Tales of the Caliph

Tales of the Caliph, by H. N.
Crellin

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Title: Tales of the Caliph
Author: H. N. Crellin
Release Date: August 6, 2007 [EBook #22258]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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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