TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE
* Italics are denoted by underscores as in _italics_.
* Small caps are represented in upper case as in SMALL CAPS.
* Obvious printer errors have been silently corrected.
* Original spelling was kept, but variant spellings were made
consistent when a predominant usage was found.
* The following changes were made:
Page 185: “4000” replaced by “400”.
Page 204: “Lanknes” replaced by “Laknes”.
Page 204: “Ismaïl” replaced by “Ishmaïl”.
Page 310: “Masawan” replaced by “Misawan”.
* “wells of Ayn-ayoum” (p. 297) and “wells of Ayn-Ayoub” (p. 307)
have been kept as distinct even though they probably denote the
same location.
* The Arabic as written is not consistent in terms of voweling,
some words being fully voweled, some partially, and some not
at all.
THE MERCY OF ALLAH
اللّه رحمة
THAT IS:
THE
MERCY OF ALLAH
BY
HILAIRE BELLOC
[Illustration]
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY
NEW YORK :: :: MCMXXII
COPYRIGHT, 1922, BY
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
TO
ORIANA HUXLEY HAYNES
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I. _AL-RAFSAT_, OR THE KICK 3
II. _AL-DURAR_, OR THE PEARLS 25
III. _AL-TAWAJIN_, OR THE PIPKINS 41
IV. _AL-KANTARA_, OR THE BRIDGE 59
V. _MILH_, OR SALT 87
VI. _AL-WUKALÁ_, OR THE LAWYERS 113
VII. _AL-GHANAMAT_, OR THE SHEEP 151
VIII. _AL-BUSTÁN_, OR THE ORCHARD 171
IX. CAMELS AND DATES 203
X. _AL-HISĀN_, OR THE HORSE 223
XI. _AL-WALI_, OR THE HOLY ONE 243
XII. THE NEW QUARTER OF THE CITY 259
XIII. THE MONEY MADE OF PAPER 293
XIV. THE PEACE OF THE SOUL 321
الرّفسة
AL-RAFSAT
That is:
THE KICK
THE MERCY OF ALLAH
CHAPTER I
ENTITLED _AL-RAFSAT_, OR THE KICK
In the days of Abd-er-Rahman, who was among the wisest and most
glorious of the Commanders of the Faithful, there resided in the
City of Bagdad an elderly merchant of such enormous wealth that his
lightest expressions of opinion caused the markets of the Euphrates
to fluctuate in the most alarming manner.
This merchant, whose name was Mahmoud, had a brother in the middle
ranks of Society, a surgeon by profession, and by name El-Hakim. To
this brother he had frequently expressed a fixed determination to
leave him no wealth of any kind. “It is my opinion,” he would say,
“that a man’s first duty is to his own children, and though I have
no children myself, I must observe the general rule.” He was fond of
dilating upon this subject whenever he came across his relative, and
would discover from time to time new and still better reasons for
the resolution he had arrived at. His brother received with great
courtesy the prospect held out to him by the wealthy merchant; but
one day, finding tedious the hundredth repetition of that person’s
pious but somewhat wearisome resolve, said to him:
“Mahmoud, though it would be a mean and even an impious thing to
expect an inheritance from you to any of my seven sons, yet perhaps
you will allow these boys to receive from your lips some hint as to
the manner in which you have accumulated that great wealth which you
now so deservedly enjoy.”
“By all means,” said Mahmoud, who was ever ready to describe his own
talents and success. “Send the little fellows round to me to-morrow
about the hour the public executions take place before the Palace,
for by that time I shall have breakfasted, and shall be ready to
receive them.”
The Surgeon, with profuse thanks, left his brother and conveyed the
good news to the seven lads, who stood in order before him with the
respect for parents customary in the Orient, each placed according to
his size and running in gradation from eight to sixteen years of age.
Upon the morrow, therefore, the Surgeon’s seven sons, seated gravely
upon crossed legs, formed a semi-circle at the feet of their revered
relative, who, when he had watched them humorously and in silence for
some moments, puffing at his great pipe, opened his lips and spoke as
follows:
“Your father has wondered, my dear nephews, in what way the fortune
I enjoy has been acquired; for in his own honourable but far from
lucrative walk of life, sums which are to me but daily trifles appear
like the ransoms of kings. To you, his numerous family, it seems of
especial advantage that the road to riches should be discovered. Now
I will confess to you, my dear lads, that I am quite ignorant of
any rule or plan whereby the perishable goods of this world may be
rapidly accumulated in the hands of the Faithful. Nay, did any such
rule exist, I am persuaded that by this time the knowledge of it
would be so widely diffused as to embrace the whole human race. In
which case,” he added, puffing meditatively at his pipe, “all would
cancel out and no result would be achieved; since a great fortune,
as I need not inform young people of your sagacity, is hardly to be
acquired save at the expense of others.
“But though I cannot give you those rules for which your father was
seeking when he sent you hither, I can detail you the steps by which
my present affluence was achieved; and each of you, according to his
intelligence, will appreciate what sort of accidents may make for the
increase of fortune. When you are possessed of this knowledge it will
serve you through life for recreation and amusement, though I very
much doubt its making you any richer. For it is not the method nor
even the opportunity of intelligent acquisition which lead to great
riches, but two other things combined: one, the unceasing appetite
to snatch and hold from all and at every season; the other, that
profound mystery, the Mercy of God.
“For Allah, in his inscrutable choice, frowns on some and smiles on
others. The first he condemns to contempt, anxiety, duns, bills,
Courts of law, sudden changes of residence and even dungeons; the
second he gratifies with luxurious vehicles, delicious sherbet and
enormous houses, such as mine. His will be done.
“A dear friend of mine, one Mashé, was a receiver of stolen goods
in Bosra, until God took him, now twenty years ago. He left two
sons of equal intelligence and rapacity. The one, after numerous
degradations, died of starvation in Armenia; the other, of no greater
skill, is to-day governor of all Algeirah and rings the changes at
will upon the public purse. _Mektub._”
For a moment the ancient Captain of Industry paused with bent head
in solemn meditation upon the designs of Heaven, then raising his
features protested that he had too long delayed the story of his
life, with which he would at once proceed.
* * * * *
“As a boy, my dear nephews,” began the kindly uncle, while his
dutiful nephews regarded him with round eyes, “I was shy, dirty,
ignorant, lazy, and wilful. My parents and teachers had but to give
me an order for me to conceive at once some plan of disobeying it.
All forms of activity save those connected with dissipation were
abhorrent to me. So far from reciting with other boys of my age
in chorus and without fault the verses of the Koran, I grew up
completely ignorant of that work, the most Solemn Name in which
I to this day pronounce with an aspirate from an unfamiliarity
with its aspect upon the written page. Yet I am glad to say that I
never neglected my religious duties, that I prayed with fervour and
regularity, and that I had a singular faith in the loving kindness of
my God.
“I had already reached my seventeenth year when my father, who had
carefully watched the trend of my nature and the use to which I had
put my faculties, addressed me as follows:
“‘Mahmoud, I wish you no ill. I have so far fed and clothed you
because the Caliph (whom Allah preserve!) has caused those who
neglect their younger offspring to be severely beaten upon the
soles of their feet. It is now my intention to send you about
your business. I propose’--and here my dear father pulled out a
small purse--‘to give you the smallest sum compatible with my own
interests, so that if any harm befall you, the vigilant officers of
the Crown cannot ascribe your disaster to my neglect. I request that
you will walk in any direction you choose so only that it be in a
straight line away from my doors. If, when this your patrimony is
spent, you make away with yourself I shall hold you to blame; I shall
be better pleased to hear that you have sold yourself into slavery
or in some other way provided for your continued sustenance. But
what I should like best would be never to hear of you again.’ With
those words my father (your grandfather, dear boys), seizing me by
the shoulders, turned my back to his doors and thrust me forth with a
hearty kick the better to emphasize his meaning.
“Thus was I launched out in the dawn of manhood to try my adventures
with the world.
“I discovered in my pouch as I set out along the streets of the city
the sum of 100 dinars, with which my thoughtful parent had provided
me under the legal compulsion which he so feelingly described. ‘With
so large a capital,’ said I to myself, ‘I can exist for several days,
indulge my favourite forms of dissipation, and when they are well
spent it will be time enough to think of some experiment whereby to
replace them.’”
Here the eldest nephew said respectfully and with an inclination of
the head: “Pray, uncle, what is a dinar?”
“My dear lad,” replied the merchant with a merry laugh, “I confess
that to a man of my position a reply to your question is impossible.
I could only tell you that it is a coin of considerable value to the
impoverished, but to men like myself a denomination so inferior as to
be indistinguishable from all other coins.”
Having so expressed himself the worthy merchant resumed the thread of
his tale:
“I had, I say, started forward in high spirits to the sound of the
coins jingling in my pouch, when my steps happened to take to the
water-side, where I found a ship about to sail for the Persian Gulf.
‘Here,’ said I to myself, ‘is an excellent opportunity for travelling
and for seeing the world.’
“The heat of the day was rising. No one was about but two watermen,
who lay dozing upon the bank. I nimbly stepped aboard and hid myself
behind one of the bales of goods with which the deck was packed. When
the sun declined and work was resumed, the sailors tramped aboard,
the sail was hoisted, and we started upon our journey.
“Befriended by the darkness of night I crept out quietly from my
hiding-place and found a man watching over the prow, where he was
deputed to try the depth of the water from time to time with a long
pole. I affected an air of authority, and told him that the Captain
had sent me forward to deliver his commands, which were that he
should give me a flask of wine, some fruit, and a cake (for I guessed
that like all sailors he had in his possession things both lawful and
unlawful). These I told him I would take to my relative the Captain.
He left me with the pole for a moment and soon returned with the
provisions, with which I crept back to my hiding-place, and there
heartily consumed them.
“During the whole of the next day I lay sleeping behind the bales
of goods. With the fall of the second night I needed a second meal.
I dared not repeat my first experiment, and lay musing till, hunger
having sharpened my wits, I hit upon a plan with which surely
Providence itself must have inspired a poor lonely lad thrown in his
unaided weakness upon a cruel world.
“I bethought me that the watchman of either board would have some
provision for the night. I remembered a sort of gangway between the
high bales upon the main deck, which corridor led back far under
the poop into the stern sheets. It has been so designed for the
convenience of stowing and unloading, affording a passage for the
workmen as they handled the cargo. I put these two things together
in my mind (but to God be the glory) and formed of them a plan for
immediate execution.
“I crept from my hiding-place and sauntered along the dark deck until
I came upon the watchman, squatting by the rail, and contemplating
the stars in the moonless sky. He had, as I had suspected, a platter
the white of which I could just see glimmering against the deck
beside him. I thought I also discerned a gourd of wine. I approached
him as one of the crew (for they were chance strangers taken on at
the wharf). We talked in low tones of the girls of Bagdad, of the
police, of opportunities for theft, and of such other topics as are
common to the poor, till, naturally, we came to wine. He cursed the
poor quality of his own, in the gourd beside him. I, after some
mystery, confided to him that I had a stock of excellent wine, and,
as my friendship for him increased, I made a clean breast of it and
told him it was in the stern sheets, far under the poop deck along
the narrow passage between the high bales. I offered to go with him
and fetch it, allowing him, in his eagerness, to go first. When
he was well engaged in groping aft I turned, crept forward again
silently and rapidly, picked up the loaf and cheese which I found on
his platter, as also the gourd, and vanished into my hiding-hole.
“I ate my fill--though somewhat too hurriedly, and remarked how long
a time my shipmate was spending at searching that empty place. As I
heard him creeping back at last cursing violently in whispers, I was
aware of faint dawn in the East, and determined that my cruise must
end.
“We were already in the neighbourhood of the sea, as I discovered by
tasting the water over the side in the darkness and discovering it to
be brackish. I bethought me that my poor comrade had now an excellent
reason for ferretting me out, that the Captain also would soon hear
of me and that, with daylight, I should certainly be visited with a
bastinado or put into chains and sold. I therefore slipped over the
side (for I was an excellent swimmer) and made for the shore. There I
lay on a warm beach and watched through the reeds the great sail of
the ship as it slipped down-stream further and further away in the
growing light.
“When the sun rose the vessel was out of sight, and looking about me
I discovered a little village not far from the shore inhabited by
simple fishermen, but containing several houses of some pretension,
the residences of wealthy merchants who came here from Bosra in their
moments of leisure to relax themselves from the catch-as-catch-can of
commerce in that neighbouring city.
“My first action at the opening of the new day was to fall upon my
knees and add to the ritual prayer a humble outpouring of thanks
for the benefits I had already received and a fervent appeal for
guidance. That appeal was heard. I rose from my knees full of a
new-found plan.
“To one of those wealthier houses which stood near the village I at
once proceeded and sent in a message by a slave to its owner saying
that my master, a wealthy dealer in carpets, solicited the custom of
his lordship, and that if the great man would but accompany me to the
quay I would there show him wares well worthy of his attention.
“It so happened (and here was Providence again at work) that this
merchant had a passion for a particular sort of carpet which is
solely made by the inhabitants of El Kzar, for they alone possess
the secret, which they very zealously guard. The slave, therefore,
brought me back the message that his master would not be at the
pains of accompanying me unless such wares were present for his
inspection. If my carpets were those of El Kzar he would willingly
inspect them, but if they were of any other brand he was indifferent.
“And let this teach you, my dear nephews, how simple are the minds of
the rich.
“I was willing enough that the carpets should be carpets of El Kzar,
or, indeed, of any other place under heaven, for all were at my
choice.
“I hastened, therefore, to send back a further message that by a
curious coincidence we had upon this occasion nothing else in stock
but Kzaran carpets, and begged the slave to emphasize this important
point to his master.
“His reply was to twist his right hand, palm upwards, with a strange
smile. I pulled out my purse, showed him the shining dinars, and
asked him whether he would rather have _one_ now for his fee or
_five_ on the completion of the transaction? With glistening
eyes--and even (as I thought) a pathetic gratitude--the slave leapt
at the latter offer.
“And let this teach you, my dear nephews, how simple are the minds of
the poor.
“He hastened off to deliver my message.
“Within a few moments the master of the house appeared in great
haste, and all of a fever bade me lead him to the appointed spot.”
At this moment the merchant paused and with reverie and reminiscence
in his eye remained silent for at least that space of time in which a
dexterous pick-pocket may gingerly withdraw a purse from the sleeve
of a Holy Man. The second nephew thought the opportunity arrived to
suggest a doubt which had been vexing his young mind. He said with an
obeisance:
“Venerable uncle, we have listened to the beginnings of your career
with admiration and respect, but we are more perplexed than ever to
discover how such beginnings could have led to such an end. For you
appear to us as yet only to have followed that path which leads to
the torturers and the bow-strings.”
“Such,” replied his uncle, with a look of singular affection, “is
the general opinion entertained of all very wealthy men in the first
steps of their careers; but I hope that the sequel will teach you and
your clever little brothers how wrongly informed are the vulgar.”
As the Merchant Mahmoud pronounced these words the Call to Prayer was
heard from a neighbouring tower, and he hurriedly concluded:
“My dear nephews, we are called to prayer. I will cease here to speak
and will continue to-morrow the story of Myself and Providence.”
Upon hearing these words his seven nephews rose together, and crossed
their arms; following which gesture, with three deep bows performed
as they walked backwards toward the curtains of the magnificent
apartment, they left their uncle’s presence.
* * * * *
“You will remember, my dear nephews,” said the Merchant Mahmoud when
the lads were once more assembled in a half-circle before him with
crossed legs and attentive countenances, “that you left me hurrying
with the collector of Kzaran carpets towards the quay where he
should enjoy the sight of the merchandise. This merchant was reputed
among the people of the place to be of a singularly cunning and
secretive temperament, a character which (you may think it strange!)
they admired as though it were the summit of human wisdom. I confess
that I found him, in the matter of Kzaran carpets at least, very
different from his reputation. A more garrulous old gentleman never
trod this earth. He was in a perpetual stammer of excitement, and
though I was careful to lead him by the most roundabout roads that
he might have time to cool his ardour, the delay did but seem to
increase it.
“‘I implore you, sir,’ he said at last, as one who could no longer
restrain some violent passion, ‘I implore you, pay no attention
to others in this place who may have attempted to forestall me in
the matter of your very valuable cargo. Your honour is, I know,
sufficient in the matter.... I am confident you will give me a free
market. Also, they know nothing of Kzaran carpets in these parts:
they are mere buyers and sellers ... and on what a margin! Let me
tell you in your ear that while many men in this place carry on the
appearance of riches, most are indebted to Parsees in the capital. I
alone am in an independent position and’ (here he whispered) ‘I can
well reward you _privately_ and _in your own pocket_ for any favour
you may show me.’
“Seeing him so eager, I affected a certain hesitation and
embarrassment, and at last confessed that I had been approached by
a local merchant whose name I was forbidden to mention and who
had very kindly sent me as a present by a slave the sum of 1,000
dinars. To this he had attached no conditions, but he had also, quite
independently, sent word that he had himself orders for carpets which
he was bound to fulfil. His profit (he had said), if I would give
him a first choice, would be so considerable that he would be very
ready to offer me a handsome commission on the completion of the
bargain; quite apart from the 1,000 dinars which were but a little
present from one man to another. ‘This thousand dinars,’ I added,
‘now in my possession, I have accepted. A present is a graceful act
and can be taken with a clean conscience. But the _commission_ is
another matter. I must consider beyond everything the interests of my
master. I shall not mention the offer made to me (for with all his
confidence in me he is himself a business man and might misunderstand
my position), but I shall think it my duty to give him no advice save
to sell to the highest bidder.’
“‘It is I!’ shouted the aged connoisseur eagerly, ‘it is I who will
prove the highest bidder! Nay, my dear fellow, since such bargains
are often concluded in private, would it not be better to tell your
master forthwith that no possible competitor can stand against me
in this place? Let him first discover the sum offered by my rival
and I give you leave to suggest a sum larger by one-tenth, which
shall decide his judgment. Meanwhile,’ he added, ‘two thousand
dinars are but a small present for one in your position, and I shall
willingly--joyfully--propose to give you that sum, not for a moment
on account of the service which I am certain you design to do me,
but purely as an expression of my esteem.’
“His excitement had now so risen that I fear his judgment was lost.
Already he saw before him in his mind’s eye a pile of the noblest
Kzaran carpets, all ready for the caravan. Already he saw a rival
calmly acquiring them on the distant wharf, the witnesses placing
their seals, the words of completion.
“He trembled as again he urged on me the little gift, the personal
gift, the trifling gift of 2,000 dinars.
“‘Sir,’ said I in reply, a little stiffly, ‘I am not accustomed to
take secret commissions under any disguise. My duty is clear: if I
cannot receive a firm offer superior to that already made me, and
that backed with proof that you are indeed, as you say, the most
solid man in the place--then I must close with my first client. If
indeed I were certain of an immediate payment in a larger sum I would
accept your proposal. But how can I know anything of this place?
The thousand dinars of which I spoke are coined and in a wallet;
I have them safe. With all the respect due to your age, I have no
information upon your credit in this town. And I confess,’ I added
in another tone, ‘that I _am_ acquainted with your rival’s position,
which is perhaps more solid than you think. I confess I think it
would be simpler and to the better interest of our house if I were to
go straight to him now and have done with it.’
“As I spoke thus the old man lost all reason. It was piteous to see
one of his age and venerable hairs dancing and spluttering with
excitement. He shook his fists in the air, he called to Heaven
in shrill tones, he betrayed all the frenzy of the collector. He
contrasted the mercantile motives of the unknown competitor with his
own passion for Pure Art. He called Heaven to witness to the reality
of his wealth, and at last in a sort of fury tore from his garments
the jewels which ornamented them, thrust into my hand all the cash
upon his person (it was in a leather bag, and amounted altogether to
no more than 500 dinars), added to this a brooch of gold, which he
dragged from his scarf, and said that if this instalment were not a
sufficient proof of his good faith and credit he knew not how to move
me.
“I shrugged my shoulders and suggested that instead of making so
violent a protestation and at such risk to his fortune he should go
back soberly to his house and return with an instrument of credit and
two witnesses (as the law demands), while I awaited him patiently at
that spot. I, at least, was in no haste and would honourably abide
his return. He was off at a speed which I should never have thought
possible at his age.
“I waited until he had turned the corner of a distant hedge of
prickly pears, and not until he was quite out of sight did I gather
the jewels, the coins, and the precious ornaments which in his haste
he had thrown at my feet, and very rapidly betake myself in the
opposite direction.
“Never was the Mercy of Allah more evidently extended. The plain was
naked outside the town, the river perhaps a mile distant; my plight,
as it might appear, desperate. I pinned the gold brooch to my cloak,
I distributed the jewels openly upon various parts of my person, and
I proceeded at a smart pace over the open plain towards the river. It
was with the greatest joy that I found upon its bank two fishermen
about to set sail and proceed down-stream to sea. Their presence
inspired me with a plan for escape.
“I chatted negligently with them (still keeping one eye upon the
distant house of my aged but excitable friend). At last with a light
laugh I offered one of them a piece of gold, saying that I should
be pleased to try the novel experience of a little cruise. The
fisherman, who was quite unacquainted with so much wealth, and seemed
somewhat awestruck, gave me some grand title or other, and promised
me very good sport with the fish and a novel entertainment. But even
as he and his companion pushed out from shore I turned in my seat
on the deck and perceived in the plain a rising dust which betrayed
the approach of the merchant with his witnesses and a company of his
slaves.
“Suddenly changing my expression from one of pleased though wearied
expectancy to one of acute alarm, I shouted to my new companions:
‘Push away for your lives, and stretch your sail to its utmost! These
are the Commissioners sent by the Caliph to re-assess and tax all
fishing-boats upon a new valuation! Already had they seized three
upon the beach when I left and found you here!’
“At these words the worthy fellows were inspired by a fear even
greater than my own. They manfully pushed into the swiftest part of
the current, and, though a smart breeze was blowing, hoisted every
inch of the sail, so that the boat ran with her gunwale upon the very
edge of the water and was indeed dangerously pressed. But I had the
satisfaction of seeing the merchant and his retinue vainly descending
the river-bank, at perhaps one-half our speed, calling down curses
upon us, threatening with their fists, shouting their public titles
of authority, their menaces of the law, and in every way confirming
my excellent pair of fishermen in the story I had told them.
“It was a pleasant thing to loll on deck under the heat of the day,
toying with the valuable ornaments I had so recently acquired and
lazily watching my companions as they sweated at the halyards, or
alternatively glancing along towards the shore at the little group
of disappointed people which fell so rapidly behind us as we bowled
down the tide. Soon their features were no longer plain, then their
figures could scarcely be distinguished. The last impression conveyed
to me was of some little very distant thing, stamping with impotent
rage and shaking wild arms against the sky. I could not but deplore
so grievous a lapse in dignity in one so venerable.
“When we were well away from the neighbourhood of the city I asked
the fishermen whither they were bound; to which they answered that
their business was only to cruise about outside and fish during the
night, returning at dawn with their catch. ‘Would it not be better,’
I suggested, ‘seeing that these rapacious fellows will hang about
for a day or so, to carry me to some town of your acquaintance along
the coast where the reigning powers do not suffer from the tyranny
of Bagdad? For my part I am free to travel where I will, and the
prospect of a change pleases me. I shall be happy,’ said I, ‘to
reward the sacrifice of your catch with fifty dinars.’
“At the prospect of much further wealth the fishermen were at once
convinced: they sang in the lightness of their hearts, and for three
days and three nights we sped down the Gulf, passing bleak mountains
and deserted rocky promontories, until upon the fourth day we came to
a town the like of which I had never seen.
“‘Shall we land here?’ said I.
“‘No,’ said the fishermen, ‘for it is in a manner within the Caliph’s
dominions, and perhaps that accursed tax of which you spoke will be
levied here also.’
“‘You know better than I,’ replied I thoughtfully, standing for a
moment in affected perplexity. ‘Let me, however, land in your little
boat. I have a passion for new places. I will come out to you again
after the hour of the mid-day prayers, while you stand in the offing.’
“To this arrangement they readily consented. I rowed to the land,
and when I had reached the shore I was pleased to see my fearful
hosts quite three miles out upon the hot and shimmering sea. Gazing
at them, I hope with charity, and certainly with interest, I pushed
the little boat adrift (for I had no reason to return to those
poor people) and made my way inland. I disposed of my jewelery at
prices neither low nor high with local merchants. I preserved the
old fellow’s golden brooch, which I imagined (for I am a trifle
weak and superstitious) might bring me good fortune, and when all
my transactions were accomplished I counted my total capital, and
found myself in possession of no less than 1,500 dinars. The cold of
the evening had come by the time my accounts were settled and the
strings of my pouch were drawn. I set myself under an arbour where
a delicious fountain played in the light of the setting sun, which
shone over the waters of the sea, and drinking some local beverage
the name of which I knew not, but the taste and effect of which were
equally pleasing, I reflected upon my increase of fortune.
“‘You left home, Mahmoud,’ said I to myself, ‘with one hundred
dinars, of which your excellent and careful father deprived himself
rather than see you face the world unarmed, or himself receive the
bastinado. You have been gone from home a week; you are perhaps some
800 miles from your native city; your capital has been multiplied
fifteen-fold, and so far you may look with an eager courage towards
the further adventures of your life, for very clearly the Mercy of
Allah is upon you.’”
At this moment a nasal hooting from the neighbourhood turret warned
the company to turn their thoughts to heaven. The boys, who had sat
fascinated by their uncle’s recital, knew that the end of their
entertainment had come. The third son of the Surgeon was therefore
impatient to exclaim (as he hurriedly did): “But, dear uncle, though
we see that a certain chance favoured you, and not only your native
talents, yet we do not perceive how all this led to any main road to
fortune.”
“My boy,” said the Merchant Mahmoud, pensively stroking his beard
and gazing vacuously over the heads of the youngsters. “I do not
pretend to unfold you any such plan. Have I not told you that
did such a plan exist all would be in possession of it? I am but
retailing you in my humble fashion the steps by which one merchant in
this city has been raised by the Infinite Goodness of the Merciful
(His name be adored!) from poverty to riches.... But the call for
prayer has already been heard and we must part. Upon this same day of
next week, shortly after the last of the public executions has been
bungled, you shall again come and hear me recite the next chapter of
my varied career.”
الدُّرَر
AL-DURAR
That is:
THE PEARLS