The Pacha of Many Tales | Page 7

of gold; if you cannot, you must prepare for the bastinado, if
not for death. You will not be required to appear in the sublime
presence before to-morrow afternoon, and will therefore have plenty of
time to invent one."
"Will your highness permit your slave to go home and consult his wife?
Women have a great talent for storytelling. With her assistance he may
be able to comply with your injunctions."
"No," replied Mustapha, "you must remain in custody; but, as on this
occasion she may be of the greatest assistance to you, you may send for
her. They have indeed a talent! As the young crocodile, from instinct,
runs into the Nile as soon as it bursts its shell, so does woman, from her
nature, plunge into deceit, before even her tongue can give utterance to

the lies which her fertile imagination has already conceived."
And with this handsome compliment to the sex, Mustapha gave his
final orders and retired.
Whether the unfortunate man, thus accused of treason, derived any
benefit from being permitted to "retain counsel," will be shown by the
following story, which he told to the pacha when summoned on the
ensuing day.

STORY OF THE CAMEL-DRIVER.
That your highness should wish for an explanation of the very doubtful
language which you overheard last night, I am not surprised; but I trust
you will acknowledge, when I have finished my narrative, that I was
fully justified in the expressions which I made use of. I am by birth (as
my dress denotes) a Fellah of this country, but I was not always so poor
as I am now. My father was the possessor of many camels, which he let
out for hire to the merchants of the different caravans which annually
leave this city. When he died, I came into possession of his property,
and the good-will of those whom he had most faithfully served. The
consequence was, that I had full employ, my camels were always
engaged, and, as I invariably accompanied them that they might not be
ill-treated, I have several times been to Mecca, as this ragged green
turban will testify. My life was one of alternate difficulty and
enjoyment. I returned to my wife and children with delight after my
journeys of suffering and privation, and fully appreciated the value of
my home from the short time that my occupation would permit me to
remain there. I worked hard and became rich.
It was during a painful march through the Desert with one of the
caravans, that a favourite she-camel foaled. At first it was my intention
to leave the young one to its fate, as my camels had already suffered
much; but, on examination, the creature showed such strength and
symmetry that I resolved to bring it up. I therefore divided half of one
of the loads between the other camels, and tied the foal upon the one

which I had partly relieved for the purpose. We arrived safely at Cairo;
and, as the little animal grew up, I had more than ever reason to be
satisfied that I had saved its life. All good judges considered it a
prodigy of beauty and strength, and prophesied that it would some day
be selected as the holy camel, to carry the Koran in the pilgrimage to
Mecca. And so it did happen about five years afterwards, during which
interval I accompanied the caravans as before, and each year added to
my wealth.
My camel had by this time arrived to his full perfection; he stood
nearly three feet higher than any other; and, when the caravan was
preparing, I led him to the sheiks, and offered him as a candidate for
the honour. They would have accepted him immediately, had it not
been for a Maribout, who, for some reason or another, desired them not
to employ him, asserting that the caravan would be unlucky if my
camel was the bearer of the holy Koran.
As this man was considered to be a prophet, the sheiks were afraid, and
would not give a decided answer. Irritated at the Maribout's
interference, I reviled him; he raised a hue and cry against me; and,
being joined by the populace, I was nearly killed. As I hastened away,
the wretch threw some sand after me, crying out, "Thus shall the
caravan perish from the judgment of heaven, if that cursed camel is
permitted to carry the holy word of the prophet." The consequence was,
that an inferior camel was selected, and I was disappointed. But on the
ensuing year the Maribout was not at Cairo; and, as there was no
animal equal to mine in beauty, it was chosen by the sheiks without a
dissentient voice.
I hastened home to my wife, overjoyed with my good