The Arabian Nights Entertainments, vol 2 | Page 6

take the money which I desired you would have in
readiness." This said, he disappeared, and I still expected his return, but
it was a full month before I saw him again. "This young merchant,"
thought I, "has great confidence in me, leaving so great a sum in my
hands without knowing me; any other man would have been afraid I

should have run away with it." To be short, he came again at the end of
the third month, and was still mounted on his ass, but more handsomely
dressed than before.
As soon as I saw the young man, I intreated him to alight, and asked
him if he would not take his money? "There is no hurry," said he, with
a pleasant easy air, "I know it is in good hands; I will come and take it
when my other money is all gone. Adieu," continued he, "I will return
towards the end of the week." With that he struck the ass, and soon
disappeared. "Well," thought I, "he says he will see me towards the end
of the week, but he may not perhaps return for a great while; I will
make the most I can of his money, which may bring me much profit."
As it happened, I was not deceived in my conjecture; for it was a full
year before I saw my young merchant again. He then appeared as richly
appareled as before, but seemed to have something on his spirits. I
asked him to do me the honour to walk into my house. "For this time,"
replied he, "I will: but on this condition, that you shall put yourself to
no extraordinary charge on my account." "I will do just as you please,"
said I, "only do me the favour to alight and walk in." Accordingly he
complied. I gave orders to have a repast prepared, and while this was
doing, we entered into conversation. All things being ready, we sat
down. I observed he took the first mouthful with his left hand, and not
with the right. I was at a loss what to think of this. "Ever since I have
known this young man," said I inwardly, "he has always appeared very
polite; is it possible he can do this out of contempt? What can be the
reason he does not use his right hand?"
After we had done eating, and every thing was taken away, we sat upon
a sofa, and I presented him with a lozenge by way of dainty; but still he
took it with his left hand. I said to him, "Pardon, Sir, the liberty I take
in asking you what reason you have for not using your right hand?
Perhaps you have some complaint in that hand." Instead of answering,
he heaved a deep sigh, and pulling out his right arm, which he had
hitherto kept under his vest, shewed me, to my great astonishment, that
it had been cut off. "Doubtless you were displeased," said he, "to see
me feed myself with the left hand; but I leave you to judge, whether it
was in my power to do otherwise." "May one ask," said I, "by what
mischance you lost your right hand?" Upon that he burst into tears, and
after wiping his eyes, gave me the following relation.

You must know that I am a native of Bagdad, the son of a rich
merchant, the most eminent in that city for rank and opulence. I had
scarcely launched into the world, when falling into the company of
travellers, and hearing their wonderful accounts of Egypt, especially of
Grand Cairo, I was interested by their discourse, and felt a strong desire
to travel. But my father was then alive, and would not grant me
permission. At length he died; and being then my own master, I
resolved to take a journey to Cairo. I laid out a large sum of money in
the purchase of several sorts of fine stuffs of Bagdad and Moussol. and
departed.
Arriving at Cairo, I went to the khan, called the khan of Mesrour, and
there took lodgings, with a warehouse for my bales, which I had
brought with me upon camels. This done, I retired to my chamber to
rest, after the fatigue of my journey, and gave some money to my
servants, with orders to buy some provisions and dress them. After I
had eaten, I went to view the castle, some mosques, the public squares,
and the other most remarkable places.
Next day I dressed myself, and ordered some of the finest and richest of
my bales to be selected and carried by my slaves to the Circassian
bazaar, whither I followed. I had no sooner made my appearance, than I
was surrounded with brokers and criers who