+entire demolition.
+
+After some hours' work the house was pulled down, and there remained
+only some small portion of a very thick wall, which separated the house
+from some out-buildings.  While proceeding with the destruction of
+this, the workmen came upon a doorway or opening, which had but
+recently been bricked up, the cement being still damp; and when they
+had removed this, they discovered a small cell or chamber situated in
+the thickness of the wall, in which was seated a living man.
+
+He, being brought to the Grand Vizier, declared that he was Suliman,
+the nephew of the Emir, and said that his uncle--for what cause he knew
+not--had barbarously caused him to be seized and buried alive where
+they had found him.  He begged that he might be allowed at once to
+return to his own house, where his wife would be anxiously expecting
+him.
+
+The Grand Vizier, overjoyed to have thus secured one at least of those
+whom he had been commanded to apprehend, would not lose sight of him
+for one moment, but carried him forthwith to the palace.
+
+The Caliph was considerably mollified by the production of Suliman, in
+whose fate the narrative of Abadeh had so much interested him.  He
+listened with rising indignation to the account Suliman gave of the
+behaviour of his uncle towards him, and once more ordering the Grand
+Vizier to find and arrest the Emir, he commanded the Grand Chamberlain
+to conduct Suliman to the apartment occupied by Abadeh.
+
+That faithful wife was sitting disconsolate, scarcely daring to hope
+again to behold her husband, when the Grand Chamberlain, coming softly
+to the door, ushered in Suliman himself.
+
+We will not attempt to intrude upon the transports of this happy pair
+in again rejoining each other.  At length Suliman learnt from the lips
+of his wife the motive and object of his inhuman and treacherous uncle,
+in causing him to be immured in that fatal cell, from which he had been
+so marvellously released.
+
+But while Suliman and Abadeh were thus discussing the conduct and
+perfidy of the Emir, the unhappy Grand Vizier had to resume the
+difficult and hazardous task of discovering his hiding-place.  Two
+circumstances served to encourage him, and to make the execution of the
+Caliph's order seem somewhat less difficult than it had at first sight
+appeared.  The first circumstance was the wonderful way in which
+Suliman had been delivered, as it were, into his hands, in the most
+strange and altogether unexpected manner; and the second circumstance
+was the fact of the Emir having taken certain slaves away with him.  He
+had no doubt taken away those slaves who had been employed to immure
+his unfortunate nephew, and with the object of leaving no one who could
+throw any light on the fate of his victim.  Why he had fled was not so
+clear, but probably some whisper of the resuscitation of his niece at
+the palace had come to his ears.
+
+Cogitating these things the Grand Vizier returned to his palace, and
+immediately gave orders that the public criers should make proclamation
+in every part of the city, that a reward would be given to any one
+giving information leading to the capture of the Emir Bargash ibn
+Beynin, namely, two thousand pieces of gold if he were taken alive, and
+one thousand pieces on the recovery of his body if he were dead.
+
+The next morning, soon after the Grand Vizier had risen, one of his
+officers came to him and said, "There is a man whom we found very early
+this morning at the Gate, who desires to speak with your Highness."
+
+The Grand Vizier, divining at once that it might be one of the slaves
+of the Emir, said, "Bring him in."
+
+When the man was brought in, he prostrated himself before the Grand
+Vizier, and said--
+
+"I can tell your Highness where the Emir Bargash ibn Beynin has gone,
+but promise me first that no harm shall be done me."
+
+"Cursed slave!" cried the Grand Vizier, in the utmost excitement,
+"inform me instantly where that villain your master is to be found, or
+by the life of the Caliph I will have you impaled upon the spot."
+
+"My lord," answered the slave, terrified by the impetuosity and threats
+of the Grand Vizier, "have patience and hear me.  Yesterday morning my
+master took me and three other slaves of his, and going to a khan in a
+remote part of the city he ordered us to lie down and sleep, or at any
+rate keep quiet till he called us.  During the day he assumed the garb
+of a merchant, and we heard him arrange with some other merchants, whom
+he met at the khan, to leave with them very early this morning in a
+caravan, which sets out with the intention of proceeding towards
+Persia.  Yesterday evening I heard the crier proclaim the reward that
+you offer for the capture of my master, and therefore during the night
+I made my escape, and came here.  But again I implore you----"
+
+"No more," said the Grand Vizier, interrupting him; "if the Emir
+escapes your life shall answer it, but if he is captured you shall have
+the reward, and free pardon for your crimes, be they what they may."
+
+Then calling an officer he ordered him to take a score of horsemen,
+mounted on the swiftest steeds to be found in his stables, and bring
+back the master of this slave, and the other slaves that were with him.
+
+The officer bowed and immediately departed, taking with him the slave,
+in order to be able more certainly to identify the man wanted by the
+Grand Vizier.
+
+It was not long before the small and well-mounted body of cavalry
+overtook the caravan, which necessarily travelled very slowly.  As soon
+as the Emir observed them approaching he guessed that they had been
+sent to apprehend him, and putting spurs to his horse, he attempted to
+seek safety in flight.  The cavalry came on like the wind, the few
+foremost horsemen passed the caravan safely, but the others getting
+mixed up with the camels and asses, composing the train of the caravan,
+who straggled in all directions, being frightened by the noise of the
+pursuers, a scene of inextricable confusion for some time ensued.
+
+Meanwhile the Emir, who was mounted on a powerful horse, which was
+fresh, while those of the soldiers were already considerably blown,
+kept the lead easily, and appeared to have every chance of distancing
+his pursuers altogether, and effecting his escape, when the Vizier's
+officer, reining in his horse, discharged an arrow, aimed so accurately
+that the Emir's horse was wounded.  This changed the relative
+conditions, and before long the Emir, finding that his horse was
+disabled and could do no more, dismounted, and putting his back against
+a tree, drew his sword, and prepared to offer stubborn resistance.  All
+his efforts were however in vain; being overpowered by numbers, he was
+seized and disarmed, but not before he had managed to inflict severe
+wounds upon two of his assailants.
+
+Having bound him, they returned slowly to the spot where they had left
+the caravan.  This was being gradually restored to order, and the
+officer collecting his men and securing the slaves and goods belonging
+to the Emir, left the caravan to proceed again on its way, and hastened
+back with his prisoner to Bagdad.
+
+Directly the Grand Vizier was informed by a soldier, who was sent on in
+advance of the party, of the capture of the Emir, he went out at once
+to meet him, and conducted him straightway to the palace of the Caliph.
+
+At the moment of the Grand Vizier's arrival, Haroun Alraschid was
+seated on his throne in the splendid chamber of audience, holding a
+public reception of the Imaums, Viziers, Emirs, Governors of Provinces,
+and other great functionaries of his kingdom.
+
+When the Grand Vizier announced to the Caliph that the Emir Bargash ibn
+Beynin was a prisoner, and awaited under guard the commands of his
+Majesty, Haroun Alraschid, looking round the audience-chamber with a
+stern expression of countenance, said, "Let the Emir be conducted into
+our presence."
+
+And when the Emir, preceded by the Marshal of the Palace and guarded by
+ten soldiers, entered the magnificent apartment, and stood before his
+sovereign in the midst of that illustrious assemblage, the Caliph thus
+addressed him:
+
+"Emir! three times over you have forfeited the life whose opportunities
+you have abused and the station whose fair name and dignity you have
+disgraced.  You have coveted and attempted to take the wife of your
+neighbour, and that neighbour a near relative of your own, whom you
+were bound in honour to cherish and protect.  You have attempted to
+take the life of your nephew, and that in the most atrocious and
+cold-blooded way.  And, finally, you have lied to me, and attempted to
+deceive your sovereign and the Head of your Faith.  Now, therefore, in
+the face of this assembly I pronounce upon you my sentence.  Your
+honours and your goods are forfeited, and I bestow them upon Suliman,
+your nephew, against whom you have acted so basely.  For yourself,
+three times shall you ride through Bagdad with your face to the tail of
+the camel, while the criers make this announcement, 'Behold the reward
+of an assassin,' and after the third journey they shall smite off your
+head."
+
+The Caliph then gave Mesrúr the usual sign to remove the prisoner.
+
+After being paraded three times through the streets of Bagdad in the
+manner the Caliph had ordained, the executioner struck off his head,
+and thus perished that vile and infamous miscreant, the Emir Bargash
+ibn Beynin.
+
+
+
+
+The Caliph and the First Jar of Ointment
+
+
+SECOND ADVENTURE:
+
+THE CALIPH AND ABOU HASSAN.
+
+One evening not long after the execution of the Emir, Haroun Alraschid,
+when about to indulge in one of his nocturnal rambles, determined again
+to make trial of the marvellous properties of his magical ointment.
+Before sallying forth, therefore, with Giafer, always his faithful
+companion in these adventures, he retired privately to his cabinet and
+anointed his eyes with a small portion of the contents of the little
+jar.
+
+Once more on passing through the streets of his capital the interior of
+the houses and the occupations and amusements of his subjects were
+revealed to him.  In some houses he saw feasting and merriment, in some
+mourning and death.  In the dwellings of the rich there was to be seen
+fine clothes and jewellery, in the hovels of the poor squalor and rags.
+And so constantly varied and animated were the scenes which by virtue
+of the ointment he was enabled to observe, that he walked on for more
+than an hour without experiencing either fatigue or weariness.
+
+At length, as he was passing a certain mean-looking house in one of the
+less important thoroughfares, his attention was attracted to a scene
+which caused him to stop before the house; and, resting in the
+obscurity of a great recessed doorway on the opposite side of the way,
+to observe with much interest what took place in the room before him.
+
+It was a large room, and but dimly lighted by a single oil lamp placed
+upon the table.  A great number of packages were lying in a confused
+heap on one side of the room; and on a raised divan near to the table
+and facing the door of the apartment sat an old man of no very inviting
+appearance.  About his head he wore an old turban, not very clean and
+put on in a careless and slovenly manner.  His eyes were shielded and
+concealed by a large green shade, as though the light even of the one
+oil lamp were too strong for him.  His clothes were plain, but much
+better than his head-gear; his form seemed slight and wiry, and Haroun
+noticed that his hands, which were small and plump, were adorned with
+several very handsome and valuable rings.
+
+Between this large room occupied by the figure just described and the
+door in the wall of the house was a small ante-room or lobby, in which
+was seated on the bare floor a little ill-looking hump-backed slave,
+whom the Caliph, whose memory for faces was remarkable, immediately
+recognized as a mute who had been under the orders of Mesrúr, and who,
+in consequence, it was supposed, of some punishment inflicted upon him,
+had fled from the palace some months previously.  The sight of this
+slave caused Haroun to be additionally curious to learn what might be
+the business of his present master.  The occupation of the mute was
+obvious.  He sat in the lobby at the door of the house ready to open it
+for any one who might wish to enter.
+
+The Caliph had but few moments to wait before the figure of a man
+carrying a small bundle crept stealthily up the street and stood at the
+door.  Pressing what looked like the head of a large bolt on the
+surface of the door, a piece of wood on the inside was slightly raised.
+On this sign the mute rose, and opening the door just sufficiently wide
+to allow the man to enter, he closed it quickly, and immediately led
+the way into the large room where the old man sat by the lamp.  The
+new-comer placed his bundle on the table, and having opened and
+displayed its contents, which consisted of some jewellery and some
+pieces of fine cloth, he packed it up again and deposited it with the
+other packages upon the floor.
+
+The old man, who had sat quite motionless, and whose lips did not once
+move, proceeded to count out certain coins on to the table; these the
+other took, also apparently in silence, and forthwith departed, leaving
+the house and passing down the street in the same stealthy and furtive
+manner in which he had arrived.
+
+The Caliph and Giafer remained some time concealed thus in the black
+shadow of the doorway where they were standing; Giafer being half
+asleep, and supposing his master to be resting where they were simply
+because he was tired.  The Caliph, however, was watching the
+proceedings of the old man and his slave.  One after another half a
+dozen visitors arrived, were admitted on giving the same signal, showed
+the contents of their several bundles, deposited them on the same heap,
+were paid in silence by the old man, and thereupon went their way.
+
+There was no departure from the uniformity of this procedure, excepting
+that when any one arrived and gave the signal while another was still
+occupied with the old man, the mute took no notice whatever of the
+signal, and in every case the man wishing to enter seemed at once to
+understand why his signal remained unanswered, and waited patiently
+until the door was opened for the other to depart.
+
+The Caliph, who had at first been somewhat puzzled by the strangely
+conducted traffic which he here observed, had guessed before long that
+the actual business of this disreputable old merchant was that of
+purchasing from the thieves, which always infest a large town, whatever
+plunder they might have to dispose of.
+
+There was no haggling as to price.  The terms on which the transaction
+was based were evidently very simple.  The thief displayed his wares;
+the old man paid him what he chose, and clearly the thief, whose market
+for his ill-gotten goods was likely to be very limited, was satisfied
+to accept what the buyer chose to award.
+
+The Caliph was not ill-pleased to have discovered the nefarious trade
+which was being here carried on, and determined to have the house
+closely watched in future, in the hope of thus noting and securing a
+great number of the most expert and artful thieves in Bagdad.
+
+As he moved out of the obscurity of the doorway revolving these things
+in his mind, a ragged and decrepit beggar, who had just dragged himself
+with slow and weary steps to this spot, begged an alms in the
+professional whine common to his class.  The Caliph gave him a small
+piece of silver, and then watched him as he crossed the road and
+entered a dilapidated and wretched hovel, which stood close by the
+outer wall of the house of the dealer in stolen goods.
+
+The inside of the hovel consisted of one small room, containing no
+furniture of any kind but a litter of rags in one corner, which
+evidently served the old beggar as a bed.
+
+The old man, when he had entered and lighted his lamp, pushed some of
+these rags aside with trembling hands, and raising a piece of the dirty
+and half-rotten flooring, he produced a stout and rather heavy hag.
+Out of this he took in succession several smaller hags, each evidently
+full of money; and having pleased himself with handling and gloating
+over his treasure, he added the coin which the Caliph had just given
+him, together with several others, the produce of that day's exertion,
+to the contents of one of the bags, and then carefully replaced the
+whole in its hiding-place, and covering the board again with the rags,
+lay down to sleep.
+
+Three hours had now elapsed since the Caliph had anointed his eyes with
+the magical ointment, and the increased power of vision it conferred
+upon him began rapidly to vanish.  Therefore he turned to go back to
+the palace, laughing within himself as he thought, "Thieves, beggars,
+and misers, a goodly company have I become acquainted with to-night!"
+
+The streets were now silent and deserted, and all honest people were
+already in bed and asleep.  But he had not proceeded far before he came
+to a door which was partly open, and through which he could see across
+a courtyard a great house brightly lighted, and could hear the voices
+of the guests within very merrily laughing and conversing.  Moreover, a
+very delicious aroma of cooking assailed his nostrils, and reminded him
+that he was both hungry and tired.  Bidding Giafer knock at the door,
+he told the slave who appeared to go to his master and say that two
+merchants, strangers in the town, and who had lost their way, craved to
+be partakers of his hospitality.
+
+Returning shortly, the slave conducted them across the courtyard, and
+ushered them into a room handsomely furnished and brilliantly lighted,
+in which ten young men were seated, all very merry and evidently
+enjoying a plentiful supper, which they washed down with good wine.
+
+One of the ten, evidently the host, a young man with finely formed
+features and black eyes, bright and piercing, addressed the Caliph and
+Giafer as they entered.
+
+"Merchants and strangers," said he, "you are welcome to our party.  Be
+seated, I pray you, and by your diligence in eating and drinking,
+endeavour to make up for the time you have lost."
+
+Then the company having saluted them, and they having saluted the
+company, by placing their hands across the breast and bowing the head
+in the customary manner, the Caliph and Grand Vizier sat down, and the
+slaves who waited continued from time to time to bring them plenty both
+to eat and to drink.
+
+When the slave who attended on the Caliph had set a handsome goblet of
+silver before him and had filled it with wine, the Caliph raised the
+goblet, and said--
+
+"We thank you, gentlemen, and you, sir, especially, who are master of
+this house, for the welcome you have given us, and your kindness in
+admitting us to be partakers of your feast.  And we beg that you will
+continue that merry conversation in which we heard you engaged when we
+ventured to interrupt you and to intrude on your agreeable society."
+
+"Gentlemen," said the host, whose name was Abou Hassan, "you must know
+that during several evenings on which the present pleasant company have
+previously assembled, we have entertained each other by a relation of
+such parts of the history of each of us as the narrators have judged
+might prove interesting.  Just before you entered the eighth of our
+party had finished an account of his experiences, which gave rise to
+the merry discussion which you heard.  There now remain but two of us,
+Murad Essed and myself, who owe our stories to the company, and I will,
+therefore, by your leave, at once invite Murad to begin."
+
+
+THE STORY OF MURAD ESSED, THE UNFORTUNATE MERCHANT.
+
+The young man addressed as Murad, and who wore a frank and jovial
+expression of countenance, began as follows:
+
+"It gives me much pleasure to relate to this good company those
+vicissitudes and misfortunes which have earned for me the designation
+of 'The Unfortunate Merchant,' because we shall then be favoured with
+an account of the history of our host, who has lately been known as
+'The Fortunate Merchant.'  His good fortune and his great wealth are
+indeed surprising, and are no more due to the inheritance bequeathed to
+him by his ancestors than my poverty is owing to what was bequeathed to
+me by mine.  So far is that from being the case, that on the death of
+my father, who was one of the leading merchants of Bagdad, I found
+myself the possessor of an immense fortune.  It was so large and I was
+so young and inexperienced that I imagined that it could never be
+exhausted.  I bought a grand house, with fine rooms and wide gardens.
+Ah! my dear Abou Hassan, this very house where we now are was the
+house.  I fitted it with all kinds of handsome and luxurious furniture.
+I bought slaves to wait on me, and in my harem; ah! gentlemen, in our
+dreams we picture nothing better.  The Caliph himself might have envied
+me.
+
+"Well, gentlemen, for two years I lived like a Sultan.  I denied myself
+nothing, and never gave one thought to the expense.  At length, one day
+after completing the sale of a large quantity of merchandize, which had
+been stored in his warehouses by my father, I was induced to consider
+the state of my affairs, and I found that in these two years I had
+expended the half of my fortune.
+
+"This caused me to reflect seriously on my situation and mode of life.
+At this rate, what with women, wine, and gambling, I should soon have
+nothing left.
+
+"I determined to reform.  I sold a number of my slaves; I reduced my
+establishment; I became very economical; I gave my little wine parties,
+as some of you may remember, only once a week instead of every evening.
+
+"But, besides effecting these little alterations, what I principally
+did was this: I divided my remaining fortune into two equal parts.
+With the one half I proposed to embark in trade, while I retained the
+other half to live upon and to provide against accidents.
+
+"Well, the money I devoted to trade I invested in such sorts of
+merchandize as I judged to be most suitable, and shipping them in a
+vessel bound for Egypt, I sent with them a letter to an old friend of
+my father, a merchant living there, asking him to dispose of the goods
+to the best advantage, and forward to me in return, by the same vessel,
+such kinds of produce as he thought would prove most saleable in Bagdad.
+
+"Six months passed and I had no tidings of my venture.  A year elapsed,
+and still I heard nothing of it.  But, in fine, and not to weary you,
+having written by another vessel to inquire of my friend, I learnt at
+length that my goods had arrived safely and had been sold to realize a
+considerable profit, and that other goods had been shipped to me in
+return, but the vessel bringing them has never more been heard of, and
+whether she foundered or was captured by pirates I know not.
+
+"Thus I had spent and lost three-quarters of the fortune left to me by
+my father, and the remaining fourth was rapidly diminishing under the
+pressure of current expenses.
+
+"It was at this time, when walking along one day very moodily and in
+ill-humour, lamenting my extravagance and losses, and cogitating how I
+might with the small remainder of my capital retrieve my position, that
+I was accosted by a Seyed Hajji.
+
+"'Sir,' said he, 'I have for many months past often observed you as you
+walked this way, and during all that time your countenance has been
+unclouded and merry, but the past few days a great change has come over
+you, and you walk with downcast eyes, melancholy and preoccupied.  If
+you will tell me what is the trouble that has befallen you, perhaps it
+may be in my power to render you some assistance.'
+
+"'Holy pilgrim,' said I, laughing, for I was amused by the man's
+impertinent curiosity respecting my affairs, 'the trouble that has
+befallen me is very serious, being no other than the loss of the
+greater part of my fortune.  If you can show me the way of so employing
+the remainder as to regain what is lost, you are indeed the prince of
+Hajjis, and such an one as a man can expect to meet with but seldom.'
+
+"'My son,' said he, 'I pardon your incredulity, which is very natural.
+But you should reflect that youth knows less than age; and moreover,
+that a man like myself who has three times made the pilgrimage to the
+Holy Cities and to the Tomb of the Prophet, may have learnt some
+secrets which are hidden from those who have remained at home, and who
+have spent their time in dissipation and drinking.'
+
+"'Holy pilgrim,' I answered, somewhat abashed, 'what you say is very
+true.  Therefore, if you know of any magic or charm by which a man who
+is nearly ruined may retrieve his fortune, I pray you to disclose it.'
+
+"'Gently, my son,' said the Hajji, 'the impulsiveness of youth hurries
+you too fast.  I can tell you no more here in the open bazaar; but come
+to my house and you shall hear of a way of getting gold which will
+fairly astonish you.'
+
+"I went, therefore, with the old man, and after passing through the
+worst part of the town, and along many narrow and dirty lanes, we came
+at length to a mean and ruinous hovel, into which the Hajji entered.
+
+"When I looked round and saw the extreme poverty of the place, I could
+not help observing to my companion, that for one possessed of a
+marvellous method of getting gold, this lodging appeared somewhat
+unsuitable.
+
+"'Do not,' said he, 'jump hastily to conclusions.  Listen patiently to
+what I have to tell you, and this and much else will be explained.'
+
+"Then taking a small flask from a shelf, he held it up before me, and
+exclaimed, 'Behold the magic water of wealth, by means of which palaces
+and slaves, and fair ladies, and all that man longs for may be
+obtained!'
+
+"Then, in a more sober tone, he continued, 'Look, my son, the virtue of
+the water contained in this flask is such that any metal steeped in it
+is quickly converted into gold.  Of this,' he said, 'I will give you
+speedy proof.'  And so saying, he took a small piece of lead about two
+ounces in weight, and holding the flask which contained only a small
+quantity of liquid, at an angle, he slipped the lead in carefully, and
+setting the flask in a corner and covering it with a cloth to, exclude
+the light, he left it thus for about ten minutes, to allow the liquid
+to permeate the mass, and effect the marvellous transformation.
+
+"Then uncovering the flask, he showed that the liquid had entirely
+disappeared, and in place of the lump of lead was a lump of pure gold
+of equal magnitude.
+
+"I was, of course, greatly delighted with this easy process of
+converting lead into gold, and I demanded eagerly of the Hajji how much
+of this liquid he possessed, and what he demanded for it.
+
+"'My son,' said he, smiling, 'you are truly very simple.  If I had
+plenty of this magic water, why should I live in the poor place in
+which you find me?  Or why, if I had it, should I part with it for less
+than its weight in gold--which, indeed, is less than the worth of it?
+No; I have never had more than what was contained in this one small
+flask, and the last drop of that I have, as you see, now made use of.
+But although I have no more of the water, I have a secret of almost
+equal value.  I know where the water came from, and whence it may be
+obtained.  It springs from the bowels of the earth, in a sterile and
+uninhabited country more than a hundred days' journey from Bagdad.  To
+get there will be both difficult and costly, as one must pass through
+the territory of a race of Infidels whom one must bribe freely in order
+to ensure one's safety.  The question is, Dare you attempt it, and will
+you furnish the money for the enterprise?'
+
+"I reflected some time on this proposition, and, finally, seeing no
+better way of recruiting my shattered fortune, I determined to
+accompany the Hajji to the country of the fountain of the water of gold.
+
+"In order to raise the funds necessary for this expedition, I sold all
+that I had; the remainder of my merchandize, my slaves, my furniture,
+and my house.  By this means I obtained a sum amounting to four
+thousand pieces of gold; and, taking with us only a few camels laden
+with water-skins to hold the magic water, and two slaves bought by the
+Hajji, we set out on our journey.
+
+"For three days we pursued our way without incident, and on the evening
+of the third day after partaking of a good meal and some wine we had
+brought with us, which the Hajji, owing to his sacred character, would
+not touch, I laid down under some trees near which our horses and
+camels were picketed, and slept very soundly.  So long did I sleep that
+when I awoke the sun was high in the heaven.  The day was very hot, and
+the place was very quiet; for looking round I could see nothing of my
+Seyed Hajji, of the slaves, the horses, or the camels.  All had
+disappeared, and with them had gone my money also.
+
+"Thus, by the will of Allah, was I reduced to the utmost poverty.
+
+"I made my way back to Bagdad slowly and suffering much hardship.  But,
+thanks to the goodness of Allah, and to my friend Abou Hassan and some
+others, I lack neither good fellowship nor good living, and although I
+am styled the unfortunate merchant, I contrive to laugh and be merry in
+spite of fate, and shall listen with pleasure and without envy to the
+very different career of Abou Hassan, the fortunate merchant, and our
+munificent host."
+
+
+THE STORY OF ABOU HASSAN, THE FORTUNATE MERCHANT.
+
+When Murad Essed had finished speaking all eyes were fixed upon Abou
+Hassan, who said: "We have all listened with interest to the story of
+our friend Murad Essed, showing how a rich man may become poor; I have
+now in my turn to show you, by a relation of my own experience, how a
+poor man may become rich.
+
+"But in telling you my history, I should weary you if I were to recall
+all the particulars of my early struggles.  It will be sufficient to
+say that of all that I now possess I inherited nothing, and that only
+seven years ago I was as badly off as Murad Essed is at present.  About
+that time I became acquainted with an old merchant who imparted to me
+the secret of the success I have since then obtained.  This secret, you
+will be perhaps somewhat disappointed to learn, consists neither in a
+charm nor in any kind of magical art or sorcery.  It is comprised
+simply in a particular mode of dealing, and one, in fact, completely
+opposed to that which is in general use.
+
+"You know that it is the common habit of merchants when they buy
+anything to offer much less for it, and when they sell anything to ask
+more for it than the price which they think it is worth.  And only
+after a long time spent in haggling and bargaining, they conclude their
+business.
+
+"But by the advice of my old friend, the merchant, I adopted, and have
+constantly adhered to, a totally different plan.  When I buy anything I
+name what I consider to be a fair price for it; the seller either
+accepts my offer at once and without discussion, or refuses.  No man
+ever refuses the price I offer more than once, because it is my rule
+never to deal again with a man who has once refused to deal at my
+price.  In like manner, when I sell anything, I fix the price I will
+accept and rather destroy the goods than part with them for any other
+price than that I have put upon them.
+
+"This is the whole secret of my success.  My story is, you see, a very
+brief one; the origin of my fortune appears very simple when I discover
+it to you; but that the plan, simple as it may seem, has its merits,
+you may convince yourselves by looking round you."
+
+Abou Hassan, as he said this, waved his hand, indicating the handsome
+room in which they were sitting, and beyond it, seen through the gilded
+arches at the end of the apartment, the garden outside, where the moon,
+which had now risen, was illuminating with its enchanting light the
+trees, whose branches were heavy with various fruits, the fountains
+splashing into their marble basins, and, finally, in the distance, a
+group of girls of marvellous beauty who had just entered the garden
+dancing and singing.
+
+"Behold," said he, rising, "the nymphs of paradise beckon us from the
+banquet and the wine bowl to other pleasures."
+
+But the Caliph, when Abou Hassan and his other guests had risen from
+the banqueting-hall to go into the garden, sat lost in reverie.
+
+As Abou Hassan had waved his hand to direct the attention of his guests
+to the splendid results of his new system of trading and his
+magnificent surroundings it flashed upon the mind of the Caliph that he
+had seen that hand before.  The shapely fingers, and the rings
+containing many precious stones of unusual size and beauty, recalled to
+him irresistibly the hands of the old man with his face shielded by the
+huge green shade over his eyes, whom he had been watching earlier in
+the evening.
+
+So Abou Hassan, the Fortunate Merchant, the young and sparkling host of
+this gay party, was identical with the villainous purchaser of stolen
+goods, whose base pursuits the ointment had revealed to him.  The new
+plan of naming one price and taking no other had been practised only
+with those who feared justice and practised robbery.
+
+The Caliph, absorbed in these thoughts, observed nothing that was going
+on about him until Abou Hassan approached him, and, addressing him,
+personally requested him to rise and accompany himself and his friends
+into the garden.
+
+Then the Caliph, rising and thanking Abou Hassan for his hospitality,
+declared that now the moon was up he must pursue his journey, and,
+taking leave together with Giafer, he left the house of the Fortunate
+Merchant and returned immediately to the palace.
+
+The next evening, being desirous to continue his observation of the
+prosperous though illicit trade of the Fortunate Merchant, the Caliph
+stationed himself as before with Giafer in the dark recess of the
+arched gateway opposite the room to which the thieves resorted.
+
+At first the room was empty.  A number of parcels still lay strewn upon
+the floor; the table was there, and the lamp stood upon it, burning
+with a small and dim flame that lighted the place badly, but the
+mysterious and silent figure with his slovenly turban, great green
+shade over the eyes, and with the small hands and bejewelled fingers,
+was absent.  The Caliph could see the misshapen mute lying in the
+ante-room perfectly motionless and taking not the slightest notice of
+the usual signal given two or three times by men who came furtively to
+the door desiring to enter.
+
+At length, just as the Caliph was beginning to speculate whether the
+man could possibly have become suspicious and have effected his escape,
+Abou Hassan came quickly along the street, hastening evidently to the
+house where he was to assume his disguise and enter on his business.
+As he arrived almost exactly opposite to the spot where Haroun and
+Giafer were standing in the obscurity of the great gateway, there
+approached from the right or opposite direction that same old beggar
+and miser who had accosted the Caliph on the previous evening.  On
+perceiving some one before him he began immediately to solicit alms in
+the whining tone common to his class.
+
+"An old man," he said, "a very old man, my lord, ragged, hungry,
+without shelter."
+
+Abou Hassan, as he heard the voice, exclaimed--
+
+"What! is it thou, my father?  How often have I entreated thee to
+accept a provision for thine age which I can so well spare?"
+
+"Speak no more of it, my son," said the old man with vehemence and in
+quite another tone of voice to that he had employed before.  "I knew
+thee not, or would have asked nothing of thee, and will accept nothing
+from thee.  From the hands of him whose lips are stained with wine, who
+has spurned the precepts of the Prophet and forgotten the lessons of
+his youth, I will accept no favour, and will give to him no blessing."
+
+"Go, then, old precisian!" exclaimed Abou Hassan, fiercely; "cling to
+disgrace, and practise beggary; and yet, remember, one word can change
+your state, banish poverty, and summon plenty."
+
+The old man proceeded on his way, muttering inaudibly, and Abou Hassan
+stood watching his retreating figure.
+
+After a few moments of apparent indecision he followed the old man.
+When the latter entered the miserable hovel in which the Caliph had
+observed him on the previous evening, Abou Hassan, after a short pause,
+pushed open the door and entered also.
+
+Haroun, who was curious to learn what passed between the beggar and his
+son, followed Abou Hassan along the street, and with Giafer and Mesrúr
+entered the house immediately after him.
+
+The old man, who was rather deaf, had not heard his son enter.  And
+when the Caliph and his two companions followed noiselessly and stood
+in the deep shadow of the entry, they saw the old man kneeling on the
+floor, and holding in his trembling hands the bag containing his little
+hoard, to which he was adding some small coins received that day.  Abou
+Hassan stood looking down upon him with an expression of contemptuous
+amusement.
+
+After gazing silently for a few moments at the kneeling figure he
+exclaimed, "So, so, the beggar therefore plays the miser also!  You
+spurn my offers, and, refusing gold and ease and leisure, hug that poor
+bag of worthless copper in this filthy den."
+
+So saying, he kicked contemptuously the bag which the old man,
+terrified at the apparition of his son, still held in his hand, and its
+contents were thrown upon the floor.
+
+At this the old man gave a loud yell, and calling out "Thieves,
+thieves, they are robbing me! they are robbing me!" began to scramble
+about after the scattered coins.
+
+Abou Hassan, springing upon him and whispering fiercely, "Villain!
+wretch! who is robbing thee?  Wouldst thou bring the neighbours upon
+me?" pulled out a dagger, and would in his fury have stabbed his father
+had not the Caliph at that instant made a sign to Mesrúr, who seized
+his arm and held him fast.  But Abou Hassan, who was a young and very
+vigorous man, struggled violently, and, managing for one moment to free
+his right arm, he stabbed himself to the heart.
+
+Thus perished the Fortunate Merchant, closing, as so many do, a life of
+crime by a death of violence.
+
+The next day the Caliph ordered Abou Hassan's house and all that he had
+possessed to be confiscated.  The house and gardens, which were
+exceedingly magnificent, he retained for his own occasional use, while
+the immense quantities of valuable goods stored in the warehouses
+belonging to Abou Hassan he ordered to be sold, and the proceeds to be
+distributed, one half to the mosques of the city, and the other half to
+the poor.
+
+Upon the old beggar and miser, who steadfastly refused to take any part
+of his son's great wealth, the Caliph conferred a small pension,
+sufficient to provide for the few wants of one so long accustomed to a
+life of hardship.  Indeed, so strong is the force of habit, that at his
+death, a few years later, he was found to have saved a considerable
+portion even of this small annuity.
+
+
+
+
+The Caliph and the Second Jar of Ointment
+
+Finding that but little of the ointment was left in the first and
+larger of the two jars which he had purchased of Abdurrahman, Haroun
+Alraschid put it away in his cabinet, determining to use no more of it
+until some occasion of pressing need should arise.  And sending for his
+treasurer he commanded him to produce the second and smaller of the two
+jars, that he might open it and ascertain the virtue possessed by the
+ointment in that jar.
+
+As in the case of the former jar, he found immediately within the
+second jar when he opened it a narrow strip of parchment, on which was
+written:
+
+"Hail to thee, purchaser of this ointment most marvellous and magical!
+Rub but a little of it behind each of thine ears and thou shalt
+forthwith understand the language of all birds and beasts, even as
+Solomon, the great king and the wisest of men, understood them.
+Nevertheless, at the first word of human speech that thou utterest
+after thou hast applied the ointment the power of understanding the
+speech of birds and of beasts shall depart from thee.  For so it is
+decreed by the maker of the ointment according to the nature of the
+magical art in conformity with which it is compounded."
+
+When the Caliph had read these words and reflected how small a quantity
+of ointment the little jar contained, and how precarious was the power
+it conferred, liable as it was to be extinguished at any moment by a
+hasty word, he determined to refrain from testing it until a suitable
+occasion should present itself.  Placing it therefore in a small chest
+or coffer, he entrusted it to a certain slave, whom he ordered to carry
+it carefully and be in attendance with it at all times, so that
+whenever the opportunity of making trial of its virtue should arrive
+the ointment might be at hand and in readiness.
+
+About this time it happened that Zobeideh, Haroun's favourite wife, had
+prepared a magnificent entertainment at the splendid palace which the
+Caliph had erected for her.  And, as it happened, the next evening
+after Haroun had opened the second jar of ointment, he attended
+Zobeideh's entertainment.  As he entered the gardens of the palace he
+perceived Zobeideh seated on a raised seat or throne in the middle of
+the garden, with groups of her women in their most gorgeous apparel
+surrounding her.  They all rose and went forward to meet the Caliph as
+he entered, while others, scattered in parties about the grounds, made
+a concert of vocal and instrumental music for his diversion.  As he
+seated himself on the throne with Zobeideh by his side the scene was
+very charming.  The arcades enclosing the gardens with their marble and
+gilded columns were festooned with many coloured lights, lanterns hung
+in the trees, illuminating the gardens and the lofty fountains, which
+broke into ten thousand sparkling jewels and fell splashing into the
+wide marble basins at their base.
+
+After sitting for some time watching this brilliant scene the Caliph
+rose and wandered slowly through the grounds, until at length he came
+to a grove of trees, so artfully enclosed by gilded lattice work
+concealed by climbing plants that it formed an aviary vast in size and
+filled with birds of every kind and hue.  In this delightful retreat a
+natural concert greeted him of feathered songsters darting to and fro
+and singing lustily.
+
+Two little silktails perched upon a neighbouring branch particularly
+attracted his attention.  He had seated himself on a mossy bank in a
+retired nook, close by the spot chosen by the chatterers for their
+lively and very animated conversation.  Being curious to know what they
+were talking of, and convinced that the present offered as favourable
+an opportunity for listening to bird-talk as any he was likely to meet
+with, the Caliph ordered the slave who carried it to bring him at once
+the little jar of ointment, and applying some behind each ear as the
+writing contained in the jar had directed, he prepared to maintain a
+strict silence and listen attentively.  As soon as he had applied the
+ointment he found that he understood the conversation of his little
+neighbours as clearly as though they had been expressing themselves in
+the purest Arabic.
+
+"What!" said the one bird to the other, "is it possible that you can be
+so deluded and mistaken?  Desire to be a man!  I am truly surprised and
+shocked at so absurd and degrading a notion.  If now you had expressed
+a wish to be one of the nobler animals, a lion or a tiger, for
+instance, I might have excused you.  But a man!  Only consider how low
+in the scale of creation the creature is!  Not only is he confined to
+the earth like other animals, and unable to range as we do through the
+air, but consider how miserable a slave he is, how he has to toil from
+morning to night to supply his mere necessities.  No wonder his throat
+gives forth only harsh and unmeaning sounds, instead of the nobler roar
+of the lion or the bright and cheering song notes of us birds!
+Moreover, the unfortunate creature is evidently cursed by Allah, being
+alone among all creatures left naked and defenceless.  The beasts have
+warm and beautiful coats of fur provided for them, and they find their
+food without work or toil.  While as for ourselves, we find insects and
+grubs and worms all delicious eating, and that without stint or
+trouble; and as regards the covering of our bodies, I think without
+vanity these lovely feathers are not only as warm as the fur of
+animals, but much prettier and more becoming."
+
+Saying this, the silktail looked back over her glossy and radiant
+plumage with such a self-satisfied glance as made the Caliph smile.
+
+"Whereas," she continued, "that unfortunate creature, man, being left
+by bountiful Nature naked and cold, has to cover himself as best he may
+with a sorry patchwork of shreds and tatters such as he can contrive to
+procure either from vegetable fibres, the tissue of silkworms, or the
+furs or feathers he is driven to secure by force or stratagem either
+from beasts or from ourselves.  In almost every particular the wretched
+creature is a mere drudge, slaving continually for others and getting
+nothing by his toil for himself.  Who planted this charming grove, who
+waters and tends it?  Man.  And who enjoys the use and benefit of it?
+Surely ourselves.  Who made the pretty lattice-work that encloses it?"
+
+"And shuts us in," said the other.
+
+"And shuts the falcon and the vulture out," continued the first
+speaker; "why, our poor friend and servant, man.  And do you desire to
+share that servitude?"
+
+"My dear mother," replied the other bird, "I admit that what you say of
+man is for the most part very true; in many things he appears to act
+with great stupidity.  For instance, he has planted this pleasant grove
+and supplies it with water, and has fenced it in very carefully, and
+for no purpose apparently or any use that it is to him.  He comes now
+and then and looks at his work without uttering a sound, as mute as a
+fish and not half so active and joyous.  And yet, though he is a
+melancholy drudge enough, he effects great things.  By his very
+weakness and his naturally defenceless condition he has been rendered
+so cunning and so full of contrivances that he manages to subdue even
+those free and noble animals, the lion, the tiger, and the leopard, and
+to capture and destroy even such mighty birds of prey as the vulture
+and the eagle.  See, too, what huge and surprising nests he is able to
+fashion, such as that hard by this very grove."
+
+"My child," said the mother bird, "you confuse the ruler of these
+animals with those over whom he rules.  The one has indeed a fine nest
+and an easy life, but the others are lodged very differently, and
+labour from morning till night."
+
+"I confess," said the younger bird, "that it was rather of the prince
+than of his subjects that I was thinking when I wished to be a man.
+Only consider how enviable a position he enjoys, with so many beings
+under his command, and with so many fine gardens to live and take his
+pleasure in."
+
+"And with so charming and faithful a wife to prepare entertainments for
+him," said the older bird, sarcastically.  "I wonder how the prince you
+foolishly envy would have looked if he had seen her only yesterday
+evening as we did with another man at her feet?"
+
+"Allah! is it true?" thundered out Haroun Alraschid, in a terrible rage.
+
+The sudden movement and exclamation frightened the little birds, who
+flew swiftly away.  A matter of the less consequence, as the Caliph had
+by speaking destroyed the spell, and could have understood no more of
+the dialogue even had it continued.  But he was in fact far too angry
+and excited at the moment to notice this or anything else.
+
+Clapping his hands to summon his slaves and attendants, he commanded
+the palace of Zobeideh to be instantly surrounded, and all who might be
+found therein at once to be made prisoners.  This hasty measure
+produced, as might have been expected, no results.  No one was arrested
+but those belonging to Zobeideh's household, and all, as a matter of
+course, professed entire ignorance of the entrance at any time whatever
+of any man within the sacred precincts of Zobeideh's palace.
+
+Haroun, in the first transports of his rage, contemplated ordering
+every man in Bagdad between fifteen and fifty years of age to be
+executed.  But the Grand Vizier having hinted that some difficulty
+might be experienced in executing so wholesale an order, and, moreover,
+that the actual culprit might very probably even in that case manage to
+effect his escape, the Caliph decided to cause Zobeideh to be brought
+before him that he might interrogate her himself.
+
+When that unhappy princess entered, and, throwing herself at his feet,
+asked him in what way she had offended or aggrieved his Majesty, Haroun
+reproached her bitterly.
+
+"Woman," said he, "have I not loaded you with favours, and bestowed
+upon you with unstinting hand all that your imagination could fancy or
+your heart desire?  Ungrateful, like all your race; faithless, like all
+your sex; you have fawned upon me to my face, and betrayed me behind my
+back.  Say, is it not so?"
+
+"My lord," she answered, "whoever has told you aught to my discredit
+has foully lied.  I have ever been faithful to your Majesty, and happy
+is the man, be he prince or slave, who has a wife no less faithful than
+I have been."
+
+"Accursed woman!" retorted Haroun, fiercely, "notwithstanding this
+confident tone on your part, I know you to be guilty; therefore tell me
+at once who was that man whom you dared to receive in your garden
+yesterday, or, by Allah! into the Tigris in a sack you shall go as
+though you were but the meanest of my slaves."
+
+Zobeideh, perceiving from these words that concealment was impossible,
+and well knowing from the fiery temper of the Caliph that he was quite
+capable of executing his threat to the letter, replied as follows:
+
+"Since the Commander of the Faithful has discovered, I know not how,
+that I gave audience to a man yesterday in the garden of my palace, I
+will confess to the Commander of the Faithful, to whom all things are
+revealed, the name of the man whom I saw.  It was Hunoman, my
+foster-brother.  He is the son of my nurse, and we were brought up
+together as young children, and loved each other as children love, the
+sister the brother, and the brother the sister.  At seven years of age,
+his father having died, an uncle took him to India.  Only two days
+since he returned, and, learning this from the old nurse, his mother, I
+became desirous to see once more the little playfellow of my childhood,
+to behold the man I had always thought of as a brother, and hear from
+his own lips an account of the countries and peoples he had visited,
+the dangers he had encountered, and the manner in which he had
+contrived to escape from them.  I heard that he had brought some rare
+and valuable presents for me.  I determined that he should present them
+in person.  In this I did wrong, but, in the name of the most merciful
+God, I appeal to the Caliph for mercy, both for my foster-brother, who
+consented to see me only after much persuasion and with the utmost
+unwillingness, and also for myself, who am guilty of no other sin than
+the indulgence of curiosity, which is a sin that so magnanimous a king
+as your Majesty will be able to pardon in a woman."
+
+Haroun, who thought that Zobeideh was now telling the truth, and who
+was in truth by no means displeased to find his suspicions concerning
+her conduct to be unfounded, asked with great calmness--
+
+"What said you is the name of this man?"
+
+"His name," said Zobeideh, "is Hunoman."
+
+"And where is he to be found? for I must see him."
+
+"He is staying at present with his mother, Siveree, my nurse, to whom I
+have given a small house near the river side."
+
+The Caliph clapped his hands, and to the officer who entered he said--
+
+"Go at once and bring Siveree, a woman belonging to the household of
+the Lady Zobeideh, and her son, who is called Hunoman, and who is at
+present staying with her."
+
+The officer saluted and went out, saying to himself as he went, "The
+Lady Zobeideh he terms her.  Her affairs go well.  She is a clever
+woman and knows how to humour the Caliph.  Soon she will be again the
+prime favourite, and more powerful than ever."
+
+When the officer returned with Hunoman and his mother, the latter was
+conducted to an apartment in that part of the palace which was set
+apart for the women, while Hunoman himself was at once brought into the
+presence of the Caliph.
+
+Haroun, looking sternly at Hunoman, who was a stout man of middle
+height, and not unprepossessing appearance, said--
+
+"I have been informed of your temerity in entering a certain garden,
+into which you must have known very well that it was fatal to you to
+enter.  But, before passing such a sentence upon you as you must feel
+that you deserve, I desire to hear the particulars of your career, and
+what you may have to urge in your defence."
+
+Hunoman prostrated himself before the Commander of the Faithful and
+replied as follows:
+
+
+THE STORY OF HUNOMAN.
+
+"Oh, Prince of the Faithful, whose life may Allah prolong, the story of
+the life of your slave, who is incapable of even thinking of aught that
+should touch the honour of your Majesty, is very full of dangers and
+escapes.
+
+"At the age of seven years I was taken by my uncle, Amanoolla, to the
+country of the Emperor of the Indies, from which I have but just
+returned.
+
+"My uncle was a worker in gold and silver, and so expert at his craft
+that he never lacked work, and was enabled, not only to support his
+family with ease, but to save money.  He had a son named Omeda, and as
+we grew up, Amanoolla taught us both the art of fashioning all kinds of
+ornaments in the precious metals.  But beside his son Omeda, my uncle
+had also a daughter, Bebee, who was one of the most beautiful girls man
+can possibly imagine.  From the time we were all children together I
+had entertained the hope or dream of one day making her my wife.
+Therefore, when I was already seventeen years of age and a good
+workman, I ventured to ask my uncle to give me Bebee, my cousin, for my
+wife.  But my uncle was very wroth, and said--
+
+"'My daughter, who is fourteen, and more beautiful than any young girl
+for fifty miles round, may expect to be the wife of a rajah or even of
+a sovereign prince, and not of a young workman without ten pieces of
+silver.'
+
+"With that, Amanoolla, fearing to have me any longer so near his
+daughter, bade me begone and earn my living by my craft in some other
+part of the country.
+
+"I departed, therefore, and leaving with sorrow my uncle and Omeda, and
+especially the neighbourhood of the charming Bebee, I travelled until I
+came to a town twenty days' journey from them, and there I remained
+working at my trade, very taciturn, very lonely, and unable to forget
+my disappointment.
+
+"In the town in which I had settled there lived a wealthy Rajah, Gholab
+Khan, for whom I often made various ornaments both of gold and of
+silver.
+
+"Thus it came to pass that Sojah, his principal wife, saw me through a
+lattice window on several occasions when I carried the ornaments I had
+made to the palace of the Rajah.  And, unhappily, she took a most
+violent fancy to me.
+
+"One day, as I sat at my work, a female slave entered, and said--
+
+"'Hunoman, happy man that you are, listen to me.  My mistress, who is
+no other than Sojah, the wife of Gholab Khan himself, has seen you and
+likes you.  She has sent me, therefore, to say, to-morrow morning about
+the time of morning prayer two slaves will come to you bringing with
+them a large basket with hangings for one of the rooms in the palace.
+Get into the basket and fear nothing, for the slaves will bring you to
+me.'
+
+"When the messenger from Sojah had gone I could do no more work that
+day for thinking of the adventure which awaited me on the morrow.  I
+went out and wandered about the town until late, but even when at last
+I lay down for a long time I could get no sleep.  However, when it
+became light I at last fell asleep, and so heavily that it was late
+when I woke.
+
+"I was scarcely dressed, and it was nearly time to expect the slaves of
+Sojah with the big basket, when two slaves sent by the Rajah himself
+appeared, and saying their master wanted me, hurried me off to the
+palace.  I was greatly frightened from apprehension that the Rajah had
+by some means discovered his wife's intention and was taking summary
+measures to defeat it.  To my great relief, instead of being taken
+before the Rajah or ordered forthwith to execution, I was shown into a
+small room in which I sometimes worked, and told immediately to
+complete some repairs for some of the ladies of the household.
+
+"At the time I congratulated myself that matters were no worse, but
+they were bad enough for me as the sequel proved.  For when Sojah's two
+slaves got to the palace and informed their mistress that they had
+called for me as arranged, but that they could not find me, she became
+as furious as a tigress baulked of her prey.  She did not doubt that I
+had slighted her and kept out of the way on purpose to avoid her
+messengers.  She determined to be revenged.
+
+"A few days afterwards, therefore, her two slaves with the large basket
+suddenly appeared at my shop, and seizing me, they instantly gagged me,
+bound me, threw me into the basket, and carried me off to their
+mistress.
+
+"The two slaves knocked at a little door leading to a small garden
+attached to the harem of the Rajah's palace; and taking the basket into
+a secluded part of the garden they set it down, and lifting me out they
+laid me gagged and bound as I was upon the grass.  They then retired;
+and Sojah, who had been watching all they did through a lattice, now
+came to me, and began to upbraid me as I lay gagged and helpless on the
+ground.
+
+"'Wretch,' she said, 'who hast dared to slight a woman who deigned to
+condescend to take notice of so mean a thing as thou art, unworthy of
+the form of a man; I will instantly deprive thee of it!  So saying, she
+took a handful of dust and, pronouncing over it the words: 'Kahoothie
+Kaventho,' she threw it upon me, exclaiming, 'Quit the shape of man and
+take that of a horse!'
+
+"Immediately I was changed into the animal she mentioned, and calling
+her slaves, she commanded them to take me at once to the stable and
+there to secure me.  And this cruel and vindictive woman, not content
+with having deprived me of human form and converted me into a
+four-footed dumb creature, would frequently come into the stable where
+I was, and after ordering her slaves to secure me firmly would beat me
+savagely, uttering all the time torrents of vituperation and abuse.
+
+"For some months I had to endure all the miseries which the malignant
+humour of Sojah could inflict upon me.  At length, seizing the first
+opportunity which offered for making my escape, I managed to throw the
+slave who was riding me, and fled with the speed of the wind.  After
+galloping for many coss, I became completely exhausted, and lay down in
+an open field near the roadside to rest.
+
+"I had not lain there many minutes, and was still panting and blown,
+when I saw a party of rough-looking men advancing.  Two of them were
+mounted, and these rushing upon me before I could rise and make off,
+they easily secured me and took me along with them.  The two mounted
+men having sold me to one of those on foot, soon afterwards left us,
+and I proceeded in company with the others, carrying my new master on
+my back.
+
+"I soon discovered that the men who had seized me, and who took me home
+with them to their village, formed part of a gang belonging to a
+religious sect known in some parts of the country by the name of Thugs
+or deceivers, and in other parts of the country by the name of
+Phansigars or stranglers.  I had thus an opportunity, such as no man in
+human form could have, of observing their idolatrous religion and
+revolting practices.  These wretches worship a patron goddess, the
+deity of destruction, called Kalee.  Their trade from father to son for
+generations is murder and robbery, and they believe that their goddess,
+to whom they offer part of their plunder, surrenders into their hands
+every one of their unhappy victims.
+
+"I had not long been with them before a day was appointed for the
+celebration of one of their religious, or rather superstitious, rites.
+This was the consecration of the holy pickaxe, the implement always
+used by these men for burying those whom they have slain.  A fakir,
+versed in all the learning of the Thugs, was seated, when the
+auspicious day arrived, with his face turned to the west, and placed
+the pickaxe in a brass dish which was set before him.  In this he
+proceeded to wash the axe, with four solemn and several washings.
+First, in water; secondly, in a mixture of sugar and water; thirdly, in
+sour milk; and fourthly, in spirit.  These four ablutions being
+finished, the fakir replaced in the brass dish the pickaxe together
+with a cocoa-nut, some cloves, white sandal-wood, and sugar.  Then
+kindling a fire of dried cow-dung and mango-wood, the fakir taking the
+pickaxe, and holding it in both hands, passed it seven times through
+the fire.
+
+"The pickaxe, being now duly consecrated, was taken by Jowahir, my
+master, who, holding it by the point, said, 'Thugs, shall I strike?'
+then as they said, 'Strike, Jemadar!' he struck the cocoa-nut with the
+butt end of the pickaxe and broke the nut in pieces.  This was hailed
+by all as a propitious omen from the great Bhowanee or goddess, and a
+part of the nut having been burnt in the fire, portions of the rest of
+it were given to all the men present, and the rite was at an end.
+
+"The pickaxe having thus been prepared, it only remained to make use of
+it; and accordingly, on the following day in the morning, Jowahir as
+their leader, holding the pickaxe to his breast by the left hand, and a
+brass jug filled with water in his right hand, moved slowly in the
+direction indicated by the fakir, to a field outside the village, and
+there standing with his gang assembled about him, he lifted his eyes
+toward heaven, and said: 'Great Goddess, universal mother! if this our
+meditated expedition be fitting in thy sight, vouchsafe us help, and
+the signs of thy approbation.'  All present repeated this prayer after
+Jowahir, and then waited for the omens or auspices.
+
+"Within a quarter of an hour the omen on the left hand, which must be
+first heard, and which they term Pilhaoo, was vouchsafed to them.  An
+ass brayed, which they took to be a very good omen.  And when very soon
+afterwards another ass brayed upon the right hand, furnishing them with
+Thibaoo, or the omen on the right hand, their satisfaction was very
+great, for they said openly that after omens so favourable success was
+absolutely assured.
+
+"Jowahir now put down the jug containing water upon the ground, and
+sitting down beside it remained in that posture, and with his face
+turned in the direction in which they were to proceed, for the space of
+seven hours, during which time the others made all things ready for the
+journey.
+
+"When at length they started Jowahir mounted on my back, and I being
+the only horse they had, the rest of the party walked.
+
+"For two days they proceeded on their journey without meeting any
+travellers; and on the second day, therefore, they detached two of the
+gang, Bular and Khosala, to act as their Bykureea or spies, to
+endeavour to discover any parties of travellers who might be staying at
+the serais or inns, or traversing the roads in that neighbourhood.
+
+"In the afternoon the spies returned, and reported that in a serai not
+far off they had found a party of three travellers who were resting,
+and proposed to start the next morning at daybreak to proceed on their
+journey along the highroad to the north.
+
+"Upon receiving this intelligence, Jowahir himself and Oozerah, another
+of the band, went forward to the serai to act the part of Sothas or
+inveiglers, and try and persuade the travellers to leave the high-road
+and take some other road leading through the jungle, and more suited to
+the Thugs' atrocious designs.
+
+"When we arrived at the serai Jowahir saluted the travellers, one of
+whom was an old man, while the other two were men in the prime of life.
+
+"Jowahir, after conversing some time upon indifferent subjects, said,
+that he was journeying northwards, and that he had intended to have
+proceeded along the direct road to Oulinpore, the next large town; but
+that he had been told by some merchants who had just come southwards by
+that road, that provisions were so dear and water so scarce, that he
+had determined to make a slight detour to avoid that part of the road.
+The three merchants, who had themselves intended to proceed by the
+direct road to Oulinpore, were naturally interested in Jowahir's
+decision, and began to discuss warmly the merits of the two routes.
+
+"As they were talking the rest of the gang made their appearance, and
+acted as though entire strangers to Jowahir and Oozerah as well as the
+others.  The two younger travellers agreed with Jowahir that it would
+be wiser to avoid the direct road to Oulinpore; but the old man was for
+keeping to that road as they had intended to do.  When the rest of the
+gang arrived, they were informed of the question in dispute, and they
+at first supported the old man's view energetically, and declared that
+they were resolved like him to keep to the direct road.
+
+"At length, however, after much talking they affected to give in and to
+become convinced by Jowahir's representations and arguments.  Seeing
+them all now united against him, the old man could hold out no longer,
+and submitted his judgment to that of the others.  It was late before
+this agreement was arrived at, and all lay down to rest, promising to
+start together at daybreak next morning.
+
+"Very early indeed, and long before daybreak, Jowahir roused the whole
+party, and persuading them that being tired they had overslept
+themselves, and that the day was just about to break, he got them at
+once on the way.
+
+"He confessed after a while that he must have been in error, and that
+it was really earlier than he had supposed.  'No matter,' said he, 'we
+shall have made all the better progress by the time the sun has risen.'
+
+"In fact, before the sun was hot upon them, they had got far into the
+jungle, and were at a great distance from any other human beings.
+
+"At length, when they approached the half-dried-up bed of a stream
+through which they must ford, Jowahir proposed that they should first
+sit down by the margin and rest and eat before proceeding further.
+This proposal was readily agreed to by all.  But by the side of each of
+the three hapless and unsuspicious travellers, there sat down in
+apparent amity and good fellowship two members of the gang, one of whom
+was really the Ghumgeea or holder of hands, while the other was the
+Phansigar or strangler.
+
+"Suddenly, and without affording the poor wretches a moment's warning,
+on a sign from Jowahir, the holder of hands seized on the man with whom
+he was amicably conversing, and the strangler, passing the roomal round
+his neck with the speed of lightning, strangled him in an instant."
+
+"What," asked the Caliph, "is a roomal?"
+
+"It is," replied Hunoman, "simply a strip of cloth.  Although the
+stranglers are termed Phansigars, from phansee, a noose of cord, yet in
+practice they scarcely ever use a cord, which if it were found upon
+them would at once betray and convict them; they employ instead, to
+effect their murderous purpose, the roomal, a strip of cloth which
+appears innocent and harmless enough--it might be a turban or a waist
+cloth--but which in their expert and practised hands is equally
+effectual.
+
+"After killing the travellers, stripping them, and burying the bodies,
+the murderers and thieves divided the few coins and other property
+found upon them.  But when making this division in certain proportions
+according to their usage, these strange monsters did not neglect to set
+apart a small sum as an offering to Kalee their goddess; and when,
+after this and several other murders, all characterized by similar
+features of treachery and baseness, they returned to their village,
+they proceeded at once to celebrate Tapoonee, or a solemn rite of their
+most vile idolatry.
+
+"A cloth was spread upon a clean spot of ground.  Upon this cloth was
+placed the consecrated pickaxe and a piece of silver as an offering to
+the goddess.  On the cloth Jowahir took his place, and seated with him
+also on the cloth were seven Phansigars or stranglers, no Ghumgeea, or
+any member of the gang of a grade inferior to an actual and experienced
+strangler, being admitted to sit on the cloth.
+
+"Jowahir then took some goor or sugar, which had been purchased with
+that part of the plunder set apart for the goddess, and placed it
+reverently in a hole in the ground.  Having so done, he clasped his
+hands devoutly and prayed as follows: 'Great Goddess, we pray thee to
+grant us plunder, as thou hast to our fathers before us, and fulfil our
+desires.'
+
+"All repeated this prayer, and a portion of the goor or sacred sugar
+having been given to each of those who sat on the cloth, Jowahir gave
+the signal for strangling, as though a murder were about to be
+committed, upon which they eat in solemn silence the portions of goor
+they had received, washing it down with a draught of water.  Thus ended
+the Tapoonee or sacred feast.
+
+"I will not weary and disgust your Majesty by relating all the series
+of monotonous crimes or superstitious observances which I saw during
+the two years I remained with these people.
+
+"When that period had elapsed, and while engaged in prosecuting the
+third expedition which they had undertaken since I had been with them,
+a circumstance occurred which resulted in freeing me from my miserable
+and degraded condition, and restoring me to the form and dignity of a
+human being.
+
+"One day, a day ever memorable to me, the spies returned and announced
+to Jowahir the Jemadar and our gang of bandits, that they had met
+advancing along the road towards our present encampment a party of
+travellers whose appearance promised a rich booty.  These travellers
+consisted of a Rajah, whose name they had ascertained to be Gholab
+Khan, who was on a journey accompanied by his wife and about a dozen
+servants.
+
+"This news, which powerfully affected me, was the occasion of a vast
+deal of discussion and recrimination among the band of Thugs.  Some
+were for awaiting the arrival of the Rajah, and requesting to be
+allowed to travel in his company for the sake of protection, after
+which the first favourable opportunity might be taken to murder the
+whole party and seize all the money and rich clothes and stores they
+would be sure to have with them.  As far as numbers were concerned,
+this enterprise was quite feasible, for the gang of Jowahir Jemadar, or
+our gang, as I may term it, had met with and joined the gang of Ramphul
+Jemadar, and together they counted nearly thirty men.
+
+"But the two Jemadars differed entirely as to the course to be pursued.
+While Ramphul advocated joining and murdering the Rajah and his party,
+Jowahir, on the other hand, contended that as it was absolutely
+forbidden by the principles of their religion to kill a woman,
+therefore, the wife of the Rajah being with him, the party ought to be
+permitted to escape.
+
+"'If once,' he said, 'Phansigars, abandoning their immemorial
+traditions, took to killing women, or disregarding omens, what good
+luck could they expect, or how could they escape capture and
+destruction?'
+
+"The dispute waxed hot, and continued until the spies announced the
+near approach of the Rajah and his party, on which they hurriedly
+agreed as a compromise that they should join if possible the Rajah's
+party, and afterwards either slay or spare them as might be by further
+discussion determined.
+
+"Having despatched about half their men in advance, that their numbers
+might not appear too formidable and perhaps alarm the travellers, the
+two Jemadars waited, in their assumed character of peaceful and timid
+merchants, the arrival of Gholab Khan.
+
+"On seeing him they saluted him respectfully, and, professing great
+uneasiness concerning the lonely and little-frequented character of
+that part of the country which lay immediately before them, they begged
+as a great favour to be allowed to join his party.
+
+"To this request Gholab Khan very readily acceded, and the united party
+proceeded amicably together, the Rajah and the two Jemadars riding and
+conversing with each other, while the rest of the Thugs accompanied and
+made themselves very agreeable to the Rajah's followers.  The latter
+were armed, whereas the peaceful and inoffensive-looking Thugs carried
+no weapon, but had with them only the innocent roomal, which they knew
+how to wield when the moment should arrive with such swift and fatal
+dexterity.
+
+"Now when Sojah, the Rajah's wife, peeping from her palanquin, saw me,
+she instantly recognized me, and telling her husband that she had taken
+a great fancy to the merchant's horse, because it so much resembled one
+she had lost two years previously, she begged him to buy it for her.
+
+"The Rajah, always anxious to oblige his wife, who had great influence
+over him, began at once to negotiate with Jowahir.  And the latter, who
+wished to keep on good terms with his destined victim, was persuaded
+very easily to exchange me for another horse offered him by the Rajah
+and ten pieces of silver.  I thus passed once more into the possession
+of the cruel and vindictive Sojah.
+
+"This filled me with despair, and I looked forward with dread to a
+repetition of the barbarous treatment I had before endured at her
+hands.  But time had apparently softened her resentment, and changed
+her feelings towards me.  Perhaps she thought that the misery I had
+undergone during more than two years would render me more complaisant
+and ready to yield to her desires; at any rate, she received me with
+joy and treated me with kindness, and, taking an opportunity that same
+evening to come alone to the place where I was picketed with the other
+horses, she stooped down, and taking a handful of dust she threw it
+over me, pronouncing the same magical formula as before, and then bade
+me leave that form of a horse and resume my own proper shape as a man.
+
+"Immediately the transformation took place.  But, well knowing that the
+Rajah and his whole party were doomed to almost inevitable destruction
+by the large gang of Thugs in whose company they then were, I perceived
+that my only chance of escape lay in turning the magical art of this
+vile woman against herself.  Therefore, no sooner had I resumed my
+natural shape, and stood before her once more in the form of a man,
+than I bowed low as though to salute her with the greatest deference,
+and suddenly seizing a handful of dust I threw it over her, pronounced
+the magical words: 'Kahoothie Kaventho,' and said, before she could
+recover from her surprise, 'Quit the shape of woman of which you are
+unworthy and take that of a mare.'  What the nature of the charm might
+be, or by the aid of what demon the change took place, I know not; at
+any rate the incantation was effectual, and as I pronounced the words,
+Sojah disappeared and a beautiful mare stood before me.
+
+"Without the loss of a moment I saddled and bridled her, and rode off,
+at first slowly and quietly, but afterwards as fast as possible along
+the road we had just come, and in the opposite direction to that which
+was to be taken early next morning by the Rajah and my late master,
+Jowahir.
+
+"I had been riding for more than an hour, and was still proceeding very
+rapidly, when my mare suddenly stumbled and threw me over her head on
+to the ground.  I fell heavily and must have remained a long time
+unconscious, for when I came to myself I found myself lying on a soft
+rug in a small apartment in which two other men were sitting.  These
+men, as I afterwards discovered, were priests of one of the heathen
+religions of that country, and the house in which I now lay was close
+to the temple containing the idol or image of the god whom they
+worshipped.  The name of the older of these priests was Soobulda, and
+that of the younger, Esuree; and although idolaters, they saved my
+life, and showed me as long as I was with them no little kindness.
+
+"They had found me lying senseless on the road, and had carried me to
+their house which was close by, and on my recovering consciousness they
+invited me to stay for some days until I should desire to resume my
+journey.  I accepted their invitation all the more gladly because I had
+no money and knew not where to go.
+
+"But what chiefly troubled me, as it would have done your Majesty or
+any true believer, was to see these men prostrate themselves before the
+wooden image which was their idol.
+
+"One night, therefore, while Soobulda and Esuree slept, I went into the
+temple and threw down the idol.
+
+"Next morning early, Soobulda came to me and said, 'A great calamity
+has befallen us, for the god is wroth, and his image is cast down and
+lies upon the floor of the temple.'
+
+"Then I answered, comforting Soobulda, and said, 'It is no matter, only
+take the image and put it in its place again, and all will be well.'
+
+"Three times I threw down the image, and three times Soobulda came in
+the morning, and told me what had been done.  The third time Soobulda
+and Esuree came both of them together, and accused me of having thrown
+it down.
+
+"Then I said: 'Why, what sort of a feeble creature must this god of
+yours be, if these three times I can cast down his image, and he remain
+unable to prevent me or to punish me?'
+
+"After that I told them of Allah, the true God, and of Mohammed, the
+Prophet of God.  And the two priests believed, and left the idol lying
+on the ground where I had thrown it down.
+
+"Fearing to remain any longer in that part of the country, Soobulda and
+Esuree left their house a few days afterwards, and agreed to go with me
+to visit my Uncle Amanoolla, whom I had not seen for a long time, and
+whose daughter Bebee I had not forgotten.
+
+"We travelled slowly, stopping from time to time at various towns on
+our way, in some of which I got work at my craft, and thus earned money
+to help us to continue our journey.
+
+"All this time I told Soobulda and Esuree much concerning the Moslem
+faith, and they assumed the garb and practised the ablutions, and
+recited the prayers of true believers."
+
+"In that, by Allah, you did right," exclaimed the Caliph, "and I grant
+you your life for so doing."
+
+Hunoman bowed and continued:
+
+"At one town where we stayed, it happened that when the morning came on
+which we had arranged to depart, I had still some work by me which I
+had not finished, and I agreed therefore with Soobulda and Esuree, that
+they should start first and proceed leisurely, and that I would hasten
+after them and overtake them at their first halting-place.
+
+"This was done, and when soon after midday I came up with them, I
+found, that having enjoyed a meal and two hours' rest, they were just
+preparing to resume their journey.  At the little serai or inn where
+they were, they had met with ten other travellers, and the whole party
+were now about to set out together.
+
+"Hastily eating some food I had brought with me, I started with the
+others, and falling into conversation with our fellow-travellers, we
+formed a very sociable gathering.
+
+"But during the afternoon, and when we had been some time in company, I
+happened to overhear one of our fellow-travellers say a few words in a
+low tone to another, which I instantly recognized as being of the
+peculiar dialect used by the Phansigars.  We were in the hands of a
+party of Thugs, and escape seemed impossible.
+
+"I looked round at my friends, desiring to warn them of our desperate
+situation; but even that was not feasible, for each was surrounded by
+two or three of the strangers, so that I could say nothing to them
+which would not be overheard.
+
+"However, it mattered little, for even had they known of our danger
+what could be done?  Three men against ten desperate ruffians would
+have no chance, and on the least indication of suspicion on our part
+they would, I knew, attack and kill us at once, at all hazards.  The
+only hope remaining for us seemed to me to be that we should meet some
+other party of travellers, whose protection we might claim.  Of this,
+however, there would appear to be but very faint hope indeed.
+
+"Our road passed through a jungle, wild and desolate, where we might
+perhaps disturb a tiger, but could hardly expect to come upon a man.
+The air was hot and sultry, it seemed to me more oppressive than I had
+ever before experienced.  Everything around us was still, and as we
+trod along the sandy road even our footsteps made scarcely a sound that
+could be heard.
+
+"Soobulda and Esuree chatted pleasantly with their companions,
+suspecting nothing.  As for me, I had become silent and thoughtful, and
+prayed inwardly to Allah to deliver us from this danger.
+
+"At length one of those who walked with me, and whom I took to be the
+leader of the band, proposed that as I had had no rest and seemed to be
+tired, we should halt and rest by the side of a small stream we were
+then passing.  I perceived at once that we had arrived at the bele, or
+place of execution.  The Phansigars always send a man on to choose the
+bele carefully beforehand.  No place could be more suited to their
+purpose.  It was lonely as a desert; so remote from every human track
+or habitation that no shriek of a victim could be heard by any one, and
+the loose sand by the margin of the stream would yield readily to the
+sacred pickaxe when the roomal had done its fatal work.
+
+"We sat down, and beside each of us three sat three others, two of whom
+were the holders of hands, while the third was the Bhurtote or
+strangler, as I knew only too well.
+
+"The leader strolled carelessly to and fro, preparing to give the
+signal.  Already I seemed to feel the pressure of the strip of cloth
+about my neck, to anticipate the short and ineffectual struggles of the
+unfortunate victims, to feel the kicks of those wretches on my back,
+and then in a few moments all would be over.
+
+"At this critical moment, just as the leader paused in his walk and
+opened his lips to pronounce the words which would have been the signal
+to his followers, and would have sealed our doom--he sneezed.  I saw a
+look of mingled rage and disgust pass round the party.  One of the most
+stringent and disabling of all omens had occurred.  No Thug would
+despatch his victim after such a manifestation of the wrath of the
+great Bhowanee.  Our lives would be spared, held sacred indeed for this
+time, by these ruthless murderers.
+
+"Very shortly afterwards, the gang, on some pretext of having to take
+another road, separated from us, and we pursued our way without further
+incident to the dwelling of my Uncle Amanoolla.
+
+"Arrived there, I found that my Cousin Bebee had been married some time
+since to a rich merchant in the neighbourhood.  My uncle received me
+gladly, and made my two friends, Soobulda and Esuree, welcome for my
+sake, and for the sake of the true faith of Islam which they had
+adopted.  He had prospered greatly since I left him, and had acquired
+much wealth, so that at his death, which happened about six months
+after my return, he left me a considerable sum with which to commence
+to trade.
+
+"I had, however, a great desire to revisit the land of my birth; I
+bought, therefore, many things which would be esteemed rare and
+valuable in Bagdad, where about a week ago I arrived safely.
+
+"Of the command I received through my mother from Zobeideh, to appear
+before her and relate my adventures, I have already informed your
+Majesty, and have now only to await the sentence which the Commander of
+the Faithful may see fit to pronounce upon me."
+
+"I have already," said Haroun, "granted you your life because you have
+led two men to embrace the true faith of Islam.  But moreover, since I
+am not used to send away those I pardon with empty hands, I appoint you
+Governor of my province of Egypt.  Giafer shall immediately prepare the
+patent of investiture, and you are to start at once."
+
+Hunoman thanked the Commander of the Faithful for his munificence, and
+promised instant obedience to this and every order he should receive.
+
+Thus the Caliph pardoned and rewarded Hunoman, the foster-brother of
+his favourite wife, Zobeideh; but perhaps he was not unwilling to
+separate them as far as Bagdad is from Cairo.
+
+
+
+
+The Caliph and the Slave Merchants
+
+The consequences which had resulted from the first and only trial which
+he had made of the magical and marvellous properties of the ointment
+contained in the second jar had been so little pleasing to the Caliph,
+and had so nearly caused the death of his favourite wife Zobeideh, that
+he had no inclination to test it further at present.  He placed it,
+therefore, in his cabinet, together with the other jar, until some
+occasion should arise on which he might desire to make use of them.
+Yet, although he was prejudiced against making further trial of the
+ointments, he continued to undertake from time to time his occasional
+nocturnal rambles in company with Giafer.
+
+One evening, after they had wandered for a long time in their usual
+disguise as merchants through the streets and bazaars of the city, they
+turned into a large caravanserai, and sat down to rest themselves.
+There was a great number of merchants collected within the hospitable
+walls of the caravanserai, and close by the Caliph and Giafer sat two
+men, with whom they were destined to become better acquainted.
+
+Not long after the Caliph and his companion had entered and seated
+themselves, one of these two men by a glance drew the attention of his
+friend to the new-comers, and they began very shortly a dispute, which
+appeared to wax very warm indeed, respecting the merits of two female
+slaves which they possessed, and as to the pre-eminence of whose rival
+attractions they were quite unable to agree.  They vociferated and
+gesticulated and appeared to get so angry with each other, that in
+their mutual fury they seemed ready to tear each other to pieces.
+
+At length the Caliph interposed with a good-humoured smile, and said--
+
+"Gentlemen, if you will pardon a stranger for interfering in your
+dispute, I would suggest that the best and most effectual mode of
+deciding as to the relative merits and value of your two slaves would
+be to call in some disinterested man as umpire between you.  Now I and
+my friend are merchants, not only very well qualified to judge of the
+beauty and accomplishments of your slaves, but also quite ready to
+offer you a good price for them, because, as we have the entrance to
+the palace of the Caliph, the Grand Vizier, and other great personages,
+we are in a position to bring them to the very best market, and obtain
+a higher price for them than any one else."
+
+The two merchants who had acted their parts in the pretended quarrel
+with no other object than to elicit some such proposal, now willingly
+accepted it.
+
+"Come with us then," they exclaimed, "and your verdict shall decide our
+dispute.  The slave for whom you are willing to bid the highest price,
+she shall be judged to be incontestably the better."
+
+On this the two merchants rose, and conducting the Caliph and Giafer
+through many narrow streets and lanes in a part of the town they did
+not remember to have been in before, they stopped at length before a
+great gateway, on the door of which they gave three peculiar knocks.
+The door was opened by a huge black African slave, who grinned horribly
+as he saw his masters and the two strangers, and who, having admitted
+them, carefully closed and fastened the door behind them.
+
+They were ushered at first into a large room, having a wide and
+handsome divan, on which the merchants begged them to be seated.
+Another African slave, as large, black, and, if possible, even more
+hideous than the first, brought them refreshments and sweetmeats,
+together with silver goblets, into which he poured very good wine.
+
+After they had sat some time in this room, the Caliph proposed that
+they should proceed to inspect and pass judgment on the two beautiful
+female slaves.  The slave merchants therefore conducted the Caliph and
+Giafer to a smaller apartment elegantly fitted up, where, on a divan of
+the richest materials and most exquisite workmanship, was seated an
+Indian slave of the rarest beauty.
+
+The Caliph, who was ever an enthusiastic admirer of lovely women, stood
+for some moments lost in astonishment and delight.
+
+"Surely," said he, at length, "you have nothing more beautiful that you
+can show us.  I must have this slave, and will give you ten thousand
+pieces of gold for her."
+
+"If you are pleased with this slave," said one of the merchants,
+without noticing the Caliph's offer, "what will you say of the other?"
+
+Then leading the way from the room of the beautiful Indian, which was
+splendidly upholstered with hangings and furniture in crimson and gold,
+he led the way through a short passage to another room, where all the
+fittings were of silver and dark blue.  In this room, instead of the
+black-haired and dark-eyed Indian, sat a Persian beauty, whose hair was
+light and fine as new spun silk, and whose lustrous blue eyes and
+absolutely perfect form defy description.
+
+The Caliph stood entranced at the sight.  At length he exclaimed--
+
+"From what country does that lovely creature come?  Is she really a
+woman, or is she not rather a fairy whom some enchantment has brought
+among us?"
+
+"If," said the slave merchant, "you bid me ten thousand pieces of gold
+for the slave in the other room, how much will you offer for this?"
+
+"I will give you," said the Caliph, "forty thousand dinars, and not
+think her dear at that price."
+
+"Asmut," said the merchant to his companion, "did I not tell you that
+my slave girl was better than yours?  And behold this honest merchant
+offers four times as much for her as for your Indian."
+
+"It is easy enough," retorted the other, "for some fellow you pick up
+in the bazaar, and who has not probably a thousand dinars in the world,
+to talk of ten thousand for this slave, and forty thousand for that.
+It will be time to defer to his opinion, I think, when we see the
+thousands he talks of so glibly."
+
+"Without doubt," said the first speaker, "this honourable merchant
+would not offer a price, however large, for the slaves, unless he were
+able to find the money.  If he has not so much he can probably borrow a
+part of it.  Therefore, let both of these merchants lodge here with us
+to-night, and to-morrow they may either fetch or send for the gold, and
+the bargain may be concluded."
+
+But the Caliph exclaimed with his usual impetuosity--
+
+"By Allah, there shall be no to-morrow in the matter.  I will send for
+the money at once, and the slaves shall be mine."
+
+To this Asmut replied, "By your leave, not so fast.  We desired,
+indeed, that you should set a price on each of the slaves that we might
+decide our dispute as to which of them is the better.  But I by no
+means intended or bound myself to accept any sum you might mention for
+the slaves, whom I am in no hurry to dispose of."
+
+"Very well," said the Caliph, who was quite unused to the chaffering of
+merchants, although he had assumed the garb of one, "if the price I
+have named does not content you, name your own price, for, in short,
+the slaves I will have."
+
+Asmut, after a few moments' consideration as to the highest sum he
+could ask without going beyond what it seemed possible to obtain from
+this very frank and eager buyer, said--
+
+"The prices you have named, although no doubt large, are, in my
+opinion, so much below the real value of two beauties of such
+surpassing excellence, that I must insist on twice as much as you have
+offered, namely, twenty thousand dinars for the one and eighty thousand
+for the other."
+
+The Caliph laughed and said, "Verily you are not a merchant for naught,
+and you do not underestimate the worth of your own wares.
+Nevertheless, I will give you your price."
+
+The slave merchants could make no objection to this prompt agreement to
+their terms; on the contrary, it suited their plans very well.  Yet, in
+order to appear indifferent and little anxious to conclude the business
+with any undue haste and precipitancy, Asmut said--
+
+"To-morrow, however, will be early enough to produce the money.  It is
+now dark and grows late, and besides, whom can you send?"
+
+"I have a man whom I can send," said the Caliph, "for my servant will
+have followed us here, and I will despatch him at once for the money."
+
+And in fact Giafer, going to the gate, beckoned to Mesrúr, who had
+followed them as usual, and who was waiting for them outside, and not
+far from the house he had seen them enter.
+
+The Caliph, taking out his tablets, wrote a few words to his treasurer,
+bidding him send at once by Mesrúr, and in the hands of two slaves, the
+sum of one hundred thousand dinars.  This note he delivered to Mesrúr,
+who saluted his master and immediately departed on his errand.
+
+The Caliph and Giafer then seated themselves on the divan in the large
+apartment into which they had been shown on first entering the house,
+and, together with the slave merchants, passed the time in conversing
+and discussing again the unique beauty of the two ladies whom the
+Caliph was to purchase.
+
+When Mesrúr returned, bringing with him two slaves carrying the hundred
+thousand dinars in fifty bags, there being two thousand dinars in a
+bag, they were shown at once into the large room where the merchants
+and the Caliph were sitting.
+
+As the slaves deposited the bags on the floor the slave merchants, as
+also the Caliph and Giafer, rose and stood by them, Asmut so placing
+the lamp as that they could all see him count the money as they stood
+together.
+
+He proposed to count the money in one of the bags, and that he should
+then proceed to weigh the other bags against that which had been
+counted.  While all were watching him as he poured out and counted the
+money with much noise and many loud exclamations from both merchants as
+to the lightness of some of the coins, neither the Caliph, Giafer,
+Mesrúr, nor either of the slaves, perceived that behind them, barefoot
+and noiseless as camels, a number of huge and powerful black slaves had
+entered the room.
+
+Suddenly Asmut, seizing the empty bag and dashing it on the floor,
+exclaimed, "I will count no more!"
+
+This being the signal, no sooner had he uttered the words than the
+slaves seized the Caliph and his companions, threw them down, and
+before they could either struggle or cry out had securely bound and
+gagged them.
+
+"A good haul for one night's fishing," said Asmut, coolly; "a hundred
+thousand dinars and five men, who will doubtless sell very well after
+taking a voyage, that is not so bad."
+
+Then ordering some of the slaves to be ready to take the prisoners down
+to the river as soon as the dawn should appear, Asmut and his partner
+personally superintended the removal from the room of the bags of gold.
+
+Very early in the morning, as soon as it began to be light, a party of
+the black slaves who had bound the Caliph and his followers came to
+them, and unbinding their legs escorted them down to the river, where a
+ship belonging to the slave merchants lay ready to receive them.
+
+Their prospects of escape out of the clutches of the slave merchants
+who had robbed and kidnapped them seemed slight indeed.  Giafer and the
+faithful Mesrúr being included in the capture, seriously diminished the
+chance of any effectual measures for their relief being promptly
+undertaken, and a fatal period of delay was rendered all the more
+probable in consequence of the Caliph's well-known fondness for seeking
+adventures in disguise.  When the morning should come, and it was
+perceived that they had not returned to the palace, it was only too
+likely to be assumed that they were still engaged in the prosecution of
+some adventure in which the Caliph would not desire to be interrupted.
+Filled with these painful reflections, the Caliph, together with
+Giafer, Mesrúr, and the two slaves, accompanied the black slaves who
+formed their guard, and proceeded towards the river.
+
+They had nearly reached the bank of the stream, and their case seemed
+altogether hopeless, when suddenly they met advancing towards them from
+the river a man habited as a merchant, and in personal appearance
+curiously resembling the Caliph himself.  He was accompanied by two
+companions, and seeing several men bound and gagged being marched along
+under charge of the black slaves, he stopped and demanded in a firm and
+authoritative tone who they were and whence they were going.
+
+At the sight of this man the blacks appeared to be seized with a sudden
+panic; the Caliph heard them say to each other hurriedly and with
+terrified looks, "It is the son of a Slave[1] himself."  And
+immediately they turned about and fled at their utmost speed.
+
+The stranger and his two companions at once released the prisoners, and
+inquired how it came to pass that they found them thus bound and gagged.
+
+The Caliph answered him: "Sir, we have suffered this indignity and
+violence at the hands of two rascally and deceitful slave merchants.  I
+will presently relate to you all the details of our adventure, but
+permit me first to despatch my servant on a piece of very urgent
+business."
+
+Then turning to Mesrúr he took him aside, and said, "Go instantly,
+seize the two slave merchants and execute them at once; send the slaves
+and plunder you find in their house to the palace, and raze their house
+to the ground."
+
+Mesrúr departed at once to the nearest guardhouse to procure help to
+carry out the orders of the Commander of the Faithful.  And it need
+scarcely be said that he had never received a command from his Majesty
+which he executed with so much alacrity and good-will.
+
+After having despatched Mesrúr on this errand, the Caliph turned to the
+merchant and his companions, and said--
+
+"It is now time, gentlemen, that I should thank you for your
+intervention on our behalf, and that I should explain to you how it
+came to pass that we found ourselves in the plight from which you
+released us."
+
+Beginning, then, by saying that he and his friend had entered a certain
+caravanserai to rest themselves, and had there met the slave merchants,
+he related all that had befallen them, but said nothing to indicate his
+true rank as Caliph and Commander of the Faithful.
+
+After Haroun had thus explained to the merchant, who both in dress and
+features so much resembled himself, the history of his own position, he
+asked him whether he could in any way account for the sudden panic
+which had seized upon the slaves directly he had appeared and addressed
+them.
+
+The merchant, who resembled Haroun Alraschid, not only in personal
+appearance, but in a certain frank and bold bearing, laughed and said--
+
+"My name is Sidi ibn Thalabi, and I am, as my dress bespeaks me, a
+merchant.  But having the good fortune to be both in stature and
+features not only like yourself, which strange to say I certainly am,
+but also, which is more to the point, like our Caliph, God be his
+shield, I have been tempted in one thing to imitate his illustrious
+example.  The Prince of the Faithful is in the habit, as I dare say you
+may have heard, of seeking adventures and seeing life in the disguise
+of a merchant.  People, who would feel constrained in the presence of
+their sovereign, speak and act naturally in the presence of a simple
+merchant, the equal of themselves.  This pleases the Caliph, and
+affords him the gratification and amusement of observing men as they
+are.  As Prince of the Faithful he sees them only as they pretend to
+be.  Well, I have the same fancy, only in the contrary direction.  I
+know how men act when they accept me as their equal, I play at being
+their Prince and then watch their behaviour.  Taking advantage of the
+Caliph's well-known fondness for masquerading as a merchant and of my
+personal likeness to him, it is very easy to allow the impression to
+get about that I am he.  This accounts for the precipitate flight of
+the slaves.  Having seen me no doubt on sundry occasions in my barge
+upon the Tigris, and having been told by some of those busy-bodies who
+affect to know every one and everything that I was the Caliph in
+disguise, they no sooner saw me just now and heard me demand who you
+were than they ran away, dreading the punishment they so richly
+deserve."
+
+"It appears to me," said Haroun, "that the amusement in which you
+indulge is a somewhat dangerous one.  The Caliph is, I am told, of a
+fierce and rather hasty temper; should he learn by chance of your
+pranks, it might cost you your head.  However, that is your affair.
+For myself, I am indebted to your temerity for my liberty and probably
+for my life, therefore I have certainly no cause to quarrel with it.  I
+shall be delighted to form one of your company in any further
+adventures you may undertake, and meanwhile should hear with pleasure
+an account of any that may have already befallen you."
+
+To this Sidi ibn Thalabi replied, "I shall gladly conduct you to my
+boat on the Tigris, whither I was going when I had the good fortune to
+meet with you.  And when we are seated there at our ease and have
+partaken of some food, of which you must stand greatly in need after
+your night's lodging with the slave merchants, I will tell you how it
+happened that I obtained the reputation of being the Prince of the
+Faithful, and some incidents that have occurred in consequence.  But
+first," he continued, "let me introduce my friend and companion, who is
+indeed no other than my brother-in-law Abraha, but whom the people who
+take me to be the Caliph insist upon regarding as the Grand Vizier."
+
+"Yussuf," said Haroun, addressing Giafer by that name in order to
+further their disguise and continue what gave promise of proving a very
+entertaining misunderstanding, "I am sure you will salute with due
+respect the person of this Grand Vizier, who is, I doubt not, as good a
+man or even a better than Giafer himself."
+
+"Friend Hamad," replied Giafer, speaking to Haroun in the style and by
+the name they had previously agreed upon, "I salute with pleasure both
+our new acquaintances, and am ready to believe that Abraha is no less
+worthy to be really Grand Vizier than Sidi ibn Thalabi is to be really
+Caliph."
+
+Haroun perceived both from the manner and the answer of Giafer that the
+sham Grand Vizier was a joke not quite to his liking.  This amused
+Haroun not a little, and he employed the time as they walked towards
+the river in further light and playful discourse upon the topic.
+
+Addressing Abraha, he said, "You must be pleased, sir, to excuse any
+roughness or want of good manners and politeness on the part of my
+friend Yussuf; he is perhaps a little bit jealous of the good fortune
+of one who has been regarded as the Grand Vizier."
+
+Abraha, who was a rather dull and stolid personage, accepted these mock
+apologies with such imperturbable gravity and sincerity that Haroun was
+delighted with him.
+
+Saluting Haroun very solemnly, the sham Grand Vizier said, "Sir, I beg
+that you will give yourself no concern respecting the language or
+demeanour of your friend Yussuf.  I dare say he is a good plain man,
+however unused to the company of high personages, and in any case I am
+able to make allowances for any whiff of passing ill-humour or
+jealousy."
+
+During this conversation between Haroun and Abraha, Giafer and Sidi ibn
+Thalabi had fallen a little way behind and were walking and talking
+together.  A little way behind these came the two slaves whom Mesrúr
+had brought to the slave merchants with him to carry the gold pieces.
+
+When the party arrived at the bank of the Tigris, Haroun, stepping
+aside, beckoned the slaves to him and despatched them to the palace
+with a note addressed to the Grand Chamberlain.
+
+In this note he informed that functionary that he should not return to
+the palace for some hours, and commanded him to send the two slaves at
+once, under guard and without allowing them to speak to any one, to a
+town fifty days' journey from Bagdad, he having no mind to entrust the
+secret of his last night's adventure to the indiscreet tongues of the
+slaves who had participated in it.  Having thus got rid of the slaves,
+Haroun and Giafer accompanied their new acquaintances, Abraha and Sidi
+ibn Thalabi, on board the ship or pleasure barge belonging to the
+latter.
+
+After they had been seated for some time, and had appeased their hunger
+by partaking of a very substantial breakfast, Haroun said to Sidi ibn
+Thalabi--
+
+"I must now remind you of your promise to tell me something of your
+recent experience."
+
+Upon which Sidi ibn Thalabi spoke as follows:
+
+
+THE NARRATIVE OF SIDI IBN THALABI.
+
+"I must first tell you, friend Hamad," he began, for Haroun and Giafer
+were known to him only by their assumed names of Hamad and Yussuf--"I
+must first tell you how it came about that I was induced to personate
+our sovereign lord, Haroun Alraschid, whom may Allah preserve, and from
+whose ears may the story of my presumption be hidden for ever."
+
+"I should say," said Haroun, "that he is never likely to hear of it,
+unless you communicate it to him yourself."
+
+"In that case I should be safe enough," said Sidi ibn Thalabi.
+"However, to resume, what put the idea into my head in the first
+instance was this.  I was one day coming down to the river to spend the
+day on board my boat, when I called at the shop or stall of a fruit
+merchant in the bazaar to buy some fruit.  I sat down in his shop while
+I selected what I required and bargained as to the price.  I was
+surprised, in the first place, to find that instead of asking five or
+six times the value of the fruit and abating his demand by degrees, as
+is commonly the custom, the merchant, who treated me with extreme
+deference, begged me to choose whatever fruit I pleased and pay him for
+it as much as I might consider it to be worth."
+
+"'What,' said I, 'do you leave the price to be fixed by me?  Suppose I
+give you but half the value of it?'
+
+"'Sir,' answered the man, 'Allah forbid that your slave should venture
+to put aside the veil in which you choose at this moment to envelop
+yourself.  Nevertheless, I am very sensible of the honour you have done
+me in entering my shop and conversing familiarly with me, and truly the
+shop and all it contains are altogether at your service.'
+
+"'For whom do you take me, or mistake me,' said I, 'that you treat me
+to so many compliments and good offers?'
+
+"'Sir,' he replied, 'I have seen his Majesty the Caliph, whom may Allah
+protect, ride by so often, both when he is going to and returning from
+the Mosque, that it would be very strange if I could fail to recognize
+his features, no matter what disguise he may choose to assume.
+However, I will say no more, a merchant and no more than a merchant you
+are if you will it so.  To what place does it please you that I should
+send you the fruit?'
+
+"I denied again that I was the Commander of the Faithful, no matter how
+much my features might resemble his; but perceiving that the man
+retained his own opinion of my identity and received my disclaimers
+only out of politeness, I thought it not worth while to argue the
+question with him further, but desired him to send the fruit to me,
+Sidi ibn Thalabi, on board this boat.  At the same time, I must confess
+that I so far yielded to the weakness of being flattered by being taken
+for the Caliph in disguise that I gave the fruit merchant two dinars
+for fruit which was not worth one quarter of that sum.
+
+"On receiving the money, which he did with much humbleness and many
+profound salutations, the merchant said--
+
+"'Sidi ibn Thalabi, as so you desire to be called, I give you many
+thanks for your liberality, and I pray you not to be offended with me
+if I seize the present opportunity to beg a favour of you.'
+
+"'If,' said I, 'it is in my power to do what you wish, I assure you
+that, far from taking offence, I shall oblige you gladly.'
+
+"'Your kind words,' said the merchant, 'fill me with joy, because my
+request is entirely within your power to grant.  I have an only son,
+let him come to you and employ him in any office for which you may
+judge him to be fit.'
+
+"'On condition,' I answered, 'that you bear in mind that I am simply
+Sidi ibn Thalabi and no one else, I am ready to see and employ your son
+if you so desire.'
+
+"The fruit merchant vowed that no word of either himself or his son
+should betray the belief that I was any other than what I represented
+myself, namely, Sidi ibn Thalabi, a retired merchant taking his ease in
+his boat upon the Tigris.  On this understanding the young man came to
+me, and finding him to be a very agreeable and well-educated young
+fellow, I have employed him in the office of my secretary.
+
+"Being possessed of property at Bussora and other towns, I am often
+absent from Bagdad, and only occasionally take my pleasure here on my
+boat just as the humour seizes me.  Whether misled by these absences,
+or whether accepting his father's opinion without question, I know not,
+but I soon discovered that, not only did my new secretary believe me to
+be the Caliph, but that he had spread this rumour of me among a great
+number of the river-side population.  Perhaps he discovered that he
+himself was in consequence held in greater esteem, Allah alone
+knows--at any rate he hesitated not to spread the false report
+concerning me.
+
+"It thus came to pass that, not only was I often received in any
+company in which I chanced to find myself with an amount of respect and
+deference to which I was really by no means entitled, but people who
+were strangers to me asked me to social gatherings and feasts under the
+mistaken notion that they were thereby securing themselves personal
+intercourse with the dreaded and illustrious Haroun Alraschid himself.
+
+"As often as possible I refused these invitations, but could not avoid
+now and then coming into a mixed society, where I soon perceived that
+my fame had preceded me.  On those occasions, should any dispute arise,
+it was not uncommon for my authority to be confidently appealed to, and
+my verdict to be implicitly accepted.  This very naturally brought me
+more than once into a position of considerable difficulty.  For, on the
+one hand, no disclaimer on my part would avail to convince those who
+appealed to me that I was not really the Caliph; and, on the other
+hand, I well knew myself to be quite powerless either to enforce my
+decision or to punish those who were clearly guilty, and both deserving
+and expecting to be sentenced.
+
+"An incident that occurred only two days since will illustrate what I
+have been saying.  I was on my way to the river accompanied by Abraha
+only, when passing through a street in the lower part of the town we
+came upon a crowd of people shouting and gesticulating and making a
+great hubbub.  In the centre of the crowd there was one man who was
+dragging another along violently and crying out constantly, 'Come
+before the Cadi, you villain! come before the Cadi, you villain!'  All
+the others, as is usual in such cases, were crying out some one thing,
+some another.
+
+"When the crowd perceived us the hubbub was redoubled, and all we could
+gather from the confused noise was that they were appealing to me to
+arbitrate between them.  I made a sign, therefore, that they should be
+silent, and there being at a short distance from the spot where we met
+the crowd a small open space with a fountain in the middle of it, I led
+the way thither, and seating myself on the steps of the fountain, the
+two men stood before me, and the crowd gathered round to hear what was
+said and witness what would take place, the people never doubting but
+that when I should have examined the case I should pronounce judgment
+on the offender.
+
+"When I asked the man who had hold of the other, and who was evidently
+the complainant, to state what was the matter, he exclaimed very
+vehemently--
+
+"'This man, this rascally barber, whom your Greatness sees here before
+you, has murdered my brother.  He a barber!  He is a plunderer! he is
+an assassin!  Do justice upon him, therefore, and condemn the ignorant
+wretch to the punishment he so richly deserves.'
+
+"'Not so fast, not so fast,' said I; 'tell me more calmly, and with
+particulars, in what way has this barber murdered your brother?'
+
+"'Your Greatness,' said the man, 'it was in this wise.  My brother had
+been working in the heat of the sun, and the sun had doubtless inflamed
+his blood so that he became stupefied and unconscious.  I went,
+therefore, for a barber that he should come and bleed my brother, and
+restore his senses to him.  Now as ill-luck would have it the first
+barber I lighted upon was this pestilent fellow.  When I found him he
+was engaged in shaving a customer, and because that customer was a good
+one he would not leave him to attend to my brother, but first finished
+his shaving and then came with me.  Having first delayed so long, when
+at last he was come he bled my brother not once but three times, and
+two hours afterwards my brother died.  I say, therefore, truly that he
+has killed my brother, and deserves to be termed butcher rather than
+barber.'
+
+"Having listened to this complaint, I said, addressing the barber, 'You
+hear what this man alleges; let me hear, therefore, what reply you can
+make and how you will defend yourself from the charge which has been
+brought against you.'
+
+"The barber, who like most of his class did not lack assurance and had
+words at command, was not slow to answer.
+
+"'Sir,' said he, 'the accusation which this man brings against me, and
+his assertion that I am ignorant and do not understand the duties of my
+office, are both of them groundless and absurd.  I have not been a
+barber for fifteen years without knowing very well how to let blood as
+well as how to shave; and if this man's brother is dead, it is in spite
+of what I did for him, and not in consequence of it.  As to what is
+alleged of my delay, I deny it altogether.  I did but give three or
+four strokes of my razor, which was all that was needed to finish the
+operation of shaving in which I was engaged when this man called for
+me, and it is only his furious impatience that has magnified a few
+seconds into a serious delay.  As to the bleeding, I did indeed take
+from him six ounces of blood; in one cup I received two ounces, in a
+second cup two ounces, and in a third cup two ounces.  But that
+quantity was by no means too much.  Moreover, that which was received
+into the first cup coagulated in twelve minutes, that which was
+received into the second cup in twenty-two minutes, while that which
+was in the third cup was not completely coagulated in thirty-five
+minutes; now what does that prove?'
+
+"'It proves,' said the other, 'that you are, as I have told you
+already, a bungler and murderer, for is not my brother dead of your
+bleeding, and you deserve to lose your head?'
+
+"'Sir,' said the barber to me, 'this man simply raves, as you will have
+observed.  Every baker and tailor knows more in his own conceit of
+bleeding than a barber of fifteen years' experience like myself.  They
+are able to pass judgment as to the question of too much or too little
+without hesitation and with the utmost exactness.  It is a story as old
+as King Ad--the more ignorant they are the more sure they be.
+Presently they will discover that men should never be let blood at all,
+forgetting that we bleed our horses also,[2] and find it does them
+good.  And, for myself, I know after fifteen years' experience how much
+to take both from the healthy and from the sick.'
+
+"'Accursed barber,' interrupted the other, fiercely, 'I believe verily
+that thou canst neither bleed without killing nor shave without
+cutting.'
+
+'"As for my bleeding,' retorted the barber, in a rage, 'I have bled
+many score without accident or ill-result, excepting only your brother,
+who was a drunkard and as good as dead before ever I saw him; while as
+for my being able to shave without cutting, I will have you to know
+that there lives no creature on this earth, from an ape to the
+illustrious Caliph himself, whom may Allah preserve and exalt, that I
+will not shave without giving him so much as a scratch.'
+
+"'That,' said I, willing to end the dispute between the two men, 'is a
+very bold challenge on the part of the barber.  The Caliph indeed can
+be scarcely got to submit himself to the test, but we will get an ape,
+and if this honest man shaves him, as he says he can, without
+inflicting a scratch, I will adjudge him to be a very proficient barber
+and an adept in each branch of his trade, both bleeding and shaving.'
+
+"The people, who are easily led and amused, received my decision with
+delight.  They cried out, 'An ape! an ape!'  All were desirous to see
+how the creature would submit himself to the operation of being shaved.
+Even the man who had lost his brother could not altogether refrain from
+a grin of satisfaction at the thought of the troublesome task the
+barber had before him."
+
+Haroun Alraschid smiled and stroked his beard, saying, "Sidi ibn
+Thalabi, that was a happy inspiration, and extricated you cleverly from
+what threatened to become for you a rather embarrassing position."
+
+Sidi ibn Thalabi acknowledged this compliment to his sagacity by a low
+bow, and continued--
+
+"For the people to find an ape on which the barber could exhibit his
+skill was no easy matter, none knew where such an animal could be
+procured.  However, I was able myself to get them out of this
+difficulty very speedily.  A merchant of my acquaintance had I knew
+many strange birds and beasts which had been brought to him at sundry
+times by the various ships and caravans which conveyed his merchandize.
+To him I applied, stating what I required, and was able to purchase a
+little ape who appeared very suitable for our purpose.
+
+"This little animal was really very young, as its constant and restless
+activity sufficiently proved, but it had the appearance of a small aged
+African, with deeply wrinkled forehead and cheeks and a sparse beard of
+short white hairs.  When this creature was placed in the hands of the
+barber, its behaviour gave promise of affording us all the
+entertainment we could desire.
+
+"It was the duty of the barber to perform the various functions of his
+office in the customary manner.  He had first to wash the head and
+face, and then to proceed to shave just as in the case of any one else.
+For this purpose the barber produced a metal basin, which he filled
+with water from the fountain; and the ape having been accommodated with
+a seat on a low bench in the middle of the open space round which the
+people were assembled, the barber set down the basin beside him.  For a
+few moments the little creature sat regarding the basin with an
+expression of great gravity and wisdom, but just as the barber, having
+dipped a piece of cloth in the water, was wringing it out preparatory
+to commencing the operation of washing, the ape suddenly seized upon
+the basin with both hands and turned it upside down, apparently with
+childish curiosity to examine the other side.
+
+"The effect of this movement was to pour all the contents of the basin
+over the ape's own legs, which disconcerted him very much, and the
+barber stooping down to pick up the basin which the ape had dropped,
+the little creature nimbly sprang upon his shoulders, and with its wet
+legs round the barber's neck he employed himself in taking off the
+man's turban, which he first placed on his own head and then
+immediately afterwards snatching it off again he threw it on the ground.
+
+"At these antics the crowd of course laughed loudly, but the barber,
+who was a man of much good temper and self-control, simply took the ape
+off his shoulders, and having seated him again as at first, he
+proceeded to pick up and replace his turban, and refill the basin.
+
+"Putting the water this time out of reach of the ape, the barber dipped
+his cloth into the basin and proceeded to wash the head and face of his
+unwilling and in every sense ugly customer.  But directly the ape felt
+the wet cloth touch his skin he snatched it instantly from the hands of
+the barber and commenced tearing it in pieces.  And before the barber
+could attempt to rescue even the fragments of his washing cloth the
+mischievous little creature slipped quickly off the bench on which he
+had been seated, and running rapidly on all fours among the crowd,
+suddenly jumped upon the back of a small boy who had been hitherto
+enjoying the fun and laughing very heartily at the antics of the
+monkey.  This last prank, however, frightened the small boy very much,
+and he ran about wildly, with the ape seated on his shoulders,
+screaming loudly.  As the monkey held on bravely, with each hand
+grasping firmly a handful of the boy's hair, the little fellow had some
+excuse for making an outcry.  The barber, however, very soon recaptured
+his troublesome charge, and reseated him on the bench to undergo the
+usual barbarous routine of washing and shaving.
+
+"Meanwhile the crowd beside laughing had, of course, encouraged the
+barber to pursue his task by many questions and exclamations, such as,
+'Why don't you make haste to shave the gentleman?'  'Take care you
+don't cut his precious chin!'  'Barber, is your hand steady?' and so
+forth.
+
+"In answer to all these jeers the barber only smiled and said,
+'Patience, the little gentleman is somewhat scared by your noise and
+ugly faces, but he will sit quietly enough presently.'
+
+"And marvellous to behold, when the barber had replaced him again the
+third time on the bench, the ape sat still, as solemn as the Cadi
+himself, and allowed himself to be both washed and shaved, moving no
+more than though he were dead and stuffed.
+
+"This astonished the crowd very much and they applauded loudly, till
+the man who had at first accused the barber of murdering his brother
+cried out that it was sorcery, and that this accursed barber must be in
+fact a foul magician, since he could not only kill good Moslims, but
+shave misshapen apes.  On this the fickle crowd were moved against the
+barber, and would have fallen upon him and done him an injury had I not
+interfered on his behalf.
+
+"'Stop,' said I, 'I will inquire of the barber, and he shall confess to
+me by what means he has caused the ape to sit still and permit himself
+to be shaved.  If he has employed magic he shall be dealt with
+accordingly, but if not, why should he be punished on the accusation of
+one who hates him and may be envious of his skill?'
+
+"Speaking thus to the crowd I calmed them, then bringing the barber
+along with us we hastened at once to the river and came on board my
+barge.
+
+"When we had safely arrived here, after giving the barber something to
+eat and drink, I pressed him to tell me how he had contrived to render
+the monkey suddenly so quiet and docile, a feat which had appeared as
+surprising and as inexplicable to me as to the others.
+
+"'Sir,' said the barber, 'I have during my life travelled through many
+distant countries and taken part in many strange adventures, but I
+confess that among all the singular and marvellous things I have seen
+or have collected, nothing is more strange nor more valuable than that
+by means of which I have been enabled to exhibit to you the spectacle
+which you have witnessed this morning.'
+
+"I pressed him once more to tell me what this rare and precious thing
+might be and how he became possessed of it.  Upon which the barber,
+saluting me as his protector and deliverer, who had saved him from the
+fury of the crowd, consented readily to impart his secret to me, and
+spoke as follows:--
+
+
+THE BARBER'S STORY.
+
+"'It is now about three months since I was called early one morning to
+bleed a man who was reported to be insensible.  Now, notwithstanding
+all that that fellow asserted in his rage this morning, I am a barber
+and the son of a barber, and understand my craft very thoroughly.
+Therefore, taking with me whatever I might be likely to require to let
+the man blood and restore him to consciousness, I started at once.
+
+"'On arriving at the house, which was a very poor one, to which I had
+been summoned, I found the patient an old white-bearded man, and also a
+physician whom I knew very well, and who practised in that part of the
+town.
+
+"'He had sent for me to bleed the man, but he was evidently puzzled
+extremely by many features of the case the like of which he had never
+before encountered.  The patient was indeed unconscious, yet he
+exhibited few or none of the symptoms generally characteristic of that
+state.  He was not lying down, but sitting up.  His face wore the
+expression not of one dead or dying, but of a man transfixed with rage
+and horror.  His eyes wide open were staring upon us with an expression
+of impotent rage, as though he were witnessing some outrage which he
+was powerless to prevent.  His mouth was opened as though uttering a
+cry, but no cry came out of his mouth.  He did not breathe heavily, he
+did not appear to breathe at all.  He had the appearance of a man who
+in the midst of some violent emotion had suddenly been turned into
+stone, or rather into some plastic material possessing very peculiar
+properties.  For we found that, while every limb yielded readily to
+pressure and could be placed easily in any posture we pleased, it did
+not on being released fall to the ground, but maintained the attitude
+in which it had been placed as though it were modelled in wax or carved
+in stone.
+
+"'All this was so surprising that I suppose I ought not to have been
+surprised, as certainly I was, when I found that no blood flowed when I
+attempted to bleed him.  The man seemed to be decidedly not dead--and
+yet decidedly not alive.  We could make nothing of him.  And after a
+while the physician being called away to attend to some one else, left
+me to watch this strange case, and act as I should see fit.
+
+"'For a long time I sat and vigilantly observed the striking figure
+before me, in appearance so full of life and passion, in reality so
+completely inert.
+
+"'As you may suppose, I was not alone.  The small room was crowded with
+the neighbours of the old man, who had long known him, and among whom
+he was reported to be a miser, who though living in apparent poverty
+was really very rich.  I could see that many did not confine their
+inquisitive glances to the old man himself, but looked eagerly about
+them to discover if possible in some corner of the mean apartment that
+store of hidden wealth which they had persuaded themselves that it
+contained.  After a time these visitors departed one after the other,
+perceiving neither any alteration in the condition of the old man nor
+any signs of his reputed riches.
+
+"'When they had all left, I still sat looking attentively at him, lost
+in astonishment and marvelling what would be the end of so singular and
+unheard-of a trance.  Without the least warning, so suddenly that I was
+not a little startled, the full stream of life seemed to return upon
+him in an instant.  It had been arrested as suddenly and for many
+hours--and now in a moment, before one could swallow one's spittle, it
+resumed its course as though the interruption had never taken place.
+To the mouth half opened all this time utterance was at length
+restored, and suddenly as I sat watching him he cried with a loud
+voice--
+
+"'"Seize them!  They have it!  Ah, wretches! the curse of Allah be upon
+ye!  To rob an old man! a poor man!  Yes, they are gone, the robbers,
+the villains!  My savings, my savings!  The small savings of a long
+life.  Ah! the cursed villains, the cursed villains! seize them, seize
+them!"
+
+"'Thus the old fellow raved on, beating his breast, tearing his hair
+and his beard, and speedily recalling by his cries and lamentations all
+his neighbours who remained within hearing.  Getting some of these to
+assist me, again I attempted to bleed him, and this time successfully.
+This quieted him, and presently we laid him down much calmer, though
+apparently extremely exhausted.
+
+"'We could learn nothing more from him than that three men had entered
+his room on the previous evening and had robbed him of all that he
+possessed; but what became of them, or how he had fallen into the state
+of trance in which he had been discovered, he could not explain.
+
+"'I had now given up much more time than I could afford, and seeing no
+chance of getting paid under the circumstances, and there being nothing
+further I could do for the unfortunate old creature, I left him in the
+hands of his neighbours and took my departure.
+
+"'I had not gone far when I observed lying on the ground a small
+camel's-hair brush of very peculiar appearance.  It was flat, in
+breadth about the width of two fingers, and the hairs of the brush as
+long as a man's little finger.  I picked it up, wondering for what
+purpose it could be used, and thinking it might possibly prove of
+service on some future occasion, I carried it home with me.
+
+"'Several days passed, and I had forgotten not only the little brush
+that I had picked up, but even the episode of the old man and his
+strange trance, when one afternoon a man presented himself to be
+shaved, who, after some desultory discourse on passing topics,
+mentioned that he had heard of my attendance on the old miser, and
+inquired as to the condition in which I had found him, and all the
+particulars of the affair.
+
+"'When I had related to him the whole of the circumstances--excepting
+only the finding of the little brush as I came away, an incident so
+trifling that I no longer remembered it--he inquired, with some
+eagerness, I thought, whether I had found anything in the old man's
+room.  I had picked up the brush not in the room, but outside the
+house, and the very fact that I had done so having for the moment
+escaped my recollection, I answered at once--"No, I found nothing; and,
+in truth, it seemed to me that some people had probably forestalled me,
+and left nothing for me or any one else to find."  The man laughed at
+this, as though it were a very good joke.  At that instant, the finding
+the little brush occurred to my mind, and I determined now in my turn
+to ascertain, if possible, whether it were that he was in search of.
+
+"'I asked him, therefore, whether he had heard of any valuable being
+missed from the old man's room, as he had questioned me about it.
+
+"'"Not exactly that," he said.  "A good deal of valuable property might
+have been taken, he supposed," and again he laughed, "from the old
+man's room, but he was not concerned about that."
+
+"'"No," thought I, "for you probably know where to find it."
+
+"'"What I wish to recover," continued the man, "is not an article of
+value at all, only a little brush that a friend of mine dropped in the
+confusion, and which he is very anxious to get again, because it
+belonged to his father and his grandfather before him."
+
+"'"I fear," answered I, "that you will not find it in the old man's
+room, because I looked about the place, and I noticed a good many other
+keen eyes doing the same, and nothing of any kind was to be seen."
+
+"'"No, there is no brush there now," said he; "you may be sure I have
+ascertained that for myself before applying to you.  If you did not see
+it, I fear it is lost beyond recovery, and I would pay handsomely for
+it too, if I could find it."
+
+"'"Why," said I, "as to that, you need make but little fuss over the
+loss of a little brush; a single dinar will buy you five score of them."
+
+"'"True," said he, "but the little brush I am in search of was of a
+special make, such as men in these days know not how to fashion."
+
+"'"After all," said I, "it is but a matter of shape and fancy, for
+there can be no great difference in value between two brushes of the
+same size."
+
+"'"However that may be," said the man, "if by talking with your
+customers you can discover this little brush, and procure it for me, I
+will give you a good price for it."
+
+"'"What do you call a good price?" I inquired.
+
+"'"I will give you," he said, "ten dinars for it."
+
+"'He looked at me very hard, to observe what effect this offer would
+produce, for no doubt, in spite of my denial, he suspected that I had
+picked up the brush.  But I reflected that the brush must have some
+very special value, or he would not so readily have offered ten dinars
+for it.  If I held back, by and by he would offer twenty.
+
+"'I therefore answered quietly--"It is a large sum for a small brush,
+if I should hear of it I will let you know."
+
+"'"In a week or ten days I will come again," he said, "perhaps by that
+time you may be able to find it."
+
+"'He probably named a week or ten days in order not to appear too
+eager, and also to give me time to pretend to have succeeded in my
+search.
+
+"'A week passed and a fortnight, and still he did not return.  Indeed
+he never came back, and whether he was captured by the police--for I
+have no doubt he was one of the thieves who had robbed the old
+miser--or whether he and his gang had been obliged on account of some
+other crime to fly from Bagdad, I do not know; one thing only is
+certain, I have never seen him again.
+
+"'Nearly three months had elapsed, and I had almost ceased to expect
+the reappearance of the man, and even to regret that I did not accept
+his offer of ten dinars for the brush at the time he made it, when one
+afternoon, a few days ago, a man came to me suffering from a growth or
+wen on the back of his neck, close to the spinal cord.  He desired that
+I should paint this with a certain remedy or lotion I have for such
+tumours.  Finding the lotion, which I had not used for some time, but
+not the brush with which I was accustomed to apply it, I took hold of
+the little brush which I had picked up, and made use of that.  The
+hairs of this brush were so much longer than those in my old brush,
+that I had not proceeded far before I happened accidentally to pass the
+wet brush across the spine.  Immediately the man became fixed in the
+attitude in which he happened to be as I was operating upon him.  His
+features retained the expression precisely which they wore at the
+moment the wet brush had touched the spine, and, in short, the man was
+in a trance exactly similar to that in which I had found the old miser
+three months before.
+
+"'I had discovered the virtues of the brush.  At first I was a good
+deal frightened, not knowing how long the trance might continue.
+However, after the lapse of twelve hours, the man recovered
+consciousness again, and the complete use of all his faculties just as
+suddenly as the old miser had done three months previously.
+
+"'I persuaded the man that he had fallen asleep during the operation of
+anointing his tumour, and that I had housed him for the night out of
+kindness.  For this he thanked me sincerely, allowed me to bleed him
+for the good of his health, and to wash and shave him, and paying me
+handsomely for all I had done for him, departed with much satisfaction.
+
+"'This morning, therefore, when I happened to give utterance to that
+rash boast of being able to shave successfully any living thing--a
+boast you so cleverly turned against me--I determined to make good my
+words by virtue of the camel's-hair brush.'"
+
+"And what," asked Haroun of Sidi ibn Thalabi, "what has become of the
+brush? did you not buy it of the barber?"
+
+"I endeavoured to do so," answered he, "but the barber declared that
+unless the Caliph himself seated upon his throne should demand it, he
+would never part with it on any terms to any man."
+
+"I think, friend Sidi ibn Thalabi," said Haroun, "that the barber is
+right.  But now that I have heard the story of the barber, which is a
+very strange story, and has interested me greatly, I must for the
+present leave you, and return to my house where my people will be
+anxiously awaiting me.  I hope, however, to have the pleasure very
+shortly of receiving you in my own house, and till then I bid you
+farewell."
+
+
+
+[1] The Caliph was commonly so designated by the vulgar.
+
+[2] A common Arab practice.
+
+
+
+
+The Caliph and Sidi ibn Thalabi
+
+THE BANQUET.
+
+On the next morning after Haroun Alraschid had given the customary
+audiences to his Viziers and the great officers of his kingdom, he
+ordered Mesrúr to send and fetch Kaseem, the barber whose story Sidi
+ibn Thalabi had related to him.
+
+Kaseem, on being introduced into the audience-chamber, and seeing the
+Caliph in his royal robes seated upon the throne, made no doubt but
+that he was in truth the same man as that Sidi ibn Thalabi who had
+rescued him from the mob, and to whom he had spoken on board the boat.
+
+When, therefore, Haroun said to him, "Kaseem, I have been told that you
+have a certain small brush of potent virtue.  Give it to me."
+
+Kaseem answered, smiling, "Your Majesty is, I know, very well informed
+indeed as to all the circumstances concerning that brush, and I am very
+happy, not only from loyalty, but also from gratitude to one Sidi ibn
+Thalabi, whom may Allah bless and reward, to be able to present to your
+Majesty a thing which you desire to possess."
+
+Saying this, he offered the little brush, which Haroun took with his
+own hands.
+
+Then the Caliph, turning to the Grand Vizier, said:
+
+"I appoint Kaseem to be the Court Barber; see that he has robes and
+utensils given him suited to his office, and pay him every month a fee
+of one hundred dinars."
+
+The Caliph, having ordered further an immediate present of a thousand
+dinars to be given to Kaseem, sent him away very well satisfied.
+
+Haroun next commanded Giafer to prepare in the splendid house and
+garden which had belonged to Abou Hassan, the Fortunate Merchant, a
+great banquet and entertainment to be given that evening, and to which
+Sidi ibn Thalabi and his brother-in-law, Abraha, were to be invited by
+Hamad and Yussuf, the names assumed by himself and Giafer.  All those
+who were invited to meet Sidi ibn Thalabi were informed that it was
+Haroun's pleasure to give this entertainment in the assumed character
+of a merchant, and that he would be known and was to be addressed as
+Hamad, and Giafer as Yussuf.
+
+Among the guests were Murad Essed, the Unfortunate Merchant whom Haroun
+had met, and whose story he had heard in this very house.
+
+Murad Essed, like Sidi ibn Thalabi and Abraha, knew Haroun only in his
+assumed character as a merchant.  There were, however, other guests who
+were very well acquainted with both the Caliph and the Grand Vizier.
+There was, for instance, the singer and composer, Ishak ibn Ibrahim el
+Mosili, a great favourite of Haroun's; and the blind poet, Abu
+'Atahiyeh, with several others.
+
+The splendid saloon, with its open arcade on one side, looking out over
+the charming central garden, held on this evening a very merry party.
+Never since the time of its late owner, Abou Hassan, the Fortunate
+Merchant, had it beheld a scene so gay.
+
+The banquet was varied and well served, the wines of the rarest
+vintages, and the hours passed speedily and pleasantly enough,
+enlivened by a constant succession of tales and songs.
+
+Murad Essed was the first that was called upon by Haroun as the host to
+relate a story to the company.
+
+"Murad Essed," said Haroun, "there are, I think, none here present
+beside you, myself, and my friend Yussuf, who are acquainted with the
+story of Abou Hassan, the Fortunate Merchant, the former owner of this
+house.  Will you, therefore, oblige us by relating it to us?"
+
+When Murad Essed had, in response to this invitation, related the story
+of the Fortunate Merchant and his tragical fate, Haroun addressed
+himself to Abu 'Atahiyeh, and said: "Abu 'Atahiyeh, do you now compose
+a few verses, and Ishak ibn Ibrahim el Mosili shall sing them."
+
+Abu 'Atahiyeh, who was sitting next to Ishak, having dictated some
+lines, and Ishak having written them down, the latter sang them to a
+favourite air of Haroun's, being accompanied on the lute by Isaac, the
+most famous of all the players on that instrument.
+
+The lines were these:
+
+  "O, LOVELY STARS!"
+
+  "O lovely stars!  O lovely stars!  O lovely stars in the sky!
+  Your eyes are bright, your eyes are bright, and yet you are
+        wondrous shy!
+
+  You none are men, you none are men, but every one a she;
+  And but at night, and but at night, your beauty we men may see!
+
+  The staring gaze, the staring gaze, of insolent Day you shun;
+  In veils of light, in veils of light, hid from the face of the Sun.
+
+  The swarthy Night, the swarthy Night, he alone may be your spouse;
+  His harem wide, his harem wide, no other lover allows.
+
+  The Caliph's self, the Caliph's self, has no bevy one half so fair;
+  Nor lodged so well, nor lodged so well, as ye in your palace of air!"
+
+
+"Bravo, bravo! well worded and well sung, by Allah!" cried Haroun, as
+Ishak ibn Ibrahim el Mosili concluded the verses.  Then taking two
+splendid golden goblets which stood before him, he commanded them to be
+filled with wine, and presented one to Abu 'Atahiyeh, and the other to
+Ishak ibn Ibrahim el Mosili.
+
+"Take each of you," said the generous Caliph, "the goblet that I send
+you; it is yours.  And, by Allah and the beard of the Prophet! if I
+could but find twenty such poets and singers, most willingly would I
+find twenty such goblets for them."
+
+The other guests were no less pleased than the host himself with the
+verses of Abu 'Atahiyeh, and the singing of Ishak ibn Ibrahim el Mosili.
+
+Presently the Caliph, addressing Abu 'Atahiyeh, said: "You have made us
+some verses, now tell us a tale, for I know that your store of tales is
+without end."
+
+
+THE STORY OF MUBAREK,
+
+AS TOLD BY ABU 'ATAHIYEH.
+
+"There once lived a young man whose name was Mubarek.  He was the only
+son of a rich merchant at Bagdad, commonly known as Bereydah abou
+Mubarek.
+
+"To the great grief of his father, Mubarek, when he was twenty-three
+years of age, developed such a longing to travel and visit those
+foreign countries of which he had so often heard from other
+merchants--his father's friends--that nothing could persuade him to
+remain quietly in Bagdad.  Bereydah abou Mubarek, having therefore
+furnished his son with such sorts of merchandize as would be most
+suitable to trade with in the countries he was about to visit, took
+leave of him with much emotion and many injunctions both as to his
+personal conduct, and the management of his affairs.
+
+"After passing through several countries most frequently traversed by
+caravans belonging to the merchants of this city, and where he saw
+nothing but what is familiarly known to all here present, and met with
+no adventure I need pause to describe, he set sail in a merchantman,
+bound for the coast of India.
+
+"He had not been at sea more than three days when a violent storm
+arose, and the force of the hurricane, driving the ship altogether out
+of her course, she found herself at length off a coast altogether
+unknown to the captain, and in spite of his exertions she was blown in
+shore, and became very shortly a total wreck.
+
+"Mubarek, who fortunately succeeded in reaching the land, although with
+the loss of all that he possessed, wandered about for some time in a
+most forlorn and starving condition.  At length, meeting some natives
+of the country, he was conducted by them to a large town on the coast,
+which was the capital of the kingdom.  Here, in a very magnificent
+palace situated in the midst of extensive and fragrant gardens, lived
+Ahesha the Queen.  An idolater, like all her subjects, she was,
+although an exceedingly beautiful woman, cruel, vindictive, and a
+proficient in all the arts of magic.
+
+"Mubarek, as a stranger, being brought before her, as the laws of that
+kingdom required, she immediately fell violently in love with him,
+which was the less to be wondered at, inasmuch as he was a young man of
+pleasant features, a striking figure, and considerable personal
+attractions.
+
+"Ahesha, having commanded the stranger to be led to the bath, and
+arrayed in rich robes appropriate to one occupying the position of a
+Vizier or Prince, she invited him to join her in partaking of a
+sumptuous repast, and afterwards to accompany her in strolling through
+the charming gardens which surrounded her palace.
+
+"Mubarek, consoled for the hardship and dangers of the shipwreck and
+the loss of his merchandize by so flattering and distinguished a
+reception, and by the society of a woman and Queen of so much beauty,
+wandered with her alone through the most retired walks of the garden.
+
+"Coming at length to a grassy seat in the cool shade of a spreading
+tree, they sat down.
+
+"'Tell me,' said she, 'whether you are capable of loving a woman like
+me, as a woman and a Queen should be loved?'
+
+"'I love you,' he replied, 'with all the passion of youth, with all my
+soul.'
+
+"'But,' said she, 'a Queen must be loved alone.  She cannot consent to
+divide the love of a man with any other woman.'
+
+"'My charming and incomparable Queen,' he exclaimed, 'by Allah and the
+Prophet of God! there is no woman that can stand beside you.  The man
+who is so happy as to possess you can want no other woman.'
+
+"Ahesha laughed scornfully, and said, 'What an oath is that which you
+use!  I laugh at your Allah and his Prophet.'
+
+"Mubarek was a young man of very hot blood and fierce passions, and
+being brought up a strict Moslim, he was so much enraged at the Queen's
+scoff, that no sooner were the words out of her mouth, than drawing
+instantly a jewelled dagger which she wore at her girdle, he plunged it
+into her heart.
+
+"Then seeing the Queen lying at his feet with the blood gushing out of
+her breast, he repented of his hasty act, but it was too late.  He
+perceived moreover that should he be discovered in that situation by
+the enraged attendants of the beautiful Queen, he would be put to
+death, probably with torture.  At the same time, he knew neither where
+he could find a place of safety nor how he should manage to obtain food
+for the support of life in the midst of that city of idolaters.
+
+"Wandering about the extensive gardens and groves surrounding the
+palace, and expecting every moment to fall in with some party of the
+royal guards who would seize him and take him prisoner, he came at
+length, in a very retired part of the woods, to a small cavern or
+grotto, and being very tired, he there laid himself down and very soon
+fell asleep.
+
+"When he awoke the air was cool and fresh.  The stars, still
+discernible, were fading in the light of the approaching dawn; and as
+he left the grotto he hastened, drawn by an indefinable and insensible
+impulse, to seek the place where he had left the body of the heathen
+Queen.
+
+"With some difficulty he again found the spot which had been the scene
+of the love-making and the sudden tragedy on the previous day.  The
+body of the Queen was no longer there.  It had evidently been
+discovered and removed by her people.  But precisely where her blood
+had streamed out upon the ground a small shrub was growing, which
+already bore a great number of bunches or clusters of a small fruit
+resembling currants.  Feeling very hungry he gathered a quantity of
+this fruit and eat it as he walked.  To his great surprise,
+notwithstanding that he had but just risen from a long rest and sound
+sleep, he began to feel excessively drowsy, and selecting a secluded
+and shady nook, he lay down and at once again fell asleep.
+
+"He must have slept several hours, as when he recovered consciousness
+the sun was high in the heavens.  But although it was apparently about
+midday he presently noticed that he did not experience any sensation of
+heat.  It gradually dawned upon him, moreover, that, although perfectly
+conscious and able to reason and reflect and to distinguish clearly
+everything around him, this state of consciousness was wholly separate
+from and disconnected with the body.  In fact, looking down he
+perceived his body lying stretched upon the grass, and still wrapped
+apparently in the total oblivion of the profoundest sleep.
+
+"While he was yet lost in astonishment at the marvel of this strange
+condition, a fairy or spirit of the air stood beside him, and
+addressing him said--
+
+"'Mubarek, why do you stand thus gazing upon the ground?  Say, to what
+place shall we go?  With so many lovely and charming scenes to which we
+can resort, we need not remain fettered to this earth.'
+
+"'Fairy,' answered Mubarek, 'the choice rests with you.  Take me with
+you wheresoever you will.'
+
+"'Mubarek,' said the fairy, 'look up and tell me which star we shall
+visit.'
+
+"Mubarek, looking up, found that the brightness of the noonday sun no
+longer obscured his vision, but that the stars also appeared clearly to
+him sparkling in all their myriad hosts throughout the heaven.
+Selecting modestly one of the smaller stars, a mere point of light
+glistening in the distance, he said--
+
+"'We will go there.'
+
+"In a moment, not with the speed of lightning, for the lightning lags
+and travels slowly, but in a moment and with the speed of thought, the
+swiftest of all travellers known to man, they passed at once through
+all the vast immeasurable space which lay between that little world and
+this.
+
+"On their arrival, after they had time to look about them and realize
+the peculiarities of their novel surroundings, Mubarek perceived that
+in this strange world the light was not derived from any one fixed
+point, such as our sun, but came in a steady and evenly diffused
+brightness from every part of the clear and luminous vault of heaven.
+But, notwithstanding that the heat under that cloudless sky and glowing
+firmament must have been very great, yet to the inhabitants of that
+world, whose bodies are composed of quite other elements than ours and
+have a much higher temperature, the atmosphere, hot as it would appear
+to us, seems always cool and refreshing.
+
+"At the place where Mubarek and his fairy companion had alighted there
+was situated a great and populous city.  Its arrangements and
+magnificence were such that no city that has ever existed on our earth
+could be compared with it.  In its wide thoroughfares and ample
+squares, planted with fine trees, gay with an infinite variety of
+many-tinted flowers, and adorned with lofty and ever-springing
+fountains of cool and sparkling liquid, which, as Mubarek afterwards
+discovered, was not water but the purest liquid glass, every dwelling
+was a palace.  In that happy country there were no mean and squalid
+houses and no poor people.
+
+"Mubarek and the fairy alighted in one of the noble squares of this
+great city, and after they had been standing only a few minutes looking
+about them in unfeigned wonder and admiration at all they saw, several
+of the inhabitants approached them, and bidding them welcome, offered
+to conduct them to the mansion which had been prepared for their
+reception.
+
+"'How,' asked Mubarek, 'is it possible that any house can have been
+prepared for me, seeing that until this moment I have had no idea or
+intention of coming hither?'
+
+"'Let not that surprise you,' said one of those who had addressed them:
+'Allah, whose power and beneficence extends to every place, has
+ordained that we who are privileged to live in this delightful world,
+where it is always light, and where we are never weary and want for
+nothing that is necessary for our subsistence, should ever occupy
+ourselves with the happy task of preparing, not only all the luxuries
+and conveniences which we ourselves may desire, but also fair abodes
+for those whom he may from time to time allow to come among us.'
+
+"Saying this, they conducted Mubarek and the fairy to a spacious and
+beautiful palace which stood not far from the spot where they were
+standing.
+
+"The house, like all those in this city, appeared to be composed of
+immense blocks of crystal or translucent marble of many hues.  The
+great pillars that supported the arches, the massive walls, the
+glistening roof with its domes and minarets, all were composed of the
+same unique and costly material.
+
+"Entering the hall of the palace through the wide portal, on each side
+of which, standing open, were two curiously carved doors of some
+substance resembling mother-of-pearl, they passed through the various
+apartments of the palace--all large, stately, and furnished handsomely.
+
+"One peculiarity of this building which immediately attracted their
+attention was that there were no windows, sufficient of the perpetual
+and never-clouded brightness of the heavens passing through the
+semi-translucent substance of the walls to afford a subdued and
+pleasant light to those within them.
+
+"Mubarek, seating himself, at the invitation of his friendly
+conductors, on a couch covered with a fine soft fabric of a kind such
+as he had never seen before, expected that the slaves who attended in
+this superb palace would shortly appear to do his bidding, and prepare
+some kind of refreshment for himself and those who had brought him
+thither, and who declared him to be the owner of the place and
+themselves to be his guests.
+
+"As, however, after sitting and conversing for some time, no servant
+made his appearance, he imagined that perhaps in that country no slave
+would dare to present himself even to tender his services without
+awaiting the signal from his lord.  Mubarek therefore clapped his hands
+to summon the attendants.  No one appeared, however, and those who sat
+with him looked surprised, and said--
+
+"'What is the meaning of that action?  Why do you clap your hands?'
+
+"'I wish,' said he, 'to call the slaves, who, no doubt, are in
+attendance in some ante-chamber.'
+
+"'What,' asked the others, 'are slaves?'
+
+"'The servants, the attendants,' explained Mubarek, 'those who do the
+work of the house, who wait upon us, who cook our food and bring it to
+us.'
+
+"'There are,' said the others, smiling, 'no such creatures in this
+world.  All the inhabitants of these houses, no matter how large or
+fine they may be--and all our dwellings are spacious and
+magnificent--do whatever work may be necessary, and are ever ready to
+exert themselves in the interest both of themselves and of others.
+Besides,' the speaker continued, 'we have so many forces and
+contrivances, unknown perhaps in the region whence you come, that,
+although we have plenty of work, without which we might be dull, we
+have no drudgery.'
+
+"'That is all very easy to say,' replied Mubarek, 'but who then kills
+the animals you eat, cooks them, and serves your table?'
+
+"'What!' exclaimed the other, in surprise, 'do you kill and devour each
+other?'
+
+"'No,' answered Mubarek; 'not each other, but other animals, such as
+the camel, the sheep, and the goat.'
+
+"They heard this avowal with almost the same disgust as we should an
+avowal of man-eating, and explained that in their world they neither
+killed nor ate any living thing.
+
+"'We have,' they said, 'fruits pleasing to the palate and nourishing to
+the body.  These we gather, each one for himself, and should regard a
+man who required some one to gather his food for him very much as you
+would regard a man so lazy as to want some one to put it into his mouth
+for him.'
+
+"Saying this, they rose, and Mubarek and the fairy with them, and
+taking each a plate or dish, every one of which was fashioned out of a
+single piece of the same beautiful and many-tinted crystal as composed
+the walls of their dwellings, they proceeded to gather in the garden
+which surrounded the palace all kinds of fruit.
+
+"This fruit seemed to Mubarek to consist of all sorts of precious
+stones--the topaz, the jasper, the onyx, the carbuncle, the emerald,
+the ruby, and many others, and having brought their plates filled with
+this fruit into the house, these strange people sat down and ate them
+with much relish, praising highly their delicious flavour and
+nutritious qualities.
+
+"They then replaced the plates, unsoiled by the repast they had
+contained, and prepared to show Mubarek and the fairy the beauties of
+their marvellous city.
+
+"Instead of mounting on horseback like men, or being carried in litters
+like women, these singular beings had but to press a knob or spring on
+a pillar standing before the house, and straightway a gentle breeze
+arose and carried them smoothly, and swiftly or slowly as they pleased,
+whithersoever they desired to go.
+
+"In this easy and pleasant manner they journeyed through the city and
+were received by all they met with the most friendly and affectionate
+greetings.  In every house they entered they were welcomed with frank
+cordiality, and at once, without ceremony or embarrassment, fell to
+assisting the host in any work at which he might chance to be engaged,
+or discussing any topic of interest that might occur to them.
+
+"After paying many of these visits and admiring the extraordinary
+richness and variety of architecture, furniture and utensils to be
+observed in every one of the dwellings of this happy and intelligent
+race, Mubarek said with some astonishment--
+
+"'In all this vast and incomparable city through which you have so long
+conducted me, one thing I observe to be lacking.  Among all this
+multitude of houses, every one of which is well worthy of being styled
+a palace, I have not seen, and you have not shown me, a single mosque,
+a single building that is,' he explained, 'dedicated to the service of
+Allah.'
+
+"'Truly,' said they, looking upon him with amazement, 'some of your
+remarks and questions are more surprising to us than anything we can
+say or show can appear to you.  Is it possible that any people can
+build any house that is not to be dedicated to the service of Allah,
+and if not, what can be the meaning or necessity of such a building as
+you allude to?'
+
+"'Have you, then,' asked Mubarek, 'no religion?'
+
+"'What is that?' said they; 'the word is new to us.'
+
+"'Do you not,' asked Mubarek, 'serve God?'
+
+"'Allah forbid that it should be otherwise,' said they.  'He has
+created us and placed us in this world, and what He wills we do.  We do
+not comprehend your meaning.'
+
+"Perceiving this to be indeed the case, Mubarek did not continue to
+speak of religion.  With these people to do what they conceived to be
+right was part of their life, and to do either less or more was to them
+incomprehensible.  Their life was their religion, their work was their
+prayer, and their enjoyment was their praise.
+
+"Mubarek and the fairy spent a very long period in visiting and viewing
+all the beauties and wonders of this strange world.  How long a period
+they had no means of estimating, since there light is perpetual as on
+one bright morning that never knows an end.
+
+"At length, not because they were tired, for weariness is there
+unknown, Mubarek determined again to return to the house that had been
+given him.  He desired to enter upon the regular performance and
+enjoyment of the duties of the new existence in this other world.  But
+they were told that first each might select a wife or partner of his
+labours and his pleasures.
+
+"For this purpose a great number of the women were assembled, each more
+lovely than the fairest woman man has ever seen, and all clad in such
+gauzelike glistening robes as would make the finest fabrics of this
+world look coarse and homely.
+
+"In this regard alone, however, are the men in that world stinted.
+Each has but one wife.  Mubarek found the difficulty great of choosing
+only one.  Yet, having made his choice, he soon became contented with
+his lot.  For in that bright world, where illness is unknown and labour
+never wearies, woman continues always gay and fresh and pleasant.  She
+talks as much perhaps as her sisters in less-favoured worlds, but never
+learns to scold or grumble or complain.
+
+"The fairy, however, or spirit of the air, who had brought Mubarek
+thither, would not accept a house or choose a wife or settle anywhere.
+A restless and inconstant being, it preferred to wander forth and view
+with never-sated curiosity the ever-varying marvels displayed by other
+worlds.
+
+"A long time passed, a time unmarked by any of the changes and small
+vicissitudes that we encounter here.  No night succeeding day, and
+bringing with it unconsciousness and rest.  No procession of the
+seasons--autumn, winter, spring; but one long summer, whose heat,
+instead of seeming oppressive or exhausting, appeared ever cool,
+refreshing, and exhilarating, filled with a stream of life, not
+fluctuating and intermitting, but constant and untiring.
+
+"Such then was the existence of Mubarek, till one day, happening to
+drop and dash in fragments a superb crystal vase which he himself had
+fashioned with much delightful labour as a present for his wife, the
+old fierce impatience of his native land and race caused him to break
+out into fearful imprecations.
+
+"At once, as though on the involuntary rupture of some mysterious spell
+or charm, he found himself, with a rapidity equal to that by which he
+had mounted to that distant world, transported back to this.  He was in
+his own body which he had left sleeping on the ground, and in the very
+spot at which he had left it sleeping.
+
+"At first he was so dazed and confused by the recollection of all that
+he had experienced that he scarce remembered where he was.  By and by
+becoming more composed, he recognized the danger of remaining in the
+grounds of the palace whose Queen he had stabbed, and making his way by
+paths as little frequented as he could find to the sea-coast, he beheld
+with joy a ship sailing at no great distance from the shore.  Making
+signals of distress, they put out a small boat and brought him on board.
+
+"The vessel chanced to be one bound for Bussora, whither in due time
+Mubarek arrived, and hastening to Bagdad, found his father, now an old
+man, and who had long mourned his death, still alive and overjoyed to
+again behold his son.
+
+"Bereydah abou Mubarek dying not long after his son's return, Mubarek
+succeeded to his father's fortune and his father's house, and lived
+quietly and happily in Bagdad during the remainder of his days."
+
+The story of Mubarek being ended, and the company having thanked Abu
+'Atahiyeh for having related it to them, the Caliph, in his character
+as host, addressed himself to Sidi ibn Thalabi.
+
+"Friend Sidi ibn Thalabi," he said, "none of the good company here
+present, excepting only ourselves, has heard the story of the barber
+and the camel's-hair brush; will you therefore do us the favour to tell
+it?"
+
+"Friend Hamad," replied Sidi ibn Thalabi, "there is, I am persuaded, no
+one so churlish as to refuse to do aught that he may be requested to
+do, with the object of amusing your guests at this hospitable and
+magnificent banquet."
+
+When Sidi ibn Thalabi had concluded the story of the barber and the
+camel's-hair brush, many of those present were as anxious as Haroun had
+been when he first heard it, to know what had become of the little
+brush, and whether Sidi ibn Thalabi had bought it of the barber.
+
+"No, gentlemen," said Sidi ibn Thalabi; "the barber altogether refused
+to sell the brush on any terms, or at any price, and declared that he
+would never part with it unless the Caliph himself, seated upon his
+throne and arrayed in his royal robes, demanded it of him."
+
+While Sidi ibn Thalabi was concluding his tale, the Caliph had observed
+that one of the black slaves in attendance was showing all the teeth he
+possessed--and a very sound white set they were--in a capacious grin of
+enjoyment of the circumstances that were being narrated.  Therefore,
+taking the little brush, and moistening it in a vase of water that
+stood near, he handed it to Giafer, and bid him in a whisper apply it
+to the top of the fellow's spine.
+
+Giafer, rising as though to leave the room, stole behind the black
+without being noticed by him, so absorbed was he in what was being
+said.  Quickly passing the brush down the back of the neck, the
+African, in his attitude of rapt attention, and with his wide grin of
+unfeigned delight, became at once fixed and unchanging, as though he
+were an image in black marble.
+
+Then Haroun, turning to Sidi ibn Thalabi, said: "There is one man at
+least whom you have delighted; behold the power of the brush!"
+
+"What!" exclaimed Sidi ibn Thalabi, "is the barber present?"
+
+"The barber is not present," said Haroun, "but only the brush."
+
+As he said these words, Giafer, with a low bow, placed the brush again
+in his hands.
+
+"Allah, be merciful to us!" exclaimed the astonished Sidi ibn Thalabi.
+"Why, it can be no other than the Caliph himself!"
+
+"It is no other," said Haroun, "yet fear nothing; I have forgiven you
+any pranks in which you may have indulged in my name, but would have
+you discontinue them henceforth; therefore I appoint you Governor of
+Syria; the dawn will soon appear, start for your province in the
+morning."
+
+Sidi ibn Thalabi having thanked his Majesty for his gracious and
+generous gifts, Haroun, turning to Murad Essed, the Unfortunate
+Merchant, said:
+
+"This house, once your own, and all it contains, I give to you, and my
+treasurer shall to-morrow bring you ten thousand dinars, with which you
+may recommence to trade; may you be in the future more cautious and
+more lucky."
+
+The guests then departed, and the entertainment of Hamad the Merchant
+was at an end.
+
+
+
+
+The Caliph and the Magic Tube.
+
+One day, as Haroun Alraschid sat in one of the apartments of his
+palace, which overlooked a great public square of the city, he observed
+a large crowd of people surrounding a man, who, sometimes looking
+through a small tube he held in his hand, and sometimes addressing the
+throngs around him, seemed to attract in a high degree their interest
+and attention.
+
+After watching this scene for some little time, the Caliph became
+curious to learn what the properties or merits of the tube might be,
+and sent therefore to fetch the man into the palace.  When he entered,
+Haroun saw that he was a fine young man, whose countenance bore a
+pleasing expression, while his dress, by its foreign and unusual
+character, plainly proclaimed him to be a traveller.
+
+The Caliph demanding of him what might be the peculiarity of that tube
+which he had seen him exhibiting to the people, the man replied:
+
+"This tube which I hold in my hand, although it is in appearance a very
+common, ordinary tube, possesses, in fact, powers so wonderful, that I
+doubt not but that your Majesty will be greatly astonished as I exhibit
+them to you.
+
+"Having rendered an important service to a powerful Magician with whom
+I became acquainted while I was in India, he presented me with this
+tube, and initiated me into the proper manner of using it.  By
+adjusting it in a particular way, the details of which I am not
+permitted to divulge to any one, I am enabled, on looking through the
+tube, to observe what is taking place either in distant parts of the
+world or even future events which shall take place in remote kingdoms
+after the lapse of many ages."
+
+"Almirvan," said the Caliph--"for such is, I am told, your name--if
+your magical tube can disclose the distant scenes you speak of, it will
+interest me much, and you may expect with full confidence an adequate
+reward.  But if your tube be in truth but a mystification for the
+vulgar, under cover of which you palm off the monstrous and incredible
+fictions of your imagination, why, you had better confess to me the
+truth at once, and depart, because, should I discover later that it is
+so, I will cause your tube to be broken and your head to be removed
+from your shoulders."
+
+"Sire," replied Almirvan, "of the truth of that which my magic tube
+discloses to me I am fully persuaded, and am very willing to relate to
+your Majesty plainly, and without addition or concealment, whatever I
+may observe when I look through the tube.  And first I must ask your
+Majesty to say whether the scene I am to witness is to be distant in
+space only, or also in time."
+
+"Almirvan," said the Caliph, "I have already heard so much from the
+lips of so many travellers concerning the manners and customs of other,
+and even distant, countries, that your magic tube will probably have
+little that is new to inform me about them.  Therefore, look far into
+the future, and tell me what you see; but once more I warn you to be
+careful that you add nothing for the purpose of astonishing.  I am
+tired of hearing of men who walk with their heads under their arms--of
+men as tall as trees, or short as pigmies, or other such like
+travellers' monstrous stories."
+
+The traveller, after muttering certain words of prayer or incantation,
+gazed for some time steadfastly through the tube, and then, as though
+describing slowly and with difficulty a scene upon which he was
+looking, he said--
+
+"I see distant, far distant, by reason of the countless leagues and
+many centuries that intervene, a strange and populous country.  The
+land is bright and pleasant, and verdant everywhere, for water is
+abundant; the white cliffs upon the frontier glisten in the water, the
+land is an island of the sea.  The inhabitants are unbelievers
+evidently, and rude and barbarous, for their women go about with naked
+faces, and every man that passes may gaze upon the best of them.  The
+dress of all, both men and women, is strange and hideous, and one looks
+in vain for the well-folded turban, or the decent modest yashmak.
+
+"This odd people have horses, and very good ones, but seldom ride them;
+because for the most part they have machines like chariots, made with
+wheels and of many various shapes; and in these they sit, and cause the
+horses to draw them.
+
+"But stranger than all this, they have a creature of amazing strength
+and huge size, which, though larger than an elephant, is swifter than a
+bird.  On the back of this terrible creature, which is thirty or forty
+feet long, and whose stomach is like a fiery furnace, two or three men
+will stand without fear, even when it is running at its utmost speed.
+Most remarkable of all, they feed the creature from behind."
+
+"What!" exclaimed the Caliph, "is this your travellers' tale?"
+
+"Sire," said Almirvan, "it is truly wonderful, but I describe to you
+that only which I behold.  At the back of the creature there plainly
+appears to be an opening, leading into its fiery stomach, and therein
+the men upon its back do place the food of the creature, which appears
+to consist of great blocks of black marble."
+
+"Oh, Almirvan, unhappy traveller! what hast thou done that thou
+shouldest be tired of thy life?" said the Caliph.  "What wouldest thou
+have me believe--that in the farthest islands of the sea, or in
+remotest ages yet to come, this monster of thine, huger than an
+elephant, fleeter than a bird, and swallowing great pieces of stone
+from behind, can by any possibility exist?"
+
+"Your Majesty," answered Almirvan, "the people must without doubt be
+very skilful magicians.  But most assuredly I affirm that I see them
+through this tube, doing not only all that I have related to you, but
+harnessing the creature to long strings of immense chariots, and
+causing it to convey in this way both themselves and their merchandize
+from place to place."
+
+"At what speed didst thou say that the creature goes?" asked the Caliph.
+
+"It goes with the speed of the wind," answered Almirvan.
+
+"And therefore the people and their heavy merchandize go also with the
+speed of the wind?  Is this your truthful tale?  Why, every lie
+outstrips its predecessor."
+
+"Your Majesty," said Almirvan, "I say but what I see."
+
+"Almirvan," said the Caliph, "what further dost thou see?"
+
+"I see," replied Almirvan, looking again through the magic tube, "many
+great and marvellous works erected in all parts of their country by
+this indefatigable and patient people.  Many bridges spanning every
+stream, and others crossing even arms of the sea, and that at such a
+height that the largest ships can pass full sail beneath them.  Great
+cities stud the land like jewels on the scabbard of the Caliph's
+scimitar.  Fine palaces and noble mosques, or buildings of that
+character, abound, but most singular and beautiful of all is a palace
+formed entirely of crystal, which stands amid gardens adorned with
+fountains, and every facet of whose transparent walls glistens in the
+sun.  But another circumstance that much attracts my notice is that all
+the country is covered with a marvellous network, like a gigantic
+spider's web, composed of fine metallic thread.  By this means and by
+the aid of some incomprehensible magic the people communicate with each
+other with lightning-like rapidity, and no matter how great the
+distance that may separate them.  But, indeed, this is less surprising
+than another contrivance that they have, by means of which two men as
+far apart as Bussora from Bagdad converse at their ease and by word of
+mouth, each evidently hearing the very voice and words of the other."
+
+When the Caliph heard this statement, so astounding, so audacious, he
+was filled with rage.
+
+"What!" he exclaimed, "can your magic tube, when it pretends to show us
+future times and other nations, invent no more probable and coherent
+wonders?  What breath shall these men have, and what chests and throats
+must they be, if one man standing in Bagdad shall make another at
+Bussora hear him?"
+
+"Take from him," said the Caliph to an officer in attendance, "his
+magic tube and break it in pieces.  As for the fellow himself, let him
+be carried three times through the streets of the city mounted upon a
+camel and seated with his face to the tail, and let this proclamation
+be made by the criers: 'Thus shall it fare with the man who invents
+lying tales and wonders, deceiving the people and pretending to magical
+power which he does not possess.'  After he has been carried three
+times round the city in this manner, let him be scourged and beheaded
+as a warning to others."
+
+Thus perished miserably Almirvan, the owner of the magic tube.  But
+whether he lied more than other men, and whether his punishment has
+effectually deterred others from following his pernicious example, we
+will not attempt to determine.
+
+
+FINIS.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tales of the Caliph, by H. N. Crellin
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tales of the Caliph, by H. N. Crellin
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Tales of the Caliph
+
+Author: H. N. Crellin
+
+Release Date: August 6, 2007 [EBook #22258]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES OF THE CALIPH ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Al Haines
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+TALES OF THE CALIPH
+
+
+BY
+
+H. N. CRELLIN
+
+
+
+AUTHOR OF
+
+'ROMANCES OF THE OLD SERAGLIO,' 'THE NAZARENES,' ETC.
+
+
+
+
+A NEW EDITION
+
+
+London
+
+CHATTO & WINDUS, PICCADILLY
+
+1895
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+THE CALIPH AND THE PIRATES
+  The Arab Merchant's Story
+
+THE CALIPH AND THE BLIND FISHERMAN
+  The History of the Blind Fisherman and his Brother
+
+THE CALIPH AND ABDURRAHMAN
+  Abdurrahman's Story
+
+THE CALIPH AND THE FIRST JAR OF OINTMENT
+  First Adventure: The Caliph and the Emir
+
+THE CALIPH AND THE FIRST JAR OF OINTMENT
+  Second Adventure: The Caliph and Abou Hassan
+  The Story of Murad Essed, the Unfortunate Merchant
+  The Story of Abou Hassan, the Fortunate Merchant
+
+THE CALIPH AND THE SECOND JAR OF OINTMENT
+  The Story of Hunoman
+
+THE CALIPH AND THE SLAVE MERCHANTS
+  The Narrative of Sidi ibn Thalabi
+  The Barber's Story
+
+THE CALIPH AND SIDI IBN THALABI--THE BANQUET
+  The Story of Mubarek, as told by Abu 'Atahiyeh
+
+THE CALIPH AND THE MAGIC TUBE
+
+
+
+
+TALES OF THE CALIPH.
+
+
+That stories such as those in the "Arabian Nights," and fairy tales of
+every kind, should delight us all, men and women no less than boys and
+girls, is very natural.  We find it charming to escape for a period,
+however brief, from all the familiar surroundings of modern life, and
+on opening a volume to pass at once into another region, where all is
+strange, and where the sceptical glances of science never intrude to
+banish magic and the supernatural.
+
+Emboldened by these reflections, we may forthwith commence the
+narration of certain noteworthy occurrences concerning the celebrated
+Caliph Haroun Alraschid.  He was in the habit, as every one knows, of
+wandering very frequently through the town after nightfall in various
+disguises to see for himself that justice was done, and also, it may be
+confessed, by no means loth to encounter such adventures as he might
+meet with.  Many of these have been already related, but others, no
+whit less interesting and extraordinary, remain still untold.
+
+Some of these adventures were very diverting and naturally pleasing,
+but others involved so many dangers and such hardships that it is
+indeed surprising that the Caliph should ever again have ventured on
+these nocturnal ramblings.
+
+An adventure of the latter and more serious description happened as
+follows, and may be entitled:
+
+
+The Caliph and the Pirates.
+
+The Caliph, being on a tour of inspection through the various provinces
+of his empire, chanced on a certain occasion to be stopping at Bussora.
+And one evening, disguised, as was his wont, as a merchant, and, as
+usual, accompanied only by his faithful Grand Vizier, Giafer, he
+strolled through the bazaars silent and observant.  Meeting with
+nothing worthy of arresting his particular attention, he wandered on
+until he came at length to some very narrow and mean lanes near the
+waterside.  In one of these, and when passing the door of a low
+caravanserai, or public-house, frequented chiefly by sailors, they
+noticed some men approaching, who were carrying great sacks quite full,
+and so heavy that each sack was carried by two men, who, on reaching
+the door of the caravanserai, entered.  The Caliph, tired with his
+ramble, and curious to learn what might be in the sacks, beckoned to
+Giafer and followed the men into the caravanserai.  The interior was so
+dark, being lit only by a few small oil lamps, that it was at first
+difficult to distinguish objects clearly.  However, their eyes having
+become accustomed to the gloom after a few minutes, the Caliph and his
+Vizier, who had entered quietly and unobserved, and had seated
+themselves on a low sofa or divan which ran round the sides of the
+apartment, perceived that the company were all rough, seafaring men of
+a very fierce and truculent aspect.  Among them one was seated, who
+appeared by his dress and demeanour to be the chief or captain of the
+band.  This man, addressing those who had brought in the sacks, asked
+them what they had there.  To which they replied, "Things from Abbas
+Bey."  At this answer the Caliph's interest increased, inasmuch as
+Abbas Bey was a palace official; and because many things had lately
+been stolen from the palace, but although many suspected persons had
+been punished and dismissed, yet the thefts had not been certainly
+traced to any one.  These great sacks contained, therefore, without
+doubt, all kinds of valuable property from the palace, and Abbas Bey
+was the traitor who had delivered it to the thieves.  The anger of the
+Caliph, who was a man prone to the fiercest bursts of passion, could
+scarcely be restrained.  Nevertheless, he managed to preserve silence
+and a calm demeanour, the more especially since he desired to learn
+what would next be done.  He had not long to wait, for, some wine
+having been given to the men who brought the sacks, the captain ordered
+them to go at once on board, as he should set sail that very night.
+The Caliph hearing this, whispered to Giafer that he should go out with
+the men as they left with the sacks, and that he should instantly
+proceed to the nearest guard-house and fetch a company of soldiers,
+with whom he should surround the house and take all within prisoners.
+Giafer, doing as he was bid, left the house with the men as they came
+out again with the sacks, and hastened to fetch the guard as the Caliph
+had ordered.
+
+Unluckily, it happened that the captain of the pirates--for such they
+were--being more alert and observant than his men, had noticed the
+presence of the two strangers, and had remarked the Caliph whisper to
+his companion, and the departure of the latter.  Instantly divining
+that their proceedings had been discovered, and that the man who went
+out had gone to betray them to the authorities, the captain whispered
+an order to the two or three who sat nearest to him, and immediately
+they rose, fell upon the Caliph, gagged and bound him; and all so
+suddenly and swiftly that he had no time to offer any kind of
+resistance.  Then the captain, commanding his men to bring their
+prisoner in the midst of them, proceeded at once to their vessel, which
+lay at no great distance.  The night was dark, and that band of
+well-armed, resolute men could not easily have been overpowered, even
+had there been any to attempt such a thing.  But, in fact, they met no
+one on their short journey from the caravanserai to the waterside.  In
+a few minutes, therefore, after the departure of the trusty Giafer, the
+Caliph found himself lying bound and helpless on board a ship, which at
+once set sail and carried him he knew not whither.
+
+The next day one of the crew came and removed the cloth they had tied
+over his mouth to gag him, and brought him some food.  Then the unhappy
+Caliph declared to the man who he was, and demanded that the captain
+should be brought before him.  But the fellow only laughed, and going
+afterwards to the captain, said: "The merchant you have taken has lost
+his wits, and he proclaims himself to be the Commander of the Faithful,
+and says that we are but his slaves."  The captain laughed heartily and
+said, "Nevertheless, he is stout and strong, and may be sold for a fair
+price when we come to the port we are bound for."
+
+Leaving the Caliph to proceed on the voyage he had begun so
+unwillingly, we must return to the Grand Vizier, who, as soon as he
+found himself outside the caravanserai, had hastened to the nearest
+guard-house, and, calling the captain of the guard, had ordered him to
+assemble his men and accompany him immediately.
+
+When he got back to the caravanserai he posted his men so that none of
+the inmates should escape, and then, entering with the captain and ten
+soldiers, was aghast to find the place empty.  At once he hastened with
+his whole force to the waterside; but too late!  Nothing could be seen
+of the pirate ship, which was already lost in the darkness.
+
+Fortunately the Vizier, always a reticent and prudent man, had not
+mentioned the Caliph, and he now ordered the company to return to their
+guard-house, merely remarking that the robbers had for this time
+escaped him.
+
+Returning to the palace, he was for some time lost in doubt as to the
+best course for him to pursue under the circumstances.  That the Caliph
+should escape from the clutches of the desperate gang who had carried
+him off seemed little likely.  And yet so many and such strange
+adventures had been experienced by them both, and they had found their
+way out of so many dangerous scrapes into which the Caliph's curiosity
+and daring had involved them, that no good fortune seemed impossible.
+
+Moreover, he reflected that Haroun had at this time no son old enough
+to succeed him, while Ibrahim, his half-brother, and next heir
+according to Moslim usage, was the Vizier's declared enemy.  His
+accession to the throne would therefore mean infallibly the destruction
+of the Vizier and his whole family.
+
+He resolved, after much consideration, to take the boldest course as
+being really the safest, as indeed it frequently is.
+
+Taking with him a small escort, he left Bussora at daybreak, and
+proceeded as fast as the horses would carry them to Bagdad.  On his
+arrival he wrote immediately a note to Zobeideh, Haroun's favourite
+wife; told her that the Caliph, while engaged in one of his usual
+nocturnal rambles, had temporarily disappeared, and suggested, in the
+interest of herself and her son, that she should give out that, being
+indisposed, the Caliph had retired for a short time to one of his
+palaces in the provinces, and had confided the government meanwhile
+into the hands of his old and trusty Vizier.  In this way, and with the
+connivance of Zobeideh, the astute Giafer managed to retain without
+question the government of the country during the absence of the Caliph.
+
+
+To return to the Caliph.  For three days the pirate ship pursued her
+course in fair weather, and without incident.  On the fourth day she
+sighted a merchantman, to whom she gave chase.  But the captain of the
+merchantman, seeing his danger, crowded on every stitch of canvas he
+possessed, and having a fair wind, and an uncommonly fast ship, he kept
+so far ahead that, the sun going down, the pirate lost sight of him,
+and he escaped.
+
+This chase had carried the pirates far out of their course, and on the
+next day a great storm arose, and they were obliged to shorten sail and
+run before the wind.  At length one huge wave which broke over the
+ship, having swept no less than eight of the crew overboard, the
+captain, who found himself short-handed, gave orders that the prisoner
+should be released, that he might do his part in the endeavour to save
+the ship and all their lives.  The ship having sprung a leak--or,
+indeed, more probably several, for the water poured in upon them
+apace--the crew, including the Caliph himself, became exhausted with
+continuous pumping, and the captain, therefore, descrying a coast-line,
+determined to run the ship boldly ashore, in the hope that some of them
+at least might be saved.  And in fact, although the ship when she
+touched the beach was stove in and broken up by the force of the waves,
+yet the Caliph, the captain, and three of his men were washed ashore,
+and lay on the beach in a very faint and exhausted condition.
+
+Here they were found by certain natives of that region, who gave them
+food and drink to revive them.  Then, without either binding or in any
+way ill-treating them, they conducted them along a broad and level road
+which ran inland towards the capital of the country.
+
+In about an hour's time, being all wearied and thirsty, the sun being
+now very fierce, they descried with great pleasure a village at no
+great distance, which was very pleasantly situated at the foot of a
+steep hill, in the shadow of which it lay, embowered in a profusion of
+palms and date-trees.  Here the villagers were scattered in groups,
+feasting and merry-making, it being a festival held in honour of some
+local magnate, whose daughter had that day been married.  The villagers
+received their fellow-countrymen, as also the Caliph and the pirates,
+with every demonstration of good-will, bringing them fresh milk to
+drink, and bread, made of a mixture of rye and oats, with plenty of
+dates, to eat.
+
+Here the whole party rested for some hours, but when their conductors
+wished again to resume their journey, the three pirates flatly refused
+to depart, saying that they were well off where they were, and would go
+no further--at least for that day.  It was intimated to them that the
+king of that country would suffer no stranger to dwell there unless he
+had first seen him and granted his permission.  However, all was in
+vain; they no longer regarded the authority of their captain, and,
+being three men to one, he could not compel them to obey.  Leaving
+them, therefore, the Caliph and the captain set out again, hoping
+before nightfall to reach the town where the king, who had already been
+informed of their arrival, was expecting them.
+
+For some distance their road lay through a pleasant and well-cultivated
+country, dotted at intervals by hamlets and scattered cottages, which
+were surrounded by groves of orange-trees or clumps of dates and palms.
+At length, as they advanced, the ground became broken and hilly, the
+road was steep, and far in the distance they saw, on a great plateau or
+table-land, the sparkling domes and minarets of a majestic city.
+
+The sun was already low as they drew near to the city, and they were
+congratulating themselves on being able to enter the town before the
+darkness should be upon them, when suddenly they came to the edge of a
+vast and precipitous abyss, which completely severed the country they
+had been traversing from the heights on which the city had been built.
+The road they could see continued its course on the other side, but,
+spanning the dizzy chasm, the only bridge was the trunk of a gigantic
+tree, which lay stretched across it.  Without hesitation or difficulty
+the natives of the country passed over, trusting themselves without
+apparent concern to walk at that tremendous height along the rough
+surface of the primitive bridge, which afforded so uncertain and
+precarious a foothold.  The captain, having the nerves and nimbleness
+of a sailor, followed them fearlessly and safely.  But for the Caliph
+the adventure was extremely perilous.  However, seeing the others
+cross, with his wonted intrepidity and hardihood he ventured to follow
+them.  But on reaching the middle of the narrow and uneven footway, and
+looking down into the tremendous depths below, becoming giddy he
+threatened to fall headlong, and only by a strong effort of the
+resolute will that distinguished him, and steadying himself by looking
+earnestly at a fixed spot in front of him, he succeeded in reaching the
+other side in safety.
+
+Shortly after passing over this dangerous bridge they began to find
+themselves in the suburbs of the city.  On either side the road there
+were fine houses situated in beautiful gardens, and they had not
+proceeded far before a guard met them, sent by Selim Sadek, the king.
+
+Selim was very desirous to see and speak with the two brave men who
+unaided had crossed the tree-bridge in safety--a feat no stranger
+previously had succeeded in accomplishing.
+
+When they reached the palace--which was a noble and imposing pile of
+buildings, situated on a steep hill, and overlooking not only the city,
+but extensive plains and lakes stretching away as far as the eye could
+see--they were shown into apartments where baths and food were prepared
+for them.  After bathing and enjoying an excellent repast, they retired
+to rest, being greatly fatigued with their journey.
+
+The Grand Chamberlain, after he had seen that the king's orders had
+been duly carried out, and that the strangers had been properly
+received and lodged, hastened to report to his master what had been
+done.  Selim, on receiving his report, inquired what his guests were
+like.  The Chamberlain replied, "Both of them, your Majesty, are fine,
+well-built men; and both are exceptionally brave, as their bearing,
+when they came to the bridge, amply proved; but in all other respects
+they are very unlike.  The one is but a rough fellow, probably a sea
+captain, who stared about him in astonishment when he came into the
+halls of your palace, although they are by no means the best.  We
+noticed, also, that he eyed the plate, although it was but silver, not
+only with admiration, but somewhat greedily, as though he would, if
+opportunity had offered, have gladly seized and gone off with it.  The
+other stranger, on the contrary, seemed to view the magnificence of the
+palace with the greatest indifference, and took everything, even to the
+attendance of the attendants and great officers, so much as a matter of
+course, that I feel persuaded," said the Chamberlain, "that he must be
+a very great personage, perhaps even a king, in his own country."
+
+This account of the strangers given by his Grand Chamberlain inflamed
+the curiosity of Selim to the highest degree, and the next morning
+early he seated himself on his throne in the great audience-chamber of
+his palace, and commanded that the two strangers should be brought
+before him.
+
+When they were come he inquired who they were, and where they were
+going when they encountered the storm that had wrecked their vessel.
+To this the Caliph, who in the new robes that had been supplied them
+looked a man of great dignity and good breeding, replied by announcing
+that he was the Caliph Haroun Alraschid, and relating all that had
+occurred from the time he entered the caravanserai at Bussora until the
+time when the pirate ship was wrecked.
+
+When King Selim heard that the man before him was the renowned Caliph
+Haroun Alraschid, whose fame had spread throughout all the world, he,
+being a good Moslim, came down off his high throne, and, making
+obeisance to the Commander of the Faithful--"Sire," said he, "a happy
+day is this for your servant that he should be privileged to see your
+face or to do aught for your illustrious Majesty.  And first, say by
+what death does it please you that this vile pirate and traitor shall
+die?"
+
+The captain, who from conversations he had held with the Caliph during
+their journey since the wreck had become convinced of the true position
+and rank of his captive, stood silent with bowed head awaiting his
+sentence.
+
+King Selim having led Haroun Alraschid up the steps of the throne and
+seated him upon it, would himself have stood upon the steps, but the
+Caliph bade him come up and be seated by his side.
+
+Then, looking towards the captain of the pirates, who had already been
+seized by the king's officers, he said, "Although this man has
+committed that which is very worthy of death, yet because God, the most
+Merciful, has spared him in the tempest and the wreck, I also will
+spare him this once; therefore give him a hundred pieces of gold that
+he may not be tempted by poverty further to do wrong, and let him go."
+
+When this magnanimous sentence had been pronounced, the pirate captain
+laid his hand upon his beard and, bowing his head, said to the Caliph,
+"O Commander of the Faithful, and you, King Selim, if from this time
+forth I rob any more, I shall deserve mercy from neither God nor man."
+
+Then said King Selim: "Since the Commander of the Faithful has pardoned
+thee, and that thou mayest not further be tempted, I enrol thee, as
+thou art a brave man, among the officers of my guard."
+
+Therefore they invested him with the robes of his office and gave him a
+hundred pieces of gold as the Caliph had commanded, and thenceforth he
+became one of the bravest and most trustworthy officers of King Selim.
+
+On the next day the Caliph inquired of the king respecting the three
+men who had remained behind at the village festival.  But Selim
+informed him that they had a law in that country prohibiting any
+stranger from dwelling with the people of the land until the king had
+granted his permission.  Therefore, when the men had been found by the
+officials of government living at that village without having first
+obtained leave and authority so to do, they would be led immediately to
+execution.
+
+"Then," said the Caliph, "by this wholesome law your people are
+protected from the evil influence of villains, and in this case we are
+rid of three men who were not only thieves and pirates, but lazy,
+worthless, and mutinous fellows, who refused to obey and follow even
+their own captain.  The action of your law has but forestalled what
+would have been my own sentence upon them."
+
+The Caliph remained a whole month with King Selim, accompanying him on
+grand hunting expeditions, and being entertained with all the
+magnificent and varied pleasures the royal court could devise.
+
+At the end of that period he had intended to have set out on his return
+to Bagdad.  But just at that moment a messenger arrived from a
+neighbouring king with a very insolent message for Selim and a
+declaration of war.  This king, whose name was Gorkol, had asked the
+daughter of Selim in marriage for his son.  But King Selim, being a
+good Moslim, had refused to give his daughter in marriage to the son of
+a heathen, and one, moreover, who was reported to be proficient in the
+vilest arts of magic.  Hence the declaration of war.  The Caliph, being
+naturally of a very fierce and hasty temper, resented hotly this insult
+to his host.  He therefore announced his intention to accompany the
+latter, who gathered together an army to chastise the insolent heathen.
+
+The military display as the Caliph and the king left the capital was
+most imposing.  The army consisted of twenty thousand men, half of whom
+were infantry and half cavalry.  There were also elephants and camels
+with stores, and a great multitude of camp-followers.
+
+For five days they marched through Selim's dominions, and on the sixth
+day entered the territory of King Gorkol.  The frontier was marked by a
+range of hills, and the passage of so large a force over these was a
+toilsome and tedious operation.  The Caliph and king had each a large
+tent for his own use, and a small army of officers and attendants to
+wait on him.
+
+On the night of the seventh day, after a very exhausting march over
+difficult ground, the army encamped in a spacious valley into which
+they had descended just as night was approaching.
+
+Whether the enemy managed to get at them unobserved, being stealthy and
+knowing every feature of the country, or whether the sentinels, being
+weary, slept at their post, is uncertain, but suddenly before daybreak
+the great army was awakened by shouts and blows to find the foe was
+upon them.  In the darkness and the excitement of the moment all was
+confusion.  Different parties of the royal troops starting hurriedly to
+arms, wildly attacked each other.  The strife being furious and
+hand-to-hand was terrific and deadly; and when daylight appeared the
+enemy, pressing boldly forward to the centre of the camp, overcame all
+the resistance of which the thinned and disorganized army was capable,
+and captured both the king and the Caliph.
+
+The two princes were carried with every mark of indignity into the
+presence of the heathen monarch, who, insulting them with references to
+their defeat, demanded of them that they should abandon the Moslem
+faith and worship the idols of the gods of his people, who had, he
+said, given his troops the victory.
+
+But the Caliph answered that although Allah, whose name be praised, had
+permitted them to be worsted in the confusion of a night attack, yet
+they still trusted in him, and they would never vary in the least
+degree from the glorious words of the Prophet: "Allah is God, and there
+is no God but Allah."
+
+Hearing this, King Gorkol ordered them to be confined separately in two
+dungeons of his castle, there to remain until a great festival of the
+gods which was approaching should arrive, when he would sacrifice them
+both to the gods whom they had dared to despise.  Locked in the gloomy
+vaults, and seeing no one but the jailer who once a day brought them
+the scanty and hard fare necessary to keep them alive till the day of
+vengeance should come, their position seemed altogether desperate and
+their fate assured.
+
+But in the case of King Selim he had, unknown to his captors and
+concealed in the folds of his turban, a ruby of great size and of
+immense value.  With this he hoped to be able to bribe his jailer and
+effect his escape.  And in fact so well did he manage that before a
+week was passed he was travelling homewards in the disguise of a
+merchant, accompanied by the jailer, who dared not remain in his own
+country in possession of the ruby because, according to the custom
+prevailing in that kingdom, all precious stones must be surrendered to
+the king under penalty of death by torture.  He therefore fled with
+Selim, disguised as his slave.
+
+The king had made great efforts to induce the jailer to effect the
+release of the Caliph at the same time as himself, but as Haroun
+Alraschid was in charge of another jailer, it could not be managed.
+Selim was obliged therefore, to his great grief, to leave the Caliph to
+his fate; but he hurried back to his own dominions with the utmost
+speed, determined to at once return with another army to avenge the
+death of the Caliph, whose life he could not hope to arrive in time to
+save.
+
+The Caliph, having about him neither jewels nor money, had no means of
+propitiating his jailer or abating the rigour and severity of the
+treatment to which he was subjected.  Once a day only, early in the
+morning, the jailer appeared, and, without opening the great heavy door
+of the dungeon, he opened one panel only, and through that opening
+handed to his prisoner the two small loaves, or rather, flat cakes, and
+the flask of water which must supply his wants till the following
+morning.
+
+Five days had thus passed, and there seemed no possibility of the
+Caliph escaping the painful and humiliating death to which he was
+destined by the heathen king.  The festival to be held in honour of the
+gods of the country was approaching, and two days hence the people, who
+were already becoming greatly excited, both by religious fury and also
+by drinking great quantities of a strong and fiery spirit which they
+distilled, were to be gratified by the sight of the sacrifice by
+horrible tortures of their unfortunate prisoners.
+
+Just before daybreak on the sixth day, the same morning on which Selim
+and his jailer were effecting their escape, the Caliph awoke, and
+thoughts of the frightful situation in which he found himself prevented
+him from again falling asleep.  In great distress of mind he prayed
+earnestly to God that strength might be given him to enable him to
+sustain with firmness and fortitude the pains he might be called upon
+to endure.  After which prayer he felt calmer and more composed.
+Presently, being very hungry, he tried in the dim light to find a small
+piece of bread which he had not yet eaten.  He had placed it on a
+narrow ledge near to the place where he slept, but in the darkness he
+pushed it with his hand before he had grasped it, and it fell upon the
+floor.  Groping about to find it, his hand came suddenly upon something
+which felt soft and cool--an object apparently about the size and shape
+of a hen's egg, yet not hard like an egg-shell, but elastic and
+yielding readily to the pressure of the fingers.  What it was the sense
+of touch did not enable him to guess, and as yet the light was
+insufficient to permit him to distinguish anything clearly.  And,
+marvellous to relate, as the light increased, although all the objects
+around him became visible, yet this something which he had felt, and
+which he still felt to be grasped in his hand, was nevertheless not to
+be seen.  This circumstance surprised the Caliph very much, and he sat
+cross-legged on the straw which had been placed in the corner of the
+dungeon for him to sleep on, just as he had been used to do on the
+splendid divan in his palace, still grasping the unknown object in his
+hand, and yet still unable to see what it was.  After he had sat thus
+for some time cogitating what this might mean, the hour came round when
+the jailer should come and bring him his food for the day.
+
+Now it so happened that the Caliph's jailer when bringing his food had
+to pass the dungeon in which Selim had been confined.  This morning as
+he passed he was amazed to observe that the door was unfastened, and,
+looking in, he perceived that the vault was empty.  Fearful that his
+prisoner might likewise have effected his escape, he hurriedly set down
+the food and ran on to the dungeon containing the Caliph.
+
+The latter was surprised to hear his jailer running rapidly along the
+passage, and still more surprised when the man, after looking through
+the panel, withdrew the huge bolts and, opening the door, came into the
+great gloomy vault, looking excitedly about him.  Then after a few
+moments, apparently bewildered and terror-struck, he turned about, went
+out, closed the door behind him, and, without waiting to replace the
+bolts, walked quickly along the passage and disappeared.
+
+The Caliph, although unable to guess to what he owed his good fortune,
+did not neglect to avail himself of it.  Pushing open the door, and
+stopping to close it and bolt it behind him, he walked down the
+corridor without knowing where and to what it might lead him.  This
+passage or corridor seemed at first sight to terminate with a dead wall
+at the end of it.  But, proceeding further along it, he presently
+perceived a side-passage turning out of it at right angles, and this
+smaller passage, which was short, terminated in a flight of steps
+leading evidently into the castle-yard.  The door at the top of the
+steps was partly open, and when he reached it the Caliph could hear and
+catch glimpses of a group of soldiers standing and chatting together
+not far from the doorway.  He stood for some moments uncertain what he
+should do.  If he opened the door and went out, doubtless he would
+immediately be seized; on the other hand, to stay where he was meant no
+less certain destruction, as at any moment some one might enter and
+find him there.  He had just determined to step out boldly and risk
+detection, in the hope that in the bustle of the castle-yard his exit
+might pass unnoticed, when a gust of wind blew the door wide open, and
+he stood face to face, not ten paces distant, with that group of
+soldiers he had heard conversing.
+
+For a moment he stood horror-struck, expecting to see them rush forward
+and secure him.  To his extreme surprise, none of them, not even those
+facing him, took the slightest notice of his presence.  They appeared
+not even to see him, but perhaps they took him for one of the
+innumerable retainers of the Court; at any rate, the Caliph, plucking
+up courage, stepped out and walked quietly away.
+
+As he was crossing the courtyard, a great mounted warrior on a powerful
+black steed came pounding along, and would apparently have ridden right
+over the Caliph just as though he was unaware of his existence, but
+Haroun drew quickly aside, and the horse shied, thereby drawing upon
+itself many hard blows from the fierce and haughty rider.
+
+Passing out of the castle-gates, and turning eastward, as he judged, by
+the position of the sun, the Caliph proceeded in the direction which
+would enable him, he hoped, in due time, to reach his own country.  He
+had not gone far when he met a rough country fellow who carried a long
+piece of wood on his shoulder, and Haroun would have been struck full
+in the face with it had he not stepped quickly on one side to avoid it.
+But the man, although he passed close by him, neither looked at nor
+spoke to him, and seemed altogether unconscious of his presence.
+
+It now first dawned upon the Caliph that the strange and invisible
+substance which he had picked up in the dungeon, and which he still
+carried in his hand, possessed indeed the marvellous property of
+rendering him entirely invisible to other men.  This accounted for the
+remarkable panic of his jailer, who, when he looked into, and even
+entered his dungeon, failed to see him; it explained why the soldiers
+had permitted him to leave the building unmolested, why the horseman
+had nearly ridden over him, and why the clown who had just passed had,
+without knowing it, nearly brained him with his load.
+
+Much comforted and strengthened by the discovery of this wonderful
+exemption from observation which he now enjoyed, he walked on briskly,
+till the sun, being now high in the heavens, and the heat very great,
+he came to a village, and entering boldly an inn there, and passing
+through into an empty apartment, he lay down upon a not very soft divan
+he found in it, and straightway fell asleep.
+
+The Caliph being tired with the walk and the excitement of the morning,
+slept so long and soundly that it was night and quite dark when he
+awoke.  And being even then but half awake he did not realize that he
+was no longer in the castle-dungeon; therefore, perceiving that it was
+not yet light, he turned over and went to sleep again.  In a few hours'
+time, in the midst of a dream that he was in his own palace at Bagdad
+and presiding at some great feast, he awoke once more, saw that it was
+beginning to be light, remembered where he was, and found himself
+exceedingly hungry.  Going, therefore, very quietly into the next
+apartment, he found the innkeeper lying there soundly asleep, and on
+the table the remains of a substantial supper.  At once seating
+himself, the Caliph was not long in finishing the repast and assuaging
+the pangs of hunger.
+
+Having all his life been used to eat and drink whatever he required,
+without any thought of payment, it is very likely that he might have
+eaten his meal and departed without the least concern or thought of the
+fact that he possessed at that moment nothing to pay for it.  However,
+it so fell out that he was enabled to recompense his involuntary host
+very handsomely.  For after he had finished eating, and before he rose
+from his seat, he heard a slight rustling sound outside the room, as
+though some one were stealthily approaching.
+
+Now the Caliph, before lying down to rest on the previous afternoon,
+had taken the precaution to bestow the mysterious and wonderful charm
+he had picked up, in a place of safety.  He had put it inside his
+turban, in such a way that he could feel it pressing like a soft
+elastic pad upon his forehead.  And therefore, in virtue of his contact
+with that charm, he was still invisible to every other human being.
+
+Such being the case, the thief peering into the room saw no one but the
+keeper of the inn, who was sleeping very soundly.  Entering, therefore,
+with noiseless tread, his feet being bare, he approached the sleeper,
+and extracted very dexterously a small packet of coin which he carried
+secreted in his girdle.  With this packet the thief glided from the
+room, and stopping outside but a single instant to place it inside the
+folds of his own turban, he walked briskly away.
+
+The Caliph followed him closely.  About a hundred yards from the door
+of the inn there flowed a small stream or brook, across which the only
+bridge was a couple of planks.  Just as they arrived at this point the
+Caliph took off the fellow's turban, and, with a push from behind,
+threw him into the water.  The stream was neither deep nor swift, and
+the thief soon picked himself up, scrambled to the other side, and
+then, without once looking back, took to his heels, being fully
+persuaded that it was the man he had just robbed who had pursued and
+overtaken him.  The Caliph, after taking the parcel of coin out of the
+turban, which he then threw away, walked quietly back towards the inn,
+without deigning to bestow another thought on the thief whom he had
+thrown into the water.
+
+Before he reached the door of the inn, he saw the innkeeper, who had
+awoke and discovered his loss, rush out of the house wild and
+bareheaded, his turban having tumbled or been knocked off in his
+excitement.  Running past the invisible Caliph, and loudly cursing all
+villains and robbers, and especially that one who had just taken his
+money, he caught sight of the thief himself, scrambling up, dripping
+wet, on to the opposite bank of the stream, and, with much
+vociferation, he continued in hot pursuit.  The noise he made brought
+out, of course, all those who had been passing the night at the inn,
+and very naturally they all commenced at once to follow the pursuer and
+pursued.
+
+The Caliph then quietly entered the deserted house, and placing the
+packet of money carefully in the innkeeper's turban, where he would be
+sure to find it on his return from the chase, he left, and taking
+another road, and one leading, as far as he could judge, in the
+direction of his own dominions, he continued his journey.
+
+He walked along for some hours without meeting any one except a few
+peasants, or encountering any noteworthy incident whatsoever.
+
+At length he became tired with his long march, and the heat of the
+noontide sun became so oppressive, that, espying a thick clump of trees
+at a short distance from the road, he gladly made his way to that
+pleasant shelter, lay down on a grassy bank, with a log for his pillow,
+and composed himself to rest and sleep.
+
+On waking, after two or three hours of very sound and refreshing sleep,
+he found that owing to some change in his position his turban had
+fallen off.  This, in itself not very serious or remarkable accident,
+gave him on the present occasion much apprehension and concern.  For in
+his turban he had placed, as has been mentioned, the invisible object,
+whatever it might be, which had in some inexplicable manner conferred
+upon him also, while he was in contact with it, the condition of
+invisibility.
+
+He took up the turban most carefully, he felt in it, he put it on, but
+nowhere could he encounter the soft, cool sensation with which he had
+become familiar.  He groped laboriously all round the spot where he had
+been lying, but in vain.  Whether the object had rolled away, or
+whether it had been carried to a distance by the breeze, or possibly
+had even been dissipated altogether, he could not determine.  One thing
+only was clear and beyond conjecture--the charm was lost for ever.
+
+Coming at last most unwillingly to that conclusion, he sat down
+cross-legged upon the grass as on a divan, resting his elbow upon the
+log which had served him for a pillow, and began to consider how he
+should manage to make his way back to his own dominions through that
+land of idolaters.  He had no idea of the distance to be traversed, but
+he reflected that, having no longer the aid and protection of being
+invisible, and being possessed of no money, his difficulties must
+necessarily be great.  Moreover, he was not without considerable
+anxiety as to what might have occurred at Bagdad while he had been
+absent.  Giafer, indeed, to whom all the details of the government of
+the country had practically been confided for many years, he could
+thoroughly trust.  But Ibrahim, who would probably have succeeded to
+the Caliphate, was known to hate the Grand Vizier, and would not only
+put him to death, but might also, not improbably, have taken measures
+to rid himself of Zobeideh and her son.  Oppressed by these gloomy
+thoughts the Caliph sat for a long time without moving.
+
+At length, hearing the tramp of horses in the distance, he looked up,
+and was overjoyed to behold two men coming along the road, whom he at
+once knew by their dress to be Arab merchants.  Each was on horseback,
+and they had with them, besides several other horses, some mules and
+asses laden with packages.  And there was also a kind of closed
+carriage or palanquin, borne by some slaves, in which no doubt was
+conveyed a lady or female slave of great value.
+
+Now, when the Caliph saw these men approaching, he rose up quickly and
+went to meet them.  When he drew near, he saluted them and inquired
+whither they went.
+
+To which they replied: "To Bagdad."  And they inquired of him how it
+came to pass that he should be on foot and alone in that pagan kingdom,
+seeing it was evident by his dress that he was a Moslim.
+
+Now, the Caliph had already learnt by experience that to proclaim his
+true rank would be only to court a suspicion of madness, therefore he
+replied briefly, that he too was from Bagdad and was returning thither,
+but that unhappily he had been taken prisoner by the idolaters, and
+robbed of all that he had, except only the clothes upon his back.  He
+begged them, therefore, to lend him a horse and to take him with them
+to Bagdad, in which city he had plenty both of friends and funds, and
+where he would reward them handsomely for their kindness.
+
+To this they answered that since he was in distress he was very welcome
+to come with them, and that without any claim on their part for fee or
+reward, the more especially as they would be glad, while travelling
+through that wild and lawless country, to have another strong man of
+their party.  With that they lent him a horse, and he, nothing loth,
+but glad enough to get his feet off the ground and his face turned
+towards home, rode cheerfully along with them.
+
+The Caliph soon discovered that the two merchants were very intelligent
+men and agreeable fellow-travellers.  The name of the one was Abdallah,
+and of the other Ahmed.
+
+After the Caliph had been some time in their company, and their
+conversation had become more intimate and familiar, he ventured to
+inquire how they had fared on their present expedition, and in what
+sort of merchandize they had embarked their fortune.
+
+"You must know," said Abdallah, who was always the chief speaker, "that
+both Ahmed and myself are well acquainted with several of the officers
+in the Palace of the Commander of the Faithful, whom Allah exalt, and
+also of some in the Palace of Zobeideh, his favourite wife.  We always
+endeavour therefore, when trading in foreign countries, to buy such
+things as will sell well at court.  The prices we get for our goods are
+in that way very satisfactory, although the profit we actually make is
+less than you might suppose, because all those officials who gain us an
+introduction to the palaces must have rich presents and high fees to
+recompense them for their trouble."
+
+"And the Caliph, what sort of a man is he?" asked Haroun.
+
+"He is," answered Abdallah, "a just man, and very brave, but fierce,
+hot-tempered, and hasty.  And as he is very apt to lose his temper,
+those who have to do with him are very liable to lose their heads."
+
+"But sometimes he is no doubt very much provoked," said Haroun.
+
+"Nay," said Abdallah, "when he is in an ill-humour, he would order your
+head to be struck off as readily as he would order his dinner."
+
+"I can scarcely believe that," answered Haroun.  "Did you not say that
+he loves justice?"
+
+"Undoubtedly," answered Abdallah, "he is anxious to have a just
+administration of the laws, and I have been told that in order to see
+for himself what goes on, he frequently walks through the city
+disguised as a merchant."
+
+"And that," said Ahmed, "I consider to be by no means commendable."
+
+"On what account?" demanded Haroun.
+
+"Because," said Ahmed, "if on one of those excursions any accident
+should happen to the Commander of the Faithful, the State would lose
+more than ever it gained from all his rambles and inquiries."
+
+Haroun could not but admit to himself the justice of this observation,
+and yet he was by no means pleased with it, as one never is with any
+reflection on our own conduct.  Therefore, when Abdallah said, that for
+his part he thought the Caliph did quite right in determining to see
+things with his own eyes, and that a man ought not to weigh too
+scrupulously the dangers which might lie in the way of doing his duty,
+Haroun could have embraced him in the fulness of his satisfaction.
+
+"But," said Haroun, to turn the conversation, "you have not yet told me
+what good or ill-fortune you have met with on this expedition, nor what
+ventures you are bringing back with you to Bagdad."
+
+As Haroun said this, his eye rested upon the palanquin which was being
+carried by the slaves, and Abdallah, noticing his glance, and guessing
+that he was curious to learn something of the occupant, began as
+follows:
+
+
+THE ARAB MERCHANT'S STORY.
+
+"Before setting out on the expedition from which we are now returning,
+Ahmed and I consulted long as to the countries we should visit, and
+what sort of goods it would be most profitable to bring back with us.
+We at length agreed to journey through Egypt into the central parts of
+Africa, and bring from thence some of those large and rare specimens of
+precious stones of which we had often heard.  And we did not doubt if
+we could secure some of these that we should be able to dispose of them
+to such advantage at the Court of the Caliph as at one stroke to make
+our fortune.
+
+"Having agreed upon this plan we purchased and took with us such
+articles of merchandize as we judged would sell to the best advantage
+in Egypt.  In fact, on arriving at Cairo, we remained some time doing a
+very profitable trade.
+
+"At length, when the proper time of year came round for commencing our
+journey into the interior, we provided ourselves with the articles most
+likely to find favour with the natives, and after two months, during
+which we travelled very slowly, and suffered many hardships, we reached
+the country of a great nation or tribe of Ethiopians, at whose chief
+town, Daarkol, we halted awhile, and did some trade by barter, but not
+much, the people possessing few things of any value to us except small
+quantities of gold dust.
+
+"What we sought of them most eagerly was information concerning that
+tribe of whom we had heard, in whose country were found the diamonds,
+rubies, sapphires, and other precious stones, to obtain which was the
+object of our journey.
+
+"That tribe lived, it appeared, still several hundreds of miles further
+up the country, but what annoyed us much more was the information that
+they would exchange their precious stones for nothing else than ivory,
+of the exact value of which they were very well acquainted.
+
+"This altogether extinguished the hope with which we had started of
+making our fortunes by importing to Bagdad splendid specimens of
+various precious stones.  For when we considered the vast expense of
+procuring large quantities of tusks, the difficulty of getting slaves
+to carry them up the country, and of feeding those slaves on so long a
+journey, together with the danger of being robbed of such cumbersome
+and valuable property by some of the many wild tribes through whose
+territories we must pass, we were fain to conclude that we must needs
+abandon that part of our enterprise.
+
+"As we were one day sitting in a very gloomy mood discussing this
+matter, an African merchant with whom we had become acquainted, and who
+happened to be passing, saluted us; and we, having invited him to be
+seated with us, 'What,' he asked, 'is that which you cannot do? for as
+I came up I heard you pronounce these words: "No, it is not possible to
+do it."'
+
+"With that I explained to him, without mentioning particularly the
+country of the precious stones, that Ahmed and myself had intended to
+proceed still further into the interior to trade with the people, but
+many of them, as we were now informed, exchanged only against ivory.
+And it appeared to us impossible to do any profitable trade if we must
+convey such a heavy and valuable commodity as ivory over long distances.
+
+"The African merchant, when he heard this, smiled, and asked, 'What
+would you give now to anyone who should get you out of this difficulty?'
+
+"I answered that, as it was a difficulty which we had often discussed,
+but could see no way out of, and as it threatened to make our journey
+into Africa comparatively unprofitable, we should be very willing to
+give any man who could render us effectual assistance a hundred pieces
+of gold for his trouble.
+
+"'No,' said he, 'you offer too little.  I can myself most effectually
+aid you, but I must have five hundred pieces of gold.'
+
+"We protested that we could not give so much, that we had it not, that
+it would ruin us; in short, all the pleas that merchants, as you knew,
+advance when they are chaffering with each other.  But after several
+days, seeing that the African merchant stood quite firm and would abate
+nothing from his price, we agreed to give him the five hundred pieces
+of gold for the secret he was to discover to us, namely, of how we
+should provide ourselves with ivory for trading with the tribes, no
+matter how far up the country they might be situated.
+
+"We having on our part produced five bags containing one hundred gold
+pieces in each, which we counted out to him, he produced and gave to us
+in return five small jars, each containing about two quarts of a seed
+about twice as large as a bean.
+
+"'Take these,' said he, 'with you; they are small and not heavy to
+carry.  And when you are come near to the country of that people with
+whom you wish to trade, select a piece of land about two or three acres
+in extent, and plant these seeds singly and about ten feet apart.  In
+about a month great tubers will be observed swelling out of the ground
+which by the end of the second month will have increased to hemispheres
+four or five feet in diameter.  From each of these bulbs or tubers as a
+base great projections will be thrown out, which in five or six weeks
+will attain the size and appearance exactly of huge tusks of the finest
+ivory.  Cutting these, and stacking them for a short time to dry, you
+will then be provided with what appears to be a splendid lot of tusks
+not far from the place where you require them.  And should you
+experience any difficulty in transporting them, you may apply for
+labourers from the tribe you are about to visit, on the plea that your
+carriers who have brought them so far have deserted and gone back.'
+
+"Perceiving now that our African merchant was a proficient in all the
+magical arts of his country, we wished to decline his aid, and have
+nothing further to do with him; but he flatly refused to restore our
+money, and left us not without uttering some threats of vengeance upon
+us.
+
+"As we had bought the seeds at so high a price, we carried them with
+us, without, however, intending to make use of them; for we thought
+that as true believers we ought to shun every product of the accursed
+magic of Africa.
+
+"But after some time had elapsed, and when at the end of a long and
+difficult journey we approached at last the borders of that country
+where the people dwelt who possessed the precious stones, we halted,
+and determined at least to plant those seeds, and ascertain whether
+they would indeed grow in the wonderful way the African merchant had
+told us.
+
+"Selecting, therefore, a suitable piece of ground, we planted the
+seeds, setting each singly about ten feet apart every way.  And the
+ground being damp and marshy, we soon perceived the bulbs showing above
+ground, and they grew apace, so that in three or four weeks after their
+first appearance they became great semi-spherical projections, like
+huge round balls half embedded in the earth.  Or they might be compared
+to very gigantic onions; and about the end of six or seven weeks after
+the seed was sown we had our ground covered with regular rows of them;
+and then from the centre of each bulb a slight projection like the tip
+of a small horn might be observed to rise.  These grew and increased
+very rapidly, so that within a few weeks they had attained the imposing
+proportions of immense tusks.
+
+"Cutting them and stacking them to dry, by placing ten or a dozen of
+them together like sheaves of corn, we found that upon the most careful
+inspection they did not in any respect differ in appearance from tusks
+of the finest ivory; while their great size and symmetry of form could
+seldom be equalled by what may be termed elephant ivory.
+
+"It now became a question whether we should use them for the purpose of
+barter to obtain the precious stones.  Our first sentiment, as I have
+said, was that we, as good Moslems, would have nothing to do with the
+productions of the infernal magic of the African.  But our interest and
+the desire to accomplish the object of our journey by getting the
+precious stones finally prevailed.  We argued that as we had fairly
+bought the seed, and had planted and prepared the vegetable tusks by
+our own exertions, therefore we were fairly entitled to make use of
+them, and we decided to continue our journey to Behar, the country
+inhabited by the tribe which possessed the precious stones.
+
+"When we arrived there we were conducted before Amavaroo, the king of
+Behar, to whom we presented ourselves as ivory merchants who had
+visited his country desiring to exchange ivory for precious stones.
+The king readily gave us permission to barter with his people, the more
+especially because we had brought with us as a present for himself two
+or three of the tusks, than which he had never beheld any finer.  He
+was lost in admiration and delighted to obtain such splendid specimens;
+and he inquired eagerly where we had left our stock.
+
+"Acting on the suggestion made to us by the African merchant, we said
+that it lay about three days' journey behind us.  That we had left it
+there because our carriers who had brought it so far had deserted; and
+we prayed him, therefore, to supply us with carriers to bring it into
+his kingdom.
+
+"The trouble always experienced by merchants trading in those regions
+in obtaining, and especially in retaining carriers, was so well known
+that the king was by no means surprised at our predicament, but ordered
+a sufficient number of his people to accompany us and transport our
+ivory.
+
+"The most common mode of carriage with these people is to place the
+load upon the head and, balancing it there, to walk away merrily under
+their burthen.  And it is surprising how heavy a load they will thus
+carry.  But they could not manage to take our tusks in that fashion.
+They carried them on their shoulders, four men to a tusk, three near to
+the thick or butt end, and one near the point.  In this way we brought
+all our ivory to Behar, and the tusks were so perfect and exceptional
+in size that we could obtain almost any equivalent we pleased for them.
+And in fact of such marvellous size and beauty were most of the gems
+that we got in exchange that our fortune on our return to Bagdad
+threatened to be fabulous, and it seemed evident that it would be
+necessary for us to wander over the whole world to the capital of every
+great king in order to find purchasers of such superb and unique
+specimens.
+
+"As we had presented many of the tusks to the king and his principal
+chiefs we had become exceedingly popular--the happy possessors of our
+ivory being, no less satisfied with their bargains than we felt with
+ours.  So that when at the end of two months we wished to depart,
+having bartered or given away all our stock, they would not let us go,
+but insisted that we should prolong our stay for another month, during
+which they feasted and entertained us to the best of their ability.
+
+"Now there was one circumstance concerning our vegetable ivory of which
+we were ignorant, viz., that just as it was produced quickly, so it
+decayed quickly.  Three months had sufficed to raise it from the seed,
+and within three months from the time that they came to maturity, the
+apparent tusks begin to perish.  Black spots and patches appear all
+over the surface, and in the course of a few weeks the entire tusk rots
+away and is destroyed.
+
+"It thus happened that one morning, towards the end of our three
+months' sojourn at Behar, the chiefs who came as usual to our house or
+hut to greet us, wore no longer the pleasant and friendly aspect they
+were wont to do, but looked surly and fierce.  And immediately seizing
+and binding us, they carried us before King Amavaroo, who, seated on
+the leopard's skin which served him for a throne, was looking as gloomy
+and morose as his followers.
+
+"Then men came with the tusks they had received from us, one man
+following another with his purchases, and in every tusk the black spots
+and patches of decay were beginning to appear.  To complete our ruin,
+when those tusks which we had presented to Amavaroo were brought into
+his presence, they each and all were found to be in a similar
+condition.  Both the king and his people were very naturally furious.
+They took from us and out of our house all the jewels we had obtained,
+and gave them back to those who had exchanged them for the worthless
+ivory, and then, after holding a very stormy council, they conducted us
+with every kind of insult out of their town into the plains beyond.
+There, having stripped us naked, they beat us with branches of nettles
+and branches of prickly holly, and finally, tying our hands and feet
+together, they left us to be scorched by the sun during the day, and to
+be devoured by the wild beasts that prowled about at night.  Here we
+lay all day in a most pitiable plight, and there undoubtedly we should
+have perished, had it not been for the gratitude and kindness of a
+slave whom, during our stay at Behar, we had many times befriended and
+protected, as far as lay in our power, against the tyranny of a very
+cruel bully, who was his master.  This poor fellow stole away at
+sundown, came to us, freed us from our bonds, brought us some of our
+own clothes which he had managed to get hold of, and, going with us,
+became our guide on the slow and painful course of our journey
+northward.  He brought us also a small packet of very handsome stones,
+which had been dropped by some one during the exciting events of the
+morning, and which he had seen and picked up on his way to us.
+
+"This seemed at the time a perfect godsend.  There were not many
+stones--about a dozen--and they not nearly so large as many of those we
+had received in exchange for our ivory.  At the same time they were of
+the utmost value to us now, as we should be able to dispose of them at
+the first place where we might meet with Arab merchants, and we should
+thus provide ourselves at least with such things as were absolutely
+necessary for our return journey to Bagdad.
+
+"Meanwhile, our progress was slow and our subsistence precarious,
+consisting chiefly of such roots, fruits, and insects, as we were able
+to discover.  In this matter of catering the slave was much more
+proficient than we, and proved an invaluable aid to us.
+
+"After many weeks of hardship and danger, we arrived at last in the
+neighbourhood of Daarkol, the town in which we had met the African
+merchant, from whom we had bought those accursed seeds.  As the sun was
+intensely hot, and a couple of hours' walking would now bring us into
+the town, where we could sell some of the precious stones and relieve
+our most urgent necessities, we threw ourselves down under the shelter
+of a clump of trees and were soon fast asleep.
+
+"It appears, although we had then no suspicion of such a thing, that
+the African merchant, who was a complete villain, had been diligently
+watching for our return.  He had designed to surprise and overpower us,
+and take from us the precious stones we should have obtained for his
+fraudulent ivory, he getting thus at a stroke the fruits of the
+expedition without undergoing the fatigues, difficulties, and dangers
+it necessarily involved.
+
+"Being informed, therefore, by one of his spies of our arrival, he
+stole upon us very quietly while we slept, and bringing with him a
+party of his slaves, he quickly overpowered us, and binding us hand and
+foot, he robbed us of the jewels we had, and that not without horrid
+imprecations because there were so few.  After which he immediately
+departed, leaving us lying under the trees bound and helpless.
+
+"Here we remained for more than two hours.  At length, as the day wore
+on, and it became cooler, we perceived a party of merchants, with whom
+we had been very well acquainted when we were at Daarkol before,
+passing along the road which was distant about two or three hundred
+yards from the clump of trees where we lay.  We shouted as loud as we
+could, and they, hearing the shouting, came presently towards us.  They
+were truly surprised and concerned to find Ahmed and myself, whom they
+had known formerly as respectable and well-to-do merchants, lying
+bound, dirty, and ragged upon the ground.  They freed us, and we told
+them of the villainy of the African merchant, and related to them all
+that had befallen us, from the time he sold us the seeds, until the
+assault he had made upon us and the robbery he had committed that
+afternoon.  They advised us to lay our case before Lootzee, the king of
+that country, who lived in the town of Daarkol; although, as regards
+the African merchant, who was well known as a bad character, he would
+no doubt by this time have taken refuge in flight.
+
+"This advice was good; but for men so completely destitute, as we now
+were, to obtain an audience of the king was no easy matter.  Like most
+monarchs, he was surrounded by courtiers and state officials, who must
+be bribed with considerable presents before they would exert themselves
+on behalf of any suitor or complainant, no matter how real his
+grievance, or how urgent his case might be.  It is quite possible,
+therefore, that we might have failed to obtain an audience, had it not
+happened, fortunately for us, that King Lootzee was attacked just at
+this time by a severe form of fever to which the natives of that part
+of Ethiopia are peculiarly liable.  Hearing of the king's illness, and
+knowing of a certain herb which was a sovereign remedy in that disease,
+we procured some of the herb and prepared an infusion of it.  We then
+borrowed of some merchants of our acquaintance such sums as they would
+lend us, and sending this as a present to the Vizier or chief officer
+of Lootzee, we asked audience of the king that we might present to him
+a medicine of great efficiency in his complaint.  The Vizier submitting
+our petition to Lootzee, he gave orders to admit the merchant from
+Bagdad, and in short, after taking sundry doses of the medicine, the
+fever left him, and he was restored to his usual health.
+
+"This cure so much delighted him, that he made us a present of the
+horses, mules, and all those things which you see we have with us, and
+in addition he gave us a sum of money that we might be enabled to
+purchase something to take back to Bagdad, so that we might not, after
+all our toil and risk, return altogether empty-handed.
+
+"For a long time we doubted and debated what we should buy.  But
+hearing one day that there was in the town a Circassian woman slave of
+surpassing beauty, who had been captured by some marauders from a
+caravan while on her way to Bagdad, we determined to purchase that
+slave in the hope of selling her for a great price to Haroun Alraschid,
+the Caliph, to whom may Allah be merciful, and for whom she was
+destined by those merchants who had been robbed of her."
+
+
+Now when Haroun Alraschid had heard the story of Abdallah, the Arab
+merchant, and had learned that the occupant of the carriage or litter
+borne by the slaves was so lovely a creature, and, moreover, was a
+slave intended for himself, he would fain have seen her.  In his
+character as a merchant he offered to buy her, and bid the great price
+of five thousand pieces of gold, to be paid immediately they should
+arrive in Bagdad.  But Abdallah was resolute, and inflexible in his
+refusal to part with her, or let her be seen, saying that no man either
+had nor yet should see the face of the slave, until she should be
+presented in good time to the Caliph himself.
+
+Haroun was sorely tempted to declare himself to be the Caliph, and to
+insist on seeing the beautiful captive, but reflecting both that it
+would be difficult to convince Abdallah of his rank at that time, and
+also being unwilling to lose the pleasure he anticipated in observing
+the merchant's astonishment, when he should discover his
+fellow-traveller to have been the Caliph, Haroun controlled his natural
+impatience, and that all the more readily because they were near their
+journey's end.
+
+
+Leaving Abdallah and Ahmed with the Caliph in their company to continue
+their journey, we must return to Bagdad, and to the course of affairs
+in that city since the Caliph's disappearance.
+
+Giafer, who had so long, as Grand Vizier, had the administration of the
+Empire in his hands, managed for the first month or six weeks to
+conduct the affairs of State as usual and with unquestioned authority.
+
+But as week after week passed without tidings from the absent Caliph,
+not only did both Giafer and Zobeideh lose hope of his return, but
+ominous rumours began to circulate secretly among the Court and the
+people, regarding the cause of the Caliph's absence.  As a matter of
+course, Ibrahim, the next heir according to Moslem usage, was
+especially active both in prosecuting inquiries as to the probable fate
+of Haroun, and also in concerting measures to effect his own accession
+to the throne.
+
+Three months had elapsed since the disappearance of the Caliph, when
+one morning at the Grand Vizier's usual state reception of the Ulema
+and Emirs of the Empire, Ibrahim, addressing Giafer, said, "Grand
+Vizier, three months have now passed since we have had among us the
+glorious and august presence of the Commander of the Faithful; tell us,
+therefore, where he is, and why he no longer appears to give audience
+and render justice to his people?"
+
+At this speech Giafer felt that his hour was come, for he knew that the
+prince would not have uttered those words until he had taken measures
+to seize upon the throne.
+
+Therefore he answered, "I cannot tell where the Commander of the
+Faithful may be at this moment, but may all his subjects remain loyal
+to him, and Allah be his shield and preserver, wherever he be!"
+
+Then said Ibrahim, "O Giafer, the blood of your master is upon your
+hands, where have you hidden him?"  Turning to the guards, who entered
+as he clapped his hands, he ordered them to secure the Grand Vizier,
+and continued: "If you do not before this time to-morrow bring back
+Haroun Alraschid into this hall, I shall know what to think, and as
+surely as I am Caliph you shall die."
+
+So saying the prince seated himself upon the royal divan, and forthwith
+appointed Hafiz, a favourite of his own, to be Grand Vizier.  He next
+ordered the new Grand Vizier to put Zobeideh, Haroun's favourite wife,
+and Prince Emin, her son, in prison, and declared that on the morrow,
+when he judged Giafer, he would also pronounce sentence on the others.
+
+That night the new Caliph spent in feasting and revelry, but Giafer,
+and Zobeideh and her son, Prince Emin, likewise spent the hours in
+depression and grief, looking forward to death in the morning.
+
+When the day dawned, and the new Caliph, after morning prayers, had
+assumed his seat on the Imperial divan, he commanded Giafer to be
+brought before him.  Then, with a sinister smile, he demanded of the
+prisoner, "Where is the most illustrious Caliph Haroun Alraschid?  Say,
+Giafer, what hast thou done with him?"
+
+To this Giafer replied, "Haroun Alraschid, my master, is in the hand of
+God.  But where he may be at this moment, I have told you that I do not
+know."
+
+"No one can know so well as thou where he is," said Ibrahim, "for did
+he not go to Bussora with thee and has never returned?  Doubtless thou
+hast killed him, and hast hidden his body, otherwise he would be here,
+therefore thy life is forfeited," and with that he made a sign to the
+mutes, who immediately took Giafer and passed the fatal cord about his
+neck.
+
+As they waited with trained docility for the usual sign from the Caliph
+to draw tight the silken cord and despatch their victim, a great shout
+was heard, and outside the palace acclamations filled the air, and
+cries of--"Haroun Alraschid returns!  Welcome, Prince of the Faithful!"
+
+Ibrahim hearing these words, after a few moments' hesitation, made the
+sign to the mutes, and Giafer's life would have ended, but on the
+instant an officer standing by, who owed his position to the Grand
+Vizier, cut through the cord with his sword.  As he did so, Haroun,
+pale with anger and his eyes flashing, entered the door of the
+audience-chamber.  Ibrahim, pale as ashes, sat on the throne petrified
+with terror.  As Haroun's eyes fell upon the shrinking prince sitting
+on his throne, and on the form of Giafer kneeling with part of the
+severed cord still about his neck, the veins stood out upon his
+forehead, and rage rendered him speechless.  He beckoned to Mesrur, the
+ever faithful, who instantly pulled Ibrahim from his seat, and, taking
+him aside into an antechamber, forthwith struck off his head.
+
+That Haroun reinstated Giafer as Grand Vizier, and took Zobeideh and
+Prince Emin out of prison, needs hardly be said.  That he received
+Abdallah and Ahmed very graciously, and that he bought the fair captive
+of them at a truly royal price, is not surprising.  But it is perhaps
+somewhat surprising that all the dangers and hardships he underwent, in
+consequence of his capture by the pirates, did not suffice to wean him
+altogether from such perilous adventures in the future.
+
+He was of so daring and fearless a temper, however, that it made no
+further difference than this, that ever afterwards when he wandered
+about in disguise Mesrur accompanied him as well as the Grand Vizier.
+
+
+
+
+The Caliph and the Blind Fisherman.
+
+One evening Haroun Alraschid sat in a splendid apartment of his palace
+in Bagdad.  The evening meal was finished, and the slaves had carried
+away the magnificent service of gold plate on which it had been served.
+The Caliph was gloomy and ill-humoured, and the officers and attendants
+in waiting silent, vigilant, and not unapprehensive; for when the brow
+of the monarch was clouded none could tell when the storm might burst
+forth, nor whom the lightning of his wrath might strike.  Before long,
+however, and much to their relief, Giafer was sent for, and the Caliph,
+rising and signing his officers to leave him, wandered out alone into
+the garden of his palace.
+
+Here Giafer on his arrival found him.  He was sitting moodily listening
+to a concert of vocal music performed by some of the ladies of his
+harem, who were posted out of sight and at some little distance in a
+small grove.  Just as Giafer entered the garden the Caliph clapped his
+hands and said to a slave who ran to him, "Go, tell the singers to keep
+silence, for I am in no humour to listen to them."  Then, perceiving
+the Grand Vizier, he said to him, "Giafer, I have sent for thee because
+I am restless and pleased with nothing this evening; suggest,
+therefore, what I shall do."
+
+Then Giafer replied: "Prince of the Faithful, if you are tired of your
+palace and of the gardens and the singing of your women, and if you
+care not to view the dancers"--the Caliph shook his head--"nor to
+listen to the tales or the poems of Abu 'Atahiyeh----"
+
+"Not this evening, though they are good," said Haroun.
+
+"Then what say you to our sallying forth disguised into Bagdad,"
+continued Giafer, "that we may observe what goes forward, and perchance
+meet with some adventure that may amuse you?"
+
+"That is what I will do," said Haroun, brightening up at the
+suggestion; "come, Giafer, let us put on the garb of merchants and go
+out."
+
+In a short time Haroun and Giafer sallied forth, with the faithful
+Mesrur following, also in disguise, not far behind them.  They wandered
+through the bazaars until they had seen a great part of Bagdad; but
+they met with no adventure and saw nothing particularly strange or
+noteworthy throughout all their ramble.  The Caliph, who had at first
+been much more cheerful, began at length to be tired with the walk, and
+again in a somewhat ill-humour.
+
+Giafer, noticing this, proposed that they should take a short cut
+through the lower and meaner parts of the town, and so return to the
+palace.
+
+As with this intent they passed the end of a narrow and steep street
+leading up from the river, they observed a man whose figure and
+condition at once arrested the Caliph's attention.  He was a tall and
+handsome man with the upright, dignified bearing of a soldier; he had
+regular features, a large hooked nose, and a long black moustache now
+turning somewhat grey.  His clothes were very old and ragged; over his
+left shoulder he carried a net, and in his right hand a bag evidently
+containing a few fish.  He was obviously a fisherman just returning
+home from his work on the river's bank; but what particularly attracted
+the Caliph's attention was the fact that the man was blind.  In his
+left hand he carried a stick with which he touched sometimes the path
+and sometimes the walls of the houses as he passed along, as though to
+assure himself of his position.  And though he was thus evidently
+blind, yet he walked forward, not timidly or slowly, but boldly and
+steadily, as if he were very well acquainted with his route.
+
+The Caliph at once approached him and entered into conversation.  He
+asked him whether he, being blind, caught the fish himself, or whether
+he was aided by some one else; whether he had good fortune and caught
+much, and how many fish he now had in his bag.
+
+To these inquiries the man replied that, although blind, yet he managed
+to fish very well, and usually had good fortune in the number of fish
+that he caught, but that on this day he had been unlucky, and had only
+five fish in his bag.  Of these he said he should sell three, and two
+he should cook for the supper of himself and his brother.
+
+"And what is the occupation of your brother?" asked the Caliph.
+
+"He, alas!" said the man, "is of no occupation; his back is injured so
+that he cannot move from his bed."
+
+"And you fish for the support of both?" said Haroun.
+
+"Of course," replied the man, with grave simplicity.
+
+"Fisherman," said the Caliph, "I will buy your three fish, and, since I
+am tired, we will come, I and my friend who is with me, and you shall
+cook all the five fish, and we will sup together."
+
+"Sir," said the fisherman, "my poor hovel is not fitted to receive
+guests; yet, if you are content to take things in the rough as you will
+find them, come and be welcome."
+
+"Fisherman," said Haroun, "soldiers should be able to accommodate
+themselves to circumstances, and I am a soldier, as I judge that you
+also have been."
+
+"Commander," said the fisherman, "I have, as you suppose, served the
+Caliph, whom may Allah preserve and exalt, and in his service I lost my
+sight."
+
+"Comrade," said Haroun, "when we have eaten your fish, and you have
+rested, you shall relate to us the story of your life, which I doubt
+not contains many stirring and noteworthy incidents."
+
+As he was saying this they came to a very mean cottage in the narrow
+street, or rather lane, through which they were passing, and the old
+fisherman, entering, beckoned them with a sort of dignified politeness
+to follow him.
+
+In the cottage, which was lit by the smoky flame of a single small
+lamp, they found, lying in a corner of the room on some rags, another
+tall, athletic-looking man, who appeared in every respect a very twin
+brother of their acquaintance the fisherman, except as regards the
+eyes, which were black, bright, and piercing.
+
+"Mohammed," said the fisherman, addressing his brother, "I bring with
+me two gentlemen I have met with; they have bought three of the five
+fish I have caught, and they will join us in our supper.  I smell the
+loaves that they are baked upon the hearth, and very quickly I will
+prepare and cook the fish."
+
+"Gentlemen," said he, folding an old and tattered cloak and laying it
+on the floor, "there is no other divan I can offer you, therefore pray
+be seated upon this cloak, and I will hasten to make ready your fish."
+
+The Caliph and Giafer, having seated themselves, conversed with
+Mohammed, who appeared to them, from the expression of his features, to
+be suffering much pain.
+
+He was unable, he told them, to rise, owing to an injury to his back,
+and his brother Suleiman, although blind, not only supported them both
+by fishing, but cooked their food and attended to all necessary
+household duties.
+
+The Caliph was much touched and interested by these two fine old
+fellows, their pitiable plight, their uncomplaining cheerfulness under
+such misfortunes, and their brotherly affection.
+
+"Suleiman," he said, "has promised after supper to relate to me your
+history; and I desire to hear it," he added, "not simply from motives
+of curiosity, but because I hope to be able to help you both and
+possibly to set right any wrongs or injustice from which you may have
+suffered."
+
+The fish and hot cakes Haroun enjoyed more than all the sumptuous
+repasts which were prepared for him at his palace, novelty and fatigue
+giving a whet to his appetite.  And these being consumed and the frugal
+meal finished, he reminded Suleiman of his desire to learn the
+particulars of his history.
+
+Suleiman, saying that there was little to tell, but that he was quite
+willing to tell that little, began as follows:
+
+
+THE HISTORY OF THE BLIND FISHERMAN AND HIS BROTHER.
+
+"As poor as we now are," said Suleiman, "our father was an officer much
+trusted by El Hadi, the late Caliph."
+
+At this name Haroun looked very black, for El Hadi had desired to set
+Haroun aside in favour of his own son Jaafer.  However, the blind
+fisherman perceived nothing of this, but continued--
+
+"Our father had three sons--myself, the eldest, and Mohammed, my
+brother here present, and by another wife, Moussa, his youngest boy,
+and, as often happens, his favourite.  My father was but seldom in
+Bagdad, being almost constantly engaged abroad in one foreign war or
+another.  Very early in life Mohammed and I accompanied him, and were
+entrusted with important posts under him in the armies he commanded.
+
+"Not to weary you with a long catalogue of our battles, I tell you at
+once that about five years ago our father was killed in a very hotly
+contested fight, in which, just when our men were giving way before a
+furious charge of the enemy's cavalry, our father rallied them and led
+them in person against the foe, thereby securing victory for us, but
+falling himself in the very charge which secured it."
+
+"Gallant man!" exclaimed the Caliph.  "And what did El Hadi do for the
+sons?"  Seeing that Suleiman did not answer--"Nothing!" he muttered,
+"and Haroun has never known of the matter."
+
+"This battle," continued Suleiman, "having broken the power of the
+enemy, and the war being at an end, Mohammed and I returned to Bagdad,
+intending to share the property left by our father between ourselves
+and Moussa, our younger brother, in three parts or equal shares, as we
+had understood our father to desire.
+
+"But on our return we found that Moussa, who holds the position of a
+Cadi, or judge, had already taken possession of the whole of the
+property, and he altogether refused to share it in any way with us,
+alleging that our father had promised to leave him all that he had.
+
+"This assertion we knew to be false.  And El Hadi having died just at
+that time, and the new Caliph being supposed to mislike both him and
+his adherents, we applied to Ali ibn Moulk, the Governor of Bagdad,
+asking him to consider our case and enforce a just division of our
+inheritance.  But Ali, though he took whatever presents we could afford
+to give him, did nothing, having no doubt received from Moussa still
+handsomer presents than it was in our power to afford.
+
+"Seeing that our cause in no way advanced, we, who had always been used
+to an active life, soon got tired of waiting in idleness the good
+pleasure of the Governor, and therefore applied for and obtained
+commands in an army sent by the new Caliph against a province that had
+revolted.
+
+"For three years we were employed in distant expeditions, and at
+length, at the end of that time, when storming a fortress held by a
+body of insurgents, a splinter entering one of my eyes destroyed the
+sight of it, and the inflammation extending from it not long after
+destroyed the sight of the other, rendering me totally blind; while
+Mohammed, poor fellow, still more unfortunate, was hurled backwards
+from the walls of the same fortress and injured his back so severely,
+that he has been unable to get about, and has suffered constant pain
+ever since.
+
+"When we got back to Bagdad from this most unlucky campaign, our money
+being almost exhausted, I called again upon Moussa, and, relating to
+him what had befallen us, I asked him once more to make a fair and
+equitable division of the inheritance with us.  But he once more
+refused to do so, repeated his assertion that all the property had been
+left to him, offered me a hundred dinars, which I angrily refused, and
+sent a slave to guide me, as he said, into the quarter of the town
+where I was then living.  He evidently made a sign to the slave whom he
+sent with me, for I quickly perceived that he was conducting me, not
+towards that part of the town in which my caravanserai was situated,
+but along the steep streets leading down to the river.  When we got on
+to the bank of the stream, and almost at the water's edge, he said he
+must return to his master, telling me to continue straight forward, and
+that I should find the road all clear.  Greatly incensed at the perfidy
+of this villainous slave, I suddenly seized him and flung him into the
+river before me.
+
+"I was about to retrace my steps, when a voice near to me exclaimed:
+'Halloo! some one has cast himself into the river, and my nets will be
+destroyed.'
+
+"'Cannot you see,' I said, 'that I threw that scoundrel into the river?'
+
+"'Nay,' said the voice, 'I cannot see, for I am blind.'
+
+"'Allah be merciful to us!' I cried.  'Art thou also blind?'  And I
+told him my history as you have heard it, and why I had flung the slave
+into the water.  By the way, what became of the fellow I know not--he
+was probably carried away by the stream, for I heard no more of him.
+
+"Then I asked the blind man what it was that he had said of his nets
+being broken.
+
+"He answered, 'I am a fisherman, and I doubt not but the rascal will
+have destroyed some of my nets, but never mind that, so long as he got
+his deserts.'
+
+"'What! can a man that is blind be a fisherman?' I exclaimed.
+
+"'Certainly,' he replied; 'I have caught fish for my living this ten
+years, and I will teach you to fish, if you like.'
+
+"I thanked him, and gratefully accepted his offer."
+
+"And thus it came to pass," said Suleiman to Haroun and Giafer, "that I
+became a fisherman, and by this means have been enabled to maintain
+both Mohammed and myself for the last two years."
+
+The emotions experienced by the Caliph and the Grand Vizier as they
+listened to Suleiman's narrative were not altogether the same.
+
+Haroun was so infuriated when he heard of the hard-hearted iniquity of
+the Cadi, and the taking of bribes and refusal of justice by Ali ibn
+Moulk, the Governor of Bagdad, that he could scarcely restrain himself
+from summoning Mesrur and sending at once for their heads.
+
+On the other hand, Giafer listened to the accusations against the
+Governor of Bagdad, who was a personal friend of his own, with the
+greatest consternation.  Therefore, being anxious at any rate to gain
+time, Giafer, at the end of Suleiman's discourse, whispered to the
+Caliph, earnestly entreating him to preserve his incognito, and to
+suspend his decision at least for the present.
+
+When they came out of the fisherman's cottage, having paid him for the
+fish, and promised to communicate with him again shortly, Giafer urged
+upon the Caliph the injustice of condemning the Governor of Bagdad,
+without giving him the opportunity to reply to the charge brought
+against him by Suleiman.
+
+"Giafer," said the Caliph, "I hear what you say, and I grant your
+request.  Ali ibn Moulk shall have the opportunity provided for him, to
+clear himself from this charge in the best possible way, viz., by
+actually refusing to take a bribe, and by actually executing justice on
+Moussa the Cadi.  I will myself provide him with that opportunity.  But
+look you, the Governor of Bagdad is your friend, I know; you gave him
+his office, did you not? and now you are pleading his cause.  Very good
+so far, but see that no rumour of this night's story reaches his ears,
+neither by a message, nor by a little bird, nor even by a dream; for if
+he hear of it I will take off your head also, by Allah I will, by Allah
+I will, by Allah I will; therefore look to yourself, my Giafer."
+
+When the Grand Vizier heard this burst of rage, his heart sank within
+him.  He had undoubtedly intended to convey a friendly warning to Ali,
+but he felt now that it would be dangerous and useless, and he was
+completely convinced that Ali's fate was sealed.
+
+Early next morning the Caliph sent for the Grand Vizier, and said to
+him--
+
+"Giafer, go dress yourself as you were dressed last night, take a
+hundred pieces of gold with you and give them to Suleiman, and tell him
+to repair immediately to the Governor of Bagdad, and demand from him
+justice in the matter of his inheritance.  And mind, not one word more
+nor less."
+
+Giafer touched his head in token of implicit obedience to the commands
+of the Caliph, and going at once, carried to Suleiman the hundred
+pieces of gold, and the message that he should immediately make another
+application to the Governor of Bagdad.
+
+Suleiman was very unwilling to go to the Governor, saying, that to seek
+for justice in that quarter was but like fishing in a gutter where a
+man could catch nothing, but must lose his time and his bait.
+"However," he concluded, "since your friend sends me this money, as you
+say for no other purpose, I will carry it to the Governor and bestow it
+as he desires."
+
+Directly after the Caliph had despatched the Grand Vizier to Suleiman,
+he called an officer and sent him with a message to the Governor of
+Bagdad, instructing the officer to observe carefully any applications
+which might be made to the Governor for justice, and report the
+particulars on his return.
+
+That evening Haroun again disguised himself, and went, with Giafer and
+Mesrur in attendance as before, to visit Suleiman and Mohammed.
+
+On reaching the cottage he demanded of Suleiman how he had fared in his
+application to the Governor.
+
+"At first," said Suleiman, "he received me very roughly, but when I
+produced the gold he became more civil, and promised to see what he
+could do for me.  As he has told me the same on each previous occasion,
+I do not build many hopes on that promise," said Suleiman, smiling.
+"But he was very urgent to find out where I had obtained the money I
+gave him, and when I told him that a gentleman whom I had met had lent
+me the money, he said--
+
+"'It is well, get from him another hundred, and your case may be
+managed.'
+
+"But, sir," said Suleiman to the Caliph, "I will take no further coin
+from you, for the rapacity of the Governor is like a bottomless pit
+that would swallow all that you have."
+
+What Suleiman told him agreed perfectly with the report of the officer
+whom Haroun had sent to Ali that morning.
+
+"Suleiman," said the Caliph, "I believe you are right; moreover, I
+think I can forward your suit better than by sending any more gold
+pieces to Ali.  To-morrow morning one of my slaves will bring you a
+bundle of clothes: dress yourself in them, and in the evening come
+boldly to the house of the Governor, and bring with you the ring I now
+place upon your finger.  When you arrive give the ring to one of the
+Governor's officers with this message: The bearer of this ring demands
+an audience of the owner of it.  Meanwhile here are ten pieces of gold
+to relieve you of the necessity of going out fishing till I see you
+again."
+
+Suleiman thanked Haroun warmly for his generosity and kindness, and the
+Caliph and Giafer returned to the palace.
+
+The following morning the Caliph sent an officer to the Governor of
+Bagdad with a message informing him that Haroun would sup with him that
+evening.  Delighted with such a mark of royal favour and condescension,
+Ali ibn Moulk prepared a most sumptuous entertainment; he had a great
+tent erected in the garden of his palace, and singing women and dancing
+girls in readiness to amuse his august guest.
+
+In the evening Haroun Alraschid arrived in state at the palace of the
+Governor, and found the gardens illuminated with thousands of small
+lights, and every conceivable preparation made to receive him.
+
+Seated on a splendid divan in the great tent in the garden, the Caliph
+listened sometimes to the songs of a number of the best singers of
+Bagdad, who were stationed a short distance away and out of sight, and
+conversing sometimes with the Grand Vizier, the Governor of Bagdad, and
+other great officials who were with him in the tent.  After he had been
+seated thus for some time, an officer of the Governor's household came
+into the tent and said a few words to him in an undertone.
+
+"What is that?" demanded the Caliph.  "Officer," said he, "do you not
+know that where I am present no message can be brought except to me?"
+
+The officer bowed, and said at once, "A man in the uniform of an
+officer of the guard gave me this ring and bade me bring it in and say,
+'The bearer of the ring is here, and demands an audience of the owner
+of it.'"
+
+The Caliph asked for the ring; then putting it on his finger, he said,
+"The ring is mine, admit the man who brought it."
+
+Amidst the silence of all, the officer returned immediately with
+Suleiman leaning on his arm, the tall, dignified form of the old
+soldier showing to great advantage in the splendid uniform in which he
+was now attired.
+
+"Suleiman," said the Caliph, as he entered, "you are welcome."
+
+"Ah," said Suleiman, "my friend, you are here; and you will speak to my
+lord the Governor on my behalf."
+
+All present were so much astonished to hear this old blind officer
+addressing the Caliph in that frank, bold way as "my friend," that they
+knew not what to say.
+
+The Caliph looked at the Governor of Bagdad, who was speechless with
+terror, and said fiercely, "You hear this man!"
+
+The officer on whose arm Suleiman was leaning whispered to him
+hurriedly, "It is the Caliph; it is Haroun himself."
+
+"Ah," said Suleiman, aloud, "then my cause is safe; I need say no more."
+
+"Ali ibn Moulk," continued the Caliph, in a voice thick with passion,
+"Governor of Bagdad, into your hands has been committed the task of
+doing justice in this city.  What then shall be done to him who denies
+justice and who takes bribes; who takes the last coin from the poor and
+the oppressed, and yet gives no heed to their petitions for redress?
+Allah pay me for it if I permit such iniquity."  Then turning to
+Mesrur, who stood behind him, he said, "Take him out."
+
+Mesrur with his assistants immediately seized Ali, and, taking him out
+into the garden, severed his head from his shoulders with one blow of
+his sword.
+
+When the Governor of Bagdad had been taken out of the tent, the Caliph
+said, "Bring in now Moussa the Cadi."
+
+Moussa, who had during the evening been arrested by order of the
+Caliph, and had been brought to the palace of the Governor of Bagdad,
+was now brought in under guard.
+
+Haroun ordered the Cadi at once to make over formally the whole of his
+property to his two brothers, Suleiman and Mohammed, the Caliph adding
+with his usual grim humour, "As you are a man of the law, it is fit
+that you do justice in a legal way."  And then added, addressing
+Mesrur, who had just entered, "And now impale him."
+
+Mesrur immediately advanced towards the Cadi to take him out and
+execute the doom pronounced by the Caliph.
+
+But Suleiman said, "He is my brother, the son of my father; let me pray
+you at least to spare his life."
+
+Then the Caliph said, "For thy sake, Suleiman, I spare him; let him be
+sent to the army in the field and enrolled as a common soldier.  Thus,
+at any rate," he added, "he may earn an honest living."
+
+"Emir," said the Caliph to Suleiman, in conclusion, "for such is your
+rank henceforth, your brother Mohammed has been conveyed by my order in
+a litter to your house, and there you will find him duly provided for.
+And I desire that you yourself attend me at the palace three times a
+week at least, that I may have the benefit of your conversation and
+counsel."
+
+The blind fisherman, now a rich Emir and a prime favourite with the
+Caliph, saluted his sovereign and was silent.
+
+
+
+
+The Caliph and Abdurrahman.
+
+When seated in his palace at Bagdad, Haroun Alraschid could look across
+the river Tigris, down to which his garden sloped, and could watch the
+bustle, the arrival and departure of soldiers, courtiers, and citizens,
+which was incessantly taking place in the courtyard of the Grand Vizier's
+palace, which was situated opposite to him on the other side of the river.
+
+Sometimes, when he was tired of the occupations and amusements offered by
+his own palace and gardens, he would, instead of sending for Giafer to
+come to him, mount his horse and proceed to pay an informal visit to the
+Grand Vizier.
+
+On one of these occasions, when Haroun was seated in the audience-chamber
+of the Grand Vizier's palace, he said, "I have more than once, when on my
+way to visit you here, remarked a certain small house and garden situated
+near the river, and the walls being low I have while riding past observed
+an old man sitting in the garden, whose appearance has attracted my
+attention.  He is a fine tall man, with a long white beard and a handsome
+benevolent cast of countenance, but what has chiefly struck me is the
+look of calm and serene cheerfulness and contentment which he always
+wears, although he is old, and, judging by the place he lives in, by no
+means rich.  He interests me, I feel curious to hear the story of his
+life, which I do not doubt would contain many strange and noteworthy
+incidents, therefore bring him this afternoon with you to my palace that
+I may question him and satisfy my curiosity concerning him."
+
+Giafer of course promised to obey the royal command, and accordingly on
+the same afternoon when proceeding to the Caliph's palace he called at
+the little house which had been indicated to him and asked to see the
+owner.  The slave who opened the door was greatly surprised and not a
+little frightened when he recognized the officer on horseback with his
+numerous attendants, who inquired for his master, as no less a personage
+than the Grand Vizier himself.
+
+Giafer dismounted, and being shown at once into the little garden,
+discovered sitting there placidly enough the venerable form of the old
+man of whom the Caliph had spoken.
+
+"Sir," said Giafer, "our master, the Caliph, has ordered me to bring you
+with me to-day to the palace, as he wishes to speak with you.  I have
+therefore brought with me a led horse, so that if it should not be too
+fatiguing for you to mount you may ride with me to the palace."
+
+"My lord," said the old man, who was quite unembarrassed, and who was
+strong, and stooped but little in spite of his years, "I accept, with
+many thanks, your kind offer of a horse, and will accompany you at once
+to wait upon the Prince of the Faithful, since he so wills it."
+
+The mounting was somewhat difficult, but when once seated on horseback,
+the old man rode so well and with such an aspect of ease and natural
+dignity, that he pleased his escort and astonished his neighbours, who
+watched his departure, much marvelling for what purpose he had been sent
+for to the palace.
+
+On his arrival he was received very graciously by the Caliph, who told
+him that he had frequently observed him sitting in his little garden, and
+desired that he would relate the particulars of his life and fortune.
+
+"Sire," said the old man, "I have but little to tell your Majesty, and
+scarcely anything that deserves your notice; but at your command I will
+with pleasure narrate the few noteworthy incidents of my life, and that
+as briefly and faithfully as possible."
+
+
+ABDURRAHMAN'S STORY.
+
+"My name," said the old man, "is Abdurrahman, and fourscore and three
+years ago I was born in this city, not very far from the spot where I now
+dwell.  My father, who was a merchant, and fairly prosperous, furnished
+me, when I was twenty years of age, with a stock of goods with which to
+commence to trade, and, as young merchants are wont to do, I departed to
+try my fortune in foreign countries.
+
+"The first country I visited was Persia, and arriving at Shiraz, the
+capital, I remained for many months engaged in selling, at the best
+profit I could obtain for them, the goods I had brought with me from
+Bagdad.
+
+"At length, having disposed of almost all my stock, I began to consider
+what kind of merchandize it would be most advisable that I should buy to
+take back with me, and trade with on my return.
+
+"But as I sat one day in the shop of a jeweller of my acquaintance in the
+bazaar, a circumstance occurred which at once put to flight all ideas of
+an early return to my native land.
+
+"A young lady entered, whose fine apparel and elegant bearing immediately
+attracted my attention.  Two slaves waited on her, and stopped outside
+the shop while she entered.
+
+"Why I should have been especially attracted by this young lady I should
+probably have found it difficult at that moment to explain.  But my eyes
+were no longer under my control, and I thought surely no one ever moved
+more gracefully.  I was young then, and a young man's imagination, like a
+high-mettled steed, soon runs away with him.  Yet, being young, and
+probably in those days not altogether ill-looking, it is not unlikely
+that the lady was, on her side, not at all displeased to observe my very
+evident admiration; and taking pity upon me, or rather, I should say,
+determined instantly to complete her conquest, she contrived, as though
+by accident, to remove her veil for one moment, exposing thus to my
+astonished gaze a countenance of the most surpassing beauty.
+
+"After purchasing sundry articles from my friend the jeweller, and giving
+them to her slaves to carry home for her, she left the shop, not without
+bestowing upon me a parting glance, which penetrated my heart and filled
+me with the most delicious and indescribable excitement.
+
+"As soon as she was gone I inquired eagerly of my friend who this
+dazzling young beauty was, and whereabouts she lived.
+
+"'She is,' he said, 'the daughter of Mazoudi Khan, a very rich man, who
+lives in a fine house not far from the palace of the Shah himself.  I
+should advise you,' he added, 'to forget as soon as possible that you
+have ever seen her, for you know the proverb, "He who lifts his eyes too
+high, is apt to fall and break his neck."'
+
+"The advice was no doubt good, but as well might a man in a fever be
+advised to keep cool.  As well might a man parched with thirst be advised
+to shun water and to think no more of it.  I had seen her face, the face
+of the first beautiful woman it had ever been my lot to behold.  I was
+twenty-one years of age, and my prudent acquaintance advised me to forget
+her!
+
+"My lord, you may guess how I lay awake all that night, and how I
+returned as early next day as I decently could to the shop of my friend,
+in the ardent, if rash, hope of again meeting the object that now
+constantly engrossed me.
+
+"The young lady, who was nowise disposed to avoid me or break my heart,
+came to the shop still earlier than on the previous day, and, while
+examining some jewels, she listened, without any sign of disapproval, to
+the few but passionate words of admiration and love which I ventured to
+address to her.
+
+"'Sir,' she answered, 'if I should say that I feel displeased at what you
+tell me, it would not be true; but, alas! it is useless for you thus to
+address me.  My father is about to marry me to a friend of his, who is
+very rich and nearly as old as himself.'
+
+"With that the lovely creature shed tears, and presently choosing some
+jewels, she went away, leaving me full of grief and distracted with anger
+and jealousy.
+
+"After this I met her again several times in the same place, and, to my
+utmost consternation, learned at length that her marriage with Mirza Aga,
+her father's old friend, would take place in a fortnight.
+
+"At first I implored her in my desperation to fly with me from Persia,
+and accompany me to my home at Bagdad.  But with much good sense she
+pointed out that this was impossible; that we should both infallibly be
+caught before we could get three parasangs away from Shiraz, and be
+brought back to certain death.
+
+"I was altogether at a loss what to do, but finally I bought a large,
+old-fashioned house, situated in a very retired and lonely position in
+the suburbs of the city, and determined, if possible, to persuade my
+charmer to retire with me to that retreat, where I doubted not we might
+remain undiscovered until the fury of her father should abate.
+
+"The house I bought was surrounded by a very high wall, and had a large
+quadrangle within laid out as a garden, with fruit-trees and fountains of
+clear water.  I furnished the place handsomely, and bought several slaves
+to attend upon us.  But, alas! I could find no opportunity to take the
+lady thither, she being always accompanied by at least two of her
+father's slaves, who jealously guarded her.
+
+"The day fixed for her marriage with the ancient bridegroom having
+arrived, I loitered about ready to follow and observe the bridal
+procession, being in a state of mingled rage and despair not easy to
+describe.
+
+"Now among the Persians it is the custom when the wedding-day arrives
+that the friends of the bride shall escort her from her home towards the
+house of her husband, while he, on his part, comes with his friends to
+meet her.  As soon as he sees his bride he throws an orange or other
+fruit at her, and rides off again towards his house, and whosoever
+catches him before he arrives there, is entitled to his horse and clothes
+or a ransom in lieu of them.
+
+"The distance which the bridegroom thus advances to meet his bride,
+varies in each case according to circumstances.
+
+"The lady Perizadeh, being the daughter of so influential a man as
+Mazoudi Khan, it was arranged that Mirza Aga, who was her inferior in
+rank, should advance two-thirds of the distance that had to be traversed.
+
+"It thus happened that when the two cavalcades encountered each other,
+and the bridegroom, according to custom, threw the orange and rode off,
+he had some considerable distance to ride.  As your Majesty is aware, the
+Persians are to be reckoned among the best horsemen in the world; but
+Mirza Aga was no longer young; and whether it were owing to that, or
+whether his horse was in fault, I know not, but before he had ridden far,
+with all the members of the two parties pursuing him at the top of their
+speed, his horse suddenly stumbled, and he was thrown upon his head and
+killed on the spot.
+
+"During the scene of confusion which followed, while all were crowding
+round the fallen man, to render help or to endeavour to ascertain the
+nature and extent of his injuries, the bride was left for the moment
+alone and unguarded.  Seizing the opportunity, I sprang up behind her on
+her horse, and turning at once down a side street, was in a few seconds
+out of sight, and reached in safety the house I had bought, and which I
+had, as I have said, prepared for our reception.
+
+"As soon as the bride was missed--which, owing to the excitement and
+confusion, did not occur immediately--it was of course assumed that she
+had, when frightened by the accident, turned round and ridden back again
+to her father's house.  Mazoudi Khan therefore went home at once to see
+and console her; but when he found that she had not returned, he
+despatched his whole retinue in different directions, to scour the
+country in search of the robbers who had, as he supposed, carried off his
+daughter.
+
+"Even when his followers came back unsuccessful, he still expected
+shortly to recover his child, as he entertained no doubt that the bandits
+would find means before long to communicate with him respecting her
+ransom.
+
+"Meanwhile, we lived with the utmost privacy in the house I had
+purchased, never going outside the walls, or doing anything whatever to
+attract attention to us.
+
+"In this way a whole year passed by.  A son was born to us, and I named
+him Diraz.  And the lovely Perizadeh and myself continued as enamoured of
+each other, and as happy in each other's society, as we had been at first.
+
+"About a twelvemonth after the day--ever memorable to me--on which I had
+effected the capture of the destined bride of the unfortunate Mirza Aga,
+I happened to hear that Mazoudi Khan was seriously ill, the loss of his
+daughter, whom he tenderly loved, having depressed his spirits to an
+alarming degree.
+
+"After much debate we determined that Perizadeh, taking her baby with
+her, should go to her father and implore his forgiveness for both of us.
+I sent her, clad as handsomely as I could afford, with a slave to carry
+the baby, and two other slaves to attend upon her; and I waited the
+result of the interview between her and her father with no little anxiety.
+
+"I knew that a proud and wealthy man like Mazoudi Khan would have
+rejected, with much disdain, a young and unknown merchant like myself,
+had I demanded his daughter in marriage; but I hoped now, that the sight
+of his child whom he mourned as lost, and of his grandchild--towards whom
+a grandfather's heart is always especially open--would soften him, and
+cause him to relent.  In this I was not disappointed.
+
+"He sent for me, forgave me, welcomed me as his son-in-law, and appointed
+us a house near to his own.
+
+"And not long afterwards he obtained for me an official post at the
+Persian Court, where I remained happy and contented for the space of
+twenty years.
+
+"By that time, both my father-in-law and my lovely Perizadeh had died,
+and my son Diraz, now grown a fine young man, was entered as a gholam,
+that is, one of the royal body-guard.
+
+"Ten years more passed by uneventfully, and I looked forward confidently
+hoping to see my son appointed to the government of a province, or some
+other position of dignity and emolument.  But, alas! just when this
+seemed most certain, an indiscretion, an act of madness on the part of my
+unhappy son, brought ruin on us both.
+
+"Among the women at that time in the harem of his Majesty the Shah, was a
+very beautiful slave, who had been captured during a war which had been
+waged against an infidel nation, whose territory extends beyond the
+northern frontier of the Shah's dominions.
+
+"This slave, beautiful as the full moon, Diraz, rash and presumptuous
+youth that he was, managed to catch sight of, and immediately he became
+desperately, recklessly enamoured of her.
+
+"Forgetting the duty we owed to our master the Shah, and taking advantage
+of his official position as gholam shahee, which enabled and authorized
+him to travel by post at speed, pressing horses as he went, he managed to
+steal the beautiful slave, and got such a start before her loss and his
+absence were discovered, that he was not overtaken, but escaped with her
+out of the kingdom.
+
+"When the Shah heard of the matter, he very naturally was furious----"
+
+"Very naturally, indeed," said the Caliph, with a grim smile.
+
+"Well, very naturally also," continued Abdurrahman, "his Majesty sent for
+me, upbraided me for having such a son, and ordering all that I had to be
+confiscated, commanded me to leave his kingdom forthwith, and find and
+bring back my son and his slave.
+
+"In great grief I retraced my steps mechanically to my house, but a
+gholam, bearing the royal edict, had arrived there before me, and my own
+slave repulsed me from my own door.
+
+"I set out, therefore, at once on my journey northwards, travelling not
+like my son had done, by relays of the swiftest horses that could be
+forced into the service, but slowly and wearily on foot.  It took me many
+weeks to accomplish the distance he had traversed in a few days; but not
+to inflict upon you the tedious incidents of my journey, I will only say
+that I arrived at length in that region to which I believed my son had
+carried the beautiful slave.  Not without considerable risk, on account
+of the hatred felt by all the people of that infidel nation, against true
+believers, I succeeded in reaching the capital, where I soon learnt on
+inquiry, that a gholam of the Shah of Persia had arrived recently,
+bringing with him a lady of extreme beauty, who was, it appeared, the
+daughter of the king of that country.
+
+"The king had received his daughter, and my son also for her sake, with
+every demonstration of joy and satisfaction.  And the young people,
+married, and very happy, were now living in the royal palace.
+
+"I managed soon to let my son know of my arrival, and he came at once to
+the khan where I was staying, and welcomed me with much affectionate
+delight; all the more because since his departure from Shiraz he had
+begun too late to consider the vengeance with which the incensed Shah
+might only too probably visit me in consequence of his misdoing.
+
+"He conducted me forthwith to the palace, and introduced me to my
+daughter-in-law, the beautiful slave with whom he had eloped; and also to
+his father-in-law, the king of that country, who received me very
+graciously, and bestowed upon me, in recompense for the loss I had
+sustained, a fine house and a thousand purses of gold.
+
+"The country in which we now were was a mountainous one, and very bleak
+and cold in the winter; and my son Diraz had not been there six months
+before he took so violent a chill that he died after a few days' illness.
+
+"About a month later the princess, my daughter-in-law, gave birth to a
+female child.  Nothing now was so dear to me as my little granddaughter,
+and when, five years afterwards, both my daughter-in-law and the king her
+father were carried off by a fever which was very prevalent and fatal in
+that country, I determined to return with my grandchild to my native
+city, there to spend my remaining years in peace.
+
+"We journeyed very slowly, stopping for months together in many of the
+cities on our way.  At length we arrived safely in Bagdad, and settled
+down in the little house and garden by the river, where I live in peace
+and contentment with my granddaughter as my only companion; she is my
+treasure and the brightness of my house."
+
+"The young lady," said the Caliph, "must by this time be old enough to be
+married: if I find her a husband will you provide her a dower?"
+
+"Sire," said Abdurrahman, "when I die, and I am now old, what little I
+have will be hers, but till then her only dower consists of two small
+jars of ointment."
+
+"What jars are those?" asked the Caliph; "and where did you get them?"
+
+"The jars," answered Abdurrahman, "were entrusted to me by my
+daughter-in-law just before her death.
+
+"'Preserve them carefully,' she said, 'and unopened, for the ointment
+they contain is most precious, and of a rare and even magical efficacy.
+When my little girl is old enough for marriage offer them for sale, but
+take not less than a thousand pieces of gold for the one jar, and not
+less than ten thousand pieces for the other.  If no one can be found
+willing to pay that price for them do not part with them, keep them
+rather, and direct that they be buried with you.'
+
+"I have never yet," continued the old man, "offered the jars of ointment
+for sale, and truly it seems so improbable that any one will ever be
+inclined to pay so preposterous a price for them, that doubtless they
+will be interred with me as the princess, my daughter-in-law, requested."
+
+"By Allah, not so!" said the Caliph; "I will buy them myself.  And your
+granddaughter, who I take it on your word is a very charming young lady,
+I give with her dower of eleven thousand pieces of gold to the son of
+Giafer."
+
+The Grand Vizier and Abdurrahman bowed and touched their foreheads in
+token of entire submission to the will of the Prince of the Faithful.
+
+The Caliph then dismissed them with the injunction to make preparations
+for solemnizing the marriage as soon as possible.
+
+
+
+
+The Caliph and the First Jar of Ointment.
+
+
+FIRST ADVENTURE:
+
+THE CALIPH AND THE EMIR.
+
+A few days after the marriage of Abdurrahman's daughter with the son of
+the Grand Vizier, the Caliph ordered his treasurer to bring him the two
+jars of ointment which he had bought of Abdurrahman.
+
+When he saw them they were so very small that he could not avoid an
+exclamation of surprise.
+
+"By Allah," said Haroun, "but the old man has had a good price!"
+
+Although the jars were both very small, yet they were not of the same
+size, one being half as large again as the other.
+
+"And," said Giafer, "I must inform your Majesty that the larger jar is
+that which cost a thousand pieces of gold, and the smaller ten thousand
+pieces."
+
+"Hand them to me," said the Caliph, "that I may see them more closely."
+
+Then holding the jars in his hands, he read the inscription on the
+larger jar: "The Ointment Marvellous.  This jar to be opened by no one
+but the purchaser thereof, who will be informed by a writing contained
+in the jar of the uses and wonderful properties of the ointment."  On
+the smaller jar were the words, "Most Marvellous Ointment," and
+following those words an inscription precisely similar to that on the
+larger jar: "This jar to be opened by no one but the purchaser thereof,
+who will be informed by a writing contained in the jar of the uses and
+wonderful properties of the ointment."
+
+When he had read the inscriptions on the jars, the Caliph handed back
+the smaller jar to the Grand Vizier, and ordered him to return it to
+the treasurer to be carefully preserved until he should require it.
+
+Then opening the larger jar, he took out a writing he found immediately
+inside.  This was folded, and upon the outside was written, "To be read
+by the purchaser of the ointment only."
+
+The Caliph therefore opened it and read these words: "Whosoever thou
+art who hast bought this small jar of ointment for the price of one
+thousand pieces of gold, being as yet ignorant of the power and virtues
+of the ointment, rejoice, for thy faith and liberality are not wasted.
+Whensoever thou shalt anoint thine eyes with the ointment in this jar,
+for the space of three hours afterwards thou shalt see through all
+solid substances that lie fifty feet in front of thee as though,
+instead of being opaque and dense as stone or brick, they were clear
+and translucent as a diamond of the first water.  But of this power
+tell no man anything, lest thou lose it."
+
+When the Caliph had read these words, he sat some time silent.  The
+Grand Vizier standing beside him was curious to learn the secret of the
+ointment, and wondered at the long silence of his master.
+
+At length the Caliph rose, and placed the jar of ointment with his own
+hands in a cabinet which he locked, and of which he himself kept the
+key.
+
+Giafer, whose curiosity was fully aroused by the taciturnity of Haroun
+on this occasion, could not help asking, "Is your Majesty satisfied or
+disappointed with your purchase of the ointment?"
+
+"It remains to be proved," said the Caliph, smiling, "whether the
+ointment is as valuable as is asserted.  When the proper opportunity
+presents itself, I will test it.  Meanwhile, Grand Vizier, the proverb
+is never to be forgotten, 'The inquisitive are ever in danger.'"
+
+After this Giafer perceived that it would be wiser to say no more.
+
+They then conversed some time on various public questions and State
+affairs, and at length, when dismissing Giafer, the Caliph said, "Do
+not fail to come at the usual hour this evening that we may wander
+disguised through Bagdad, as I have already arranged to do."
+
+Giafer arrived at the palace punctually at the hour appointed by the
+Caliph, and, disguised in the habits of merchants, Haroun and his
+Vizier sallied forth according to their wont, accompanied only by
+Mesrur, who followed them at a short distance.
+
+Before leaving the palace, Haroun Alraschid, retiring for a few moments
+from his attendants, had applied to his eyes some of the ointment out
+of the jar he had placed in his cabinet.
+
+On reaching the streets and looking about him, he discovered to his
+great joy and contentment that the efficacy of the ointment had been
+nowise exaggerated by what was stated in the writing which he had found
+within the jar.
+
+Wherever they went he could see, instead of the mere blank outer walls,
+the interior of the dwellings, and the inhabitants of every house
+employed in any avocation that they might happen at that moment to be
+engaged in.  In one room he would see three or four men seated
+together, the evening meal being finished, and discussing quietly the
+occupations of the day or the prospects of the future.  In another room
+the women of the family would be visible to him, with their faces
+uncovered; thought of horror and insult for the men could they but have
+guessed it!  Here, some were eating sweetmeats, sipping sherbet and
+gossiping.  There, others were engaged adding to their charms by
+staining their eyelids, dyeing their hair, or other adornments of the
+toilet which it is not lawful for men to imagine, much less to behold.
+
+The Caliph walked along this evening looking first on this side, then
+on that, and appeared so much interested with all he saw that he seemed
+altogether oblivious of Giafer's existence, and spoke to him never a
+word.
+
+Giafer found the walk rather dull.  And the more dull he found it the
+more surprised he was at the unusual patience exhibited by the
+Commander of the Faithful, who uttered no impatient exclamations, but
+whose countenance bore an expression of satisfaction and interest far
+enough removed from any kind of irritability or ill-humour.
+
+They had wandered in this way for a long time through many of the
+least-frequented and least-interesting thoroughfares of the city, the
+Grand Vizier scarcely knowing whether he were more bored by the walk or
+astonished at the evident satisfaction of his master, when suddenly the
+Caliph stood still, leaning against the wall of a house and staring
+intently at the blank wall of the house immediately opposite.
+
+After they had stood thus for some minutes, the Caliph looking fixedly
+and with evidently increasing interest and excitement at the dead wall
+opposite, Giafer became seriously alarmed, fearing that his master had
+either lost his wits or was going to have a fit.  He was, in fact, so
+much frightened by the extraordinary behaviour of the Caliph, which had
+continued all the evening, that he continued to stand beside him and
+watch him, himself motionless and speechless.
+
+All at once the Caliph, still gazing intently before him, grasped
+Giafer by the arm and whispered to him as though others were present--
+
+"Go, take Mesrur with you; go round that house, down the turning
+yonder, and arrest them as they come out of the gate."
+
+For a moment Giafer, who seriously believed that the Caliph had become
+demented, hesitated.  But the habit of obedience prevailed, and putting
+his hand to his head, the usual sign of implicit devotion to the royal
+will, he beckoned Mesrur, whose figure at a little distance from them
+was the only living object visible in the street, and they disappeared
+together down the narrow turning which the Caliph had indicated.
+
+We must now explain what it was that caused the Caliph to remain so
+long gazing at the house before the outer wall of which he was standing.
+
+As he came along the street he saw in the garden of the house, which
+lay immediately behind the high wall in front of him, a sight very
+different from any of those which had hitherto been disclosed to him.
+
+Lying on the grass beneath a wide spreading tree in the middle of the
+garden was the apparently lifeless form of a very beautiful young lady.
+Her clothes were of the finest materials, and her neck, arms, and
+ankles were adorned with magnificent jewellery, composed of gold,
+diamonds, pearls, and other precious stones.  Standing beside her, and
+looking down upon her with a disturbed and angry countenance, was an
+old man, richly dressed, and evidently the master of the house, whose
+face, now distorted with passion, must at all times have worn a fierce
+and malevolent expression.  After thus standing and watching her for a
+few minutes the old man, stooping down, took hold of her hand, as
+though to ascertain that she were really dead; and when, as he released
+it, the arm fell heavily again to the earth, he again stood
+contemplating for some minutes the youthful and lovely figure at his
+feet.  Presently he clapped his hands, and some slaves appearing, he
+gave them some brief directions, on receiving which they went again
+into the house, returning shortly with a great empty sack or bag.  In
+this they placed gently and carefully enough the body of the young
+lady, and lifting the sack, carried it between them towards a side gate
+opening into a narrow lane that ran down by one side of the walled
+enclosure which formed the garden of the mansion.
+
+The Caliph saw the old man point with his finger to this side gate,
+evidently bidding them carry forth their burden at that entrance.
+
+It was at this moment that he had grasped the arm of the Grand Vizier,
+and had whispered to him the order to proceed at once with Mesrur and
+arrest the men he should find coming along the lane.
+
+Giafer, as we have seen, after a brief hesitation went back to where
+Mesrur was standing, and acquainting him rapidly with the Caliph's
+order, they crossed the street and entered the lane as they had been
+commanded.
+
+They had not proceeded many steps down the lane before they met the
+slaves bearing the great sack.
+
+Giafer and Mesrur drawing their swords, demanded sternly what they had
+there, and whither they were going.
+
+The slaves, when they saw two men with drawn swords barring the way,
+put down their burden quickly and would have fled, but Mesrur
+exclaimed--
+
+"Stop, for I will cut down the first man among you that dares stir hand
+or foot."
+
+Then one of the slaves answered and said, "Sirs, we are carrying this
+package by order of our master, therefore please to let us pass."
+
+But Giafer said, "Slaves, who is your master?  And what have you in
+this sack, and whither do you carry it?  I command you, in the name of
+the Prince of the Faithful, to answer these questions truly."
+
+"Sir," said the slave who had spoken already, "our master is the Emir
+Bargash ibn Beynin, who lives in this house at the side of which we are
+standing, and he will, if he chooses, tell you what is in the sack and
+whither it is going, but we dare not say anything."
+
+The Grand Vizier might probably have returned a very rough answer to
+this speech, or even have cut down the slave who uttered it, but at
+that moment the Caliph himself entered the lane, accompanied by a guard
+of soldiers, who happened to be patrolling the city in that direction,
+and whom the Caliph had summoned to his assistance.
+
+Directing some of the soldiers to escort the slaves and their burthen
+to the palace, he ordered the officer of the guard with the rest of his
+men to enter the house of the Emir, and to conduct him also at once to
+the palace.  He furthermore strictly charged the officer to permit the
+master of the house to hold no communication whatever with any of its
+inmates before leaving, and as soon as possible to send a guard to
+seize and hold possession of the place until the Caliph's pleasure
+should be known concerning it.  After giving these orders Haroun
+Alraschid returned with Giafer to the palace.
+
+When he had changed his clothes and assumed his seat on the imperial
+divan, he commanded the Emir to be brought in before him.  Then,
+addressing him, he said with a stern expression--
+
+"This evening my officers have stopped and arrested a party of slaves
+belonging to your household, who were carrying in a sack the body of a
+young lady.  They say that they carried it from your house by your
+command.  Explain to me, therefore, who the lady is, and what your
+slaves were ordered to do with her."
+
+The Emir Bargash ibn Beynin, having prostrated himself before the
+throne of the Caliph, replied--
+
+"Prince of the Faithful, I hasten according to your command to declare
+to you the whole truth concerning the young lady whose body my slaves
+were carrying in the sack.  That young lady was my niece.  She was
+Persian by birth, my nephew having married her while staying in that
+country, and brought her back with him about a year ago, when he
+returned to his native land.  For the last three or four months they
+have been staying with me in my house in this city.  I must here inform
+your Majesty, though I say it with sorrow and regret, that my nephew,
+who is a man of violent passions, ever treated his young wife with
+scandalous severity and harshness.  Often, but in vain, I have
+remonstrated with him as to his conduct.  At length, this evening, when
+going into my garden, I found my niece lying there lifeless.
+Everywhere I sought my nephew, but could not find him.  I was convinced
+that he had in some way been the cause of his wife's death, and that he
+had fled to escape the consequences of his barbarous act.  But, being
+myself not a little apprehensive of the danger which might threaten
+myself if the dead body were discovered in my house, I confess that I
+ordered my slaves to remove it and place it in the river."
+
+The Caliph listened with much attention to the account given him by the
+Emir.  After the latter had finished his narration, Haroun Alraschid
+dismissed him with the injunction immediately to make diligent search
+for his nephew, and to arrest him and bring him at once to the palace
+as soon as he could find him.
+
+The Caliph being now very tired retired to rest.
+
+Meanwhile the body of the young lady, which had been carried to the
+palace, was taken to the women's apartments, the ladies of the harem
+being all of them devoured with curiosity to see the fair unknown.
+When the body had been taken out of the sack in which it had been
+placed, all were astonished at the extreme beauty of the stranger, and
+the richness and value of her dress and ornaments.  At length one of
+the ladies who were gathered together around her declared, after
+looking at her attentively and placing her hand over her heart, that
+she was convinced that life was not yet extinct.  Resorting to all the
+remedies of use in cases of prolonged fainting fits, consciousness was
+at last restored, and, after partaking of some slight nourishment, the
+lovely patient fell into a natural sleep, during which she was watched
+with sympathizing eyes by several eager volunteers.
+
+Early next morning, as soon as the Caliph had risen and was dressed,
+one of the Chamberlains of the palace acquainted him with the recovery
+of the young lady, and that she was now so much better that she was
+sitting and conversing with the other ladies in the harem.
+
+The Caliph immediately sent the Chamberlain to announce that his
+Majesty was about to pay them a visit.  When the Caliph entered the
+apartment where she was, the young lady, with all the ladies of the
+harem who were sitting with her, rose to receive the Commander of the
+Faithful, and prostrated themselves before him.
+
+Bidding them rise, and placing the young lady on the divan near to him,
+he inquired after her health; and when she answered that she was much
+better, and nearly recovered from her illness of the previous evening,
+he told her to relate to him the occasion of the serious and almost
+fatal fainting fit into which she had fallen.
+
+"Sire," said the young lady, with tears in her eyes, "all my trouble,
+and the fact that I am now here, arises from the vile conduct of a
+relative, from whom I had every reason to expect very different
+treatment.
+
+"My father was a wealthy merchant, living at Teheran, and I his only
+daughter.  He gave me the name of Abadeh, and spared no expense to
+render his house and garden--where I lived until I was sixteen years of
+age--as bright and charming as it is possible for any young girl to
+desire.
+
+"Nothing I wished for was denied me; and when one day, while on my way
+to the bath, I saw Suliman, the nephew of the Emir Bargash ibn Beynin
+of Bagdad, who was visiting Teheran, and could neither rest nor he
+happy because I was continually thinking of him, my dear father no
+sooner had learned the cause of my disquiet than he arranged a marriage
+between us, giving Suliman such a handsome dower with me as made him
+think himself a very fortunate young man."
+
+Haroun Alraschid, who was a very polite man among ladies, here
+interposed the remark that Suliman had much cause to consider himself
+fortunate, irrespective of the dower.
+
+Abadeh, blushing at the Caliph's compliment, continued--
+
+"For a whole year we lived very happily together, when, on the death of
+my dear father, my husband, no longer having any inducement to remain
+in Persia, determined to return to his native country.
+
+"After a journey marked by no noteworthy incident, we arrived at length
+in Bagdad.  Hiring a house next to that occupied by my husband's uncle,
+the Emir Bargash ibn Beynin, we have resided there now nearly a year,
+in the greatest contentment and happiness, and constantly visited by
+the Emir, who has always professed to be extremely pleased with our
+society.
+
+"Yesterday evening, however, he sent one of his female slaves to bid me
+come at once to his house, as Suliman was suddenly taken ill.
+
+"I was just dressed to receive my dear husband, whose return I every
+moment expected.  I hurried down therefore from my chamber just as I
+was, forgetting even in my excitement to throw my yashmak over me, and
+crossing the narrow yard between our houses, I entered the Emir's
+garden.
+
+"He met me in the midst of the garden, and in answer to my eager
+inquiry for my husband, he said: 'You cannot see him, it is too late;
+he is dead.'
+
+"'Impossible!' I cried; 'it cannot be, take me to him at once.  Let me
+at least try what can be done for him.'
+
+"Then this Emir--this wicked, this infamous man--took me in his arms,
+in spite of my struggles, and kissed me and said: 'Think no more of
+Suliman, who is gone, and whom you will not see again.  Now you belong
+to me--I love you, I have loved you for months, and never more shall we
+part.'
+
+"As he said these things, and I perceived his villainy, which I had
+never even suspected until that moment, and thought how he had possibly
+murdered his nephew, of whom he had pretended to be so fond, I fainted
+off in the arms of the perfidious wretch, who, finding that I continued
+so long insensible, no doubt concluded that I was dead.  Indeed, I
+remember nothing more until I found myself here in the palace, and most
+kindly tended and watched.  What has become of my dear husband I know
+not; but oh, sir!" said she, falling down before the Caliph, "find him,
+find him for me again if it be possible, and punish the Emir as he
+deserves!"
+
+"Rise," said the Caliph, "rise, beautiful lady, and be comforted.  If
+Suliman be alive he shall be restored to you.  And whether he be alive
+or dead the doom of the Emir is certain."
+
+So saying, he at once went out of the harem, and summoning Giafer, he
+said: "Send at once and fetch the Emir Bargash ibn Beynin.  And let
+some officers go also and bring hither, if they can find him, Suliman,
+the nephew of the Emir, who lived in the next house to him."
+
+An hour afterwards the officers returned, and reported that they could
+find neither the Emir nor, his nephew.  The former, taking some of his
+slaves with him, had left his home about an hour before the arrival of
+the officers sent to arrest him, and no one knew whither he had gone.
+While as for his nephew, Suliman, he had left home on the previous day,
+and had not since been heard of.
+
+When this account was brought to the Caliph, he was furious.
+
+"Go," said he, to the Grand Vizier, "destroy the house of that vile
+scoundrel, the Emir Bargash ibn Beynin; leave of it not one stick or
+stone upon another.  And bring me both the Emir and his nephew--dead or
+alive I will have them.  Two days I give you to seek them, and if you
+fail to find them, by Allah, your head shall not remain above your
+shoulders."
+
+Giafer trembled at the rage of his master, and went forth out of the
+palace knowing no more where to look for the Emir and his nephew than
+did the Caliph himself.
+
+At first he said to himself, "I may as well go home to my own house and
+set my affairs in order, for in two days I must die, for how can I find
+in this great kingdom the two men I am in search of?  I might as well
+seek in a sand-heap two particular grains of sand."
+
+However, as he rode along very slowly and moodily, it suddenly occurred
+to him--"It is at least my duty to do at once that part of the Caliph's
+order which is feasible."  Therefore, sending for the proper workmen,
+he proceeded immediately to the Emir's house, and superintended its
+entire demolition.
+
+After some hours' work the house was pulled down, and there remained
+only some small portion of a very thick wall, which separated the house
+from some out-buildings.  While proceeding with the destruction of
+this, the workmen came upon a doorway or opening, which had but
+recently been bricked up, the cement being still damp; and when they
+had removed this, they discovered a small cell or chamber situated in
+the thickness of the wall, in which was seated a living man.
+
+He, being brought to the Grand Vizier, declared that he was Suliman,
+the nephew of the Emir, and said that his uncle--for what cause he knew
+not--had barbarously caused him to be seized and buried alive where
+they had found him.  He begged that he might be allowed at once to
+return to his own house, where his wife would be anxiously expecting
+him.
+
+The Grand Vizier, overjoyed to have thus secured one at least of those
+whom he had been commanded to apprehend, would not lose sight of him
+for one moment, but carried him forthwith to the palace.
+
+The Caliph was considerably mollified by the production of Suliman, in
+whose fate the narrative of Abadeh had so much interested him.  He
+listened with rising indignation to the account Suliman gave of the
+behaviour of his uncle towards him, and once more ordering the Grand
+Vizier to find and arrest the Emir, he commanded the Grand Chamberlain
+to conduct Suliman to the apartment occupied by Abadeh.
+
+That faithful wife was sitting disconsolate, scarcely daring to hope
+again to behold her husband, when the Grand Chamberlain, coming softly
+to the door, ushered in Suliman himself.
+
+We will not attempt to intrude upon the transports of this happy pair
+in again rejoining each other.  At length Suliman learnt from the lips
+of his wife the motive and object of his inhuman and treacherous uncle,
+in causing him to be immured in that fatal cell, from which he had been
+so marvellously released.
+
+But while Suliman and Abadeh were thus discussing the conduct and
+perfidy of the Emir, the unhappy Grand Vizier had to resume the
+difficult and hazardous task of discovering his hiding-place.  Two
+circumstances served to encourage him, and to make the execution of the
+Caliph's order seem somewhat less difficult than it had at first sight
+appeared.  The first circumstance was the wonderful way in which
+Suliman had been delivered, as it were, into his hands, in the most
+strange and altogether unexpected manner; and the second circumstance
+was the fact of the Emir having taken certain slaves away with him.  He
+had no doubt taken away those slaves who had been employed to immure
+his unfortunate nephew, and with the object of leaving no one who could
+throw any light on the fate of his victim.  Why he had fled was not so
+clear, but probably some whisper of the resuscitation of his niece at
+the palace had come to his ears.
+
+Cogitating these things the Grand Vizier returned to his palace, and
+immediately gave orders that the public criers should make proclamation
+in every part of the city, that a reward would be given to any one
+giving information leading to the capture of the Emir Bargash ibn
+Beynin, namely, two thousand pieces of gold if he were taken alive, and
+one thousand pieces on the recovery of his body if he were dead.
+
+The next morning, soon after the Grand Vizier had risen, one of his
+officers came to him and said, "There is a man whom we found very early
+this morning at the Gate, who desires to speak with your Highness."
+
+The Grand Vizier, divining at once that it might be one of the slaves
+of the Emir, said, "Bring him in."
+
+When the man was brought in, he prostrated himself before the Grand
+Vizier, and said--
+
+"I can tell your Highness where the Emir Bargash ibn Beynin has gone,
+but promise me first that no harm shall be done me."
+
+"Cursed slave!" cried the Grand Vizier, in the utmost excitement,
+"inform me instantly where that villain your master is to be found, or
+by the life of the Caliph I will have you impaled upon the spot."
+
+"My lord," answered the slave, terrified by the impetuosity and threats
+of the Grand Vizier, "have patience and hear me.  Yesterday morning my
+master took me and three other slaves of his, and going to a khan in a
+remote part of the city he ordered us to lie down and sleep, or at any
+rate keep quiet till he called us.  During the day he assumed the garb
+of a merchant, and we heard him arrange with some other merchants, whom
+he met at the khan, to leave with them very early this morning in a
+caravan, which sets out with the intention of proceeding towards
+Persia.  Yesterday evening I heard the crier proclaim the reward that
+you offer for the capture of my master, and therefore during the night
+I made my escape, and came here.  But again I implore you----"
+
+"No more," said the Grand Vizier, interrupting him; "if the Emir
+escapes your life shall answer it, but if he is captured you shall have
+the reward, and free pardon for your crimes, be they what they may."
+
+Then calling an officer he ordered him to take a score of horsemen,
+mounted on the swiftest steeds to be found in his stables, and bring
+back the master of this slave, and the other slaves that were with him.
+
+The officer bowed and immediately departed, taking with him the slave,
+in order to be able more certainly to identify the man wanted by the
+Grand Vizier.
+
+It was not long before the small and well-mounted body of cavalry
+overtook the caravan, which necessarily travelled very slowly.  As soon
+as the Emir observed them approaching he guessed that they had been
+sent to apprehend him, and putting spurs to his horse, he attempted to
+seek safety in flight.  The cavalry came on like the wind, the few
+foremost horsemen passed the caravan safely, but the others getting
+mixed up with the camels and asses, composing the train of the caravan,
+who straggled in all directions, being frightened by the noise of the
+pursuers, a scene of inextricable confusion for some time ensued.
+
+Meanwhile the Emir, who was mounted on a powerful horse, which was
+fresh, while those of the soldiers were already considerably blown,
+kept the lead easily, and appeared to have every chance of distancing
+his pursuers altogether, and effecting his escape, when the Vizier's
+officer, reining in his horse, discharged an arrow, aimed so accurately
+that the Emir's horse was wounded.  This changed the relative
+conditions, and before long the Emir, finding that his horse was
+disabled and could do no more, dismounted, and putting his back against
+a tree, drew his sword, and prepared to offer stubborn resistance.  All
+his efforts were however in vain; being overpowered by numbers, he was
+seized and disarmed, but not before he had managed to inflict severe
+wounds upon two of his assailants.
+
+Having bound him, they returned slowly to the spot where they had left
+the caravan.  This was being gradually restored to order, and the
+officer collecting his men and securing the slaves and goods belonging
+to the Emir, left the caravan to proceed again on its way, and hastened
+back with his prisoner to Bagdad.
+
+Directly the Grand Vizier was informed by a soldier, who was sent on in
+advance of the party, of the capture of the Emir, he went out at once
+to meet him, and conducted him straightway to the palace of the Caliph.
+
+At the moment of the Grand Vizier's arrival, Haroun Alraschid was
+seated on his throne in the splendid chamber of audience, holding a
+public reception of the Imaums, Viziers, Emirs, Governors of Provinces,
+and other great functionaries of his kingdom.
+
+When the Grand Vizier announced to the Caliph that the Emir Bargash ibn
+Beynin was a prisoner, and awaited under guard the commands of his
+Majesty, Haroun Alraschid, looking round the audience-chamber with a
+stern expression of countenance, said, "Let the Emir be conducted into
+our presence."
+
+And when the Emir, preceded by the Marshal of the Palace and guarded by
+ten soldiers, entered the magnificent apartment, and stood before his
+sovereign in the midst of that illustrious assemblage, the Caliph thus
+addressed him:
+
+"Emir! three times over you have forfeited the life whose opportunities
+you have abused and the station whose fair name and dignity you have
+disgraced.  You have coveted and attempted to take the wife of your
+neighbour, and that neighbour a near relative of your own, whom you
+were bound in honour to cherish and protect.  You have attempted to
+take the life of your nephew, and that in the most atrocious and
+cold-blooded way.  And, finally, you have lied to me, and attempted to
+deceive your sovereign and the Head of your Faith.  Now, therefore, in
+the face of this assembly I pronounce upon you my sentence.  Your
+honours and your goods are forfeited, and I bestow them upon Suliman,
+your nephew, against whom you have acted so basely.  For yourself,
+three times shall you ride through Bagdad with your face to the tail of
+the camel, while the criers make this announcement, 'Behold the reward
+of an assassin,' and after the third journey they shall smite off your
+head."
+
+The Caliph then gave Mesrur the usual sign to remove the prisoner.
+
+After being paraded three times through the streets of Bagdad in the
+manner the Caliph had ordained, the executioner struck off his head,
+and thus perished that vile and infamous miscreant, the Emir Bargash
+ibn Beynin.
+
+
+
+
+The Caliph and the First Jar of Ointment
+
+
+SECOND ADVENTURE:
+
+THE CALIPH AND ABOU HASSAN.
+
+One evening not long after the execution of the Emir, Haroun Alraschid,
+when about to indulge in one of his nocturnal rambles, determined again
+to make trial of the marvellous properties of his magical ointment.
+Before sallying forth, therefore, with Giafer, always his faithful
+companion in these adventures, he retired privately to his cabinet and
+anointed his eyes with a small portion of the contents of the little
+jar.
+
+Once more on passing through the streets of his capital the interior of
+the houses and the occupations and amusements of his subjects were
+revealed to him.  In some houses he saw feasting and merriment, in some
+mourning and death.  In the dwellings of the rich there was to be seen
+fine clothes and jewellery, in the hovels of the poor squalor and rags.
+And so constantly varied and animated were the scenes which by virtue
+of the ointment he was enabled to observe, that he walked on for more
+than an hour without experiencing either fatigue or weariness.
+
+At length, as he was passing a certain mean-looking house in one of the
+less important thoroughfares, his attention was attracted to a scene
+which caused him to stop before the house; and, resting in the
+obscurity of a great recessed doorway on the opposite side of the way,
+to observe with much interest what took place in the room before him.
+
+It was a large room, and but dimly lighted by a single oil lamp placed
+upon the table.  A great number of packages were lying in a confused
+heap on one side of the room; and on a raised divan near to the table
+and facing the door of the apartment sat an old man of no very inviting
+appearance.  About his head he wore an old turban, not very clean and
+put on in a careless and slovenly manner.  His eyes were shielded and
+concealed by a large green shade, as though the light even of the one
+oil lamp were too strong for him.  His clothes were plain, but much
+better than his head-gear; his form seemed slight and wiry, and Haroun
+noticed that his hands, which were small and plump, were adorned with
+several very handsome and valuable rings.
+
+Between this large room occupied by the figure just described and the
+door in the wall of the house was a small ante-room or lobby, in which
+was seated on the bare floor a little ill-looking hump-backed slave,
+whom the Caliph, whose memory for faces was remarkable, immediately
+recognized as a mute who had been under the orders of Mesrur, and who,
+in consequence, it was supposed, of some punishment inflicted upon him,
+had fled from the palace some months previously.  The sight of this
+slave caused Haroun to be additionally curious to learn what might be
+the business of his present master.  The occupation of the mute was
+obvious.  He sat in the lobby at the door of the house ready to open it
+for any one who might wish to enter.
+
+The Caliph had but few moments to wait before the figure of a man
+carrying a small bundle crept stealthily up the street and stood at the
+door.  Pressing what looked like the head of a large bolt on the
+surface of the door, a piece of wood on the inside was slightly raised.
+On this sign the mute rose, and opening the door just sufficiently wide
+to allow the man to enter, he closed it quickly, and immediately led
+the way into the large room where the old man sat by the lamp.  The
+new-comer placed his bundle on the table, and having opened and
+displayed its contents, which consisted of some jewellery and some
+pieces of fine cloth, he packed it up again and deposited it with the
+other packages upon the floor.
+
+The old man, who had sat quite motionless, and whose lips did not once
+move, proceeded to count out certain coins on to the table; these the
+other took, also apparently in silence, and forthwith departed, leaving
+the house and passing down the street in the same stealthy and furtive
+manner in which he had arrived.
+
+The Caliph and Giafer remained some time concealed thus in the black
+shadow of the doorway where they were standing; Giafer being half
+asleep, and supposing his master to be resting where they were simply
+because he was tired.  The Caliph, however, was watching the
+proceedings of the old man and his slave.  One after another half a
+dozen visitors arrived, were admitted on giving the same signal, showed
+the contents of their several bundles, deposited them on the same heap,
+were paid in silence by the old man, and thereupon went their way.
+
+There was no departure from the uniformity of this procedure, excepting
+that when any one arrived and gave the signal while another was still
+occupied with the old man, the mute took no notice whatever of the
+signal, and in every case the man wishing to enter seemed at once to
+understand why his signal remained unanswered, and waited patiently
+until the door was opened for the other to depart.
+
+The Caliph, who had at first been somewhat puzzled by the strangely
+conducted traffic which he here observed, had guessed before long that
+the actual business of this disreputable old merchant was that of
+purchasing from the thieves, which always infest a large town, whatever
+plunder they might have to dispose of.
+
+There was no haggling as to price.  The terms on which the transaction
+was based were evidently very simple.  The thief displayed his wares;
+the old man paid him what he chose, and clearly the thief, whose market
+for his ill-gotten goods was likely to be very limited, was satisfied
+to accept what the buyer chose to award.
+
+The Caliph was not ill-pleased to have discovered the nefarious trade
+which was being here carried on, and determined to have the house
+closely watched in future, in the hope of thus noting and securing a
+great number of the most expert and artful thieves in Bagdad.
+
+As he moved out of the obscurity of the doorway revolving these things
+in his mind, a ragged and decrepit beggar, who had just dragged himself
+with slow and weary steps to this spot, begged an alms in the
+professional whine common to his class.  The Caliph gave him a small
+piece of silver, and then watched him as he crossed the road and
+entered a dilapidated and wretched hovel, which stood close by the
+outer wall of the house of the dealer in stolen goods.
+
+The inside of the hovel consisted of one small room, containing no
+furniture of any kind but a litter of rags in one corner, which
+evidently served the old beggar as a bed.
+
+The old man, when he had entered and lighted his lamp, pushed some of
+these rags aside with trembling hands, and raising a piece of the dirty
+and half-rotten flooring, he produced a stout and rather heavy hag.
+Out of this he took in succession several smaller hags, each evidently
+full of money; and having pleased himself with handling and gloating
+over his treasure, he added the coin which the Caliph had just given
+him, together with several others, the produce of that day's exertion,
+to the contents of one of the bags, and then carefully replaced the
+whole in its hiding-place, and covering the board again with the rags,
+lay down to sleep.
+
+Three hours had now elapsed since the Caliph had anointed his eyes with
+the magical ointment, and the increased power of vision it conferred
+upon him began rapidly to vanish.  Therefore he turned to go back to
+the palace, laughing within himself as he thought, "Thieves, beggars,
+and misers, a goodly company have I become acquainted with to-night!"
+
+The streets were now silent and deserted, and all honest people were
+already in bed and asleep.  But he had not proceeded far before he came
+to a door which was partly open, and through which he could see across
+a courtyard a great house brightly lighted, and could hear the voices
+of the guests within very merrily laughing and conversing.  Moreover, a
+very delicious aroma of cooking assailed his nostrils, and reminded him
+that he was both hungry and tired.  Bidding Giafer knock at the door,
+he told the slave who appeared to go to his master and say that two
+merchants, strangers in the town, and who had lost their way, craved to
+be partakers of his hospitality.
+
+Returning shortly, the slave conducted them across the courtyard, and
+ushered them into a room handsomely furnished and brilliantly lighted,
+in which ten young men were seated, all very merry and evidently
+enjoying a plentiful supper, which they washed down with good wine.
+
+One of the ten, evidently the host, a young man with finely formed
+features and black eyes, bright and piercing, addressed the Caliph and
+Giafer as they entered.
+
+"Merchants and strangers," said he, "you are welcome to our party.  Be
+seated, I pray you, and by your diligence in eating and drinking,
+endeavour to make up for the time you have lost."
+
+Then the company having saluted them, and they having saluted the
+company, by placing their hands across the breast and bowing the head
+in the customary manner, the Caliph and Grand Vizier sat down, and the
+slaves who waited continued from time to time to bring them plenty both
+to eat and to drink.
+
+When the slave who attended on the Caliph had set a handsome goblet of
+silver before him and had filled it with wine, the Caliph raised the
+goblet, and said--
+
+"We thank you, gentlemen, and you, sir, especially, who are master of
+this house, for the welcome you have given us, and your kindness in
+admitting us to be partakers of your feast.  And we beg that you will
+continue that merry conversation in which we heard you engaged when we
+ventured to interrupt you and to intrude on your agreeable society."
+
+"Gentlemen," said the host, whose name was Abou Hassan, "you must know
+that during several evenings on which the present pleasant company have
+previously assembled, we have entertained each other by a relation of
+such parts of the history of each of us as the narrators have judged
+might prove interesting.  Just before you entered the eighth of our
+party had finished an account of his experiences, which gave rise to
+the merry discussion which you heard.  There now remain but two of us,
+Murad Essed and myself, who owe our stories to the company, and I will,
+therefore, by your leave, at once invite Murad to begin."
+
+
+THE STORY OF MURAD ESSED, THE UNFORTUNATE MERCHANT.
+
+The young man addressed as Murad, and who wore a frank and jovial
+expression of countenance, began as follows:
+
+"It gives me much pleasure to relate to this good company those
+vicissitudes and misfortunes which have earned for me the designation
+of 'The Unfortunate Merchant,' because we shall then be favoured with
+an account of the history of our host, who has lately been known as
+'The Fortunate Merchant.'  His good fortune and his great wealth are
+indeed surprising, and are no more due to the inheritance bequeathed to
+him by his ancestors than my poverty is owing to what was bequeathed to
+me by mine.  So far is that from being the case, that on the death of
+my father, who was one of the leading merchants of Bagdad, I found
+myself the possessor of an immense fortune.  It was so large and I was
+so young and inexperienced that I imagined that it could never be
+exhausted.  I bought a grand house, with fine rooms and wide gardens.
+Ah! my dear Abou Hassan, this very house where we now are was the
+house.  I fitted it with all kinds of handsome and luxurious furniture.
+I bought slaves to wait on me, and in my harem; ah! gentlemen, in our
+dreams we picture nothing better.  The Caliph himself might have envied
+me.
+
+"Well, gentlemen, for two years I lived like a Sultan.  I denied myself
+nothing, and never gave one thought to the expense.  At length, one day
+after completing the sale of a large quantity of merchandize, which had
+been stored in his warehouses by my father, I was induced to consider
+the state of my affairs, and I found that in these two years I had
+expended the half of my fortune.
+
+"This caused me to reflect seriously on my situation and mode of life.
+At this rate, what with women, wine, and gambling, I should soon have
+nothing left.
+
+"I determined to reform.  I sold a number of my slaves; I reduced my
+establishment; I became very economical; I gave my little wine parties,
+as some of you may remember, only once a week instead of every evening.
+
+"But, besides effecting these little alterations, what I principally
+did was this: I divided my remaining fortune into two equal parts.
+With the one half I proposed to embark in trade, while I retained the
+other half to live upon and to provide against accidents.
+
+"Well, the money I devoted to trade I invested in such sorts of
+merchandize as I judged to be most suitable, and shipping them in a
+vessel bound for Egypt, I sent with them a letter to an old friend of
+my father, a merchant living there, asking him to dispose of the goods
+to the best advantage, and forward to me in return, by the same vessel,
+such kinds of produce as he thought would prove most saleable in Bagdad.
+
+"Six months passed and I had no tidings of my venture.  A year elapsed,
+and still I heard nothing of it.  But, in fine, and not to weary you,
+having written by another vessel to inquire of my friend, I learnt at
+length that my goods had arrived safely and had been sold to realize a
+considerable profit, and that other goods had been shipped to me in
+return, but the vessel bringing them has never more been heard of, and
+whether she foundered or was captured by pirates I know not.
+
+"Thus I had spent and lost three-quarters of the fortune left to me by
+my father, and the remaining fourth was rapidly diminishing under the
+pressure of current expenses.
+
+"It was at this time, when walking along one day very moodily and in
+ill-humour, lamenting my extravagance and losses, and cogitating how I
+might with the small remainder of my capital retrieve my position, that
+I was accosted by a Seyed Hajji.
+
+"'Sir,' said he, 'I have for many months past often observed you as you
+walked this way, and during all that time your countenance has been
+unclouded and merry, but the past few days a great change has come over
+you, and you walk with downcast eyes, melancholy and preoccupied.  If
+you will tell me what is the trouble that has befallen you, perhaps it
+may be in my power to render you some assistance.'
+
+"'Holy pilgrim,' said I, laughing, for I was amused by the man's
+impertinent curiosity respecting my affairs, 'the trouble that has
+befallen me is very serious, being no other than the loss of the
+greater part of my fortune.  If you can show me the way of so employing
+the remainder as to regain what is lost, you are indeed the prince of
+Hajjis, and such an one as a man can expect to meet with but seldom.'
+
+"'My son,' said he, 'I pardon your incredulity, which is very natural.
+But you should reflect that youth knows less than age; and moreover,
+that a man like myself who has three times made the pilgrimage to the
+Holy Cities and to the Tomb of the Prophet, may have learnt some
+secrets which are hidden from those who have remained at home, and who
+have spent their time in dissipation and drinking.'
+
+"'Holy pilgrim,' I answered, somewhat abashed, 'what you say is very
+true.  Therefore, if you know of any magic or charm by which a man who
+is nearly ruined may retrieve his fortune, I pray you to disclose it.'
+
+"'Gently, my son,' said the Hajji, 'the impulsiveness of youth hurries
+you too fast.  I can tell you no more here in the open bazaar; but come
+to my house and you shall hear of a way of getting gold which will
+fairly astonish you.'
+
+"I went, therefore, with the old man, and after passing through the
+worst part of the town, and along many narrow and dirty lanes, we came
+at length to a mean and ruinous hovel, into which the Hajji entered.
+
+"When I looked round and saw the extreme poverty of the place, I could
+not help observing to my companion, that for one possessed of a
+marvellous method of getting gold, this lodging appeared somewhat
+unsuitable.
+
+"'Do not,' said he, 'jump hastily to conclusions.  Listen patiently to
+what I have to tell you, and this and much else will be explained.'
+
+"Then taking a small flask from a shelf, he held it up before me, and
+exclaimed, 'Behold the magic water of wealth, by means of which palaces
+and slaves, and fair ladies, and all that man longs for may be
+obtained!'
+
+"Then, in a more sober tone, he continued, 'Look, my son, the virtue of
+the water contained in this flask is such that any metal steeped in it
+is quickly converted into gold.  Of this,' he said, 'I will give you
+speedy proof.'  And so saying, he took a small piece of lead about two
+ounces in weight, and holding the flask which contained only a small
+quantity of liquid, at an angle, he slipped the lead in carefully, and
+setting the flask in a corner and covering it with a cloth to, exclude
+the light, he left it thus for about ten minutes, to allow the liquid
+to permeate the mass, and effect the marvellous transformation.
+
+"Then uncovering the flask, he showed that the liquid had entirely
+disappeared, and in place of the lump of lead was a lump of pure gold
+of equal magnitude.
+
+"I was, of course, greatly delighted with this easy process of
+converting lead into gold, and I demanded eagerly of the Hajji how much
+of this liquid he possessed, and what he demanded for it.
+
+"'My son,' said he, smiling, 'you are truly very simple.  If I had
+plenty of this magic water, why should I live in the poor place in
+which you find me?  Or why, if I had it, should I part with it for less
+than its weight in gold--which, indeed, is less than the worth of it?
+No; I have never had more than what was contained in this one small
+flask, and the last drop of that I have, as you see, now made use of.
+But although I have no more of the water, I have a secret of almost
+equal value.  I know where the water came from, and whence it may be
+obtained.  It springs from the bowels of the earth, in a sterile and
+uninhabited country more than a hundred days' journey from Bagdad.  To
+get there will be both difficult and costly, as one must pass through
+the territory of a race of Infidels whom one must bribe freely in order
+to ensure one's safety.  The question is, Dare you attempt it, and will
+you furnish the money for the enterprise?'
+
+"I reflected some time on this proposition, and, finally, seeing no
+better way of recruiting my shattered fortune, I determined to
+accompany the Hajji to the country of the fountain of the water of gold.
+
+"In order to raise the funds necessary for this expedition, I sold all
+that I had; the remainder of my merchandize, my slaves, my furniture,
+and my house.  By this means I obtained a sum amounting to four
+thousand pieces of gold; and, taking with us only a few camels laden
+with water-skins to hold the magic water, and two slaves bought by the
+Hajji, we set out on our journey.
+
+"For three days we pursued our way without incident, and on the evening
+of the third day after partaking of a good meal and some wine we had
+brought with us, which the Hajji, owing to his sacred character, would
+not touch, I laid down under some trees near which our horses and
+camels were picketed, and slept very soundly.  So long did I sleep that
+when I awoke the sun was high in the heaven.  The day was very hot, and
+the place was very quiet; for looking round I could see nothing of my
+Seyed Hajji, of the slaves, the horses, or the camels.  All had
+disappeared, and with them had gone my money also.
+
+"Thus, by the will of Allah, was I reduced to the utmost poverty.
+
+"I made my way back to Bagdad slowly and suffering much hardship.  But,
+thanks to the goodness of Allah, and to my friend Abou Hassan and some
+others, I lack neither good fellowship nor good living, and although I
+am styled the unfortunate merchant, I contrive to laugh and be merry in
+spite of fate, and shall listen with pleasure and without envy to the
+very different career of Abou Hassan, the fortunate merchant, and our
+munificent host."
+
+
+THE STORY OF ABOU HASSAN, THE FORTUNATE MERCHANT.
+
+When Murad Essed had finished speaking all eyes were fixed upon Abou
+Hassan, who said: "We have all listened with interest to the story of
+our friend Murad Essed, showing how a rich man may become poor; I have
+now in my turn to show you, by a relation of my own experience, how a
+poor man may become rich.
+
+"But in telling you my history, I should weary you if I were to recall
+all the particulars of my early struggles.  It will be sufficient to
+say that of all that I now possess I inherited nothing, and that only
+seven years ago I was as badly off as Murad Essed is at present.  About
+that time I became acquainted with an old merchant who imparted to me
+the secret of the success I have since then obtained.  This secret, you
+will be perhaps somewhat disappointed to learn, consists neither in a
+charm nor in any kind of magical art or sorcery.  It is comprised
+simply in a particular mode of dealing, and one, in fact, completely
+opposed to that which is in general use.
+
+"You know that it is the common habit of merchants when they buy
+anything to offer much less for it, and when they sell anything to ask
+more for it than the price which they think it is worth.  And only
+after a long time spent in haggling and bargaining, they conclude their
+business.
+
+"But by the advice of my old friend, the merchant, I adopted, and have
+constantly adhered to, a totally different plan.  When I buy anything I
+name what I consider to be a fair price for it; the seller either
+accepts my offer at once and without discussion, or refuses.  No man
+ever refuses the price I offer more than once, because it is my rule
+never to deal again with a man who has once refused to deal at my
+price.  In like manner, when I sell anything, I fix the price I will
+accept and rather destroy the goods than part with them for any other
+price than that I have put upon them.
+
+"This is the whole secret of my success.  My story is, you see, a very
+brief one; the origin of my fortune appears very simple when I discover
+it to you; but that the plan, simple as it may seem, has its merits,
+you may convince yourselves by looking round you."
+
+Abou Hassan, as he said this, waved his hand, indicating the handsome
+room in which they were sitting, and beyond it, seen through the gilded
+arches at the end of the apartment, the garden outside, where the moon,
+which had now risen, was illuminating with its enchanting light the
+trees, whose branches were heavy with various fruits, the fountains
+splashing into their marble basins, and, finally, in the distance, a
+group of girls of marvellous beauty who had just entered the garden
+dancing and singing.
+
+"Behold," said he, rising, "the nymphs of paradise beckon us from the
+banquet and the wine bowl to other pleasures."
+
+But the Caliph, when Abou Hassan and his other guests had risen from
+the banqueting-hall to go into the garden, sat lost in reverie.
+
+As Abou Hassan had waved his hand to direct the attention of his guests
+to the splendid results of his new system of trading and his
+magnificent surroundings it flashed upon the mind of the Caliph that he
+had seen that hand before.  The shapely fingers, and the rings
+containing many precious stones of unusual size and beauty, recalled to
+him irresistibly the hands of the old man with his face shielded by the
+huge green shade over his eyes, whom he had been watching earlier in
+the evening.
+
+So Abou Hassan, the Fortunate Merchant, the young and sparkling host of
+this gay party, was identical with the villainous purchaser of stolen
+goods, whose base pursuits the ointment had revealed to him.  The new
+plan of naming one price and taking no other had been practised only
+with those who feared justice and practised robbery.
+
+The Caliph, absorbed in these thoughts, observed nothing that was going
+on about him until Abou Hassan approached him, and, addressing him,
+personally requested him to rise and accompany himself and his friends
+into the garden.
+
+Then the Caliph, rising and thanking Abou Hassan for his hospitality,
+declared that now the moon was up he must pursue his journey, and,
+taking leave together with Giafer, he left the house of the Fortunate
+Merchant and returned immediately to the palace.
+
+The next evening, being desirous to continue his observation of the
+prosperous though illicit trade of the Fortunate Merchant, the Caliph
+stationed himself as before with Giafer in the dark recess of the
+arched gateway opposite the room to which the thieves resorted.
+
+At first the room was empty.  A number of parcels still lay strewn upon
+the floor; the table was there, and the lamp stood upon it, burning
+with a small and dim flame that lighted the place badly, but the
+mysterious and silent figure with his slovenly turban, great green
+shade over the eyes, and with the small hands and bejewelled fingers,
+was absent.  The Caliph could see the misshapen mute lying in the
+ante-room perfectly motionless and taking not the slightest notice of
+the usual signal given two or three times by men who came furtively to
+the door desiring to enter.
+
+At length, just as the Caliph was beginning to speculate whether the
+man could possibly have become suspicious and have effected his escape,
+Abou Hassan came quickly along the street, hastening evidently to the
+house where he was to assume his disguise and enter on his business.
+As he arrived almost exactly opposite to the spot where Haroun and
+Giafer were standing in the obscurity of the great gateway, there
+approached from the right or opposite direction that same old beggar
+and miser who had accosted the Caliph on the previous evening.  On
+perceiving some one before him he began immediately to solicit alms in
+the whining tone common to his class.
+
+"An old man," he said, "a very old man, my lord, ragged, hungry,
+without shelter."
+
+Abou Hassan, as he heard the voice, exclaimed--
+
+"What! is it thou, my father?  How often have I entreated thee to
+accept a provision for thine age which I can so well spare?"
+
+"Speak no more of it, my son," said the old man with vehemence and in
+quite another tone of voice to that he had employed before.  "I knew
+thee not, or would have asked nothing of thee, and will accept nothing
+from thee.  From the hands of him whose lips are stained with wine, who
+has spurned the precepts of the Prophet and forgotten the lessons of
+his youth, I will accept no favour, and will give to him no blessing."
+
+"Go, then, old precisian!" exclaimed Abou Hassan, fiercely; "cling to
+disgrace, and practise beggary; and yet, remember, one word can change
+your state, banish poverty, and summon plenty."
+
+The old man proceeded on his way, muttering inaudibly, and Abou Hassan
+stood watching his retreating figure.
+
+After a few moments of apparent indecision he followed the old man.
+When the latter entered the miserable hovel in which the Caliph had
+observed him on the previous evening, Abou Hassan, after a short pause,
+pushed open the door and entered also.
+
+Haroun, who was curious to learn what passed between the beggar and his
+son, followed Abou Hassan along the street, and with Giafer and Mesrur
+entered the house immediately after him.
+
+The old man, who was rather deaf, had not heard his son enter.  And
+when the Caliph and his two companions followed noiselessly and stood
+in the deep shadow of the entry, they saw the old man kneeling on the
+floor, and holding in his trembling hands the bag containing his little
+hoard, to which he was adding some small coins received that day.  Abou
+Hassan stood looking down upon him with an expression of contemptuous
+amusement.
+
+After gazing silently for a few moments at the kneeling figure he
+exclaimed, "So, so, the beggar therefore plays the miser also!  You
+spurn my offers, and, refusing gold and ease and leisure, hug that poor
+bag of worthless copper in this filthy den."
+
+So saying, he kicked contemptuously the bag which the old man,
+terrified at the apparition of his son, still held in his hand, and its
+contents were thrown upon the floor.
+
+At this the old man gave a loud yell, and calling out "Thieves,
+thieves, they are robbing me! they are robbing me!" began to scramble
+about after the scattered coins.
+
+Abou Hassan, springing upon him and whispering fiercely, "Villain!
+wretch! who is robbing thee?  Wouldst thou bring the neighbours upon
+me?" pulled out a dagger, and would in his fury have stabbed his father
+had not the Caliph at that instant made a sign to Mesrur, who seized
+his arm and held him fast.  But Abou Hassan, who was a young and very
+vigorous man, struggled violently, and, managing for one moment to free
+his right arm, he stabbed himself to the heart.
+
+Thus perished the Fortunate Merchant, closing, as so many do, a life of
+crime by a death of violence.
+
+The next day the Caliph ordered Abou Hassan's house and all that he had
+possessed to be confiscated.  The house and gardens, which were
+exceedingly magnificent, he retained for his own occasional use, while
+the immense quantities of valuable goods stored in the warehouses
+belonging to Abou Hassan he ordered to be sold, and the proceeds to be
+distributed, one half to the mosques of the city, and the other half to
+the poor.
+
+Upon the old beggar and miser, who steadfastly refused to take any part
+of his son's great wealth, the Caliph conferred a small pension,
+sufficient to provide for the few wants of one so long accustomed to a
+life of hardship.  Indeed, so strong is the force of habit, that at his
+death, a few years later, he was found to have saved a considerable
+portion even of this small annuity.
+
+
+
+
+The Caliph and the Second Jar of Ointment
+
+Finding that but little of the ointment was left in the first and
+larger of the two jars which he had purchased of Abdurrahman, Haroun
+Alraschid put it away in his cabinet, determining to use no more of it
+until some occasion of pressing need should arise.  And sending for his
+treasurer he commanded him to produce the second and smaller of the two
+jars, that he might open it and ascertain the virtue possessed by the
+ointment in that jar.
+
+As in the case of the former jar, he found immediately within the
+second jar when he opened it a narrow strip of parchment, on which was
+written:
+
+"Hail to thee, purchaser of this ointment most marvellous and magical!
+Rub but a little of it behind each of thine ears and thou shalt
+forthwith understand the language of all birds and beasts, even as
+Solomon, the great king and the wisest of men, understood them.
+Nevertheless, at the first word of human speech that thou utterest
+after thou hast applied the ointment the power of understanding the
+speech of birds and of beasts shall depart from thee.  For so it is
+decreed by the maker of the ointment according to the nature of the
+magical art in conformity with which it is compounded."
+
+When the Caliph had read these words and reflected how small a quantity
+of ointment the little jar contained, and how precarious was the power
+it conferred, liable as it was to be extinguished at any moment by a
+hasty word, he determined to refrain from testing it until a suitable
+occasion should present itself.  Placing it therefore in a small chest
+or coffer, he entrusted it to a certain slave, whom he ordered to carry
+it carefully and be in attendance with it at all times, so that
+whenever the opportunity of making trial of its virtue should arrive
+the ointment might be at hand and in readiness.
+
+About this time it happened that Zobeideh, Haroun's favourite wife, had
+prepared a magnificent entertainment at the splendid palace which the
+Caliph had erected for her.  And, as it happened, the next evening
+after Haroun had opened the second jar of ointment, he attended
+Zobeideh's entertainment.  As he entered the gardens of the palace he
+perceived Zobeideh seated on a raised seat or throne in the middle of
+the garden, with groups of her women in their most gorgeous apparel
+surrounding her.  They all rose and went forward to meet the Caliph as
+he entered, while others, scattered in parties about the grounds, made
+a concert of vocal and instrumental music for his diversion.  As he
+seated himself on the throne with Zobeideh by his side the scene was
+very charming.  The arcades enclosing the gardens with their marble and
+gilded columns were festooned with many coloured lights, lanterns hung
+in the trees, illuminating the gardens and the lofty fountains, which
+broke into ten thousand sparkling jewels and fell splashing into the
+wide marble basins at their base.
+
+After sitting for some time watching this brilliant scene the Caliph
+rose and wandered slowly through the grounds, until at length he came
+to a grove of trees, so artfully enclosed by gilded lattice work
+concealed by climbing plants that it formed an aviary vast in size and
+filled with birds of every kind and hue.  In this delightful retreat a
+natural concert greeted him of feathered songsters darting to and fro
+and singing lustily.
+
+Two little silktails perched upon a neighbouring branch particularly
+attracted his attention.  He had seated himself on a mossy bank in a
+retired nook, close by the spot chosen by the chatterers for their
+lively and very animated conversation.  Being curious to know what they
+were talking of, and convinced that the present offered as favourable
+an opportunity for listening to bird-talk as any he was likely to meet
+with, the Caliph ordered the slave who carried it to bring him at once
+the little jar of ointment, and applying some behind each ear as the
+writing contained in the jar had directed, he prepared to maintain a
+strict silence and listen attentively.  As soon as he had applied the
+ointment he found that he understood the conversation of his little
+neighbours as clearly as though they had been expressing themselves in
+the purest Arabic.
+
+"What!" said the one bird to the other, "is it possible that you can be
+so deluded and mistaken?  Desire to be a man!  I am truly surprised and
+shocked at so absurd and degrading a notion.  If now you had expressed
+a wish to be one of the nobler animals, a lion or a tiger, for
+instance, I might have excused you.  But a man!  Only consider how low
+in the scale of creation the creature is!  Not only is he confined to
+the earth like other animals, and unable to range as we do through the
+air, but consider how miserable a slave he is, how he has to toil from
+morning to night to supply his mere necessities.  No wonder his throat
+gives forth only harsh and unmeaning sounds, instead of the nobler roar
+of the lion or the bright and cheering song notes of us birds!
+Moreover, the unfortunate creature is evidently cursed by Allah, being
+alone among all creatures left naked and defenceless.  The beasts have
+warm and beautiful coats of fur provided for them, and they find their
+food without work or toil.  While as for ourselves, we find insects and
+grubs and worms all delicious eating, and that without stint or
+trouble; and as regards the covering of our bodies, I think without
+vanity these lovely feathers are not only as warm as the fur of
+animals, but much prettier and more becoming."
+
+Saying this, the silktail looked back over her glossy and radiant
+plumage with such a self-satisfied glance as made the Caliph smile.
+
+"Whereas," she continued, "that unfortunate creature, man, being left
+by bountiful Nature naked and cold, has to cover himself as best he may
+with a sorry patchwork of shreds and tatters such as he can contrive to
+procure either from vegetable fibres, the tissue of silkworms, or the
+furs or feathers he is driven to secure by force or stratagem either
+from beasts or from ourselves.  In almost every particular the wretched
+creature is a mere drudge, slaving continually for others and getting
+nothing by his toil for himself.  Who planted this charming grove, who
+waters and tends it?  Man.  And who enjoys the use and benefit of it?
+Surely ourselves.  Who made the pretty lattice-work that encloses it?"
+
+"And shuts us in," said the other.
+
+"And shuts the falcon and the vulture out," continued the first
+speaker; "why, our poor friend and servant, man.  And do you desire to
+share that servitude?"
+
+"My dear mother," replied the other bird, "I admit that what you say of
+man is for the most part very true; in many things he appears to act
+with great stupidity.  For instance, he has planted this pleasant grove
+and supplies it with water, and has fenced it in very carefully, and
+for no purpose apparently or any use that it is to him.  He comes now
+and then and looks at his work without uttering a sound, as mute as a
+fish and not half so active and joyous.  And yet, though he is a
+melancholy drudge enough, he effects great things.  By his very
+weakness and his naturally defenceless condition he has been rendered
+so cunning and so full of contrivances that he manages to subdue even
+those free and noble animals, the lion, the tiger, and the leopard, and
+to capture and destroy even such mighty birds of prey as the vulture
+and the eagle.  See, too, what huge and surprising nests he is able to
+fashion, such as that hard by this very grove."
+
+"My child," said the mother bird, "you confuse the ruler of these
+animals with those over whom he rules.  The one has indeed a fine nest
+and an easy life, but the others are lodged very differently, and
+labour from morning till night."
+
+"I confess," said the younger bird, "that it was rather of the prince
+than of his subjects that I was thinking when I wished to be a man.
+Only consider how enviable a position he enjoys, with so many beings
+under his command, and with so many fine gardens to live and take his
+pleasure in."
+
+"And with so charming and faithful a wife to prepare entertainments for
+him," said the older bird, sarcastically.  "I wonder how the prince you
+foolishly envy would have looked if he had seen her only yesterday
+evening as we did with another man at her feet?"
+
+"Allah! is it true?" thundered out Haroun Alraschid, in a terrible rage.
+
+The sudden movement and exclamation frightened the little birds, who
+flew swiftly away.  A matter of the less consequence, as the Caliph had
+by speaking destroyed the spell, and could have understood no more of
+the dialogue even had it continued.  But he was in fact far too angry
+and excited at the moment to notice this or anything else.
+
+Clapping his hands to summon his slaves and attendants, he commanded
+the palace of Zobeideh to be instantly surrounded, and all who might be
+found therein at once to be made prisoners.  This hasty measure
+produced, as might have been expected, no results.  No one was arrested
+but those belonging to Zobeideh's household, and all, as a matter of
+course, professed entire ignorance of the entrance at any time whatever
+of any man within the sacred precincts of Zobeideh's palace.
+
+Haroun, in the first transports of his rage, contemplated ordering
+every man in Bagdad between fifteen and fifty years of age to be
+executed.  But the Grand Vizier having hinted that some difficulty
+might be experienced in executing so wholesale an order, and, moreover,
+that the actual culprit might very probably even in that case manage to
+effect his escape, the Caliph decided to cause Zobeideh to be brought
+before him that he might interrogate her himself.
+
+When that unhappy princess entered, and, throwing herself at his feet,
+asked him in what way she had offended or aggrieved his Majesty, Haroun
+reproached her bitterly.
+
+"Woman," said he, "have I not loaded you with favours, and bestowed
+upon you with unstinting hand all that your imagination could fancy or
+your heart desire?  Ungrateful, like all your race; faithless, like all
+your sex; you have fawned upon me to my face, and betrayed me behind my
+back.  Say, is it not so?"
+
+"My lord," she answered, "whoever has told you aught to my discredit
+has foully lied.  I have ever been faithful to your Majesty, and happy
+is the man, be he prince or slave, who has a wife no less faithful than
+I have been."
+
+"Accursed woman!" retorted Haroun, fiercely, "notwithstanding this
+confident tone on your part, I know you to be guilty; therefore tell me
+at once who was that man whom you dared to receive in your garden
+yesterday, or, by Allah! into the Tigris in a sack you shall go as
+though you were but the meanest of my slaves."
+
+Zobeideh, perceiving from these words that concealment was impossible,
+and well knowing from the fiery temper of the Caliph that he was quite
+capable of executing his threat to the letter, replied as follows:
+
+"Since the Commander of the Faithful has discovered, I know not how,
+that I gave audience to a man yesterday in the garden of my palace, I
+will confess to the Commander of the Faithful, to whom all things are
+revealed, the name of the man whom I saw.  It was Hunoman, my
+foster-brother.  He is the son of my nurse, and we were brought up
+together as young children, and loved each other as children love, the
+sister the brother, and the brother the sister.  At seven years of age,
+his father having died, an uncle took him to India.  Only two days
+since he returned, and, learning this from the old nurse, his mother, I
+became desirous to see once more the little playfellow of my childhood,
+to behold the man I had always thought of as a brother, and hear from
+his own lips an account of the countries and peoples he had visited,
+the dangers he had encountered, and the manner in which he had
+contrived to escape from them.  I heard that he had brought some rare
+and valuable presents for me.  I determined that he should present them
+in person.  In this I did wrong, but, in the name of the most merciful
+God, I appeal to the Caliph for mercy, both for my foster-brother, who
+consented to see me only after much persuasion and with the utmost
+unwillingness, and also for myself, who am guilty of no other sin than
+the indulgence of curiosity, which is a sin that so magnanimous a king
+as your Majesty will be able to pardon in a woman."
+
+Haroun, who thought that Zobeideh was now telling the truth, and who
+was in truth by no means displeased to find his suspicions concerning
+her conduct to be unfounded, asked with great calmness--
+
+"What said you is the name of this man?"
+
+"His name," said Zobeideh, "is Hunoman."
+
+"And where is he to be found? for I must see him."
+
+"He is staying at present with his mother, Siveree, my nurse, to whom I
+have given a small house near the river side."
+
+The Caliph clapped his hands, and to the officer who entered he said--
+
+"Go at once and bring Siveree, a woman belonging to the household of
+the Lady Zobeideh, and her son, who is called Hunoman, and who is at
+present staying with her."
+
+The officer saluted and went out, saying to himself as he went, "The
+Lady Zobeideh he terms her.  Her affairs go well.  She is a clever
+woman and knows how to humour the Caliph.  Soon she will be again the
+prime favourite, and more powerful than ever."
+
+When the officer returned with Hunoman and his mother, the latter was
+conducted to an apartment in that part of the palace which was set
+apart for the women, while Hunoman himself was at once brought into the
+presence of the Caliph.
+
+Haroun, looking sternly at Hunoman, who was a stout man of middle
+height, and not unprepossessing appearance, said--
+
+"I have been informed of your temerity in entering a certain garden,
+into which you must have known very well that it was fatal to you to
+enter.  But, before passing such a sentence upon you as you must feel
+that you deserve, I desire to hear the particulars of your career, and
+what you may have to urge in your defence."
+
+Hunoman prostrated himself before the Commander of the Faithful and
+replied as follows:
+
+
+THE STORY OF HUNOMAN.
+
+"Oh, Prince of the Faithful, whose life may Allah prolong, the story of
+the life of your slave, who is incapable of even thinking of aught that
+should touch the honour of your Majesty, is very full of dangers and
+escapes.
+
+"At the age of seven years I was taken by my uncle, Amanoolla, to the
+country of the Emperor of the Indies, from which I have but just
+returned.
+
+"My uncle was a worker in gold and silver, and so expert at his craft
+that he never lacked work, and was enabled, not only to support his
+family with ease, but to save money.  He had a son named Omeda, and as
+we grew up, Amanoolla taught us both the art of fashioning all kinds of
+ornaments in the precious metals.  But beside his son Omeda, my uncle
+had also a daughter, Bebee, who was one of the most beautiful girls man
+can possibly imagine.  From the time we were all children together I
+had entertained the hope or dream of one day making her my wife.
+Therefore, when I was already seventeen years of age and a good
+workman, I ventured to ask my uncle to give me Bebee, my cousin, for my
+wife.  But my uncle was very wroth, and said--
+
+"'My daughter, who is fourteen, and more beautiful than any young girl
+for fifty miles round, may expect to be the wife of a rajah or even of
+a sovereign prince, and not of a young workman without ten pieces of
+silver.'
+
+"With that, Amanoolla, fearing to have me any longer so near his
+daughter, bade me begone and earn my living by my craft in some other
+part of the country.
+
+"I departed, therefore, and leaving with sorrow my uncle and Omeda, and
+especially the neighbourhood of the charming Bebee, I travelled until I
+came to a town twenty days' journey from them, and there I remained
+working at my trade, very taciturn, very lonely, and unable to forget
+my disappointment.
+
+"In the town in which I had settled there lived a wealthy Rajah, Gholab
+Khan, for whom I often made various ornaments both of gold and of
+silver.
+
+"Thus it came to pass that Sojah, his principal wife, saw me through a
+lattice window on several occasions when I carried the ornaments I had
+made to the palace of the Rajah.  And, unhappily, she took a most
+violent fancy to me.
+
+"One day, as I sat at my work, a female slave entered, and said--
+
+"'Hunoman, happy man that you are, listen to me.  My mistress, who is
+no other than Sojah, the wife of Gholab Khan himself, has seen you and
+likes you.  She has sent me, therefore, to say, to-morrow morning about
+the time of morning prayer two slaves will come to you bringing with
+them a large basket with hangings for one of the rooms in the palace.
+Get into the basket and fear nothing, for the slaves will bring you to
+me.'
+
+"When the messenger from Sojah had gone I could do no more work that
+day for thinking of the adventure which awaited me on the morrow.  I
+went out and wandered about the town until late, but even when at last
+I lay down for a long time I could get no sleep.  However, when it
+became light I at last fell asleep, and so heavily that it was late
+when I woke.
+
+"I was scarcely dressed, and it was nearly time to expect the slaves of
+Sojah with the big basket, when two slaves sent by the Rajah himself
+appeared, and saying their master wanted me, hurried me off to the
+palace.  I was greatly frightened from apprehension that the Rajah had
+by some means discovered his wife's intention and was taking summary
+measures to defeat it.  To my great relief, instead of being taken
+before the Rajah or ordered forthwith to execution, I was shown into a
+small room in which I sometimes worked, and told immediately to
+complete some repairs for some of the ladies of the household.
+
+"At the time I congratulated myself that matters were no worse, but
+they were bad enough for me as the sequel proved.  For when Sojah's two
+slaves got to the palace and informed their mistress that they had
+called for me as arranged, but that they could not find me, she became
+as furious as a tigress baulked of her prey.  She did not doubt that I
+had slighted her and kept out of the way on purpose to avoid her
+messengers.  She determined to be revenged.
+
+"A few days afterwards, therefore, her two slaves with the large basket
+suddenly appeared at my shop, and seizing me, they instantly gagged me,
+bound me, threw me into the basket, and carried me off to their
+mistress.
+
+"The two slaves knocked at a little door leading to a small garden
+attached to the harem of the Rajah's palace; and taking the basket into
+a secluded part of the garden they set it down, and lifting me out they
+laid me gagged and bound as I was upon the grass.  They then retired;
+and Sojah, who had been watching all they did through a lattice, now
+came to me, and began to upbraid me as I lay gagged and helpless on the
+ground.
+
+"'Wretch,' she said, 'who hast dared to slight a woman who deigned to
+condescend to take notice of so mean a thing as thou art, unworthy of
+the form of a man; I will instantly deprive thee of it!  So saying, she
+took a handful of dust and, pronouncing over it the words: 'Kahoothie
+Kaventho,' she threw it upon me, exclaiming, 'Quit the shape of man and
+take that of a horse!'
+
+"Immediately I was changed into the animal she mentioned, and calling
+her slaves, she commanded them to take me at once to the stable and
+there to secure me.  And this cruel and vindictive woman, not content
+with having deprived me of human form and converted me into a
+four-footed dumb creature, would frequently come into the stable where
+I was, and after ordering her slaves to secure me firmly would beat me
+savagely, uttering all the time torrents of vituperation and abuse.
+
+"For some months I had to endure all the miseries which the malignant
+humour of Sojah could inflict upon me.  At length, seizing the first
+opportunity which offered for making my escape, I managed to throw the
+slave who was riding me, and fled with the speed of the wind.  After
+galloping for many coss, I became completely exhausted, and lay down in
+an open field near the roadside to rest.
+
+"I had not lain there many minutes, and was still panting and blown,
+when I saw a party of rough-looking men advancing.  Two of them were
+mounted, and these rushing upon me before I could rise and make off,
+they easily secured me and took me along with them.  The two mounted
+men having sold me to one of those on foot, soon afterwards left us,
+and I proceeded in company with the others, carrying my new master on
+my back.
+
+"I soon discovered that the men who had seized me, and who took me home
+with them to their village, formed part of a gang belonging to a
+religious sect known in some parts of the country by the name of Thugs
+or deceivers, and in other parts of the country by the name of
+Phansigars or stranglers.  I had thus an opportunity, such as no man in
+human form could have, of observing their idolatrous religion and
+revolting practices.  These wretches worship a patron goddess, the
+deity of destruction, called Kalee.  Their trade from father to son for
+generations is murder and robbery, and they believe that their goddess,
+to whom they offer part of their plunder, surrenders into their hands
+every one of their unhappy victims.
+
+"I had not long been with them before a day was appointed for the
+celebration of one of their religious, or rather superstitious, rites.
+This was the consecration of the holy pickaxe, the implement always
+used by these men for burying those whom they have slain.  A fakir,
+versed in all the learning of the Thugs, was seated, when the
+auspicious day arrived, with his face turned to the west, and placed
+the pickaxe in a brass dish which was set before him.  In this he
+proceeded to wash the axe, with four solemn and several washings.
+First, in water; secondly, in a mixture of sugar and water; thirdly, in
+sour milk; and fourthly, in spirit.  These four ablutions being
+finished, the fakir replaced in the brass dish the pickaxe together
+with a cocoa-nut, some cloves, white sandal-wood, and sugar.  Then
+kindling a fire of dried cow-dung and mango-wood, the fakir taking the
+pickaxe, and holding it in both hands, passed it seven times through
+the fire.
+
+"The pickaxe, being now duly consecrated, was taken by Jowahir, my
+master, who, holding it by the point, said, 'Thugs, shall I strike?'
+then as they said, 'Strike, Jemadar!' he struck the cocoa-nut with the
+butt end of the pickaxe and broke the nut in pieces.  This was hailed
+by all as a propitious omen from the great Bhowanee or goddess, and a
+part of the nut having been burnt in the fire, portions of the rest of
+it were given to all the men present, and the rite was at an end.
+
+"The pickaxe having thus been prepared, it only remained to make use of
+it; and accordingly, on the following day in the morning, Jowahir as
+their leader, holding the pickaxe to his breast by the left hand, and a
+brass jug filled with water in his right hand, moved slowly in the
+direction indicated by the fakir, to a field outside the village, and
+there standing with his gang assembled about him, he lifted his eyes
+toward heaven, and said: 'Great Goddess, universal mother! if this our
+meditated expedition be fitting in thy sight, vouchsafe us help, and
+the signs of thy approbation.'  All present repeated this prayer after
+Jowahir, and then waited for the omens or auspices.
+
+"Within a quarter of an hour the omen on the left hand, which must be
+first heard, and which they term Pilhaoo, was vouchsafed to them.  An
+ass brayed, which they took to be a very good omen.  And when very soon
+afterwards another ass brayed upon the right hand, furnishing them with
+Thibaoo, or the omen on the right hand, their satisfaction was very
+great, for they said openly that after omens so favourable success was
+absolutely assured.
+
+"Jowahir now put down the jug containing water upon the ground, and
+sitting down beside it remained in that posture, and with his face
+turned in the direction in which they were to proceed, for the space of
+seven hours, during which time the others made all things ready for the
+journey.
+
+"When at length they started Jowahir mounted on my back, and I being
+the only horse they had, the rest of the party walked.
+
+"For two days they proceeded on their journey without meeting any
+travellers; and on the second day, therefore, they detached two of the
+gang, Bular and Khosala, to act as their Bykureea or spies, to
+endeavour to discover any parties of travellers who might be staying at
+the serais or inns, or traversing the roads in that neighbourhood.
+
+"In the afternoon the spies returned, and reported that in a serai not
+far off they had found a party of three travellers who were resting,
+and proposed to start the next morning at daybreak to proceed on their
+journey along the highroad to the north.
+
+"Upon receiving this intelligence, Jowahir himself and Oozerah, another
+of the band, went forward to the serai to act the part of Sothas or
+inveiglers, and try and persuade the travellers to leave the high-road
+and take some other road leading through the jungle, and more suited to
+the Thugs' atrocious designs.
+
+"When we arrived at the serai Jowahir saluted the travellers, one of
+whom was an old man, while the other two were men in the prime of life.
+
+"Jowahir, after conversing some time upon indifferent subjects, said,
+that he was journeying northwards, and that he had intended to have
+proceeded along the direct road to Oulinpore, the next large town; but
+that he had been told by some merchants who had just come southwards by
+that road, that provisions were so dear and water so scarce, that he
+had determined to make a slight detour to avoid that part of the road.
+The three merchants, who had themselves intended to proceed by the
+direct road to Oulinpore, were naturally interested in Jowahir's
+decision, and began to discuss warmly the merits of the two routes.
+
+"As they were talking the rest of the gang made their appearance, and
+acted as though entire strangers to Jowahir and Oozerah as well as the
+others.  The two younger travellers agreed with Jowahir that it would
+be wiser to avoid the direct road to Oulinpore; but the old man was for
+keeping to that road as they had intended to do.  When the rest of the
+gang arrived, they were informed of the question in dispute, and they
+at first supported the old man's view energetically, and declared that
+they were resolved like him to keep to the direct road.
+
+"At length, however, after much talking they affected to give in and to
+become convinced by Jowahir's representations and arguments.  Seeing
+them all now united against him, the old man could hold out no longer,
+and submitted his judgment to that of the others.  It was late before
+this agreement was arrived at, and all lay down to rest, promising to
+start together at daybreak next morning.
+
+"Very early indeed, and long before daybreak, Jowahir roused the whole
+party, and persuading them that being tired they had overslept
+themselves, and that the day was just about to break, he got them at
+once on the way.
+
+"He confessed after a while that he must have been in error, and that
+it was really earlier than he had supposed.  'No matter,' said he, 'we
+shall have made all the better progress by the time the sun has risen.'
+
+"In fact, before the sun was hot upon them, they had got far into the
+jungle, and were at a great distance from any other human beings.
+
+"At length, when they approached the half-dried-up bed of a stream
+through which they must ford, Jowahir proposed that they should first
+sit down by the margin and rest and eat before proceeding further.
+This proposal was readily agreed to by all.  But by the side of each of
+the three hapless and unsuspicious travellers, there sat down in
+apparent amity and good fellowship two members of the gang, one of whom
+was really the Ghumgeea or holder of hands, while the other was the
+Phansigar or strangler.
+
+"Suddenly, and without affording the poor wretches a moment's warning,
+on a sign from Jowahir, the holder of hands seized on the man with whom
+he was amicably conversing, and the strangler, passing the roomal round
+his neck with the speed of lightning, strangled him in an instant."
+
+"What," asked the Caliph, "is a roomal?"
+
+"It is," replied Hunoman, "simply a strip of cloth.  Although the
+stranglers are termed Phansigars, from phansee, a noose of cord, yet in
+practice they scarcely ever use a cord, which if it were found upon
+them would at once betray and convict them; they employ instead, to
+effect their murderous purpose, the roomal, a strip of cloth which
+appears innocent and harmless enough--it might be a turban or a waist
+cloth--but which in their expert and practised hands is equally
+effectual.
+
+"After killing the travellers, stripping them, and burying the bodies,
+the murderers and thieves divided the few coins and other property
+found upon them.  But when making this division in certain proportions
+according to their usage, these strange monsters did not neglect to set
+apart a small sum as an offering to Kalee their goddess; and when,
+after this and several other murders, all characterized by similar
+features of treachery and baseness, they returned to their village,
+they proceeded at once to celebrate Tapoonee, or a solemn rite of their
+most vile idolatry.
+
+"A cloth was spread upon a clean spot of ground.  Upon this cloth was
+placed the consecrated pickaxe and a piece of silver as an offering to
+the goddess.  On the cloth Jowahir took his place, and seated with him
+also on the cloth were seven Phansigars or stranglers, no Ghumgeea, or
+any member of the gang of a grade inferior to an actual and experienced
+strangler, being admitted to sit on the cloth.
+
+"Jowahir then took some goor or sugar, which had been purchased with
+that part of the plunder set apart for the goddess, and placed it
+reverently in a hole in the ground.  Having so done, he clasped his
+hands devoutly and prayed as follows: 'Great Goddess, we pray thee to
+grant us plunder, as thou hast to our fathers before us, and fulfil our
+desires.'
+
+"All repeated this prayer, and a portion of the goor or sacred sugar
+having been given to each of those who sat on the cloth, Jowahir gave
+the signal for strangling, as though a murder were about to be
+committed, upon which they eat in solemn silence the portions of goor
+they had received, washing it down with a draught of water.  Thus ended
+the Tapoonee or sacred feast.
+
+"I will not weary and disgust your Majesty by relating all the series
+of monotonous crimes or superstitious observances which I saw during
+the two years I remained with these people.
+
+"When that period had elapsed, and while engaged in prosecuting the
+third expedition which they had undertaken since I had been with them,
+a circumstance occurred which resulted in freeing me from my miserable
+and degraded condition, and restoring me to the form and dignity of a
+human being.
+
+"One day, a day ever memorable to me, the spies returned and announced
+to Jowahir the Jemadar and our gang of bandits, that they had met
+advancing along the road towards our present encampment a party of
+travellers whose appearance promised a rich booty.  These travellers
+consisted of a Rajah, whose name they had ascertained to be Gholab
+Khan, who was on a journey accompanied by his wife and about a dozen
+servants.
+
+"This news, which powerfully affected me, was the occasion of a vast
+deal of discussion and recrimination among the band of Thugs.  Some
+were for awaiting the arrival of the Rajah, and requesting to be
+allowed to travel in his company for the sake of protection, after
+which the first favourable opportunity might be taken to murder the
+whole party and seize all the money and rich clothes and stores they
+would be sure to have with them.  As far as numbers were concerned,
+this enterprise was quite feasible, for the gang of Jowahir Jemadar, or
+our gang, as I may term it, had met with and joined the gang of Ramphul
+Jemadar, and together they counted nearly thirty men.
+
+"But the two Jemadars differed entirely as to the course to be pursued.
+While Ramphul advocated joining and murdering the Rajah and his party,
+Jowahir, on the other hand, contended that as it was absolutely
+forbidden by the principles of their religion to kill a woman,
+therefore, the wife of the Rajah being with him, the party ought to be
+permitted to escape.
+
+"'If once,' he said, 'Phansigars, abandoning their immemorial
+traditions, took to killing women, or disregarding omens, what good
+luck could they expect, or how could they escape capture and
+destruction?'
+
+"The dispute waxed hot, and continued until the spies announced the
+near approach of the Rajah and his party, on which they hurriedly
+agreed as a compromise that they should join if possible the Rajah's
+party, and afterwards either slay or spare them as might be by further
+discussion determined.
+
+"Having despatched about half their men in advance, that their numbers
+might not appear too formidable and perhaps alarm the travellers, the
+two Jemadars waited, in their assumed character of peaceful and timid
+merchants, the arrival of Gholab Khan.
+
+"On seeing him they saluted him respectfully, and, professing great
+uneasiness concerning the lonely and little-frequented character of
+that part of the country which lay immediately before them, they begged
+as a great favour to be allowed to join his party.
+
+"To this request Gholab Khan very readily acceded, and the united party
+proceeded amicably together, the Rajah and the two Jemadars riding and
+conversing with each other, while the rest of the Thugs accompanied and
+made themselves very agreeable to the Rajah's followers.  The latter
+were armed, whereas the peaceful and inoffensive-looking Thugs carried
+no weapon, but had with them only the innocent roomal, which they knew
+how to wield when the moment should arrive with such swift and fatal
+dexterity.
+
+"Now when Sojah, the Rajah's wife, peeping from her palanquin, saw me,
+she instantly recognized me, and telling her husband that she had taken
+a great fancy to the merchant's horse, because it so much resembled one
+she had lost two years previously, she begged him to buy it for her.
+
+"The Rajah, always anxious to oblige his wife, who had great influence
+over him, began at once to negotiate with Jowahir.  And the latter, who
+wished to keep on good terms with his destined victim, was persuaded
+very easily to exchange me for another horse offered him by the Rajah
+and ten pieces of silver.  I thus passed once more into the possession
+of the cruel and vindictive Sojah.
+
+"This filled me with despair, and I looked forward with dread to a
+repetition of the barbarous treatment I had before endured at her
+hands.  But time had apparently softened her resentment, and changed
+her feelings towards me.  Perhaps she thought that the misery I had
+undergone during more than two years would render me more complaisant
+and ready to yield to her desires; at any rate, she received me with
+joy and treated me with kindness, and, taking an opportunity that same
+evening to come alone to the place where I was picketed with the other
+horses, she stooped down, and taking a handful of dust she threw it
+over me, pronouncing the same magical formula as before, and then bade
+me leave that form of a horse and resume my own proper shape as a man.
+
+"Immediately the transformation took place.  But, well knowing that the
+Rajah and his whole party were doomed to almost inevitable destruction
+by the large gang of Thugs in whose company they then were, I perceived
+that my only chance of escape lay in turning the magical art of this
+vile woman against herself.  Therefore, no sooner had I resumed my
+natural shape, and stood before her once more in the form of a man,
+than I bowed low as though to salute her with the greatest deference,
+and suddenly seizing a handful of dust I threw it over her, pronounced
+the magical words: 'Kahoothie Kaventho,' and said, before she could
+recover from her surprise, 'Quit the shape of woman of which you are
+unworthy and take that of a mare.'  What the nature of the charm might
+be, or by the aid of what demon the change took place, I know not; at
+any rate the incantation was effectual, and as I pronounced the words,
+Sojah disappeared and a beautiful mare stood before me.
+
+"Without the loss of a moment I saddled and bridled her, and rode off,
+at first slowly and quietly, but afterwards as fast as possible along
+the road we had just come, and in the opposite direction to that which
+was to be taken early next morning by the Rajah and my late master,
+Jowahir.
+
+"I had been riding for more than an hour, and was still proceeding very
+rapidly, when my mare suddenly stumbled and threw me over her head on
+to the ground.  I fell heavily and must have remained a long time
+unconscious, for when I came to myself I found myself lying on a soft
+rug in a small apartment in which two other men were sitting.  These
+men, as I afterwards discovered, were priests of one of the heathen
+religions of that country, and the house in which I now lay was close
+to the temple containing the idol or image of the god whom they
+worshipped.  The name of the older of these priests was Soobulda, and
+that of the younger, Esuree; and although idolaters, they saved my
+life, and showed me as long as I was with them no little kindness.
+
+"They had found me lying senseless on the road, and had carried me to
+their house which was close by, and on my recovering consciousness they
+invited me to stay for some days until I should desire to resume my
+journey.  I accepted their invitation all the more gladly because I had
+no money and knew not where to go.
+
+"But what chiefly troubled me, as it would have done your Majesty or
+any true believer, was to see these men prostrate themselves before the
+wooden image which was their idol.
+
+"One night, therefore, while Soobulda and Esuree slept, I went into the
+temple and threw down the idol.
+
+"Next morning early, Soobulda came to me and said, 'A great calamity
+has befallen us, for the god is wroth, and his image is cast down and
+lies upon the floor of the temple.'
+
+"Then I answered, comforting Soobulda, and said, 'It is no matter, only
+take the image and put it in its place again, and all will be well.'
+
+"Three times I threw down the image, and three times Soobulda came in
+the morning, and told me what had been done.  The third time Soobulda
+and Esuree came both of them together, and accused me of having thrown
+it down.
+
+"Then I said: 'Why, what sort of a feeble creature must this god of
+yours be, if these three times I can cast down his image, and he remain
+unable to prevent me or to punish me?'
+
+"After that I told them of Allah, the true God, and of Mohammed, the
+Prophet of God.  And the two priests believed, and left the idol lying
+on the ground where I had thrown it down.
+
+"Fearing to remain any longer in that part of the country, Soobulda and
+Esuree left their house a few days afterwards, and agreed to go with me
+to visit my Uncle Amanoolla, whom I had not seen for a long time, and
+whose daughter Bebee I had not forgotten.
+
+"We travelled slowly, stopping from time to time at various towns on
+our way, in some of which I got work at my craft, and thus earned money
+to help us to continue our journey.
+
+"All this time I told Soobulda and Esuree much concerning the Moslem
+faith, and they assumed the garb and practised the ablutions, and
+recited the prayers of true believers."
+
+"In that, by Allah, you did right," exclaimed the Caliph, "and I grant
+you your life for so doing."
+
+Hunoman bowed and continued:
+
+"At one town where we stayed, it happened that when the morning came on
+which we had arranged to depart, I had still some work by me which I
+had not finished, and I agreed therefore with Soobulda and Esuree, that
+they should start first and proceed leisurely, and that I would hasten
+after them and overtake them at their first halting-place.
+
+"This was done, and when soon after midday I came up with them, I
+found, that having enjoyed a meal and two hours' rest, they were just
+preparing to resume their journey.  At the little serai or inn where
+they were, they had met with ten other travellers, and the whole party
+were now about to set out together.
+
+"Hastily eating some food I had brought with me, I started with the
+others, and falling into conversation with our fellow-travellers, we
+formed a very sociable gathering.
+
+"But during the afternoon, and when we had been some time in company, I
+happened to overhear one of our fellow-travellers say a few words in a
+low tone to another, which I instantly recognized as being of the
+peculiar dialect used by the Phansigars.  We were in the hands of a
+party of Thugs, and escape seemed impossible.
+
+"I looked round at my friends, desiring to warn them of our desperate
+situation; but even that was not feasible, for each was surrounded by
+two or three of the strangers, so that I could say nothing to them
+which would not be overheard.
+
+"However, it mattered little, for even had they known of our danger
+what could be done?  Three men against ten desperate ruffians would
+have no chance, and on the least indication of suspicion on our part
+they would, I knew, attack and kill us at once, at all hazards.  The
+only hope remaining for us seemed to me to be that we should meet some
+other party of travellers, whose protection we might claim.  Of this,
+however, there would appear to be but very faint hope indeed.
+
+"Our road passed through a jungle, wild and desolate, where we might
+perhaps disturb a tiger, but could hardly expect to come upon a man.
+The air was hot and sultry, it seemed to me more oppressive than I had
+ever before experienced.  Everything around us was still, and as we
+trod along the sandy road even our footsteps made scarcely a sound that
+could be heard.
+
+"Soobulda and Esuree chatted pleasantly with their companions,
+suspecting nothing.  As for me, I had become silent and thoughtful, and
+prayed inwardly to Allah to deliver us from this danger.
+
+"At length one of those who walked with me, and whom I took to be the
+leader of the band, proposed that as I had had no rest and seemed to be
+tired, we should halt and rest by the side of a small stream we were
+then passing.  I perceived at once that we had arrived at the bele, or
+place of execution.  The Phansigars always send a man on to choose the
+bele carefully beforehand.  No place could be more suited to their
+purpose.  It was lonely as a desert; so remote from every human track
+or habitation that no shriek of a victim could be heard by any one, and
+the loose sand by the margin of the stream would yield readily to the
+sacred pickaxe when the roomal had done its fatal work.
+
+"We sat down, and beside each of us three sat three others, two of whom
+were the holders of hands, while the third was the Bhurtote or
+strangler, as I knew only too well.
+
+"The leader strolled carelessly to and fro, preparing to give the
+signal.  Already I seemed to feel the pressure of the strip of cloth
+about my neck, to anticipate the short and ineffectual struggles of the
+unfortunate victims, to feel the kicks of those wretches on my back,
+and then in a few moments all would be over.
+
+"At this critical moment, just as the leader paused in his walk and
+opened his lips to pronounce the words which would have been the signal
+to his followers, and would have sealed our doom--he sneezed.  I saw a
+look of mingled rage and disgust pass round the party.  One of the most
+stringent and disabling of all omens had occurred.  No Thug would
+despatch his victim after such a manifestation of the wrath of the
+great Bhowanee.  Our lives would be spared, held sacred indeed for this
+time, by these ruthless murderers.
+
+"Very shortly afterwards, the gang, on some pretext of having to take
+another road, separated from us, and we pursued our way without further
+incident to the dwelling of my Uncle Amanoolla.
+
+"Arrived there, I found that my Cousin Bebee had been married some time
+since to a rich merchant in the neighbourhood.  My uncle received me
+gladly, and made my two friends, Soobulda and Esuree, welcome for my
+sake, and for the sake of the true faith of Islam which they had
+adopted.  He had prospered greatly since I left him, and had acquired
+much wealth, so that at his death, which happened about six months
+after my return, he left me a considerable sum with which to commence
+to trade.
+
+"I had, however, a great desire to revisit the land of my birth; I
+bought, therefore, many things which would be esteemed rare and
+valuable in Bagdad, where about a week ago I arrived safely.
+
+"Of the command I received through my mother from Zobeideh, to appear
+before her and relate my adventures, I have already informed your
+Majesty, and have now only to await the sentence which the Commander of
+the Faithful may see fit to pronounce upon me."
+
+"I have already," said Haroun, "granted you your life because you have
+led two men to embrace the true faith of Islam.  But moreover, since I
+am not used to send away those I pardon with empty hands, I appoint you
+Governor of my province of Egypt.  Giafer shall immediately prepare the
+patent of investiture, and you are to start at once."
+
+Hunoman thanked the Commander of the Faithful for his munificence, and
+promised instant obedience to this and every order he should receive.
+
+Thus the Caliph pardoned and rewarded Hunoman, the foster-brother of
+his favourite wife, Zobeideh; but perhaps he was not unwilling to
+separate them as far as Bagdad is from Cairo.
+
+
+
+
+The Caliph and the Slave Merchants
+
+The consequences which had resulted from the first and only trial which
+he had made of the magical and marvellous properties of the ointment
+contained in the second jar had been so little pleasing to the Caliph,
+and had so nearly caused the death of his favourite wife Zobeideh, that
+he had no inclination to test it further at present.  He placed it,
+therefore, in his cabinet, together with the other jar, until some
+occasion should arise on which he might desire to make use of them.
+Yet, although he was prejudiced against making further trial of the
+ointments, he continued to undertake from time to time his occasional
+nocturnal rambles in company with Giafer.
+
+One evening, after they had wandered for a long time in their usual
+disguise as merchants through the streets and bazaars of the city, they
+turned into a large caravanserai, and sat down to rest themselves.
+There was a great number of merchants collected within the hospitable
+walls of the caravanserai, and close by the Caliph and Giafer sat two
+men, with whom they were destined to become better acquainted.
+
+Not long after the Caliph and his companion had entered and seated
+themselves, one of these two men by a glance drew the attention of his
+friend to the new-comers, and they began very shortly a dispute, which
+appeared to wax very warm indeed, respecting the merits of two female
+slaves which they possessed, and as to the pre-eminence of whose rival
+attractions they were quite unable to agree.  They vociferated and
+gesticulated and appeared to get so angry with each other, that in
+their mutual fury they seemed ready to tear each other to pieces.
+
+At length the Caliph interposed with a good-humoured smile, and said--
+
+"Gentlemen, if you will pardon a stranger for interfering in your
+dispute, I would suggest that the best and most effectual mode of
+deciding as to the relative merits and value of your two slaves would
+be to call in some disinterested man as umpire between you.  Now I and
+my friend are merchants, not only very well qualified to judge of the
+beauty and accomplishments of your slaves, but also quite ready to
+offer you a good price for them, because, as we have the entrance to
+the palace of the Caliph, the Grand Vizier, and other great personages,
+we are in a position to bring them to the very best market, and obtain
+a higher price for them than any one else."
+
+The two merchants who had acted their parts in the pretended quarrel
+with no other object than to elicit some such proposal, now willingly
+accepted it.
+
+"Come with us then," they exclaimed, "and your verdict shall decide our
+dispute.  The slave for whom you are willing to bid the highest price,
+she shall be judged to be incontestably the better."
+
+On this the two merchants rose, and conducting the Caliph and Giafer
+through many narrow streets and lanes in a part of the town they did
+not remember to have been in before, they stopped at length before a
+great gateway, on the door of which they gave three peculiar knocks.
+The door was opened by a huge black African slave, who grinned horribly
+as he saw his masters and the two strangers, and who, having admitted
+them, carefully closed and fastened the door behind them.
+
+They were ushered at first into a large room, having a wide and
+handsome divan, on which the merchants begged them to be seated.
+Another African slave, as large, black, and, if possible, even more
+hideous than the first, brought them refreshments and sweetmeats,
+together with silver goblets, into which he poured very good wine.
+
+After they had sat some time in this room, the Caliph proposed that
+they should proceed to inspect and pass judgment on the two beautiful
+female slaves.  The slave merchants therefore conducted the Caliph and
+Giafer to a smaller apartment elegantly fitted up, where, on a divan of
+the richest materials and most exquisite workmanship, was seated an
+Indian slave of the rarest beauty.
+
+The Caliph, who was ever an enthusiastic admirer of lovely women, stood
+for some moments lost in astonishment and delight.
+
+"Surely," said he, at length, "you have nothing more beautiful that you
+can show us.  I must have this slave, and will give you ten thousand
+pieces of gold for her."
+
+"If you are pleased with this slave," said one of the merchants,
+without noticing the Caliph's offer, "what will you say of the other?"
+
+Then leading the way from the room of the beautiful Indian, which was
+splendidly upholstered with hangings and furniture in crimson and gold,
+he led the way through a short passage to another room, where all the
+fittings were of silver and dark blue.  In this room, instead of the
+black-haired and dark-eyed Indian, sat a Persian beauty, whose hair was
+light and fine as new spun silk, and whose lustrous blue eyes and
+absolutely perfect form defy description.
+
+The Caliph stood entranced at the sight.  At length he exclaimed--
+
+"From what country does that lovely creature come?  Is she really a
+woman, or is she not rather a fairy whom some enchantment has brought
+among us?"
+
+"If," said the slave merchant, "you bid me ten thousand pieces of gold
+for the slave in the other room, how much will you offer for this?"
+
+"I will give you," said the Caliph, "forty thousand dinars, and not
+think her dear at that price."
+
+"Asmut," said the merchant to his companion, "did I not tell you that
+my slave girl was better than yours?  And behold this honest merchant
+offers four times as much for her as for your Indian."
+
+"It is easy enough," retorted the other, "for some fellow you pick up
+in the bazaar, and who has not probably a thousand dinars in the world,
+to talk of ten thousand for this slave, and forty thousand for that.
+It will be time to defer to his opinion, I think, when we see the
+thousands he talks of so glibly."
+
+"Without doubt," said the first speaker, "this honourable merchant
+would not offer a price, however large, for the slaves, unless he were
+able to find the money.  If he has not so much he can probably borrow a
+part of it.  Therefore, let both of these merchants lodge here with us
+to-night, and to-morrow they may either fetch or send for the gold, and
+the bargain may be concluded."
+
+But the Caliph exclaimed with his usual impetuosity--
+
+"By Allah, there shall be no to-morrow in the matter.  I will send for
+the money at once, and the slaves shall be mine."
+
+To this Asmut replied, "By your leave, not so fast.  We desired,
+indeed, that you should set a price on each of the slaves that we might
+decide our dispute as to which of them is the better.  But I by no
+means intended or bound myself to accept any sum you might mention for
+the slaves, whom I am in no hurry to dispose of."
+
+"Very well," said the Caliph, who was quite unused to the chaffering of
+merchants, although he had assumed the garb of one, "if the price I
+have named does not content you, name your own price, for, in short,
+the slaves I will have."
+
+Asmut, after a few moments' consideration as to the highest sum he
+could ask without going beyond what it seemed possible to obtain from
+this very frank and eager buyer, said--
+
+"The prices you have named, although no doubt large, are, in my
+opinion, so much below the real value of two beauties of such
+surpassing excellence, that I must insist on twice as much as you have
+offered, namely, twenty thousand dinars for the one and eighty thousand
+for the other."
+
+The Caliph laughed and said, "Verily you are not a merchant for naught,
+and you do not underestimate the worth of your own wares.
+Nevertheless, I will give you your price."
+
+The slave merchants could make no objection to this prompt agreement to
+their terms; on the contrary, it suited their plans very well.  Yet, in
+order to appear indifferent and little anxious to conclude the business
+with any undue haste and precipitancy, Asmut said--
+
+"To-morrow, however, will be early enough to produce the money.  It is
+now dark and grows late, and besides, whom can you send?"
+
+"I have a man whom I can send," said the Caliph, "for my servant will
+have followed us here, and I will despatch him at once for the money."
+
+And in fact Giafer, going to the gate, beckoned to Mesrur, who had
+followed them as usual, and who was waiting for them outside, and not
+far from the house he had seen them enter.
+
+The Caliph, taking out his tablets, wrote a few words to his treasurer,
+bidding him send at once by Mesrur, and in the hands of two slaves, the
+sum of one hundred thousand dinars.  This note he delivered to Mesrur,
+who saluted his master and immediately departed on his errand.
+
+The Caliph and Giafer then seated themselves on the divan in the large
+apartment into which they had been shown on first entering the house,
+and, together with the slave merchants, passed the time in conversing
+and discussing again the unique beauty of the two ladies whom the
+Caliph was to purchase.
+
+When Mesrur returned, bringing with him two slaves carrying the hundred
+thousand dinars in fifty bags, there being two thousand dinars in a
+bag, they were shown at once into the large room where the merchants
+and the Caliph were sitting.
+
+As the slaves deposited the bags on the floor the slave merchants, as
+also the Caliph and Giafer, rose and stood by them, Asmut so placing
+the lamp as that they could all see him count the money as they stood
+together.
+
+He proposed to count the money in one of the bags, and that he should
+then proceed to weigh the other bags against that which had been
+counted.  While all were watching him as he poured out and counted the
+money with much noise and many loud exclamations from both merchants as
+to the lightness of some of the coins, neither the Caliph, Giafer,
+Mesrur, nor either of the slaves, perceived that behind them, barefoot
+and noiseless as camels, a number of huge and powerful black slaves had
+entered the room.
+
+Suddenly Asmut, seizing the empty bag and dashing it on the floor,
+exclaimed, "I will count no more!"
+
+This being the signal, no sooner had he uttered the words than the
+slaves seized the Caliph and his companions, threw them down, and
+before they could either struggle or cry out had securely bound and
+gagged them.
+
+"A good haul for one night's fishing," said Asmut, coolly; "a hundred
+thousand dinars and five men, who will doubtless sell very well after
+taking a voyage, that is not so bad."
+
+Then ordering some of the slaves to be ready to take the prisoners down
+to the river as soon as the dawn should appear, Asmut and his partner
+personally superintended the removal from the room of the bags of gold.
+
+Very early in the morning, as soon as it began to be light, a party of
+the black slaves who had bound the Caliph and his followers came to
+them, and unbinding their legs escorted them down to the river, where a
+ship belonging to the slave merchants lay ready to receive them.
+
+Their prospects of escape out of the clutches of the slave merchants
+who had robbed and kidnapped them seemed slight indeed.  Giafer and the
+faithful Mesrur being included in the capture, seriously diminished the
+chance of any effectual measures for their relief being promptly
+undertaken, and a fatal period of delay was rendered all the more
+probable in consequence of the Caliph's well-known fondness for seeking
+adventures in disguise.  When the morning should come, and it was
+perceived that they had not returned to the palace, it was only too
+likely to be assumed that they were still engaged in the prosecution of
+some adventure in which the Caliph would not desire to be interrupted.
+Filled with these painful reflections, the Caliph, together with
+Giafer, Mesrur, and the two slaves, accompanied the black slaves who
+formed their guard, and proceeded towards the river.
+
+They had nearly reached the bank of the stream, and their case seemed
+altogether hopeless, when suddenly they met advancing towards them from
+the river a man habited as a merchant, and in personal appearance
+curiously resembling the Caliph himself.  He was accompanied by two
+companions, and seeing several men bound and gagged being marched along
+under charge of the black slaves, he stopped and demanded in a firm and
+authoritative tone who they were and whence they were going.
+
+At the sight of this man the blacks appeared to be seized with a sudden
+panic; the Caliph heard them say to each other hurriedly and with
+terrified looks, "It is the son of a Slave[1] himself."  And
+immediately they turned about and fled at their utmost speed.
+
+The stranger and his two companions at once released the prisoners, and
+inquired how it came to pass that they found them thus bound and gagged.
+
+The Caliph answered him: "Sir, we have suffered this indignity and
+violence at the hands of two rascally and deceitful slave merchants.  I
+will presently relate to you all the details of our adventure, but
+permit me first to despatch my servant on a piece of very urgent
+business."
+
+Then turning to Mesrur he took him aside, and said, "Go instantly,
+seize the two slave merchants and execute them at once; send the slaves
+and plunder you find in their house to the palace, and raze their house
+to the ground."
+
+Mesrur departed at once to the nearest guardhouse to procure help to
+carry out the orders of the Commander of the Faithful.  And it need
+scarcely be said that he had never received a command from his Majesty
+which he executed with so much alacrity and good-will.
+
+After having despatched Mesrur on this errand, the Caliph turned to the
+merchant and his companions, and said--
+
+"It is now time, gentlemen, that I should thank you for your
+intervention on our behalf, and that I should explain to you how it
+came to pass that we found ourselves in the plight from which you
+released us."
+
+Beginning, then, by saying that he and his friend had entered a certain
+caravanserai to rest themselves, and had there met the slave merchants,
+he related all that had befallen them, but said nothing to indicate his
+true rank as Caliph and Commander of the Faithful.
+
+After Haroun had thus explained to the merchant, who both in dress and
+features so much resembled himself, the history of his own position, he
+asked him whether he could in any way account for the sudden panic
+which had seized upon the slaves directly he had appeared and addressed
+them.
+
+The merchant, who resembled Haroun Alraschid, not only in personal
+appearance, but in a certain frank and bold bearing, laughed and said--
+
+"My name is Sidi ibn Thalabi, and I am, as my dress bespeaks me, a
+merchant.  But having the good fortune to be both in stature and
+features not only like yourself, which strange to say I certainly am,
+but also, which is more to the point, like our Caliph, God be his
+shield, I have been tempted in one thing to imitate his illustrious
+example.  The Prince of the Faithful is in the habit, as I dare say you
+may have heard, of seeking adventures and seeing life in the disguise
+of a merchant.  People, who would feel constrained in the presence of
+their sovereign, speak and act naturally in the presence of a simple
+merchant, the equal of themselves.  This pleases the Caliph, and
+affords him the gratification and amusement of observing men as they
+are.  As Prince of the Faithful he sees them only as they pretend to
+be.  Well, I have the same fancy, only in the contrary direction.  I
+know how men act when they accept me as their equal, I play at being
+their Prince and then watch their behaviour.  Taking advantage of the
+Caliph's well-known fondness for masquerading as a merchant and of my
+personal likeness to him, it is very easy to allow the impression to
+get about that I am he.  This accounts for the precipitate flight of
+the slaves.  Having seen me no doubt on sundry occasions in my barge
+upon the Tigris, and having been told by some of those busy-bodies who
+affect to know every one and everything that I was the Caliph in
+disguise, they no sooner saw me just now and heard me demand who you
+were than they ran away, dreading the punishment they so richly
+deserve."
+
+"It appears to me," said Haroun, "that the amusement in which you
+indulge is a somewhat dangerous one.  The Caliph is, I am told, of a
+fierce and rather hasty temper; should he learn by chance of your
+pranks, it might cost you your head.  However, that is your affair.
+For myself, I am indebted to your temerity for my liberty and probably
+for my life, therefore I have certainly no cause to quarrel with it.  I
+shall be delighted to form one of your company in any further
+adventures you may undertake, and meanwhile should hear with pleasure
+an account of any that may have already befallen you."
+
+To this Sidi ibn Thalabi replied, "I shall gladly conduct you to my
+boat on the Tigris, whither I was going when I had the good fortune to
+meet with you.  And when we are seated there at our ease and have
+partaken of some food, of which you must stand greatly in need after
+your night's lodging with the slave merchants, I will tell you how it
+happened that I obtained the reputation of being the Prince of the
+Faithful, and some incidents that have occurred in consequence.  But
+first," he continued, "let me introduce my friend and companion, who is
+indeed no other than my brother-in-law Abraha, but whom the people who
+take me to be the Caliph insist upon regarding as the Grand Vizier."
+
+"Yussuf," said Haroun, addressing Giafer by that name in order to
+further their disguise and continue what gave promise of proving a very
+entertaining misunderstanding, "I am sure you will salute with due
+respect the person of this Grand Vizier, who is, I doubt not, as good a
+man or even a better than Giafer himself."
+
+"Friend Hamad," replied Giafer, speaking to Haroun in the style and by
+the name they had previously agreed upon, "I salute with pleasure both
+our new acquaintances, and am ready to believe that Abraha is no less
+worthy to be really Grand Vizier than Sidi ibn Thalabi is to be really
+Caliph."
+
+Haroun perceived both from the manner and the answer of Giafer that the
+sham Grand Vizier was a joke not quite to his liking.  This amused
+Haroun not a little, and he employed the time as they walked towards
+the river in further light and playful discourse upon the topic.
+
+Addressing Abraha, he said, "You must be pleased, sir, to excuse any
+roughness or want of good manners and politeness on the part of my
+friend Yussuf; he is perhaps a little bit jealous of the good fortune
+of one who has been regarded as the Grand Vizier."
+
+Abraha, who was a rather dull and stolid personage, accepted these mock
+apologies with such imperturbable gravity and sincerity that Haroun was
+delighted with him.
+
+Saluting Haroun very solemnly, the sham Grand Vizier said, "Sir, I beg
+that you will give yourself no concern respecting the language or
+demeanour of your friend Yussuf.  I dare say he is a good plain man,
+however unused to the company of high personages, and in any case I am
+able to make allowances for any whiff of passing ill-humour or
+jealousy."
+
+During this conversation between Haroun and Abraha, Giafer and Sidi ibn
+Thalabi had fallen a little way behind and were walking and talking
+together.  A little way behind these came the two slaves whom Mesrur
+had brought to the slave merchants with him to carry the gold pieces.
+
+When the party arrived at the bank of the Tigris, Haroun, stepping
+aside, beckoned the slaves to him and despatched them to the palace
+with a note addressed to the Grand Chamberlain.
+
+In this note he informed that functionary that he should not return to
+the palace for some hours, and commanded him to send the two slaves at
+once, under guard and without allowing them to speak to any one, to a
+town fifty days' journey from Bagdad, he having no mind to entrust the
+secret of his last night's adventure to the indiscreet tongues of the
+slaves who had participated in it.  Having thus got rid of the slaves,
+Haroun and Giafer accompanied their new acquaintances, Abraha and Sidi
+ibn Thalabi, on board the ship or pleasure barge belonging to the
+latter.
+
+After they had been seated for some time, and had appeased their hunger
+by partaking of a very substantial breakfast, Haroun said to Sidi ibn
+Thalabi--
+
+"I must now remind you of your promise to tell me something of your
+recent experience."
+
+Upon which Sidi ibn Thalabi spoke as follows:
+
+
+THE NARRATIVE OF SIDI IBN THALABI.
+
+"I must first tell you, friend Hamad," he began, for Haroun and Giafer
+were known to him only by their assumed names of Hamad and Yussuf--"I
+must first tell you how it came about that I was induced to personate
+our sovereign lord, Haroun Alraschid, whom may Allah preserve, and from
+whose ears may the story of my presumption be hidden for ever."
+
+"I should say," said Haroun, "that he is never likely to hear of it,
+unless you communicate it to him yourself."
+
+"In that case I should be safe enough," said Sidi ibn Thalabi.
+"However, to resume, what put the idea into my head in the first
+instance was this.  I was one day coming down to the river to spend the
+day on board my boat, when I called at the shop or stall of a fruit
+merchant in the bazaar to buy some fruit.  I sat down in his shop while
+I selected what I required and bargained as to the price.  I was
+surprised, in the first place, to find that instead of asking five or
+six times the value of the fruit and abating his demand by degrees, as
+is commonly the custom, the merchant, who treated me with extreme
+deference, begged me to choose whatever fruit I pleased and pay him for
+it as much as I might consider it to be worth."
+
+"'What,' said I, 'do you leave the price to be fixed by me?  Suppose I
+give you but half the value of it?'
+
+"'Sir,' answered the man, 'Allah forbid that your slave should venture
+to put aside the veil in which you choose at this moment to envelop
+yourself.  Nevertheless, I am very sensible of the honour you have done
+me in entering my shop and conversing familiarly with me, and truly the
+shop and all it contains are altogether at your service.'
+
+"'For whom do you take me, or mistake me,' said I, 'that you treat me
+to so many compliments and good offers?'
+
+"'Sir,' he replied, 'I have seen his Majesty the Caliph, whom may Allah
+protect, ride by so often, both when he is going to and returning from
+the Mosque, that it would be very strange if I could fail to recognize
+his features, no matter what disguise he may choose to assume.
+However, I will say no more, a merchant and no more than a merchant you
+are if you will it so.  To what place does it please you that I should
+send you the fruit?'
+
+"I denied again that I was the Commander of the Faithful, no matter how
+much my features might resemble his; but perceiving that the man
+retained his own opinion of my identity and received my disclaimers
+only out of politeness, I thought it not worth while to argue the
+question with him further, but desired him to send the fruit to me,
+Sidi ibn Thalabi, on board this boat.  At the same time, I must confess
+that I so far yielded to the weakness of being flattered by being taken
+for the Caliph in disguise that I gave the fruit merchant two dinars
+for fruit which was not worth one quarter of that sum.
+
+"On receiving the money, which he did with much humbleness and many
+profound salutations, the merchant said--
+
+"'Sidi ibn Thalabi, as so you desire to be called, I give you many
+thanks for your liberality, and I pray you not to be offended with me
+if I seize the present opportunity to beg a favour of you.'
+
+"'If,' said I, 'it is in my power to do what you wish, I assure you
+that, far from taking offence, I shall oblige you gladly.'
+
+"'Your kind words,' said the merchant, 'fill me with joy, because my
+request is entirely within your power to grant.  I have an only son,
+let him come to you and employ him in any office for which you may
+judge him to be fit.'
+
+"'On condition,' I answered, 'that you bear in mind that I am simply
+Sidi ibn Thalabi and no one else, I am ready to see and employ your son
+if you so desire.'
+
+"The fruit merchant vowed that no word of either himself or his son
+should betray the belief that I was any other than what I represented
+myself, namely, Sidi ibn Thalabi, a retired merchant taking his ease in
+his boat upon the Tigris.  On this understanding the young man came to
+me, and finding him to be a very agreeable and well-educated young
+fellow, I have employed him in the office of my secretary.
+
+"Being possessed of property at Bussora and other towns, I am often
+absent from Bagdad, and only occasionally take my pleasure here on my
+boat just as the humour seizes me.  Whether misled by these absences,
+or whether accepting his father's opinion without question, I know not,
+but I soon discovered that, not only did my new secretary believe me to
+be the Caliph, but that he had spread this rumour of me among a great
+number of the river-side population.  Perhaps he discovered that he
+himself was in consequence held in greater esteem, Allah alone
+knows--at any rate he hesitated not to spread the false report
+concerning me.
+
+"It thus came to pass that, not only was I often received in any
+company in which I chanced to find myself with an amount of respect and
+deference to which I was really by no means entitled, but people who
+were strangers to me asked me to social gatherings and feasts under the
+mistaken notion that they were thereby securing themselves personal
+intercourse with the dreaded and illustrious Haroun Alraschid himself.
+
+"As often as possible I refused these invitations, but could not avoid
+now and then coming into a mixed society, where I soon perceived that
+my fame had preceded me.  On those occasions, should any dispute arise,
+it was not uncommon for my authority to be confidently appealed to, and
+my verdict to be implicitly accepted.  This very naturally brought me
+more than once into a position of considerable difficulty.  For, on the
+one hand, no disclaimer on my part would avail to convince those who
+appealed to me that I was not really the Caliph; and, on the other
+hand, I well knew myself to be quite powerless either to enforce my
+decision or to punish those who were clearly guilty, and both deserving
+and expecting to be sentenced.
+
+"An incident that occurred only two days since will illustrate what I
+have been saying.  I was on my way to the river accompanied by Abraha
+only, when passing through a street in the lower part of the town we
+came upon a crowd of people shouting and gesticulating and making a
+great hubbub.  In the centre of the crowd there was one man who was
+dragging another along violently and crying out constantly, 'Come
+before the Cadi, you villain! come before the Cadi, you villain!'  All
+the others, as is usual in such cases, were crying out some one thing,
+some another.
+
+"When the crowd perceived us the hubbub was redoubled, and all we could
+gather from the confused noise was that they were appealing to me to
+arbitrate between them.  I made a sign, therefore, that they should be
+silent, and there being at a short distance from the spot where we met
+the crowd a small open space with a fountain in the middle of it, I led
+the way thither, and seating myself on the steps of the fountain, the
+two men stood before me, and the crowd gathered round to hear what was
+said and witness what would take place, the people never doubting but
+that when I should have examined the case I should pronounce judgment
+on the offender.
+
+"When I asked the man who had hold of the other, and who was evidently
+the complainant, to state what was the matter, he exclaimed very
+vehemently--
+
+"'This man, this rascally barber, whom your Greatness sees here before
+you, has murdered my brother.  He a barber!  He is a plunderer! he is
+an assassin!  Do justice upon him, therefore, and condemn the ignorant
+wretch to the punishment he so richly deserves.'
+
+"'Not so fast, not so fast,' said I; 'tell me more calmly, and with
+particulars, in what way has this barber murdered your brother?'
+
+"'Your Greatness,' said the man, 'it was in this wise.  My brother had
+been working in the heat of the sun, and the sun had doubtless inflamed
+his blood so that he became stupefied and unconscious.  I went,
+therefore, for a barber that he should come and bleed my brother, and
+restore his senses to him.  Now as ill-luck would have it the first
+barber I lighted upon was this pestilent fellow.  When I found him he
+was engaged in shaving a customer, and because that customer was a good
+one he would not leave him to attend to my brother, but first finished
+his shaving and then came with me.  Having first delayed so long, when
+at last he was come he bled my brother not once but three times, and
+two hours afterwards my brother died.  I say, therefore, truly that he
+has killed my brother, and deserves to be termed butcher rather than
+barber.'
+
+"Having listened to this complaint, I said, addressing the barber, 'You
+hear what this man alleges; let me hear, therefore, what reply you can
+make and how you will defend yourself from the charge which has been
+brought against you.'
+
+"The barber, who like most of his class did not lack assurance and had
+words at command, was not slow to answer.
+
+"'Sir,' said he, 'the accusation which this man brings against me, and
+his assertion that I am ignorant and do not understand the duties of my
+office, are both of them groundless and absurd.  I have not been a
+barber for fifteen years without knowing very well how to let blood as
+well as how to shave; and if this man's brother is dead, it is in spite
+of what I did for him, and not in consequence of it.  As to what is
+alleged of my delay, I deny it altogether.  I did but give three or
+four strokes of my razor, which was all that was needed to finish the
+operation of shaving in which I was engaged when this man called for
+me, and it is only his furious impatience that has magnified a few
+seconds into a serious delay.  As to the bleeding, I did indeed take
+from him six ounces of blood; in one cup I received two ounces, in a
+second cup two ounces, and in a third cup two ounces.  But that
+quantity was by no means too much.  Moreover, that which was received
+into the first cup coagulated in twelve minutes, that which was
+received into the second cup in twenty-two minutes, while that which
+was in the third cup was not completely coagulated in thirty-five
+minutes; now what does that prove?'
+
+"'It proves,' said the other, 'that you are, as I have told you
+already, a bungler and murderer, for is not my brother dead of your
+bleeding, and you deserve to lose your head?'
+
+"'Sir,' said the barber to me, 'this man simply raves, as you will have
+observed.  Every baker and tailor knows more in his own conceit of
+bleeding than a barber of fifteen years' experience like myself.  They
+are able to pass judgment as to the question of too much or too little
+without hesitation and with the utmost exactness.  It is a story as old
+as King Ad--the more ignorant they are the more sure they be.
+Presently they will discover that men should never be let blood at all,
+forgetting that we bleed our horses also,[2] and find it does them
+good.  And, for myself, I know after fifteen years' experience how much
+to take both from the healthy and from the sick.'
+
+"'Accursed barber,' interrupted the other, fiercely, 'I believe verily
+that thou canst neither bleed without killing nor shave without
+cutting.'
+
+'"As for my bleeding,' retorted the barber, in a rage, 'I have bled
+many score without accident or ill-result, excepting only your brother,
+who was a drunkard and as good as dead before ever I saw him; while as
+for my being able to shave without cutting, I will have you to know
+that there lives no creature on this earth, from an ape to the
+illustrious Caliph himself, whom may Allah preserve and exalt, that I
+will not shave without giving him so much as a scratch.'
+
+"'That,' said I, willing to end the dispute between the two men, 'is a
+very bold challenge on the part of the barber.  The Caliph indeed can
+be scarcely got to submit himself to the test, but we will get an ape,
+and if this honest man shaves him, as he says he can, without
+inflicting a scratch, I will adjudge him to be a very proficient barber
+and an adept in each branch of his trade, both bleeding and shaving.'
+
+"The people, who are easily led and amused, received my decision with
+delight.  They cried out, 'An ape! an ape!'  All were desirous to see
+how the creature would submit himself to the operation of being shaved.
+Even the man who had lost his brother could not altogether refrain from
+a grin of satisfaction at the thought of the troublesome task the
+barber had before him."
+
+Haroun Alraschid smiled and stroked his beard, saying, "Sidi ibn
+Thalabi, that was a happy inspiration, and extricated you cleverly from
+what threatened to become for you a rather embarrassing position."
+
+Sidi ibn Thalabi acknowledged this compliment to his sagacity by a low
+bow, and continued--
+
+"For the people to find an ape on which the barber could exhibit his
+skill was no easy matter, none knew where such an animal could be
+procured.  However, I was able myself to get them out of this
+difficulty very speedily.  A merchant of my acquaintance had I knew
+many strange birds and beasts which had been brought to him at sundry
+times by the various ships and caravans which conveyed his merchandize.
+To him I applied, stating what I required, and was able to purchase a
+little ape who appeared very suitable for our purpose.
+
+"This little animal was really very young, as its constant and restless
+activity sufficiently proved, but it had the appearance of a small aged
+African, with deeply wrinkled forehead and cheeks and a sparse beard of
+short white hairs.  When this creature was placed in the hands of the
+barber, its behaviour gave promise of affording us all the
+entertainment we could desire.
+
+"It was the duty of the barber to perform the various functions of his
+office in the customary manner.  He had first to wash the head and
+face, and then to proceed to shave just as in the case of any one else.
+For this purpose the barber produced a metal basin, which he filled
+with water from the fountain; and the ape having been accommodated with
+a seat on a low bench in the middle of the open space round which the
+people were assembled, the barber set down the basin beside him.  For a
+few moments the little creature sat regarding the basin with an
+expression of great gravity and wisdom, but just as the barber, having
+dipped a piece of cloth in the water, was wringing it out preparatory
+to commencing the operation of washing, the ape suddenly seized upon
+the basin with both hands and turned it upside down, apparently with
+childish curiosity to examine the other side.
+
+"The effect of this movement was to pour all the contents of the basin
+over the ape's own legs, which disconcerted him very much, and the
+barber stooping down to pick up the basin which the ape had dropped,
+the little creature nimbly sprang upon his shoulders, and with its wet
+legs round the barber's neck he employed himself in taking off the
+man's turban, which he first placed on his own head and then
+immediately afterwards snatching it off again he threw it on the ground.
+
+"At these antics the crowd of course laughed loudly, but the barber,
+who was a man of much good temper and self-control, simply took the ape
+off his shoulders, and having seated him again as at first, he
+proceeded to pick up and replace his turban, and refill the basin.
+
+"Putting the water this time out of reach of the ape, the barber dipped
+his cloth into the basin and proceeded to wash the head and face of his
+unwilling and in every sense ugly customer.  But directly the ape felt
+the wet cloth touch his skin he snatched it instantly from the hands of
+the barber and commenced tearing it in pieces.  And before the barber
+could attempt to rescue even the fragments of his washing cloth the
+mischievous little creature slipped quickly off the bench on which he
+had been seated, and running rapidly on all fours among the crowd,
+suddenly jumped upon the back of a small boy who had been hitherto
+enjoying the fun and laughing very heartily at the antics of the
+monkey.  This last prank, however, frightened the small boy very much,
+and he ran about wildly, with the ape seated on his shoulders,
+screaming loudly.  As the monkey held on bravely, with each hand
+grasping firmly a handful of the boy's hair, the little fellow had some
+excuse for making an outcry.  The barber, however, very soon recaptured
+his troublesome charge, and reseated him on the bench to undergo the
+usual barbarous routine of washing and shaving.
+
+"Meanwhile the crowd beside laughing had, of course, encouraged the
+barber to pursue his task by many questions and exclamations, such as,
+'Why don't you make haste to shave the gentleman?'  'Take care you
+don't cut his precious chin!'  'Barber, is your hand steady?' and so
+forth.
+
+"In answer to all these jeers the barber only smiled and said,
+'Patience, the little gentleman is somewhat scared by your noise and
+ugly faces, but he will sit quietly enough presently.'
+
+"And marvellous to behold, when the barber had replaced him again the
+third time on the bench, the ape sat still, as solemn as the Cadi
+himself, and allowed himself to be both washed and shaved, moving no
+more than though he were dead and stuffed.
+
+"This astonished the crowd very much and they applauded loudly, till
+the man who had at first accused the barber of murdering his brother
+cried out that it was sorcery, and that this accursed barber must be in
+fact a foul magician, since he could not only kill good Moslims, but
+shave misshapen apes.  On this the fickle crowd were moved against the
+barber, and would have fallen upon him and done him an injury had I not
+interfered on his behalf.
+
+"'Stop,' said I, 'I will inquire of the barber, and he shall confess to
+me by what means he has caused the ape to sit still and permit himself
+to be shaved.  If he has employed magic he shall be dealt with
+accordingly, but if not, why should he be punished on the accusation of
+one who hates him and may be envious of his skill?'
+
+"Speaking thus to the crowd I calmed them, then bringing the barber
+along with us we hastened at once to the river and came on board my
+barge.
+
+"When we had safely arrived here, after giving the barber something to
+eat and drink, I pressed him to tell me how he had contrived to render
+the monkey suddenly so quiet and docile, a feat which had appeared as
+surprising and as inexplicable to me as to the others.
+
+"'Sir,' said the barber, 'I have during my life travelled through many
+distant countries and taken part in many strange adventures, but I
+confess that among all the singular and marvellous things I have seen
+or have collected, nothing is more strange nor more valuable than that
+by means of which I have been enabled to exhibit to you the spectacle
+which you have witnessed this morning.'
+
+"I pressed him once more to tell me what this rare and precious thing
+might be and how he became possessed of it.  Upon which the barber,
+saluting me as his protector and deliverer, who had saved him from the
+fury of the crowd, consented readily to impart his secret to me, and
+spoke as follows:--
+
+
+THE BARBER'S STORY.
+
+"'It is now about three months since I was called early one morning to
+bleed a man who was reported to be insensible.  Now, notwithstanding
+all that that fellow asserted in his rage this morning, I am a barber
+and the son of a barber, and understand my craft very thoroughly.
+Therefore, taking with me whatever I might be likely to require to let
+the man blood and restore him to consciousness, I started at once.
+
+"'On arriving at the house, which was a very poor one, to which I had
+been summoned, I found the patient an old white-bearded man, and also a
+physician whom I knew very well, and who practised in that part of the
+town.
+
+"'He had sent for me to bleed the man, but he was evidently puzzled
+extremely by many features of the case the like of which he had never
+before encountered.  The patient was indeed unconscious, yet he
+exhibited few or none of the symptoms generally characteristic of that
+state.  He was not lying down, but sitting up.  His face wore the
+expression not of one dead or dying, but of a man transfixed with rage
+and horror.  His eyes wide open were staring upon us with an expression
+of impotent rage, as though he were witnessing some outrage which he
+was powerless to prevent.  His mouth was opened as though uttering a
+cry, but no cry came out of his mouth.  He did not breathe heavily, he
+did not appear to breathe at all.  He had the appearance of a man who
+in the midst of some violent emotion had suddenly been turned into
+stone, or rather into some plastic material possessing very peculiar
+properties.  For we found that, while every limb yielded readily to
+pressure and could be placed easily in any posture we pleased, it did
+not on being released fall to the ground, but maintained the attitude
+in which it had been placed as though it were modelled in wax or carved
+in stone.
+
+"'All this was so surprising that I suppose I ought not to have been
+surprised, as certainly I was, when I found that no blood flowed when I
+attempted to bleed him.  The man seemed to be decidedly not dead--and
+yet decidedly not alive.  We could make nothing of him.  And after a
+while the physician being called away to attend to some one else, left
+me to watch this strange case, and act as I should see fit.
+
+"'For a long time I sat and vigilantly observed the striking figure
+before me, in appearance so full of life and passion, in reality so
+completely inert.
+
+"'As you may suppose, I was not alone.  The small room was crowded with
+the neighbours of the old man, who had long known him, and among whom
+he was reported to be a miser, who though living in apparent poverty
+was really very rich.  I could see that many did not confine their
+inquisitive glances to the old man himself, but looked eagerly about
+them to discover if possible in some corner of the mean apartment that
+store of hidden wealth which they had persuaded themselves that it
+contained.  After a time these visitors departed one after the other,
+perceiving neither any alteration in the condition of the old man nor
+any signs of his reputed riches.
+
+"'When they had all left, I still sat looking attentively at him, lost
+in astonishment and marvelling what would be the end of so singular and
+unheard-of a trance.  Without the least warning, so suddenly that I was
+not a little startled, the full stream of life seemed to return upon
+him in an instant.  It had been arrested as suddenly and for many
+hours--and now in a moment, before one could swallow one's spittle, it
+resumed its course as though the interruption had never taken place.
+To the mouth half opened all this time utterance was at length
+restored, and suddenly as I sat watching him he cried with a loud
+voice--
+
+"'"Seize them!  They have it!  Ah, wretches! the curse of Allah be upon
+ye!  To rob an old man! a poor man!  Yes, they are gone, the robbers,
+the villains!  My savings, my savings!  The small savings of a long
+life.  Ah! the cursed villains, the cursed villains! seize them, seize
+them!"
+
+"'Thus the old fellow raved on, beating his breast, tearing his hair
+and his beard, and speedily recalling by his cries and lamentations all
+his neighbours who remained within hearing.  Getting some of these to
+assist me, again I attempted to bleed him, and this time successfully.
+This quieted him, and presently we laid him down much calmer, though
+apparently extremely exhausted.
+
+"'We could learn nothing more from him than that three men had entered
+his room on the previous evening and had robbed him of all that he
+possessed; but what became of them, or how he had fallen into the state
+of trance in which he had been discovered, he could not explain.
+
+"'I had now given up much more time than I could afford, and seeing no
+chance of getting paid under the circumstances, and there being nothing
+further I could do for the unfortunate old creature, I left him in the
+hands of his neighbours and took my departure.
+
+"'I had not gone far when I observed lying on the ground a small
+camel's-hair brush of very peculiar appearance.  It was flat, in
+breadth about the width of two fingers, and the hairs of the brush as
+long as a man's little finger.  I picked it up, wondering for what
+purpose it could be used, and thinking it might possibly prove of
+service on some future occasion, I carried it home with me.
+
+"'Several days passed, and I had forgotten not only the little brush
+that I had picked up, but even the episode of the old man and his
+strange trance, when one afternoon a man presented himself to be
+shaved, who, after some desultory discourse on passing topics,
+mentioned that he had heard of my attendance on the old miser, and
+inquired as to the condition in which I had found him, and all the
+particulars of the affair.
+
+"'When I had related to him the whole of the circumstances--excepting
+only the finding of the little brush as I came away, an incident so
+trifling that I no longer remembered it--he inquired, with some
+eagerness, I thought, whether I had found anything in the old man's
+room.  I had picked up the brush not in the room, but outside the
+house, and the very fact that I had done so having for the moment
+escaped my recollection, I answered at once--"No, I found nothing; and,
+in truth, it seemed to me that some people had probably forestalled me,
+and left nothing for me or any one else to find."  The man laughed at
+this, as though it were a very good joke.  At that instant, the finding
+the little brush occurred to my mind, and I determined now in my turn
+to ascertain, if possible, whether it were that he was in search of.
+
+"'I asked him, therefore, whether he had heard of any valuable being
+missed from the old man's room, as he had questioned me about it.
+
+"'"Not exactly that," he said.  "A good deal of valuable property might
+have been taken, he supposed," and again he laughed, "from the old
+man's room, but he was not concerned about that."
+
+"'"No," thought I, "for you probably know where to find it."
+
+"'"What I wish to recover," continued the man, "is not an article of
+value at all, only a little brush that a friend of mine dropped in the
+confusion, and which he is very anxious to get again, because it
+belonged to his father and his grandfather before him."
+
+"'"I fear," answered I, "that you will not find it in the old man's
+room, because I looked about the place, and I noticed a good many other
+keen eyes doing the same, and nothing of any kind was to be seen."
+
+"'"No, there is no brush there now," said he; "you may be sure I have
+ascertained that for myself before applying to you.  If you did not see
+it, I fear it is lost beyond recovery, and I would pay handsomely for
+it too, if I could find it."
+
+"'"Why," said I, "as to that, you need make but little fuss over the
+loss of a little brush; a single dinar will buy you five score of them."
+
+"'"True," said he, "but the little brush I am in search of was of a
+special make, such as men in these days know not how to fashion."
+
+"'"After all," said I, "it is but a matter of shape and fancy, for
+there can be no great difference in value between two brushes of the
+same size."
+
+"'"However that may be," said the man, "if by talking with your
+customers you can discover this little brush, and procure it for me, I
+will give you a good price for it."
+
+"'"What do you call a good price?" I inquired.
+
+"'"I will give you," he said, "ten dinars for it."
+
+"'He looked at me very hard, to observe what effect this offer would
+produce, for no doubt, in spite of my denial, he suspected that I had
+picked up the brush.  But I reflected that the brush must have some
+very special value, or he would not so readily have offered ten dinars
+for it.  If I held back, by and by he would offer twenty.
+
+"'I therefore answered quietly--"It is a large sum for a small brush,
+if I should hear of it I will let you know."
+
+"'"In a week or ten days I will come again," he said, "perhaps by that
+time you may be able to find it."
+
+"'He probably named a week or ten days in order not to appear too
+eager, and also to give me time to pretend to have succeeded in my
+search.
+
+"'A week passed and a fortnight, and still he did not return.  Indeed
+he never came back, and whether he was captured by the police--for I
+have no doubt he was one of the thieves who had robbed the old
+miser--or whether he and his gang had been obliged on account of some
+other crime to fly from Bagdad, I do not know; one thing only is
+certain, I have never seen him again.
+
+"'Nearly three months had elapsed, and I had almost ceased to expect
+the reappearance of the man, and even to regret that I did not accept
+his offer of ten dinars for the brush at the time he made it, when one
+afternoon, a few days ago, a man came to me suffering from a growth or
+wen on the back of his neck, close to the spinal cord.  He desired that
+I should paint this with a certain remedy or lotion I have for such
+tumours.  Finding the lotion, which I had not used for some time, but
+not the brush with which I was accustomed to apply it, I took hold of
+the little brush which I had picked up, and made use of that.  The
+hairs of this brush were so much longer than those in my old brush,
+that I had not proceeded far before I happened accidentally to pass the
+wet brush across the spine.  Immediately the man became fixed in the
+attitude in which he happened to be as I was operating upon him.  His
+features retained the expression precisely which they wore at the
+moment the wet brush had touched the spine, and, in short, the man was
+in a trance exactly similar to that in which I had found the old miser
+three months before.
+
+"'I had discovered the virtues of the brush.  At first I was a good
+deal frightened, not knowing how long the trance might continue.
+However, after the lapse of twelve hours, the man recovered
+consciousness again, and the complete use of all his faculties just as
+suddenly as the old miser had done three months previously.
+
+"'I persuaded the man that he had fallen asleep during the operation of
+anointing his tumour, and that I had housed him for the night out of
+kindness.  For this he thanked me sincerely, allowed me to bleed him
+for the good of his health, and to wash and shave him, and paying me
+handsomely for all I had done for him, departed with much satisfaction.
+
+"'This morning, therefore, when I happened to give utterance to that
+rash boast of being able to shave successfully any living thing--a
+boast you so cleverly turned against me--I determined to make good my
+words by virtue of the camel's-hair brush.'"
+
+"And what," asked Haroun of Sidi ibn Thalabi, "what has become of the
+brush? did you not buy it of the barber?"
+
+"I endeavoured to do so," answered he, "but the barber declared that
+unless the Caliph himself seated upon his throne should demand it, he
+would never part with it on any terms to any man."
+
+"I think, friend Sidi ibn Thalabi," said Haroun, "that the barber is
+right.  But now that I have heard the story of the barber, which is a
+very strange story, and has interested me greatly, I must for the
+present leave you, and return to my house where my people will be
+anxiously awaiting me.  I hope, however, to have the pleasure very
+shortly of receiving you in my own house, and till then I bid you
+farewell."
+
+
+
+[1] The Caliph was commonly so designated by the vulgar.
+
+[2] A common Arab practice.
+
+
+
+
+The Caliph and Sidi ibn Thalabi
+
+THE BANQUET.
+
+On the next morning after Haroun Alraschid had given the customary
+audiences to his Viziers and the great officers of his kingdom, he
+ordered Mesrur to send and fetch Kaseem, the barber whose story Sidi
+ibn Thalabi had related to him.
+
+Kaseem, on being introduced into the audience-chamber, and seeing the
+Caliph in his royal robes seated upon the throne, made no doubt but
+that he was in truth the same man as that Sidi ibn Thalabi who had
+rescued him from the mob, and to whom he had spoken on board the boat.
+
+When, therefore, Haroun said to him, "Kaseem, I have been told that you
+have a certain small brush of potent virtue.  Give it to me."
+
+Kaseem answered, smiling, "Your Majesty is, I know, very well informed
+indeed as to all the circumstances concerning that brush, and I am very
+happy, not only from loyalty, but also from gratitude to one Sidi ibn
+Thalabi, whom may Allah bless and reward, to be able to present to your
+Majesty a thing which you desire to possess."
+
+Saying this, he offered the little brush, which Haroun took with his
+own hands.
+
+Then the Caliph, turning to the Grand Vizier, said:
+
+"I appoint Kaseem to be the Court Barber; see that he has robes and
+utensils given him suited to his office, and pay him every month a fee
+of one hundred dinars."
+
+The Caliph, having ordered further an immediate present of a thousand
+dinars to be given to Kaseem, sent him away very well satisfied.
+
+Haroun next commanded Giafer to prepare in the splendid house and
+garden which had belonged to Abou Hassan, the Fortunate Merchant, a
+great banquet and entertainment to be given that evening, and to which
+Sidi ibn Thalabi and his brother-in-law, Abraha, were to be invited by
+Hamad and Yussuf, the names assumed by himself and Giafer.  All those
+who were invited to meet Sidi ibn Thalabi were informed that it was
+Haroun's pleasure to give this entertainment in the assumed character
+of a merchant, and that he would be known and was to be addressed as
+Hamad, and Giafer as Yussuf.
+
+Among the guests were Murad Essed, the Unfortunate Merchant whom Haroun
+had met, and whose story he had heard in this very house.
+
+Murad Essed, like Sidi ibn Thalabi and Abraha, knew Haroun only in his
+assumed character as a merchant.  There were, however, other guests who
+were very well acquainted with both the Caliph and the Grand Vizier.
+There was, for instance, the singer and composer, Ishak ibn Ibrahim el
+Mosili, a great favourite of Haroun's; and the blind poet, Abu
+'Atahiyeh, with several others.
+
+The splendid saloon, with its open arcade on one side, looking out over
+the charming central garden, held on this evening a very merry party.
+Never since the time of its late owner, Abou Hassan, the Fortunate
+Merchant, had it beheld a scene so gay.
+
+The banquet was varied and well served, the wines of the rarest
+vintages, and the hours passed speedily and pleasantly enough,
+enlivened by a constant succession of tales and songs.
+
+Murad Essed was the first that was called upon by Haroun as the host to
+relate a story to the company.
+
+"Murad Essed," said Haroun, "there are, I think, none here present
+beside you, myself, and my friend Yussuf, who are acquainted with the
+story of Abou Hassan, the Fortunate Merchant, the former owner of this
+house.  Will you, therefore, oblige us by relating it to us?"
+
+When Murad Essed had, in response to this invitation, related the story
+of the Fortunate Merchant and his tragical fate, Haroun addressed
+himself to Abu 'Atahiyeh, and said: "Abu 'Atahiyeh, do you now compose
+a few verses, and Ishak ibn Ibrahim el Mosili shall sing them."
+
+Abu 'Atahiyeh, who was sitting next to Ishak, having dictated some
+lines, and Ishak having written them down, the latter sang them to a
+favourite air of Haroun's, being accompanied on the lute by Isaac, the
+most famous of all the players on that instrument.
+
+The lines were these:
+
+  "O, LOVELY STARS!"
+
+  "O lovely stars!  O lovely stars!  O lovely stars in the sky!
+  Your eyes are bright, your eyes are bright, and yet you are
+        wondrous shy!
+
+  You none are men, you none are men, but every one a she;
+  And but at night, and but at night, your beauty we men may see!
+
+  The staring gaze, the staring gaze, of insolent Day you shun;
+  In veils of light, in veils of light, hid from the face of the Sun.
+
+  The swarthy Night, the swarthy Night, he alone may be your spouse;
+  His harem wide, his harem wide, no other lover allows.
+
+  The Caliph's self, the Caliph's self, has no bevy one half so fair;
+  Nor lodged so well, nor lodged so well, as ye in your palace of air!"
+
+
+"Bravo, bravo! well worded and well sung, by Allah!" cried Haroun, as
+Ishak ibn Ibrahim el Mosili concluded the verses.  Then taking two
+splendid golden goblets which stood before him, he commanded them to be
+filled with wine, and presented one to Abu 'Atahiyeh, and the other to
+Ishak ibn Ibrahim el Mosili.
+
+"Take each of you," said the generous Caliph, "the goblet that I send
+you; it is yours.  And, by Allah and the beard of the Prophet! if I
+could but find twenty such poets and singers, most willingly would I
+find twenty such goblets for them."
+
+The other guests were no less pleased than the host himself with the
+verses of Abu 'Atahiyeh, and the singing of Ishak ibn Ibrahim el Mosili.
+
+Presently the Caliph, addressing Abu 'Atahiyeh, said: "You have made us
+some verses, now tell us a tale, for I know that your store of tales is
+without end."
+
+
+THE STORY OF MUBAREK,
+
+AS TOLD BY ABU 'ATAHIYEH.
+
+"There once lived a young man whose name was Mubarek.  He was the only
+son of a rich merchant at Bagdad, commonly known as Bereydah abou
+Mubarek.
+
+"To the great grief of his father, Mubarek, when he was twenty-three
+years of age, developed such a longing to travel and visit those
+foreign countries of which he had so often heard from other
+merchants--his father's friends--that nothing could persuade him to
+remain quietly in Bagdad.  Bereydah abou Mubarek, having therefore
+furnished his son with such sorts of merchandize as would be most
+suitable to trade with in the countries he was about to visit, took
+leave of him with much emotion and many injunctions both as to his
+personal conduct, and the management of his affairs.
+
+"After passing through several countries most frequently traversed by
+caravans belonging to the merchants of this city, and where he saw
+nothing but what is familiarly known to all here present, and met with
+no adventure I need pause to describe, he set sail in a merchantman,
+bound for the coast of India.
+
+"He had not been at sea more than three days when a violent storm
+arose, and the force of the hurricane, driving the ship altogether out
+of her course, she found herself at length off a coast altogether
+unknown to the captain, and in spite of his exertions she was blown in
+shore, and became very shortly a total wreck.
+
+"Mubarek, who fortunately succeeded in reaching the land, although with
+the loss of all that he possessed, wandered about for some time in a
+most forlorn and starving condition.  At length, meeting some natives
+of the country, he was conducted by them to a large town on the coast,
+which was the capital of the kingdom.  Here, in a very magnificent
+palace situated in the midst of extensive and fragrant gardens, lived
+Ahesha the Queen.  An idolater, like all her subjects, she was,
+although an exceedingly beautiful woman, cruel, vindictive, and a
+proficient in all the arts of magic.
+
+"Mubarek, as a stranger, being brought before her, as the laws of that
+kingdom required, she immediately fell violently in love with him,
+which was the less to be wondered at, inasmuch as he was a young man of
+pleasant features, a striking figure, and considerable personal
+attractions.
+
+"Ahesha, having commanded the stranger to be led to the bath, and
+arrayed in rich robes appropriate to one occupying the position of a
+Vizier or Prince, she invited him to join her in partaking of a
+sumptuous repast, and afterwards to accompany her in strolling through
+the charming gardens which surrounded her palace.
+
+"Mubarek, consoled for the hardship and dangers of the shipwreck and
+the loss of his merchandize by so flattering and distinguished a
+reception, and by the society of a woman and Queen of so much beauty,
+wandered with her alone through the most retired walks of the garden.
+
+"Coming at length to a grassy seat in the cool shade of a spreading
+tree, they sat down.
+
+"'Tell me,' said she, 'whether you are capable of loving a woman like
+me, as a woman and a Queen should be loved?'
+
+"'I love you,' he replied, 'with all the passion of youth, with all my
+soul.'
+
+"'But,' said she, 'a Queen must be loved alone.  She cannot consent to
+divide the love of a man with any other woman.'
+
+"'My charming and incomparable Queen,' he exclaimed, 'by Allah and the
+Prophet of God! there is no woman that can stand beside you.  The man
+who is so happy as to possess you can want no other woman.'
+
+"Ahesha laughed scornfully, and said, 'What an oath is that which you
+use!  I laugh at your Allah and his Prophet.'
+
+"Mubarek was a young man of very hot blood and fierce passions, and
+being brought up a strict Moslim, he was so much enraged at the Queen's
+scoff, that no sooner were the words out of her mouth, than drawing
+instantly a jewelled dagger which she wore at her girdle, he plunged it
+into her heart.
+
+"Then seeing the Queen lying at his feet with the blood gushing out of
+her breast, he repented of his hasty act, but it was too late.  He
+perceived moreover that should he be discovered in that situation by
+the enraged attendants of the beautiful Queen, he would be put to
+death, probably with torture.  At the same time, he knew neither where
+he could find a place of safety nor how he should manage to obtain food
+for the support of life in the midst of that city of idolaters.
+
+"Wandering about the extensive gardens and groves surrounding the
+palace, and expecting every moment to fall in with some party of the
+royal guards who would seize him and take him prisoner, he came at
+length, in a very retired part of the woods, to a small cavern or
+grotto, and being very tired, he there laid himself down and very soon
+fell asleep.
+
+"When he awoke the air was cool and fresh.  The stars, still
+discernible, were fading in the light of the approaching dawn; and as
+he left the grotto he hastened, drawn by an indefinable and insensible
+impulse, to seek the place where he had left the body of the heathen
+Queen.
+
+"With some difficulty he again found the spot which had been the scene
+of the love-making and the sudden tragedy on the previous day.  The
+body of the Queen was no longer there.  It had evidently been
+discovered and removed by her people.  But precisely where her blood
+had streamed out upon the ground a small shrub was growing, which
+already bore a great number of bunches or clusters of a small fruit
+resembling currants.  Feeling very hungry he gathered a quantity of
+this fruit and eat it as he walked.  To his great surprise,
+notwithstanding that he had but just risen from a long rest and sound
+sleep, he began to feel excessively drowsy, and selecting a secluded
+and shady nook, he lay down and at once again fell asleep.
+
+"He must have slept several hours, as when he recovered consciousness
+the sun was high in the heavens.  But although it was apparently about
+midday he presently noticed that he did not experience any sensation of
+heat.  It gradually dawned upon him, moreover, that, although perfectly
+conscious and able to reason and reflect and to distinguish clearly
+everything around him, this state of consciousness was wholly separate
+from and disconnected with the body.  In fact, looking down he
+perceived his body lying stretched upon the grass, and still wrapped
+apparently in the total oblivion of the profoundest sleep.
+
+"While he was yet lost in astonishment at the marvel of this strange
+condition, a fairy or spirit of the air stood beside him, and
+addressing him said--
+
+"'Mubarek, why do you stand thus gazing upon the ground?  Say, to what
+place shall we go?  With so many lovely and charming scenes to which we
+can resort, we need not remain fettered to this earth.'
+
+"'Fairy,' answered Mubarek, 'the choice rests with you.  Take me with
+you wheresoever you will.'
+
+"'Mubarek,' said the fairy, 'look up and tell me which star we shall
+visit.'
+
+"Mubarek, looking up, found that the brightness of the noonday sun no
+longer obscured his vision, but that the stars also appeared clearly to
+him sparkling in all their myriad hosts throughout the heaven.
+Selecting modestly one of the smaller stars, a mere point of light
+glistening in the distance, he said--
+
+"'We will go there.'
+
+"In a moment, not with the speed of lightning, for the lightning lags
+and travels slowly, but in a moment and with the speed of thought, the
+swiftest of all travellers known to man, they passed at once through
+all the vast immeasurable space which lay between that little world and
+this.
+
+"On their arrival, after they had time to look about them and realize
+the peculiarities of their novel surroundings, Mubarek perceived that
+in this strange world the light was not derived from any one fixed
+point, such as our sun, but came in a steady and evenly diffused
+brightness from every part of the clear and luminous vault of heaven.
+But, notwithstanding that the heat under that cloudless sky and glowing
+firmament must have been very great, yet to the inhabitants of that
+world, whose bodies are composed of quite other elements than ours and
+have a much higher temperature, the atmosphere, hot as it would appear
+to us, seems always cool and refreshing.
+
+"At the place where Mubarek and his fairy companion had alighted there
+was situated a great and populous city.  Its arrangements and
+magnificence were such that no city that has ever existed on our earth
+could be compared with it.  In its wide thoroughfares and ample
+squares, planted with fine trees, gay with an infinite variety of
+many-tinted flowers, and adorned with lofty and ever-springing
+fountains of cool and sparkling liquid, which, as Mubarek afterwards
+discovered, was not water but the purest liquid glass, every dwelling
+was a palace.  In that happy country there were no mean and squalid
+houses and no poor people.
+
+"Mubarek and the fairy alighted in one of the noble squares of this
+great city, and after they had been standing only a few minutes looking
+about them in unfeigned wonder and admiration at all they saw, several
+of the inhabitants approached them, and bidding them welcome, offered
+to conduct them to the mansion which had been prepared for their
+reception.
+
+"'How,' asked Mubarek, 'is it possible that any house can have been
+prepared for me, seeing that until this moment I have had no idea or
+intention of coming hither?'
+
+"'Let not that surprise you,' said one of those who had addressed them:
+'Allah, whose power and beneficence extends to every place, has
+ordained that we who are privileged to live in this delightful world,
+where it is always light, and where we are never weary and want for
+nothing that is necessary for our subsistence, should ever occupy
+ourselves with the happy task of preparing, not only all the luxuries
+and conveniences which we ourselves may desire, but also fair abodes
+for those whom he may from time to time allow to come among us.'
+
+"Saying this, they conducted Mubarek and the fairy to a spacious and
+beautiful palace which stood not far from the spot where they were
+standing.
+
+"The house, like all those in this city, appeared to be composed of
+immense blocks of crystal or translucent marble of many hues.  The
+great pillars that supported the arches, the massive walls, the
+glistening roof with its domes and minarets, all were composed of the
+same unique and costly material.
+
+"Entering the hall of the palace through the wide portal, on each side
+of which, standing open, were two curiously carved doors of some
+substance resembling mother-of-pearl, they passed through the various
+apartments of the palace--all large, stately, and furnished handsomely.
+
+"One peculiarity of this building which immediately attracted their
+attention was that there were no windows, sufficient of the perpetual
+and never-clouded brightness of the heavens passing through the
+semi-translucent substance of the walls to afford a subdued and
+pleasant light to those within them.
+
+"Mubarek, seating himself, at the invitation of his friendly
+conductors, on a couch covered with a fine soft fabric of a kind such
+as he had never seen before, expected that the slaves who attended in
+this superb palace would shortly appear to do his bidding, and prepare
+some kind of refreshment for himself and those who had brought him
+thither, and who declared him to be the owner of the place and
+themselves to be his guests.
+
+"As, however, after sitting and conversing for some time, no servant
+made his appearance, he imagined that perhaps in that country no slave
+would dare to present himself even to tender his services without
+awaiting the signal from his lord.  Mubarek therefore clapped his hands
+to summon the attendants.  No one appeared, however, and those who sat
+with him looked surprised, and said--
+
+"'What is the meaning of that action?  Why do you clap your hands?'
+
+"'I wish,' said he, 'to call the slaves, who, no doubt, are in
+attendance in some ante-chamber.'
+
+"'What,' asked the others, 'are slaves?'
+
+"'The servants, the attendants,' explained Mubarek, 'those who do the
+work of the house, who wait upon us, who cook our food and bring it to
+us.'
+
+"'There are,' said the others, smiling, 'no such creatures in this
+world.  All the inhabitants of these houses, no matter how large or
+fine they may be--and all our dwellings are spacious and
+magnificent--do whatever work may be necessary, and are ever ready to
+exert themselves in the interest both of themselves and of others.
+Besides,' the speaker continued, 'we have so many forces and
+contrivances, unknown perhaps in the region whence you come, that,
+although we have plenty of work, without which we might be dull, we
+have no drudgery.'
+
+"'That is all very easy to say,' replied Mubarek, 'but who then kills
+the animals you eat, cooks them, and serves your table?'
+
+"'What!' exclaimed the other, in surprise, 'do you kill and devour each
+other?'
+
+"'No,' answered Mubarek; 'not each other, but other animals, such as
+the camel, the sheep, and the goat.'
+
+"They heard this avowal with almost the same disgust as we should an
+avowal of man-eating, and explained that in their world they neither
+killed nor ate any living thing.
+
+"'We have,' they said, 'fruits pleasing to the palate and nourishing to
+the body.  These we gather, each one for himself, and should regard a
+man who required some one to gather his food for him very much as you
+would regard a man so lazy as to want some one to put it into his mouth
+for him.'
+
+"Saying this, they rose, and Mubarek and the fairy with them, and
+taking each a plate or dish, every one of which was fashioned out of a
+single piece of the same beautiful and many-tinted crystal as composed
+the walls of their dwellings, they proceeded to gather in the garden
+which surrounded the palace all kinds of fruit.
+
+"This fruit seemed to Mubarek to consist of all sorts of precious
+stones--the topaz, the jasper, the onyx, the carbuncle, the emerald,
+the ruby, and many others, and having brought their plates filled with
+this fruit into the house, these strange people sat down and ate them
+with much relish, praising highly their delicious flavour and
+nutritious qualities.
+
+"They then replaced the plates, unsoiled by the repast they had
+contained, and prepared to show Mubarek and the fairy the beauties of
+their marvellous city.
+
+"Instead of mounting on horseback like men, or being carried in litters
+like women, these singular beings had but to press a knob or spring on
+a pillar standing before the house, and straightway a gentle breeze
+arose and carried them smoothly, and swiftly or slowly as they pleased,
+whithersoever they desired to go.
+
+"In this easy and pleasant manner they journeyed through the city and
+were received by all they met with the most friendly and affectionate
+greetings.  In every house they entered they were welcomed with frank
+cordiality, and at once, without ceremony or embarrassment, fell to
+assisting the host in any work at which he might chance to be engaged,
+or discussing any topic of interest that might occur to them.
+
+"After paying many of these visits and admiring the extraordinary
+richness and variety of architecture, furniture and utensils to be
+observed in every one of the dwellings of this happy and intelligent
+race, Mubarek said with some astonishment--
+
+"'In all this vast and incomparable city through which you have so long
+conducted me, one thing I observe to be lacking.  Among all this
+multitude of houses, every one of which is well worthy of being styled
+a palace, I have not seen, and you have not shown me, a single mosque,
+a single building that is,' he explained, 'dedicated to the service of
+Allah.'
+
+"'Truly,' said they, looking upon him with amazement, 'some of your
+remarks and questions are more surprising to us than anything we can
+say or show can appear to you.  Is it possible that any people can
+build any house that is not to be dedicated to the service of Allah,
+and if not, what can be the meaning or necessity of such a building as
+you allude to?'
+
+"'Have you, then,' asked Mubarek, 'no religion?'
+
+"'What is that?' said they; 'the word is new to us.'
+
+"'Do you not,' asked Mubarek, 'serve God?'
+
+"'Allah forbid that it should be otherwise,' said they.  'He has
+created us and placed us in this world, and what He wills we do.  We do
+not comprehend your meaning.'
+
+"Perceiving this to be indeed the case, Mubarek did not continue to
+speak of religion.  With these people to do what they conceived to be
+right was part of their life, and to do either less or more was to them
+incomprehensible.  Their life was their religion, their work was their
+prayer, and their enjoyment was their praise.
+
+"Mubarek and the fairy spent a very long period in visiting and viewing
+all the beauties and wonders of this strange world.  How long a period
+they had no means of estimating, since there light is perpetual as on
+one bright morning that never knows an end.
+
+"At length, not because they were tired, for weariness is there
+unknown, Mubarek determined again to return to the house that had been
+given him.  He desired to enter upon the regular performance and
+enjoyment of the duties of the new existence in this other world.  But
+they were told that first each might select a wife or partner of his
+labours and his pleasures.
+
+"For this purpose a great number of the women were assembled, each more
+lovely than the fairest woman man has ever seen, and all clad in such
+gauzelike glistening robes as would make the finest fabrics of this
+world look coarse and homely.
+
+"In this regard alone, however, are the men in that world stinted.
+Each has but one wife.  Mubarek found the difficulty great of choosing
+only one.  Yet, having made his choice, he soon became contented with
+his lot.  For in that bright world, where illness is unknown and labour
+never wearies, woman continues always gay and fresh and pleasant.  She
+talks as much perhaps as her sisters in less-favoured worlds, but never
+learns to scold or grumble or complain.
+
+"The fairy, however, or spirit of the air, who had brought Mubarek
+thither, would not accept a house or choose a wife or settle anywhere.
+A restless and inconstant being, it preferred to wander forth and view
+with never-sated curiosity the ever-varying marvels displayed by other
+worlds.
+
+"A long time passed, a time unmarked by any of the changes and small
+vicissitudes that we encounter here.  No night succeeding day, and
+bringing with it unconsciousness and rest.  No procession of the
+seasons--autumn, winter, spring; but one long summer, whose heat,
+instead of seeming oppressive or exhausting, appeared ever cool,
+refreshing, and exhilarating, filled with a stream of life, not
+fluctuating and intermitting, but constant and untiring.
+
+"Such then was the existence of Mubarek, till one day, happening to
+drop and dash in fragments a superb crystal vase which he himself had
+fashioned with much delightful labour as a present for his wife, the
+old fierce impatience of his native land and race caused him to break
+out into fearful imprecations.
+
+"At once, as though on the involuntary rupture of some mysterious spell
+or charm, he found himself, with a rapidity equal to that by which he
+had mounted to that distant world, transported back to this.  He was in
+his own body which he had left sleeping on the ground, and in the very
+spot at which he had left it sleeping.
+
+"At first he was so dazed and confused by the recollection of all that
+he had experienced that he scarce remembered where he was.  By and by
+becoming more composed, he recognized the danger of remaining in the
+grounds of the palace whose Queen he had stabbed, and making his way by
+paths as little frequented as he could find to the sea-coast, he beheld
+with joy a ship sailing at no great distance from the shore.  Making
+signals of distress, they put out a small boat and brought him on board.
+
+"The vessel chanced to be one bound for Bussora, whither in due time
+Mubarek arrived, and hastening to Bagdad, found his father, now an old
+man, and who had long mourned his death, still alive and overjoyed to
+again behold his son.
+
+"Bereydah abou Mubarek dying not long after his son's return, Mubarek
+succeeded to his father's fortune and his father's house, and lived
+quietly and happily in Bagdad during the remainder of his days."
+
+The story of Mubarek being ended, and the company having thanked Abu
+'Atahiyeh for having related it to them, the Caliph, in his character
+as host, addressed himself to Sidi ibn Thalabi.
+
+"Friend Sidi ibn Thalabi," he said, "none of the good company here
+present, excepting only ourselves, has heard the story of the barber
+and the camel's-hair brush; will you therefore do us the favour to tell
+it?"
+
+"Friend Hamad," replied Sidi ibn Thalabi, "there is, I am persuaded, no
+one so churlish as to refuse to do aught that he may be requested to
+do, with the object of amusing your guests at this hospitable and
+magnificent banquet."
+
+When Sidi ibn Thalabi had concluded the story of the barber and the
+camel's-hair brush, many of those present were as anxious as Haroun had
+been when he first heard it, to know what had become of the little
+brush, and whether Sidi ibn Thalabi had bought it of the barber.
+
+"No, gentlemen," said Sidi ibn Thalabi; "the barber altogether refused
+to sell the brush on any terms, or at any price, and declared that he
+would never part with it unless the Caliph himself, seated upon his
+throne and arrayed in his royal robes, demanded it of him."
+
+While Sidi ibn Thalabi was concluding his tale, the Caliph had observed
+that one of the black slaves in attendance was showing all the teeth he
+possessed--and a very sound white set they were--in a capacious grin of
+enjoyment of the circumstances that were being narrated.  Therefore,
+taking the little brush, and moistening it in a vase of water that
+stood near, he handed it to Giafer, and bid him in a whisper apply it
+to the top of the fellow's spine.
+
+Giafer, rising as though to leave the room, stole behind the black
+without being noticed by him, so absorbed was he in what was being
+said.  Quickly passing the brush down the back of the neck, the
+African, in his attitude of rapt attention, and with his wide grin of
+unfeigned delight, became at once fixed and unchanging, as though he
+were an image in black marble.
+
+Then Haroun, turning to Sidi ibn Thalabi, said: "There is one man at
+least whom you have delighted; behold the power of the brush!"
+
+"What!" exclaimed Sidi ibn Thalabi, "is the barber present?"
+
+"The barber is not present," said Haroun, "but only the brush."
+
+As he said these words, Giafer, with a low bow, placed the brush again
+in his hands.
+
+"Allah, be merciful to us!" exclaimed the astonished Sidi ibn Thalabi.
+"Why, it can be no other than the Caliph himself!"
+
+"It is no other," said Haroun, "yet fear nothing; I have forgiven you
+any pranks in which you may have indulged in my name, but would have
+you discontinue them henceforth; therefore I appoint you Governor of
+Syria; the dawn will soon appear, start for your province in the
+morning."
+
+Sidi ibn Thalabi having thanked his Majesty for his gracious and
+generous gifts, Haroun, turning to Murad Essed, the Unfortunate
+Merchant, said:
+
+"This house, once your own, and all it contains, I give to you, and my
+treasurer shall to-morrow bring you ten thousand dinars, with which you
+may recommence to trade; may you be in the future more cautious and
+more lucky."
+
+The guests then departed, and the entertainment of Hamad the Merchant
+was at an end.
+
+
+
+
+The Caliph and the Magic Tube.
+
+One day, as Haroun Alraschid sat in one of the apartments of his
+palace, which overlooked a great public square of the city, he observed
+a large crowd of people surrounding a man, who, sometimes looking
+through a small tube he held in his hand, and sometimes addressing the
+throngs around him, seemed to attract in a high degree their interest
+and attention.
+
+After watching this scene for some little time, the Caliph became
+curious to learn what the properties or merits of the tube might be,
+and sent therefore to fetch the man into the palace.  When he entered,
+Haroun saw that he was a fine young man, whose countenance bore a
+pleasing expression, while his dress, by its foreign and unusual
+character, plainly proclaimed him to be a traveller.
+
+The Caliph demanding of him what might be the peculiarity of that tube
+which he had seen him exhibiting to the people, the man replied:
+
+"This tube which I hold in my hand, although it is in appearance a very
+common, ordinary tube, possesses, in fact, powers so wonderful, that I
+doubt not but that your Majesty will be greatly astonished as I exhibit
+them to you.
+
+"Having rendered an important service to a powerful Magician with whom
+I became acquainted while I was in India, he presented me with this
+tube, and initiated me into the proper manner of using it.  By
+adjusting it in a particular way, the details of which I am not
+permitted to divulge to any one, I am enabled, on looking through the
+tube, to observe what is taking place either in distant parts of the
+world or even future events which shall take place in remote kingdoms
+after the lapse of many ages."
+
+"Almirvan," said the Caliph--"for such is, I am told, your name--if
+your magical tube can disclose the distant scenes you speak of, it will
+interest me much, and you may expect with full confidence an adequate
+reward.  But if your tube be in truth but a mystification for the
+vulgar, under cover of which you palm off the monstrous and incredible
+fictions of your imagination, why, you had better confess to me the
+truth at once, and depart, because, should I discover later that it is
+so, I will cause your tube to be broken and your head to be removed
+from your shoulders."
+
+"Sire," replied Almirvan, "of the truth of that which my magic tube
+discloses to me I am fully persuaded, and am very willing to relate to
+your Majesty plainly, and without addition or concealment, whatever I
+may observe when I look through the tube.  And first I must ask your
+Majesty to say whether the scene I am to witness is to be distant in
+space only, or also in time."
+
+"Almirvan," said the Caliph, "I have already heard so much from the
+lips of so many travellers concerning the manners and customs of other,
+and even distant, countries, that your magic tube will probably have
+little that is new to inform me about them.  Therefore, look far into
+the future, and tell me what you see; but once more I warn you to be
+careful that you add nothing for the purpose of astonishing.  I am
+tired of hearing of men who walk with their heads under their arms--of
+men as tall as trees, or short as pigmies, or other such like
+travellers' monstrous stories."
+
+The traveller, after muttering certain words of prayer or incantation,
+gazed for some time steadfastly through the tube, and then, as though
+describing slowly and with difficulty a scene upon which he was
+looking, he said--
+
+"I see distant, far distant, by reason of the countless leagues and
+many centuries that intervene, a strange and populous country.  The
+land is bright and pleasant, and verdant everywhere, for water is
+abundant; the white cliffs upon the frontier glisten in the water, the
+land is an island of the sea.  The inhabitants are unbelievers
+evidently, and rude and barbarous, for their women go about with naked
+faces, and every man that passes may gaze upon the best of them.  The
+dress of all, both men and women, is strange and hideous, and one looks
+in vain for the well-folded turban, or the decent modest yashmak.
+
+"This odd people have horses, and very good ones, but seldom ride them;
+because for the most part they have machines like chariots, made with
+wheels and of many various shapes; and in these they sit, and cause the
+horses to draw them.
+
+"But stranger than all this, they have a creature of amazing strength
+and huge size, which, though larger than an elephant, is swifter than a
+bird.  On the back of this terrible creature, which is thirty or forty
+feet long, and whose stomach is like a fiery furnace, two or three men
+will stand without fear, even when it is running at its utmost speed.
+Most remarkable of all, they feed the creature from behind."
+
+"What!" exclaimed the Caliph, "is this your travellers' tale?"
+
+"Sire," said Almirvan, "it is truly wonderful, but I describe to you
+that only which I behold.  At the back of the creature there plainly
+appears to be an opening, leading into its fiery stomach, and therein
+the men upon its back do place the food of the creature, which appears
+to consist of great blocks of black marble."
+
+"Oh, Almirvan, unhappy traveller! what hast thou done that thou
+shouldest be tired of thy life?" said the Caliph.  "What wouldest thou
+have me believe--that in the farthest islands of the sea, or in
+remotest ages yet to come, this monster of thine, huger than an
+elephant, fleeter than a bird, and swallowing great pieces of stone
+from behind, can by any possibility exist?"
+
+"Your Majesty," answered Almirvan, "the people must without doubt be
+very skilful magicians.  But most assuredly I affirm that I see them
+through this tube, doing not only all that I have related to you, but
+harnessing the creature to long strings of immense chariots, and
+causing it to convey in this way both themselves and their merchandize
+from place to place."
+
+"At what speed didst thou say that the creature goes?" asked the Caliph.
+
+"It goes with the speed of the wind," answered Almirvan.
+
+"And therefore the people and their heavy merchandize go also with the
+speed of the wind?  Is this your truthful tale?  Why, every lie
+outstrips its predecessor."
+
+"Your Majesty," said Almirvan, "I say but what I see."
+
+"Almirvan," said the Caliph, "what further dost thou see?"
+
+"I see," replied Almirvan, looking again through the magic tube, "many
+great and marvellous works erected in all parts of their country by
+this indefatigable and patient people.  Many bridges spanning every
+stream, and others crossing even arms of the sea, and that at such a
+height that the largest ships can pass full sail beneath them.  Great
+cities stud the land like jewels on the scabbard of the Caliph's
+scimitar.  Fine palaces and noble mosques, or buildings of that
+character, abound, but most singular and beautiful of all is a palace
+formed entirely of crystal, which stands amid gardens adorned with
+fountains, and every facet of whose transparent walls glistens in the
+sun.  But another circumstance that much attracts my notice is that all
+the country is covered with a marvellous network, like a gigantic
+spider's web, composed of fine metallic thread.  By this means and by
+the aid of some incomprehensible magic the people communicate with each
+other with lightning-like rapidity, and no matter how great the
+distance that may separate them.  But, indeed, this is less surprising
+than another contrivance that they have, by means of which two men as
+far apart as Bussora from Bagdad converse at their ease and by word of
+mouth, each evidently hearing the very voice and words of the other."
+
+When the Caliph heard this statement, so astounding, so audacious, he
+was filled with rage.
+
+"What!" he exclaimed, "can your magic tube, when it pretends to show us
+future times and other nations, invent no more probable and coherent
+wonders?  What breath shall these men have, and what chests and throats
+must they be, if one man standing in Bagdad shall make another at
+Bussora hear him?"
+
+"Take from him," said the Caliph to an officer in attendance, "his
+magic tube and break it in pieces.  As for the fellow himself, let him
+be carried three times through the streets of the city mounted upon a
+camel and seated with his face to the tail, and let this proclamation
+be made by the criers: 'Thus shall it fare with the man who invents
+lying tales and wonders, deceiving the people and pretending to magical
+power which he does not possess.'  After he has been carried three
+times round the city in this manner, let him be scourged and beheaded
+as a warning to others."
+
+Thus perished miserably Almirvan, the owner of the magic tube.  But
+whether he lied more than other men, and whether his punishment has
+effectually deterred others from following his pernicious example, we
+will not attempt to determine.
+
+
+FINIS.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tales of the Caliph, by H. N. Crellin
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