" The Georgian flew in and aimed her dagger at my heart.' 
 
 M.CBL OF MAXV TALES.
 
 THE 
 
 PACHA OF MANY TALES 
 
 CAPTAIN MARRYAT 
 
 WITH ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 LONDON 
 GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS 
 
 BROADWAY, LUDGATK HILL 
 NEW YORK : 9, LAFAYETTE PLACE.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 I. THE CAMEL-DRIVER . 
 
 II. THE GREEK SLAVE . 
 
 III. THE MONK 
 
 IV. THE MONK rt?//#/ . 
 V. HUCKABACK 
 
 VI. HUCKABACK continued . 
 
 VII. MANUSCRIPT OF THE MONK 
 
 VIII. MANUSCRIPT OF THE MONK f 
 
 IX. HUCKABACK continued . . 
 
 X. HUCKABACK continued ... 
 
 XI. HUCKABACK continued . . 
 
 XII. HUCKABACK continued . 
 
 XIII. HUCKABACK continued . . . , 
 
 XIV. THE SCARRED LOVER . 
 XV. STORY OF HUDUSI 
 
 XVI. STORY OF Hvovsiamtitms.! . . 
 
 XVII. TALE OF THE ENGLISH SAILOR . 
 
 XVIII. THE WATER-CARRIER . . . 
 XIX. THE WONDROUS TALE OF HAN . 
 
 XX. STORY OF THE OLD WOMAN 
 
 XXI. STORY OF THE OLD WOMAN ccntinvtd 
 
 XXIL CONCLUSION 
 
 FAGB 
 
 > i 
 
 22 
 38 
 
 61 
 
 83 
 106 
 
 , 119 
 127 
 
 , 136 
 
 'S3 
 
 , 164. 
 
 239 
 249 
 259 
 293 
 
 3' 
 
 328 
 
 345
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 EVERYONE acquainted with the manners and customs of the 
 East must be aware that there is no situation of eminence 
 more untenable, or more dangerous to its possessor, than that 
 of a pacha. Nothing, perhaps, affords us more convincing 
 proof of the risk which men will incur to obtain a temporary 
 authority over their fellow-creatures, than the avidity with which 
 this office is accepted from the sultan ; who, within the memory 
 of the new occupant, has consigned scores of his predecessors 
 to the bow-string. It would almost appear as if the despot but 
 elevated a head from the crowd, that he might obtain a more 
 fair and uninterrupted sweep for his scimitar, when he cut it 
 off; only exceeded in his peculiar taste by the King of 
 Dahomy, who is said to ornament the steps of his palace with 
 heads, fresh severed, each returning sun, as we renew the deco- 
 ration of our apartments from our gay parterres. I make these 
 observations, that I may not be accused of a disregard to 
 chronology, in not precisely stating the year, or rather the 
 months, during which flourished one of a race, who, like the 
 flowers of the cistus, one morning in all their splendour, on the 
 next are strewed lifeless on the ground to make room for their 
 successors. Speaking of such ephemeral creations, it will be 
 quite sufficient to say, " There was a pacha." 
 
 Would you inquire by what means he was raised to the dis- 
 tinction? It is an idle question. In this world, pre-eminence 
 over your fellow-creatures can only be obtained by leaving 
 others far behind in the career of virtue or of vice. In com- 
 pliance with the dispositions of those who rule, faithful service 
 in the one path or the oilier will shower honour upon the sub- 
 
 B
 
 a 7 HE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 ject, and by the breath of kings he becomes ennobled to look 
 down upon his former equals. 
 
 And as the world spins round, the why is of little moment. 
 The honours are bequeathed, but not the good or the evil 
 deeds, or the talents by which they were obtained. In the 
 latter wp have but a life interest, for the entail is cut off by 
 death. Aristocracy in all its varieties is as necessary for the 
 well binding of society, as the divers grades between the gene- 
 ral and the common soldier are essential in the field. Never 
 then inquire why this or that man has been raised above his 
 fellows ; but, each night as you retire to bed, thank Heaven 
 that you are not a king, 
 
 And, if I may digress, there is one badge of honour in our 
 country which I never contemplate without serious reflection 
 rising in my mind : it is the bloody hand in the dexter chief of 
 a baronet, now often worn, I grant, by those who, perhaps, 
 during their whole lives have never raised their hands in anger. 
 But my thoughts have returned to days of yore the ironed 
 days of ironed men, when it was the symbol of faithful service 
 in the field when it really was bestowed upon the " hand em- 
 brued in blood;" and I have meditated, whether that hand, dis- 
 played with exultation in this world, may not be held up 
 trembling in the next in judgment against itself. 
 
 And I, whose memory stepping from one legal murder to 
 another, can walk dry-footed over the broad space of five- 
 and-twenty years of time, but the "damned spots" won't 
 come out so I'll put my hands into my pockets and 
 walk on. 
 
 Conscience, fortunately or unfortunately, I hardly can tell 
 which, permits us to form political and religious creeds, most 
 suited to disguise or palliate our sins. Mine is a military con- 
 science ; and I agree with Bates and Williams, who flourished 
 in the time of Henry V., that it is "all upon the king:" that 
 is to say, it was all upon the king ; but now our constitution 
 has become so incomparably perfect, that "the king can do no 
 wrong;" and he has no difficulty in finding ministers, who, 
 voluntary impignorating themselves for all his actions in this 
 world, will, in all probability, not escape from the clutches of 
 the great Pawnbroker in the next from which facts I draw the 
 following conclusions :
 
 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 3 
 
 ist. That his majesty (God bless him !) will go to heaven. 
 
 2ndly. That his majesty's ministers will all go to the devil. 
 
 3rdly. That I shall go on with my story. 
 
 As, however, a knowledge of the previous history of our 
 pacha will be necessary to the development of our story, the 
 reader will in this instance be indulged. He had been brought 
 up to the profession of a barber ; but, possessing great personal 
 courage, he headed a popular commotion in favour of his 
 predecessor, and was rewarded by a post of some importance 
 in the army. Successful in detached service, while his general 
 was unfortunate in the field, he was instructed to take off the 
 head of his commander, and head the troops in his stead ; 
 both of which services he performed with equal skill and 
 celerity. Success attended him, and the pacha, his predecessor, 
 having in his opinion, as well as in that of the sultan, remained 
 an unusual time in office, by an accusation enforced by a 
 thousand purses of gold, he was enabled to produce a bow- 
 string for his benefactor; and the sultan's "firmaun" appointed 
 him to the vacant pachalik. His qualifications for office \\vre 
 all superlative : he was very short, very corpulent, very illite- 
 rate, very irascible, and very stupid. 
 
 On the morning after his investment, he was under the hands 
 of his barber, a shrewd, intelligent Greek, Mustapha by name. 
 Barbers are privileged persons for many reasons : running 
 from one employer to another to obtain their livelihood, they 
 also obtain matter for conversation, which, impertinent as it 
 may sometimes be, serves to beguile the tedium of an opera- 
 tion which precludes the use of any organ except the ear. 
 Moreover, we are inclined to be on good terms with a man 
 who has it in his power to cut our throats whenever he pleases 
 to wind up ; the personal liberties arising from his profession 
 render all others trifling ; for the man who takes his sovereign 
 by the nose cannot well after that be denied the liberty c f 
 speech. 
 
 Mustapha was a Greek by birth, and inherited all the intelli- 
 gence and adroitness of his race. He had been brought up to 
 his profession when a slave ; but at the age of nineteen he 
 accompanied his master on board of a merchant-vessel bound 
 to Scio; this vessel was taken by a pirate, and Demetrius (for 
 such v*as his real na^e) joined this band of miscreants, and
 
 4 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 very faithfully served his apprenticeship to cutting throats, until 
 the vessel was captured by an English frigate. Being an active, 
 intelligent person, he was, at his own request, allowed to 
 remain on board as one of the ship's company, assisted in 
 several actions, and after three years went to England, where 
 the ship was paid off. For some time Demetrius tried to make 
 his fortune, but without success, and it was not until he was 
 reduced to nearly his last shilling that he commenced the trade 
 of hawking rhubarb about in a box ; which speculation turned 
 so profitable, that he was enabled in a short time to take his 
 passage in a vessel bound to Smyrna, his own country. This 
 vessel was captured by a French privateer ; he was landed, 
 and, not being considered as a prisoner, allowed to act as he 
 thought proper. In a short time he obtained the situation of 
 valet and barber to a " millionaire," whom he contrived to rob 
 of a few hundred Napoleons, and with them to make his escape 
 to his own country. Demetrius had now some knowledge of 
 the world, and he felt it necessary that he should become a 
 True Believer, as there would be more chance of his advance- 
 ment in a Turkish country. He dismissed the patriarch to the 
 devil, and took up the turban and Mahomet ; then, quitting the 
 scene of his apostasy, recommenced his profession of barber 
 in the territory of the pacha, whose goodwill he obtained 
 previous to the latter's advancement to the pachalik. 
 
 "Mustapha," observed the pacha, "thou knowest that I 
 have taken off the heads of all those who left their slippers at 
 the door of the late pacha." 
 
 " Allah Kebur ! God is most powerful ! So perish the 
 enemies of your sublime highness. Were they not the sons of 
 Shitan?" replied Mustapha. 
 
 " Very true ; but, Mustapha, the consequence is, that I am 
 in want of a vizier; and whom do I know equal to that office?" 
 
 "While your sublime highness is pacha, is not a child 
 equal to the office? Who stumbles, when guided by unerring 
 wisdom?" 
 
 " I know that very well," replied the pacha ; " but if I am 
 always to direct him, I might as well be vizier myself; besides, 
 I shall have no one to blame, if affairs go wrong with the 
 sultan. Inshallah ! please the Lord, the vizier's head may some- 
 times save my own."
 
 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 5 
 
 "Are we not as dogs before you?" replied Mustapha; 
 " happy the man who by offering his own head may preserve 
 that of your sublime highness 1 It ought to be the proudest 
 day of his life." 
 
 "At all events it would be the last," rejoined the pacha. 
 
 " May it please your sublime highness," observed Mustapha, 
 af .er a pause, " if your slave may be so honoured as to speak 
 in your presence, a vizier should be a person of great tact ; 
 he should be able to draw the line as nicely as I do when I 
 shave your sublime head, leaving not a vestige of the hair, yet 
 entering not upon the skin." 
 
 " Very true, Mustapha." 
 
 " He should have a sharp eye for the disaffected to the 
 government, selecting them and removing them from among 
 the cro,vd, as I do the few white hairs which presume to 
 make their appearance in your sublime and magnificent 
 beard." 
 
 " Very true, Mustapha." 
 
 " He should carefully remove all impurities from the state, 
 as I have this morning from your sublime ears." 
 
 " Very true, Mustapha." 
 
 " He should be well acquainted with the secret springs of 
 action, as I have proved myself to be in the shampooing which 
 your sublime highness has just received." 
 
 " Very true, Mustapha." 
 
 " Moreover, he should be ever grateful to your highness for 
 the distinguished honour conferred upon him." 
 
 "All that you say is very true, Mustapha, but where am I 
 to meet with such a man?" 
 
 "This world is convenient in some points," continued 
 Mustapha; "if you want either a fool or a knave, you have 
 not far to go to find them ; but it is no easy task to select the 
 person you require. I know but one." 
 
 "And who is Re?* 
 
 " One whose head is at your footstool," answered the barber, 
 prostrating himself, " your sublime highness's most devoted 
 slave, Mustapha." 
 
 "Holy Prophet! Then you mean yourself! Well, now I 
 think of it, if one barber can become a pacha, I do not see 
 \vhy another would not make a vizier. But then what am I
 
 6 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 to do for a barber? No, no, Mustapha ; a good vizier is easv 
 to be found, but a good barber, you know as well as I do, 
 requires some talent." 
 
 "Your slave is aware of that," replied Mustapha, ''but he 
 has travelled in other countries, where it is no uncommon 
 circumstance for men to hold more than one office under 
 government, sometimes much more incompatible than those ot 
 barber and vizier, which are indeed closely connected. The 
 affairs of most nations are settled by the potentates during 
 their toilet. While I am shaving the head of your sublime 
 highness, I can receive your commands to take off the heads 
 of others ; and you can have your person and your state both 
 put in order at the same moment." 
 
 "Very true, Mustapha; then, on condition that you continue 
 your office of barber, I have no objection to throw that of 
 vizier into the bargain." 
 
 Mustapha again prostrated himself, with his tweezers in his 
 hand. He then rose and continued his office. 
 
 "You can write, Mustapha?" observed the pacha, after a 
 short silence. 
 
 " Min Allah ! God forbid that I should acknowledge it, or 
 I should consider myself as unfit to assume the office in which 
 your sublime highness has invested me." 
 
 " Although unnecessary for me, I thought it might be 
 requisite for a vizier," observed the pacha. 
 
 " Reading may be necessary, I will allow," replied Mustapha ; 
 "but I trust I can soon prove to your highness that writing iS 
 as dangerous as it is useless. More men have been ruined by 
 that unfortunate acquirement, than by any other; and dangerous 
 as it is to all, it is still more dangerous to men in high power. 
 For instance, your sublime highness sends a message in writing, 
 which is ill-received, and it is produced against you ; but had 
 it been a verbal message, you could deny it, and bastinado 
 to death the Tartar who carried it, as a proof of your 
 sincerity." 
 
 " Very true, Mustapha." 
 
 " The grandfather of your slave," continued the barber-vizier, 
 " held the situation of receiver-general at the custom-house; and 
 he was always in a fury when he was obliged to take up the 
 pen. It was his creed, that no government could prosper
 
 THE P AC II A OF MANY TALES. f 
 
 when writing was in general use. ' Observe, Mustapha/ said 
 he to me one day, ' here is the curse of writing for all the 
 money which is paid in, I am obliged to give a receipt. What 
 is the consequence? that government loses many thousand 
 sequins every year; for when I apply to them for a second 
 payment, they produce their receipt. Now if it had not been 
 for this cursed invention of writing, Inshallah ! they should 
 have paid twice, if not thrice over. Remember, Mustapha,' 
 continued he, ' that reading and writing only clog the wheels of 
 government.'" 
 
 "Very true, Mustapha," observed the pacha; "then we will 
 have no writing." 
 
 " Yes, your sublime highness, everything in writing from 
 others, but nothing in writing from ourselves. I have a young 
 Greek slave, who can be employed in these matters. He reads 
 well. I have lately employed him in reading to me the stories 
 of 'Thousand and one Nights.'" 
 
 "Stories," cried the pacha; "what are they about? I never 
 heard of them ; I'm very fond of stories." 
 
 " If it would pleasure your sublime highness to hear these 
 stories read, the slave will wait your commands," replied the 
 vizier. 
 
 "Bring him this evening, Mustapha; we will smoke a pipe, 
 and listen to them; I'm very fond of stories they always send 
 me to sleep." 
 
 The business of the day was transacted with admirable 
 precision and despatch by the two quondam barbers, who 
 proved how easy it is to govern, where there are not " three 
 estates" to confuse people. They sat in the divan as highway- 
 men loiter on the road, and it was " Your money or your life" 
 to all who made their appearance. 
 
 At the usual hour the court broke up, the guards retired, the 
 money was carried to the treasury, the executioner wiped his 
 sword, and the lives of the pacha's subjects were considered to 
 be in a state of comparative security, until the affairs of the 
 country were again brought under their cognizance on the 
 ensuing day. 
 
 In obedience to the wish expressed by the pacha, Mustapha 
 made his appearance in the afternoon with the young Greek 
 slave. The nc\v vizier having taken a seat upon a cushion at
 
 8 T'tE PACHA OF MANY TALES, 
 
 the feet of the pacha, the pipes were lighted, and the slave was 
 directed to proceed. 
 
 The Greek had arrived to the end of the First Night, in 
 which Schczehezerade commences her story, and the Sultan, 
 who was anxious to hear the termination of it, defers her 
 execution to the following day. 
 
 "Stop!" cried the pacha, taking the pipe from his lips; 
 "how long before the break of day did that girl call her 
 sister?" 
 
 "About half an hour, your sublime highness." 
 
 " Wallah ! is that all she could tell of her story in half an 
 hour ? There's not a woman in my harem who would not say 
 as much in five minutes." 
 
 The pacha was so amused with the stories, that he never 
 once felt inclined to sleep; on the contrary, the Greek slave 
 was compelled to read every afternoon, until his legs were so 
 tired that he could hardly stand, and his tongue almost refused 
 its office; consequently, they were soon finished; and Mustapha 
 not being able to procure any more, they were read a second 
 time. After M : hich the pacha, who felt the loss of his evening's 
 amusement, became first puzzled how to pass away his time ; 
 then he changed to hypochondriacism, and finally became so 
 irritable, that even Mustapha himself, at times, approached him 
 with some degree of awe. 
 
 " I have been thinking," observed the pacha, one morning, 
 when under the hands of Mustapha, in his original capacity, 
 " that it would be as easy for me to have stories told me, as 
 the caliph in the Arabian Nights." 
 
 " I wonder not that your highness should desire it. Those 
 stories are as the opium to Theriarkis, filling the soul with 
 visions of delight at the moment, but leaving it palsied from 
 over-excitement, when their effect has passed away. How 
 does your sublime highness propose to obtain your end ; and 
 in what manner can your slave assist to produce your 
 wishes ? " 
 
 "I shall manage it without assistance; come this evening 
 and you shall see, Mustapha." 
 
 Mustapha made his appearance in the afternoon, and the 
 pacha smoked his pipe for some time, and appeared as if 
 communing with himself; he then laid it down, and clapping
 
 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 9 
 
 his hands, desired one of the slaves to inform his favourite lady, 
 Zeinab, that he desired her presence. 
 
 Zeinab entered with her veil down. "Your slave attends 
 the pleasure of her lord.'' 
 
 " Zeinab," said the pacha, " do you love me ? " 
 
 " Do not I worship the dust that my lord treads on ? " 
 
 " Very true then I have a favour to request : observe, 
 Zeinab it is my wish that " (here the pacha took a few whiffs 
 from his pipe) "The fact is I wish you to dishonour my 
 harem as soon as possible." 
 
 " Wallah sel Nebi ! ! By Allah and the Prophet ! your high- 
 ness is in a merry humour this evening," replied Zeinab, 
 turning round to quit the apartment. 
 
 " On the contrary, I am in a serious humour : I mean what I 
 have said ; and I expect that you will comply with my wishes." 
 
 " Is my lord mad ? or has he indulged too freely in the juice 
 of the grape forbidden by our Prophet ? Allah kebur ! God 
 is most powerful The hakim must be sent for." 
 
 " Will you do as I order you ? " said the pacha, angrily. 
 
 "Does my lord send for his slave to insult her? My blood 
 is as water, at the dreadful thought ! Dishonour the harem ! 
 Min Allah ! God forbid ! Would not the eunuch be ready 
 and the sack ? " 
 
 " Yes, they would, I acknowledge ; but still it must be 
 done." 
 
 "It shall not be done," replied the lady: "Has my lord 
 been visited by Heaven? or is he possessed by the Shitan?" 
 And the lady burst into tears of rage and vexation as she 
 quitted the apartment. 
 
 "There's obstinacy for you women are nothing but oppo- 
 sition. ]f you wish them to be faithful, they try day and night 
 to deceive you ; give them their desires and tell them to be 
 false, they will refuse. All was arranged so well, I should have 
 cut off all their heads, and had a fresh wife every night until I 
 found one who could tell stories ; then I should have rose up 
 and deferred her execution till the following day." 
 
 Mustapha, who had been laughing in his sleeve at the strange 
 idea of the pacha, was nevertheless not a little alarmed. He 
 perceived that the mania had such complete possession, that, 
 ikiless appeased, the results might prove unpleasant even to
 
 io THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 himself. It occurred to him, that a course might be pursued 
 to gratify the pacha's wishes, without proceeding to such violent 
 measures. Waiting a little while until the colour which had 
 suffused the pacha's face from anger and disappointment had 
 subsided, he addressed him : 
 
 " The plan of your sublime highness was such as was to be 
 expected from the immensity of your wisdom ; but hath not 
 the Prophet warned us, that the wisest of men are too often 
 thwarted by the folly and obstinacy of the other sex? May 
 your slave venture to observe, that many very fine stories were 
 obtained by the caliph Haroun, and his vizier Mesrour, as they 
 walked through the city in disguise? In all probability a 
 similar result might be produced, if your highness were to take 
 the same step, accompanied by the lowest of your slaves, 
 Mustapha." 
 
 " Very true," replied the pacha, delighted at the prospect ; 
 "prepare two disguises, and we will set off in less than an 
 hour Inshallah, please the Lord, we have at last hit upon the 
 right path." 
 
 Mustapha, who was glad to direct the ideas of the pacha into 
 a more harmless channel, procured the dresses of two merchants 
 (for such, he observed, were the usual habiliments put on by 
 the caliph and his vizier in the Arabian Nights, and was aware 
 that his master's vanity would be gratified at the idea of 
 imitating so celebrated a personage). 
 
 It was dusk when they set off upon their adventures. Mus- 
 tapha directed some slaves well armed to follow at a distance, 
 in case their assistance might be required. The strict orders 
 which had been issued on the accession of the new pacha (to 
 prevent any riot or popular commotion), which were enforced 
 by constant rounds of the soldiers on guard, occasioned the 
 streets to be quite deserted. 
 
 For some time the pacha and Mustapha walked up one 
 street and down another, without meeting with anything or any- 
 body that could administer to their wishes. The former, who 
 had not lately been accustomed to pedestrian exercise, began 
 to puff and show symptoms of weariness and disappointment, 
 when at the corner of a street they fell in with two men, who 
 were seated in conversation; and as they approached softly, 
 one of them said to the other, " I tell you, Coja, that happy is
 
 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. II 
 
 the man who can always command a hard crust like this, which 
 is now wearing away my teeth." 
 
 " I must know the reason of that remark," said the pacha ; 
 "Mesrour (Mustapha, I mean), you will bring that man to me 
 to-morrow, after the divan is closed." 
 
 Mustapha bowed in acquiescence, and directing the slaves 
 who were in attendance to take the man into custody, followed 
 the pacha, who, Ltigued with his unusual excursion, and satisfied 
 with the prospect of success, now directed his steps to the 
 palace and retired to bed. Zeinab, who had lain awake until 
 her eyes could remain open no longer, with the intention of 
 reading him a lecture upon decency and sobriety, had at last 
 fallen asleep, and the tired pacha was therefore permitted to do 
 the same. 
 
 When Mustapha arrived at h's own abode, he desired that 
 the person who had been detained should be brought to him. 
 
 " My good man," said the vizier, " you made an observation 
 this evening, which was overheard by his highness the pacha, 
 who wishes to be acquainted with your reasons for stating ' that 
 happy was the man who could at all times command a hard 
 crust, like that which was wearing away your teeth.'" 
 
 The man fell down on his knees in trepidation. " I do de- 
 clare to your highness, by the camel of the Holy Prophet," 
 said he, in a faltering voice, " that I neither meant treason, nor 
 disaffection to the government." 
 
 " Slave ! I am not quite so sure of that," replied Mustapha, 
 with a stern look, in hopes of frightening the man into a com- 
 pliance with his wishes " there was something very enigmatical 
 in those words. Your ' hard crust ' may mean his sublime 
 highness the pacha; 'wearing away your teeth' may imply 
 exactions from the government ; and as you affirmed that he 
 was happy who could command the hard crust why, it is as 
 much as to say that you would be very glad to create a 
 rebellion." 
 
 " Holy Prophet ! May the soul of your slave never enter 
 the first heaven," replied the man, " if he meant anything more 
 than what he said ; and if your highness had been as often 
 without a mouthful of bread as your slave has been, you would 
 agree with him in the justice of the remark." 
 
 " It is of little consequence whether I agree with you 01
 
 ,2 THE PACHA Of A'.^VK TALES. 
 
 not," replied the vizier; "I have only to tell you that his 
 sublime highness, the pacha, will not be satisfied unless you 
 explain away the remark by relating to him some story con- 
 nected with the observation." 
 
 " Min Allah ! God forbid that your slave should tell a story 
 to deceive his highness." 
 
 " The Lord have mercy upon you if you do not," replied the 
 vizier ; " but to be brief: if you can invent a good and interest- 
 ing story, you will remove the suspicions of the pacha, and 
 probably be rewarded with a few pieces 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 con- 
 sult his wife? Women have a great talent for story-telling. 
 With her assistance he may be able to comply with your in- 
 junctions." 
 
 "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, de- 
 rived 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 OP 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 expres- 
 sions which I made use of. I am by birth (as my dress 
 denotes) a fellah of this country, but I was not alwa)s so poor
 
 TIIZ CAMEL-DRIVER. 13 
 
 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 goodwill of those 
 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 appre- 
 ciated 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 con- 
 sidered 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 accom- 
 panied 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
 
 , 4 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 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 judg- 
 ment 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 net at Cairo ; and, as there 
 was no animal equal to mine in beauty, it was chosen by the 
 sheiks without a d ssentient voice. 
 
 I hastened home to my wife, overjoyed at my good fortune, 
 which I hoped would bring a blessing upon my house. She 
 was equally delighted, and my beautiful camel seemed also to 
 be aware of the honour to which he was destined, as he repaid 
 our caresses, curving and twisting his long neck, and laying his 
 head upon our shoulders. 
 
 The caravan assembled : it was one of the largest which for 
 many years had quitted Cairo, amounting in all to eighteen 
 thousand camels. You may imagine my pride when, as the 
 procession parsed throught the streets, I pointed out to my 
 wife the splendid animal, with his bridle studded with jewels 
 and gold, led by the holy sheiks, in their green robes, carrying 
 on his back the chest which contained the law of our prophet, 
 looking proudly on each side of him as he walked along accom- 
 panied by bands of music and the loud chorus of the singing 
 men and women. 
 
 As on the ensuing day the caravan was to form outside of 
 the town, I returned home to my family that I might have the 
 last of their company, having left my other camels, who were 
 hired by the pilgrims, in charge of an assistant who accom- 
 panied me in my journeys. The next morning I bade adieu to 
 my wife and children, and was quitting the house, when my 
 youngest child, who was about two years old, called to me and 
 begged me to return one moment and give her a farewell 
 caress. As I lifted her in my arms, she, as usual, put her hand 
 into the pocket of my loose jacket to search, as I thought, for 
 the fruit that I usually brought home for her when I returned 
 from the bazaar ; but there was none there ; and having re- 
 pla;ed her in the arms of her mother, I hastened away that I 
 might not be too late at my post. Your highness is aware that 
 we do not march one following another as most caravans do,
 
 THE CAMEL-DRIVER. 15 
 
 but in one straight line abreast. The necesssary arrangement 
 occupies the whole day previous to the commencement of our 
 journey, which takes place immediately after the sun goes down. 
 We set off that evening, and after a march of two nights, 
 arrived at Adjeroid, where we remained three days to procure 
 our supplies of water from Suez and to refresh the animals pre- 
 vious to our forced march over the desert of El Tyh. 
 
 The last day of our repose, as I was smoking my pipe with 
 my camels kneeling down around me, I perceived a herie* 
 coming from the direction of Cairo, at a very swift pace. It 
 passed by me like a flash of lightning, but still I had sufficient 
 time to recognize in its rider the maribout who had prophesied 
 evil if my camel was employed to carry the Koran on the 
 pilgrimage of the year before. 
 
 The maribout stopped his dromedary at the tent of the emir 
 Hadjy, who commanded the caravan. Anxious to know the 
 reason of his following us, which I had a foreboding was con- 
 nected with my camel, I hastened to the spot. I found him 
 haranguing the emir and the people who had surrounded him, 
 denouncing woe and death to the whole caravan if my camel 
 was not immediately destroyed and another selected in his 
 stead. Having for some time declaimed in such an energetic 
 manner as to spread consternation throughout the camp, he 
 turned his dromedary again to the west, and in a few minutes 
 was out of sight. 
 
 The emir was confused ; murmurings and consultations were 
 arising among the crowd : I was afraid that they would listen to 
 the suggestions of the maribout ; and alarmed for my camel 
 and the loss of the honour conferred upon him, I was guilty 
 of a lie. 
 
 " O emir ! " said I, " listen not to that man, who is mine 
 enemy: he came to my house, he ate of my bread, and would 
 have been guilty of the basest ingratitude by seducing the 
 mother of my children ; I drove him from my door : and thus 
 would he revenge himself. So may it fare with me, and with 
 the caravan, as I speak the truth." 
 
 I was believed ; the injunctions of the maribout were dis- 
 regarded, and that night we proceeded on our march through 
 the plains of El Tyh. 
 
 * A swift dromedary.
 
 16 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 As your highness has never yet made a pilgrimage, you can 
 have no conception of the country which we had to pass 
 through; it was one vast region of sand, where the tracks of 
 those who pass over it are obliterated by the wind, a vast sea 
 without water, an expanse of desolation. We plunged into 
 the desert ; and as the enormous collection of animals, extend- 
 ing as far as the eye could reach, held their noiseless way, it 
 seemed as if it were the passing by ot shadows. 
 
 We met with no accident, notwithstanding the prophecies of 
 the maribout ; and, after a fatiguing march of seven nights, 
 arrived safely at Nakhel, where we replenished our exhausted 
 water-skins. Those whom I knew joked with me, when we 
 met at the wells, at the false prophecies of my enemy. We had 
 now three days of severe fatigue to encounter before we arrived 
 at the castle of Akaba, and we recommenced our painful journey. 
 
 It was on the morning of the second day, about an hour 
 after we had pitched our tents, that the fatal prophecy of the 
 maribout, and the judgment of Allah upon me for the lie which 
 I had called on him to witness, was fulfilled. 
 
 A dark cloud appeared upon the horizon; it gradually 
 increased, changing to a bright yellow ; and then rose and 
 rose until it had covered one half of the firmament, when it 
 suddenly burst upon us in a hurricane which carried every- 
 thing before it, cutting off mountains of sand at the base, and 
 hurling them upon our devoted heads. The splendid tent of 
 the emir, which first submitted to the blast, passed close to 
 me, flying along with the velocity of the herie, while every 
 other was either levelled to the ground or carried up into the 
 air, and whirled about in mad gyration. 
 
 Moving pillars of sand passed over us, overthrowing and 
 suffocating man and beast; the camels thrust their muzzles 
 into the ground, and, profiting by their instinct, we did the 
 same, awaiting our fate in silence and trepidation. But the 
 simoom had not yet poured upon us all its horrors ; in a few 
 minutes nothing was to be distinguished all was darkness, 
 horrible darkness, rendered more horrible by the ravings of 
 dying men, the screams of women, and the mad career of 
 horses and other animals, which breaking their cords, trod 
 down thousands in their endeavours to escape from the over- 
 whelming fury of the desert storm.
 
 THE CAMEL-DRIVER. 17 
 
 I had laid myself down by one of my camels, and thrusting 
 my head under his side, awaited my death with all the horror 
 of one who thought that the wrath of heaven was justly poured 
 upon him. For an hour I remained in that position, and 
 surely there can be no pains in hell greater than those which I 
 suffered during that space of time. The burning sand forced 
 itself into my garments, the pores of my skin were closed, 
 I hardly ventured to breathe the hot blast which was offered 
 as the only means of protracted existence. At last I fetched 
 my respiration with greater freedom, and no more heard the 
 howling of the blast. Gradually, I lifted up my head, but my 
 eyes had lost their power, I could distinguish nothing but a 
 yellow glare. I imagined that I was blind, and what chance 
 could there be for a man who was blind in the desert of 
 El Tyh ? Again I laid my head down, thought of my wife and 
 children, and abandoning myself to despair, I wept bitterly. 
 
 The tears that I shed had a resuscitating effect upon my 
 frame. I felt revived, and again lifted up my head I could 
 s.e! I prostrated myself in bumble thanksgiving to Allah, 
 and then rose upon my feet. Yes, I could see ; but what a 
 sight was presented to my eyes ! I could have closed them 
 for ever with thankfulness. The sky was serene, and the 
 boundless prospect uninterrupted as before ; but the thousands 
 who accompanied me, the splendid gathering of men and 
 beasts, where were they? Where was the emir Hadjy and his 
 guards ? where the mamelukes, the agas, the janissaries, and 
 the holy sheiks? the sacred camel, the singers, and musicians? 
 the varieties of nations and tribes who had joined the caravan ? 
 All perished ! Mountains of sand marked the spots where 
 they had been entombed, with no other monuments save here 
 and there part of the body of a man or beast not yet covered 
 by the desert wave. All, all were gone, save one ; and that 
 one, that guilty one, was myself, who had been permitted to 
 exist, that he might behold the awful mischief which had been 
 created by his presumption and his crime. 
 
 For some minutes I contemplated the scene, careless and 
 despairing ; for I imagined that I had only been permitted to 
 outlive the whole, that my death might be even more terrible. 
 But my wife and children rushed to my memory, and I re- 
 solved for their sakes to save, if possible, a life which had no 
 
 c
 
 IS THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 other ties to bind it to this earth. I tore off a piece of my 
 turban, and cleaning the sand out of my bleeding nostrils, 
 walked over the field of death. 
 
 Between the different hillocks I found several camels which 
 had not been covered. Perceiving a water-skin, I rushed to it, 
 that I might quench my raging thirst ; but the contents had 
 been dried up not a drop remained. I found another, but I 
 had no better success. I then determined to open one of the 
 bodies of the camels, and obtain the water which it might still 
 have remaining in its stomach. This I effected, and having 
 quenched my thirst to which even the heated element which 
 I poured down seemed delicious I hastened to open the 
 remainder of the animals before putrefaction should take place, 
 and collect the scanty supplies in the water-skins. I procured 
 more than half a skin of water, and then returned to my own 
 camel, which I had lain down beside of during the simoom. I 
 sat on the body of the animal, and reflected upon the best 
 method of proceeding. I knew that I was but one 'day's 
 journey from the springs ; but how little chance had I of 
 reaching them ! I also knew the direction which I must 
 take. The day had nearly closed, and I resolved to make the 
 attempt. 
 
 As the sun disappeared, I rose, and with the skin of water 
 on my back proceeded on my hopeless journey. I walked the 
 whole of that night, and, by break of day, I imagined that I 
 must have made half the progress of a caravan ; I had, there- 
 fore, still a day to pass in the desert, without any protection 
 from the consuming heat, and then another night of toil. 
 Although I had sufficient water, I had no food. When the 
 sun rose, I sat down upon a hillock of burning sand, to 
 be exposed to its rays for twelve everlasting hours. Before 
 the hour of noon arrived, my brain became heated I nearly 
 lost my reason. My vision was imperfect, or rather I saw 
 what did not exist. At one time lakes of water presented 
 themselves to my eager eyes ; and so certain was I of their 
 existence, that I rose and staggered till I was exhausted in 
 pursuit of them. At another, I beheld trees at a distance, and 
 could see the acacias waving in the breeze ; I hastened to 
 throw myself under their shade, and arrived at some small 
 shrub, which had thus been magnified.
 
 THE CAMEL-DRIVER. 19 
 
 So was I tormented and deceived during the whole of that 
 dreadful day, which still haunts me in my dreams. At last the 
 night closed in, and the stars as they lighted up warned me 
 that I might continue my journey. I drank plentifully from my 
 water-skin, and recommenced my solitary way. I followed the 
 track marked out by the bones of camels and horses of former 
 caravans which had perished in the desert, and when the day 
 dawned, I perceived the castle of Akaba at a short distance. 
 Inspired with new life, I threw away the water-skin, redoubled 
 my speed, and in half an hour had thrown myself down by the 
 side of the fountain from which I had previously imbibed large 
 draughts of the refreshing fluid. What happiness was then 
 mine ! How heavenly to lie under the shade, breathing the 
 cool air, listening to the warbling of the birds, and inhaling the 
 perfume of the flowers, which luxuriated on that delightful 
 spot ! After an hour I stripped, bathed myself, and, taking 
 another draught of water, fell into a sound sleep. 
 
 I awoke refreshed, but suffering under the cravings of 
 hnnger, which now assailed me. I had been three days with- 
 out food ; but hitherto I had not felt the want of it, as my 
 more importunate thirst had overcome the sensation. Now 
 that the greater evil had been removed, the lesser increased 
 and became hourly more imperious. I walked out and scanned 
 the horizon, with the hopes of some caravan appearing in 
 sight, but I watched in vain ; and returned to the fountain. 
 Two more days passed away, and no relief was at hand; my 
 strength failed me ; I felt that I was dying ; and, as the 
 fountain murmured, and the birds sang, and the cold breeze 
 fanned my cheeks, I thought that it would have been better to 
 have been swallowed up in the desert than to be tantalised by 
 expiring in such a paradise. I laid myself down to die, for I 
 could sit up no more ; and as I turned round to take a last 
 view of the running water, which had prolonged my existence, 
 something hard pressed against my si ie. I thought it was a 
 stone, and stretched out my hand to remove it, that I might 
 be at ease in my last moments ; but when I felt, there was no 
 stone there ; it was something in the pocket of my jacket. I 
 put my hand in, unconscious what it could be ; I pulled it out, 
 and looking at it before I threw it away, found that it was a 
 phce of hard dry bread. I thought that it had been sent to me
 
 20 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 from heaven, and it was as pure an offering as if it had come 
 from thence, for it was the gift of innocence and affection it 
 was the piece of bread which my little darling girl had received 
 for her breakfast, and which on my departure she had thrust 
 into my pocket, when I imagined she had been searching for 
 fruit. I crawled to the spring, moistened it, and devoured it 
 with tears of gratitude to heaven, mingled with the fond 
 yearnings of a father's heart. 
 
 It saved my life ; for the next day a small caravan arrived 
 which was bound to Cairo. The merchants treated me with 
 great kindness, tied me on one of the camels, and I once more 
 embraced my family, whom I had never thought to see again. 
 Since that I have been poor, but contented I deserved to 
 lose all my property for my wickedness ; and I submit with 
 resignation to the will of Allah. 
 
 And now I trust that your highness will acknowledge 
 that I was justified in making use of the expression, that 
 " Happy was the man who could at all times command a 
 crust of bread ! " 
 
 "Very true," observed the pacha; " that's not a bad story; 
 Mustapha, give him five pieces of gold, and allow him to 
 depart." 
 
 The camel-driver quitted the divan, prostrating himself 
 before the pacha, and overjoyed at the fortunate termination 
 of what had threatened so much danger. The pacha was 
 silent for a little while, during which he puffed his pipe when 
 he observed : 
 
 " Allah kebur, God is most powerful ! That man has 
 suffered much and what has he to show for it? a green 
 turban. He is a hadjy ; I never thought that we should have 
 heard so good a story about a 'crust of bread.' His descrip- 
 tion of the simoom parched my entrails. What think you, 
 Mustapha, cannot a true believer go to Heaven without a visit 
 to the tomb of the prophet ? " 
 
 " The holy Koran does not say otherwise, your highness ; it 
 inculcates that all who can, should do so, as the path will be 
 rendered easier. Min Allah ! God forbid ! Has your high- 
 ness ever had the time to go to Mecca? and is not your 
 highness to go to Heaven ? "
 
 THE PACHA Of ATAXY TALES. 21 
 
 " Very true, Mustapha, I never had time. In my youth I 
 was busy shaving heads ; after that, Wallah ! I had enough to 
 do, splitting them ; and now am not I fully occupied in taking 
 them oft"? Is it not so, Mustapha ; are not these the words of 
 truth ? " 
 
 " Your highness is all wisdom. There is but one God, and 
 Mahomet is his prophet ; and when the latter said, that a visit 
 to the holy shrine would be a passport to heaven, it was 
 intended to employ those who were idle, not to embarrass 
 true believers who work hard in the name of the Most 
 High ! " 
 
 " Min Allah ! Clod forbid ! the case is clear," replied the 
 pacha ; " why, if everybody were to go to Mecca, what then, 
 Mustapha ? " 
 
 " Your highness it is the opinion of your slave, if such 
 were to take place, that all the fools would have left the 
 country." 
 
 "Very true, Mustapha; but my mouth is parched up 
 with the sand of that simoom : sherbet I cannot drink, rakee 
 I must not, the hakim has forbid it ; what must it be, then, 
 Mustapha ? " 
 
 " Hath the holy Prophet forbidden wine to true believers 
 in case of sickness ? is not your highness sick ? was the wine 
 of Shiraz given by Allah to be thrown away? Allah karim ! 
 God is most merciful ; and the wine was sent that true be- 
 lievers might, in this world, have a foretaste of the pleasures 
 awaiting them in the next." 
 
 "Mustapha," replied the pacha, taking his pipe out of his 
 mouth, " by the beard of the holy prophet, your words are 
 those of wisdom. Is a pacha to be fed on water-melons? 
 Staffir Allah ! do we believe the less, because we drink the 
 wine ? Slave, bring the pitcher. There is but one God, and 
 Mahomet is his prophet." 
 
 " The words of the Prophet, your highness, are plain : he 
 says, ' True believers, drink no wine/ which means, that his 
 followers are not to go about the streets drunken, like the 
 Giaours of Franguistan, who come here in their ships. Why 
 is wine forbidden ? because it makes men drunk. If, then, we 
 are not drunk, we keep within the law. Why was the law 
 made? Laws cannot be made for all; they must therefore be
 
 22 1 'HE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 made for the control of the majority is it not so? Who arc 
 the majority? Why, the poor. If laws were made for the 
 rich and powerful, such laws would not suit the community at 
 large. Mashallah ! there are no laws for pachas, who have 
 only to believe that there is one God and Mahomet is his 
 prophet. Does your slave say well ? " 
 
 " Excellently well, Mustapha," replied the pacha, lifting the 
 pitcher to his mouth for a minute, and then passing it to 
 Mustapha. 
 
 "Allah karim ! God is most merciful! your slave must 
 drink ; is it not the pleasure of your highness ? As the wine 
 poured down the throat of your highness pervades through 
 your whole frame to the extremities, so does your slave parti- 
 cipate in your bounty. Do I not sit in your sublime presence ? 
 Can the sun shine without throwing out heat ; therefore, if 
 your highness drink, must not I drink ? Allah acbar ! who 
 shall- presume not to follow the steps of the pacha?" So 
 saying, Mustapha lifted up the pitcher, and for a minute it 
 was glued to his lips. 
 
 " I think that story should be written down," observed the 
 pacha, after a pause of a few moments. 
 
 " I have already given directions, your highness, and the 
 Greek slave is now employed about it, improving the lan- 
 guage to render it more pleasing to the ears of your sublime 
 highness, should it be your pleasure to have it read to yo on 
 some future day." 
 
 " That is right, Mustapha ; if I recollect well, the caliph 
 Haroun used to command them to be written in letters of 
 gold, and be deposited in the archives : we must do the same." 
 
 " The art no longer exists, your highness." 
 
 " Then we must be content with Indian-ink," replied the 
 pacha, lifting the pitcher to his mouth, and emptying it. " The 
 sun will soon be down, Mustapha, and we must set off/' 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE pacha called for coffee, and in a few minutes, accom- 
 panied, as before, by Mustapha and the armed slaves, was 
 prowling through the city in search of a story-teller. He was
 
 TTIE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 23 
 
 again fortunate, as, after a walk of half an hour, he overheard 
 two men loudly disputing at the door of a small wine-shop, 
 frequented by the Greeks and Franks living in the city, and 
 into which many a slave might be observed to glide, returning 
 with a full pitcher for the evening's amusement of his Turkish 
 master, who, as well as his betters, clandestinely violated the 
 precepts of the Koran. 
 
 As usual, he stopped to listen, when one of the disputants 
 exclaimed, " I tell thee, Anselmo, it is the vilest composition 
 that was ever drunk : and I think I ought to know, after 
 having distilled the essence of an Ethiopian, a Jew, and a 
 Turk." 
 
 " I care nothing for your distillations, Charis," replied the 
 other. " I consider that I am a better judge than you : I was 
 not a monk of the Dominican order for fifteen years, without 
 having ascertained the merit of every description of wine." 
 
 " I should like to know what that fellow means by distilling- 
 people" observed the pacha, " and also why a Dominican monk, 
 should know wine better than others. Mustapha, I must see- 
 those two men." 
 
 The next morning the men were in attendance, and intro- 
 duced ; when the pacha requested an explanation from the 
 first who had spoken. The man threw himself down before 
 the pacha, with his head on the floor of the divan, and said, 
 " First promise me, your highness, by the sword of the Prophet, 
 that no harm shall result to me from complying with your 
 request ; and then I shall obey you with pleasure." 
 
 " Mashallah ! what is the kafir afraid of? What crimes- 
 hath he committed, that he would have his pardon granted* 
 before he tells his story ? " said the pacha to Mustapha. 
 
 " No crime toward your state, your sublime highness ; Lut: 
 when in another country, I was unfortunate," continued the 
 man. " I cannot tell my story, unless your highness will con- 
 descend to give your promise." 
 
 " May it please your highness," observed Mustapha, " he 
 asserts his crime to have been committed in another state. It 
 may be heavy, and I suspect 'tis murder; but although we 
 watch the flowers which ornament our gardens, and would 
 punish those who cull them, yet we care not who intrudes and 
 robs our neighbour and thus, it appears to me, your highness,
 
 24 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 that it is with states, and sufficient for the ruler of each to 
 watch over the lives of his own subjects." 
 
 "Very true, Mustapha," rejoined the pacha; "besides, we 
 might lose the story. Kafir, you have our promise, and may 
 proceed." 
 
 The Greek slave (for such he was) then rose up, and narrated 
 his story in the following words : 
 
 STORY OF THE GREEK SLAVE. 
 
 I AM a Greek by birth ; my parents were poor people re- 
 siding at Smyrna. I was an only son, and brought up to my 
 father's profession, that of a cooper. When I was twenty 
 years old, I had buried both my parents, and was left to shift 
 for myself. I had been for some time in the employ of a 
 Jewish wine-merchant, and I continued there for three years 
 after my father's death, when a circumstance occurred which 
 led to my subsequent prosperity and present degradation. 
 
 At the time that I am speaking of, I had, by strict diligence 
 and sobriety, so pleased my employer, that I had risen to be 
 his foreman ; and although I still superintended and occa- 
 sionally worked at the cooperage, I was intrusted with the 
 drawing off and fining of the wines, to prepare them for 
 market. There was an Ethiopian slave, who worked under 
 my orders, a powerful, broad-shouldered, and most malignant 
 wretch, whom my master found it almost impossible to manage ; 
 the bastinado, or any other punishment, he derided, and after 
 the application only became more sullen and discontented 
 than before. The fire that flashed from his eyes upon any 
 fault being found by me on account of his negligence was so 
 threatening, that I every day expected I should be murdered. 
 I repeatedly requested my master to part with him ; but the 
 Ethiopian being a very powerful man, and able, when he 
 chose, to move a pipe of wine without assistance, the avarice 
 of the Jew would not permit him to accede to my repeated 
 solicitations. 
 
 One morning I entered the cooperage, and found the 
 Ethiopian fast asleep by the side of a cask which I had been 
 wanting for some time, and expected to have found ready. 
 Afraid to punish him myself, I brought my master to witness
 
 THE CREEK SLAVE. 25 
 
 his conduct. The Jew, enraged at his idleness, struck him on 
 the head with one of the staves. The Ethiopian sprang up in 
 a rage, but on seeing his master with the stave in his hand, 
 contented himself with muttering, " That he would not remain 
 to be beaten in that manner," and reapplied himself to his 
 labour. As soon as my master had left the cooperage, the 
 Ethiopian vented his anger upon me for having informed 
 against him, and seizing the stave, flew at me with the intention 
 of beating out my brains. I stepped behind the cask ; he 
 followed me, and just as I had seized an adze to defend 
 myself, he fell over the stool which lay in his way; he was 
 springing up to renew the attack, when I struck him a blow 
 with the adze, which entered his sku'I, and laid him dead at 
 my feet. 
 
 I was very much alarmed at what had occurred ; for although 
 I felt justified in self-defence, I was aware that my master 
 would be very much annoyed at the loss of the slave ; and as 
 there were no witnesses, it would go hard with me when 
 brought before the cadi. After some reflection I determined, 
 as the slave had said " He would not remain to be beaten," 
 that I would leave my master to suppose he had nm away, 
 and in the meantime conceal the body. But to effect this was 
 difficult, as I could not take it out of the cooperage without 
 being perceived. After some cogitation, I decided upon 
 putting it into the cask, and heading it up. It required all 
 my strength to lift the body in, but at last I succeeded. 
 Having put in the head of the pipe, I hammered down the 
 hoops and rolled it into the store, where I had been waiting 
 to fill it with wine for the next year's demand. As soon as it 
 was in its place, I pumped off the wine from the vat, and 
 having filled up the cask and put in the bung, I felt as if a 
 heavy load had been removed from my mind, as there was no 
 chance of immediate discovery. 
 
 I had but just completed my task, and was sitting down on 
 one of the settles, when my mister came in, and inquired for 
 the slave. I replied that he had left the cooperage, swearing 
 that he would work no more. Afraid of losing him, the Jew 
 hastened to give notice to the authorities, that he might be 
 apprehended ; but after some time, as nothing could be heard 
 of the supposed runaway, it was imagined that he had drowned
 
 26 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 himself in a fit of sullenness, and no more was thought about 
 him. In the meanwhile I continued to work there as before, 
 and as I had the charge of everything, I had no doubt that, 
 some day or another, I should find means of quietly disposing 
 of my incumbrance. 
 
 The next spring, I was busy pumping off from one cask into 
 the other, according to our custom, when the aga of the janis- 
 saries came in. He was a great wine-bibber, and one of our 
 best customers. As his dependents were all well known, it 
 was not his custom to send them for wine, but to come him- 
 self to the store and select a pipe. This was carried away in 
 a litter by eight stroig slaves, with the curtains drawn close, 
 as if it had been a new purchase which he had added to his 
 harem. My mas'er showed him the pipes of wine prepared 
 for that years market, which were arranged in two rows ; and 
 I hardly need observe that the one containing the Ethiopian 
 was not in the foremost. After tasting one or two, which did 
 not seem to please him, the aga observed, " Friend Issachar, 
 thy tribe will always put off the worst goods first, if possible. 
 Now I have an idea that there is better wine in the second 
 tier, than in the one thou hast recommended. Let thy Greek 
 put a spile into that cask," continued he, pointing to the very 
 one in which I had headed-up the black slave. As I made 
 sure that as soon as he had tasted the contents he would spit 
 them out, I did not hesitate to bore the cask and draw off the 
 wine, which I handed to him. He tasted it and held it to the 
 light tasted it again and smacked his lips then turning to my 
 master, exclaimed, " Thou dog of a Jew ! wouldst thou have 
 palmed off upon me vile trash, when thou hadst in thy possession 
 wine which might be sipped with the houris in Paradise ? '' 
 
 The Jew appealed to me if the pipes of wine were not all 
 of the same quality ; and I confirmed his assertion. 
 
 "Taste it, then," replied the aga, "and then taste the first 
 which you recommended to me." 
 
 My master did so, and was evidently astonished. " It cer- 
 tainly has more body," replied he ; " yet how can that be, I 
 know not. Taste it, Charis." I held the glass to my lips, but 
 nothing could induce me to taste the contents. I contented 
 myself with agreeing with my master (as I conscientious'/ 
 could), " that it certainly had more body in it than the rest."
 
 THE GREEK SLA VE. 27 
 
 The aga was so pleased with the wine that he lasted two or 
 three more pipes of the back tier, hoping to find others of the 
 same quality, probably intending to have laid in a large stock ; 
 but finding no other of the same flavour, he ordered his slaves 
 to roll the one containing the body of the slave into the litter, 
 and carried it to his own house. 
 
 " Stop a moment, thou lying kafir ! " said the pacha ; " dost 
 thou really mean to say that the wine was better than the rest?" 
 
 " Why should I tell a lie to your sublime highness am not 
 I a worm that you may crush ? As I informed you, I did not 
 taste it, your highness ; but after the aga had departed, my 
 master expressed his surprise at the excellence of the wine, 
 which he affirmed to be superior to anything that he had ever 
 tasted and his sorrow that the aga had taken away the cask, 
 which prevented him from ascertaining the cause. But one 
 day I was narrating the circumstance to a Frank in this coun- 
 try, who expressed no surprise at the wine being improved. 
 He had been a wine- merchant in England, and he informed 
 me that it was the custom there to throw large pieces of raw 
 beef into the wine to feed it ; and that some particular wines 
 were very much improved thereby." 
 
 " Allah kebur ! God is great ! " cried the pr.cha " then it 
 must be so I have heard that the English are very fond of 
 beef. Now go on with thy story." 
 
 Your highness cannot imagine the alarm which I felt when 
 the cask was taken away by the aga's slaves. I gave myself 
 up for a lost man, and resolved upon immediate flight from 
 Smyrna. I calculated the time that it would take for the aga 
 to drink the wine, and made my arrangements accordingly. 
 I told my master that it was my intention to leave him, as I 
 had an offer to go into business with a relation at Zante. My 
 master, who could not well do without me, entreated me to 
 stay ; but I was positive. He then offered me a share of the 
 business if I would remain, but I was not to be persuaded. 
 Every rap at the door, I thought that the aga and his janis- 
 saries were coming for me : and I hastened my departure, 
 which was fixed for the following day, when in the evening 
 my master came into the store with a paper in his hand.
 
 28 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 11 Charis," said he, " perhaps you have supposed that I only 
 offered to make you a partner in my business to induce you to 
 remain, and then to deceive you. To prove the contrary, here 
 is a deed drawn up by which you are a partner, and entitled to 
 one-third of the future profits. Look at it : you will find that 
 it has been executed in due form before the cadi." 
 
 He had put the paper into my hand, and I was about to re- 
 turn it with a refusal, when a loud knocking at the door 
 startled us both. It was a party of janissaries despatched by 
 the aga to bring us to him immediately. I knew well enough 
 what it must be about, and I cursed my folly in having delayed 
 so long ; but the fact was, the wine proved so agreeable to 
 the aga's palate that he had drunk it much faster than usual ; 
 besides which, the body of the slave took up at least a third 
 of the cask, and diminished the contents in the same propor- 
 tion. There was no appeal, and no escape. My master, who 
 was ignorant of the cause, did not seem at all alarmed, but 
 willingly accompanied the soldiers. I, on the contrary, was 
 nearly dead from fear. 
 
 When we arrived, the aga burst out in the most violent ex- 
 clamations against my master " Thou rascal of a Jew ! " said 
 he, " dost thou think that thou art to impose upon a true 
 believer, and sell him a pipe of wine which is not more than 
 two-thirds full, filling it up with trash of some sort or another. 
 Tell me what it is that is so heavy in the cask now that it is 
 empty ? " 
 
 The Jew protested his ignorance, and appealed to me : I, of 
 course, pretended the same. "Well then," replied the aga, 
 " we will soon see. Let thy Greek send for his tools, and the 
 cask shall be opened in our presence ; then, perhaps, thou wilt 
 recognise thy own knavery." 
 
 Two of the janissaries were despatched for the tools, and 
 when they arrived, I was directed to take the head out of the 
 cask. I now considered my death as certain nothing buoyed 
 me up but my observing that the resentment of the aga 
 \vas levelled more against my master than against me ; but 
 still I thought that, when the cask was opened, the recogni- 
 tion of the black slave must immediately take place, and the 
 e 'idence of my master would fix the murder upon me. 
 
 It was with a trembling hand that I obeyed the orders of
 
 " He ordere 1 his janissaries to put my master in the pipe." 
 
 I'ACIIA OF MAXY TALES.
 
 THE GREEK SLAVE. 29 
 
 the aga the head of the pipe was taken out, and, to the hor- 
 ror of all present, the body was exposed ; but instead of 
 being black, it had turned w/iite, from the time it had been 
 immersed. I rallied a little at this circumstance, as, so far, 
 suspicion wonld be removed. 
 
 "Holy Abraham!" exclaimed my master, "what is that 
 which I see ! A dead body, so help me God ! but I know 
 nothing about it do you, Charis ? ;> I vowed that I did not, 
 and called the patriarch to witness my assertion. But whik- 
 we were thus exclaiming, the aga's eyes were fixed upon my 
 master with an indignant and deadly stare which spoke 
 volumes ; while the remainder of the people present, although 
 they said nothing, seemed as if they were ready to tear hi .11 
 into pieces. 
 
 " Cursed unbeliever ! " at last uttered the Turk, " is it thus 
 
 that thou preparest the wine for the disciples of the Prophet? :} 
 
 " Holy father Abraham ! I know no more than you do, 
 
 aga, how that body came there ; but I will change the cask 
 
 with pleasure, and will send you another." 
 
 " Be it so," replied the aga ; " my slave shall fetch it now.'' 
 He gave directions accordingly, and the litter soon reappeared 
 with another pipe of wine. 
 
 " It will be a heavy loss to a poor Jew one pipe of good 
 wine," observed my master, as it was rolled out of the litter ; 
 and took up his hat with the intention to depart. 
 
 " Stay," cried the aga, " I do not mean to rob you of your 
 wine.'' 
 
 "Oh, then, you will pay me for it," replied my master; 
 " aga, you are a considerate man." 
 
 " Thou shalt see," retorted the aga, who gave directions to 
 his slaves to draw off the wine in vessels. As soon as the 
 pipe was empty, he desired me to take the head out, and when 
 I had obeyed him, he ordered his janissaries to put my master 
 in. In a minute he was gagged and bound, and tossed into 
 the pipe ; and I was directed to put in the head as before. I 
 was very unwilling to comply : for I had no reason to complain 
 of my master, and knew that he was punished for the fault of 
 which I had been guily. But it was a case of life or death, 
 and the days of self-devotion have long passed away in our 
 country. Besides which, I had the deed in my pocket by
 
 3 o THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 which I was a partner in the business, and my master had no 
 heirs, so that I stood a chance to come in for the whole of 
 his property. Moreover 
 
 " Never mind your reasons," observed the pacha, " you 
 headed him up in the cask go on." 
 
 " I did so, your highness ; but although I dared not disobey, 
 I assure you that it was with a sorrowful heart the more so, 
 as I did not know the fate which might be reserved for 
 myself." 
 
 As soon as the head was in, and the hoops driven on, the 
 aga desired his slaves to fill the cask up again with the wine ; 
 and thus did my poor master perish. 
 
 " Put in the bung, Greek," said the aga in a stern voice. 
 
 I did so, and stood trembling before him. 
 
 " Well ! what knowest thou of this transaction ? " 
 
 I thought, as the aga had taken away the life of my master, 
 that it would not hurt him if I took away a little from his 
 character. I answered that I really knew nothing, but that, 
 the other day, a black slave had disappeared in a very suspi- 
 cious manner that my master made very little inquiry after 
 him and I now strongly suspected that he must have suffered 
 the same fate. I added, that my master had expressed him- 
 self very sorry that his highness had taken away the pipe of 
 wine, as he would have reserved it. 
 
 "Cursed Jew!" replied the aga; "I don't doubt he has 
 murdered a dozen in the same manner." 
 
 " I am afraid so, sir," replied I, " and suspect that I was to 
 have been his next victim ; for when I talked of going away, 
 he persuaded me to stay, and gave me this paper, by which I 
 was to become his partner with one-third of the profits. I pre- 
 sume that I should not have enjoyed them long." 
 
 " Well, Greek," observed the aga, "this is fortunate for you; 
 as, upon certain conditions, you may enter upon the whole 
 property. One is, that you keep this pipe of wine with the 
 rascally Jew in it, that I may have the pleasure occasionally to 
 look at my revenge. You will also keep the pipe with the 
 other body in it, that it may keep my anger alive. The last is 
 that you will supply me with what wine I may require, of the
 
 THE GREEK SLAVE. \\ 
 
 very best quality, without making any charge. Do you consent 
 to these terms, or am I to consider you as a party to this in- 
 famous transaction ? " 
 
 I hardly need observe that the terms were gladly accepted. 
 Your highness must be aware that nobody thinks much about 
 a Jew. When I was questioned as to his disappea r ance, I 
 shrugged my shoulders, and told the inquirers, confidentially, 
 that the aga of the janissaries had put him in prison, and that 
 I was carrying on the business until his release. 
 
 In compliance with the wishes of the aga, the two casks 
 containing the Jew and the Ethiopian slave were placed to- 
 gether on settles higher than the rest, in the centre of the store. 
 He would come in the evening, and rail at the cask containing 
 my late master for hours at a time ; during which he drank so 
 much wine, that it was a very common circumstance for him to 
 remain in the house until the next morning. 
 
 You must not suppose, your highness, that I neglected to 
 avail myself (unknown to the aga) of the peculiar properties 
 of the wine which those casks contained. I had them spiled 
 underneath, and, constantly running off the wine from them, 
 filled them up afresh. In a short time there was not a gallon 
 in my possession which had not a dash in it of either the 
 Ethiopian or the Jew : and my wine was so improved, that it 
 had a most rapid sale, and I became rich. 
 
 All went on prosperously for three years ; when the aga, 
 who during that time had been my constant guest, and at 
 least three times a week had been intoxicated in my house, 
 was ordered with his troops to join the sultan's army. By 
 keeping company with him, I had insensibly imbibed a taste 
 for wine, although I never had been inebriated. The day that 
 his troops marched, he stopped at my door, and dismounting 
 from his Arabian, came in to take a farewell glass, desiring his 
 men to go on, and that he would ride after them. One glass 
 brought on another, and the time flew rapidly away. The 
 evening closed in, and the aga was, as usual, in a state of in- 
 toxication ; he insisted upon going down to the store, to rail 
 once more at the cask containing the body of the Jew. We 
 had long been on the most friendly terms, and having this 
 night drunk more than usual, I was incautious enough to say, 
 ''Prithee, aga, do not abuse my poor master any more, for
 
 f-2 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 he has been the making of my fortune. I will tell you a secret 
 now that you are going away there is not a drop of wine in 
 my store that has not been flavoured either by him or by the 
 slave in the other cask. That is the reason why it is so much 
 better than other people's." 
 
 " How ! " exclaimed the aga, who was now almost incapable 
 of speech. " Very well, rascal Greek ! die you shall, like your 
 master. Holy Prophet ! what a state for a Mussulman to go to 
 Paradise in impregnated with the essence of a cursed Jew! 
 Wretch ! you shall die you shall die." 
 
 He made a grasp at me, and missing his foot, fell on the 
 ground in such a state of drunkenness as not to be able to get 
 up again. I knew that when he became sober, he would not 
 forget what had taken place, and that I should be sacrificed to 
 his vengeance. The fear of death, and the wine which I had 
 drunk, decided me how to act. I dragged him into an empty 
 pipe, put the head in, hooped it up, and rolling it into the tier, 
 filled it with wine. Thus did I revenge my poor master, and re- 
 lieved myself from any further molestation on the part of the aga. 
 
 " What ! " cried the pacha, in a rage, " you drowned a true 
 believer an aga of janissaries! The dog of a kafir thou son 
 of Shitan and dare avow it ! Call in the executioner." 
 
 " Mercy ! your sublime highness, mercy ! " cried the Greek 
 " Have I not your promise by the sword of the Prophet ? 
 Besides, he was no true believer, or he would not have dis- 
 obeyed the law. A good Mussulman will never touch a drop 
 of wine." 
 
 " I promised to forgive, and did forgive, the murder of the 
 black slave : but an aga of janissaries ! Is not that quite 
 another thing ? " appealed the pacha to Mustapha. 
 
 " Your highness is just in your indignation the kafir deserves 
 to be impaled. Yet there are two considerations which your 
 slave ventures to submit to your sublime wisdom. The first is, 
 that your highness gave an unconditional promise, and swore 
 by the sword of the Prophet." 
 
 " Staffir Allah ! what care I for that ! Had I sworn to a true 
 believer, it were something." 
 
 " The other is, that the slave has not yet finished his story, 
 which appears to be interesting."
 
 7ffE GREEK SLAVE. 33 
 
 "Wallah ! that is true. Let him finish his story." 
 But the Greek slave remained with his face on the ground, 
 and it was not until a renewal of the promise, sworn upon the 
 holy standard, made out of the nether garments of the Prophet, 
 by the pacha, who had recovered his temper, and was anxious 
 for the conclusion of the story, that he could be induced to 
 proceed, which he did as follows : 
 
 As soon as I had bunged up the cask, I went down to the 
 yard where the aga had left his horse, and having severely 
 wounded the poor beast with his sword, I let it loose, that it 
 might gallop home. The noise of the horse's hoofs, in the middle 
 of the night, aroused the family, and when they discovered that 
 it was wounded and without its rider, they imagined that the 
 aga had been attacked and murdered by banditti, when he had 
 followed his troop. They sent to me to ask at what time he 
 had left my house ; I replied, an hour after dark that he was 
 very much intoxicated at the time and had left his sabre, 
 which I returned. They had no suspicion of the real facts, and 
 it was believed that he had perished on the road. 
 
 I was now rid of my dangerous acquaintance, and although 
 he certainly had drunk a great quantity of wine, yet I recovered 
 the value of it with interest, from the flavour which I obtained 
 from his body, and which I imparted to the rest of my stock. 
 I raised him up alongside of the two other casks, and my trade 
 was more profitable and my wines in greater repute than ever. 
 
 But one day the cadi, who had heard my wine extolled, came 
 privately to my house ; I bowed to the ground at the honour 
 conferred, for I had long wished to have him as a customer. 
 I drew some of my best " This, honourable sir," said I, pre- 
 senting the glass, " is what I call my aga wine ; the late aga 
 was so fond of it, he used to order a whole cask at once to his 
 house, and had it taken there in a litter." 
 
 " A good plan," replied the cadi ; " much better than sending 
 a slave with a pitcher, which gives occasion for remarks; I will 
 do the same ; but first let me taste all you have." 
 
 He tasted several casks, but none pleased him so much as 
 the first which I had recommended. At last he cast his eyes 
 upon the three casks raised above the others, 
 
 " And what are those ? " inquired he. 
 
 D
 
 34 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 " Empty casks, sir," replied I ; but he had his stick in his 
 hand, and he struck one. 
 
 " Greek, thou tellest me these casks are empty, but they do 
 not sound so; I suspect that thou hast better wine than I have 
 tasted : draw me off from these immediately." 
 
 I was obliged to comply he tasted them vowed that the 
 wine was exquisite, and that he would purchase the whole. I 
 stated to him that the wine in those casks was used for flavour- 
 ing the rest, and that the price was enormous, hoping that he 
 would not pay it. He inquired how much I asked him four 
 times the price of the other wines. 
 
 " Agreed," said the cadi ; " it is dear but one cannot have 
 good wine without paying for it : it is a bargain." 
 
 I was very much alarmed, and stated that I could not part 
 with those casks, as I should not be able to carry on my busi- 
 ness with reputation if I lost the means of flavouring my wines ; 
 but all in vain : he said that I had asked a price, and he had 
 agreed to give it. Ordering his slaves to bring a litter, he 
 would not leave the store until the whole of the casks were 
 carried away, and thus did I lose my Ethiopian, my Jew, and 
 my aga. 
 
 As I knew that the secret would soon be discovered, the 
 very next day I prepared for my departure. I received my 
 money from the cadi, to whom I stated my intention to leave, 
 as he had obliged me to sell him those wines, and I had no 
 longer hopes of carrying on my business with success. I again 
 begged him to allow me to have them back, offering him three 
 pipes of wine as a present if he would consent, but it was of no 
 use. I chartered a vessel, which I loaded with the rest of my 
 stock, and taking all my money with me, made sail for Corfu, 
 before any discovery had taken place. But we encountered a 
 heavy gale of wind, which, after a fortnight (during which we 
 attempted in vain to make head against it), forced us back to 
 Smyrna. When the weather moderated, I directed the captain 
 to take the vessel into the outer roadstead, that I might sail as 
 soon as possible. We had not dropped anchor again more than 
 five minutes when I perceived a boat pulling off from the shore, 
 in whicrt were the cadi and the officers of justice. 
 
 Convinced that I was discovered, I was at a loss how to 
 proceed, when the idea occurred to me that I might conceal
 
 THE GREEK SLA VE. 35 
 
 my own body in a cask, as I had before so well concealed those 
 of others. 
 
 I called the captain down into the cabin, and telling him that 
 I had reason to suspect that the cadi would take my life, offered 
 him a large part of the cargo if he would assist me. 
 
 The captain, who, unfortunately for me, was a Greek, con- 
 sented. We went down into the hold, started the wine out of 
 one of the pipes, and having taken out the head, I crawled 
 in, and was hooped up. 
 
 The cadi came onboard immediately afterwards and inquired 
 for me. The captain stated that I had fallen overboard in the 
 gale, and that he had in consequence returned, the vessel not 
 being consigned to any house at Corfu. 
 
 "Has then the accursed villain escaped my vengeance?" 
 exclaimed the cadi ; " the murderer, that fines his wines with 
 the bodies of his fellow-creatures ; but you may deceive me, 
 Greek ; we will examine the vessel." 
 
 The officers who accompanied the cadi proceeded carefully 
 to search every part of the ship. Not being able to discover 
 me, the Greek captain was believed ; and, after a thousand im- 
 precations upon my soul, the cadi and his people departed. 
 
 I now breathed more freely, notwithstanding I was nearly in- 
 toxicated with the lees of the wine which impregnated the wood 
 of the cask, and I was anxious to be set at liberty ; but the 
 treacherous captain had no such intention, and never came 
 near me. At night he cut his cable and made sail, and I over- 
 heard a conversation between two of the men, which made 
 known to me his intentions : these were, to throw me overboard 
 on his passage, and take possession of my property. I cried 
 out to them from the bung-hole : I screamed for mercy, but in 
 vain. One of them answered, that, as I had murdered others, 
 and put them into casks, I should now be treated in the same 
 manner. 
 
 I could not but mentally acknowledge the justice of my 
 punishment, and resigned myself to my fate ; all that I wished 
 was to be thrown over at once and released from my misery. 
 The momentary anticipation of death appeared to be so much 
 worse than the reality. But it was ordered otherwise : a gale 
 of wind blew up with such force that the captain and crew 
 had enough to do to look after the vessel, and either I was for-
 
 36 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 gotten, or my doom was postponed until a more seasonable 
 opportunity. 
 
 On the third day I heard the sailors observe that, with such 
 a wretch as I was remaining on board, the vessel must inevit- 
 ably be lost. The hatches were opened, I was hoisted up, and 
 cast into the raging sea. The bung of the cask was out, but 
 by stuffing my handkerchief in, when the hole was under water, 
 I prevented the cask from filling ; and when it was uppermost, 
 I removed it for a moment to obtain fresh air. I was dread- 
 fully bruised by the constant rolling in a heavy sea, and com- 
 pletely worn out with fatigue and pain ; I had made up my 
 mind to let the water in and be rid of my life, when I was 
 tossed over and over with such dreadful rapidity as prevented 
 my taking the precaution of keeping out the water. After three 
 successive rolls of the same kind, I found that the cask, which 
 had been in the surf, had struck on the beach. In a moment 
 after, I heard voices, and people came up to the cask and 
 rolled me along. I would not speak, lest they should be 
 frightened and allow me to remain on the beach, where I 
 might again be tossed about by the waves ; 'but as soon as they 
 stopped, I called in a faint voice from the bung-hole, begging 
 them for mercy's sake to let me out. 
 
 At first they appeared alarmed; but on my repeating my 
 request, and stating that I was the owner of the ship which was 
 off the land, and the captain and crew had mutinied and 
 tossed me overboard, they brought some tools and set me at 
 liberty. 
 
 The first sight that met my eyes after I was released, was 
 my vessel lying a wreck, each wave that hurled her further on 
 the beach breaking her more and more to pieces. She was 
 already divided amid-ships, and the white foaming surf was 
 covered with pipes of wine, which, as fast as they were cast on 
 shore, were rolled up by the same people who had released me. 
 I was so worn out, that I fainted where I lay. When I came 
 to, I found myself in a cave, upon a bundle of capotes, and I 
 perceived a party of forty or fifty men, who were sitting by a 
 large fire, and emptying, with great rapidity, one of my pipes 
 of wine. 
 
 As soon as they observed that I was coming to my senses, 
 Ihey poured some wine down my throat, which restored me. I
 
 THE GREEK SLAVE. 37 
 
 was then desired by one of them, who seemed to be the chief, 
 to approach. 
 
 " The men who have been saved from the wreck," said he, 
 " have told me strange stories of your enormous crimes ; now, 
 sit down, and tell me the truth if I believe you, you shall 
 have justice I am cadi here if you wish to know where you 
 are, it is upon the island of Ischia if you wish to know in 
 what company, it is in the society of those who, by illiberal 
 people, are called pirates ; now tell the truth." 
 
 I thought that with pirates my story would be received 
 better than with other people, and I therefore narrated my 
 history to them, in the same words that I now have to your 
 highness. When I had finished, the captain of the gang 
 observed : 
 
 " Well, then, as you acknowledge to have killed a slave, to 
 have assisted at the death of a Jew, and to have drowned an 
 aga, you certainly deserve death ; but, in consideration of the 
 excellence of the wine, and the secret which you have imparted 
 to us, I shall commute your sentence. As for the captain and 
 the remainder of the crew, they have been guilty of treachery 
 and piracy on the high seas a most heinous offence, which 
 deserves instant death ; but as it is by their means that we 
 have been put in possession of the wine, I shall be lenient. I 
 therefore sentence you all to hard labour for life. You shall 
 be sold as slaves in Cairo, and we will pocket the money and 
 drink your wine." 
 
 The pirates loudly applauded the justice of a decision by 
 which they benefited, and all appeal on our parts was useless. 
 When the weather became more settled, we were put on board 
 one of their small xebeques, and on our arrival at this port 
 were exposed for sale and purchased. 
 
 Such, pacha, is the history which induced me to make use 
 of the expressions which you wished to be explained ; and I 
 hope you will allow that I have been more unfortunate than 
 guilty, as on every occasion on which I took away the life of 
 another, I had only to choose between that and my own. 
 
 "Well, it is rather a curious story," observed the pacha; 
 ' but still, if it were not for my promise, I certainly would 
 have your head off for drowning the aga ; I consider it exces-
 
 38 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 sively impertinent in an unbelieving Greek to suppose that his 
 life is of the same value as that of an aga of janissaries, and 
 follower of the Prophet ; but, however, my promise was given, 
 and you may depart." 
 
 " The wisdom of your highness is brighter than the stars 
 of the heaven," observed Mustapha. "Shall the slave be 
 honoured with your bounty? " 
 
 " Mashallah ! bounty! I've given him his life, and, as he 
 considers it of more value than an aga's, I think 'tis a very 
 handsome present. Drown an aga, indeed ! " continued the 
 pacha, rising " But it certainly was a very curious story. Let 
 it be written down, Mustapha. We'll hear the other man 
 to-morrow." 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 " MUSTAPHA," said the pacha the next day, when they had 
 closed the hall of audience, " have you the other Giaour in 
 readiness ? " 
 
 "Bashem ustun! Upon my head be it, your highness. 
 The infidel dog waits but the command to crawl into your 
 sublime presence." 
 
 " Let him approach, that our ears may be gratified. Barek 
 Allah ! Praise be to God. There are others who can obtain 
 stories besides the Caliph Haroun." 
 
 The slave was ordered into the pacha's presence. He was 
 a dark man with handsome features, and he walked in with a 
 haughty carriage, which neither his condition nor tattered 
 garments could disguise. When within a few feet of the 
 carpet of state he bowed and folded his arms in silence. " I 
 wish to know upon what grounds you asserted that you were 
 so good a judge of wine the other evening, when you were 
 quarrelling with the Greek slave." 
 
 " I stated my reason at the time, your highness, which was, 
 because I had been for many years a monk of the Dominican 
 order." 
 
 " I recollect that you said so. What trade is that, Mustapha ?" 
 inquired the pacha. 
 
 " If your slave is not mistaken, a good trade everywhere.
 
 THE MONK. 39 
 
 The infidel means that he was a mollah or dervish among the 
 followers of Isauri." * 
 
 " May they and their fathers' graves be eternally defiled ! " 
 cried the pacha. " Do not they drink wine and eat pork ? 
 Have you nothing more to say? " inquired the pacha. 
 
 "My life has been one of interest," replied the slave; "and 
 if it will please your highness, I will narrate my history." 
 
 " It is our condescension. Sit down and proceed." 
 
 STORY OP THE MONK. 
 
 May it please your highness, I am a Spaniard by birth, and 
 a native of Seville ; but whether my father was a grandee, or 
 of a more humble extraction, I cannot positively assert. All 
 that I can establish is, that when reason dawned, I found my- 
 self in the asylum instituted by government, in that city, for 
 those unfortunate beings who are brought up upon black bread 
 and oil, because their unnatural parents either do not choose 
 to incur the expense of their maintenance, or having, in the 
 first instance, allowed unlawful love to conquer shame, end by 
 permitting shame to overcome maternal love. 
 
 It is the custom, at a certain age, to put these children out 
 to different trades and callings ; and those who show pre- 
 cocity of talent are often received into the bosom of the 
 church. 
 
 Gifted by nature with a very fine voice and correct ear for 
 music, I was selected to be brought up as a chorister in a 
 Dominican convent of great reputation. At the age of ten 
 years, I was placed under the charge of the leader of the 
 choir. Under his directions, I was fully occupied receiving my 
 lessons in singing, or at other times performing the junioi 
 offices of the church, such as carrying the frankincense or 
 large wax tapers in the processions. As a child my voice was 
 much admired ; and after the service was over, I often received 
 presents of sweetmeats from the ladies, who brought them in 
 their pockets for the little Anselmo. As I grew up, I became 
 a remarkable proficient in music ; at the age of twenty I 
 possessed a fine counter-tenor, and flattered by the solicitations 
 of the superior of the convent and other dignitaries of the 
 * Jesus Christ.
 
 40 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 church, I consented to take the vows, and became a member 
 of the fraternity. 
 
 Although there was no want of liberty in our convent, I was 
 permitted even more than the rest of the monks. I gave 
 lessons in music and singing, and a portion of my earnings 
 were placed in the superior's hands for the benefit of the 
 fraternity. Independent of this, my reputation was spread all 
 over Seville ; and hundreds used to attend the mass performed 
 in our church, that they might hear the voice of brother 
 Anselmo. I was, therefore, considered as a valuable property, 
 and the convent would have suffered a great deal by my 
 quitting it. Although I could not be released from my vows, 
 still I could, by application, have been transferred to Madrid ; 
 and the superior, aware of this circumstance, allowed me every 
 indulgence, with the hopes of my being persuaded to remain. 
 The money which I retained for my own exigencies enabled 
 me to make friends with the porter, and I obtained egress or 
 ingress at any hour. I was a proficient on the guitar; and 
 incongruous as it may appear with my monastic vows, I often 
 hastened from the service at vespers to perform in a serenade 
 to some fair senora, whose inamorata required the powers of 
 my voice to soften her to his wishes. 
 
 My sedillas and canzonettas were much admired, and even- 
 tually no serenade was considered as effective without the 
 assistance of the counter-tenor of Anselmo. I hardly need 
 observe that it was very profitable, and that I had the means of 
 supplying myself with luxuries which the rules of our order did 
 not admit. I soon became irregular and debauched; often 
 sitting up whole nights with the young cavaliers, drinking and 
 singing amorous songs for their amusement. Still, however, 
 my conduct was not known, or was overlooked for the reasons 
 which I have stated before. 
 
 When once a man indulges to excess in wine, he is assailed 
 by, and becomes an easy prey to, every other vice. This 
 error soon led me into others ; and, regardless of my monastic 
 vows, I often felt more inclined to serenade upon my own 
 account than on that of my employers. I had the advantage 
 of a very handsome face, but it was disguised by the shaven 
 crown and the unbecoming manner of cutting the hair ; the 
 coarse and unwieldy monastic dress belonging to our order,
 
 THE MONK. 41 
 
 hid the symmetry of my limbs, which might have otherwise 
 attracted notice on the Prado. I soon perceived that, although 
 my singing was admired by the other sex, their admiration 
 went no further. They seemed to consider that in every other 
 point I was, as I ought to have been, dead to the world. 
 
 There was a young lady, Donna Sophia, whom I had for 
 some time instructed in music, who appeared to be more 
 favourably inclined. She was an excellent performer, and 
 passionately fond of the science ; and I have always observed, 
 your highness, that between the real amateurs of harmony 
 there is sympathy, a description of freemasonry, which imme- 
 diately puts them on a level, and on terms of extreme intimacy; 
 so much so, that were I a married man, and my wife extremely 
 partial to music, I should be very careful how I introduced to 
 her a person of a similar feeling, if I possessed it not myself. 
 I was very much in the good graces of this young lady, and 
 flattered myself with a successful issue ; when one day, as we 
 were singing a duet, a handsome young officer made his ap- 
 pearance. His hair, which was of the finest brown, curled in 
 natural ringlets ; and his clothes were remarkably well fitted to 
 his slender and graceful figure. He was a cousin, who had 
 just returned from Carthagena ; and as he was remarkably 
 attentive, I soon perceived that all my advances had been 
 thrown away, and that I was more and more in the back- 
 ground each morning that I made my appearance. 
 
 Annoyed at this, I ventured to speak too freely; and during 
 his absence calumniated him to the Donna Sophia, hoping by 
 these means to regain my place in her affections ; but I made 
 a sad mistake : for not only were my services dispensed with 
 for the future, but, as I afterwards discovered, she stated to her 
 cousin the grounds upon which I had been dismissed. 
 
 I returned to the convent in no pleasant mood, when I was 
 informed that my presence had been demanded by the superior. 
 I repaired to the parlour, where he stated that my licentious 
 conduct had come to his ears, and after much upbraiding, he 
 concluded by ordering me to submit to severe penance. Aware 
 that disobedience would only be followed up by greater 
 severity, I bowed with humility in my mien, but indignation 
 in my breast ; and returning to my cell, resolved upon imme- 
 diately writing for my removal to Madrid. I had not been
 
 42 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 there many minutes when the porter brought me a note. It 
 was from Donna Sophia, requesting to see me that evening, 
 and apologising for her apparent ill-usage, which she had only 
 assumed the better to conceal her intentions ; being afraid, at 
 our last interview, that her mother was within hearing. 
 
 I was in raptures when I perused the note, and hastened to 
 comply with her request. Her directions were, to repair to the 
 back-door, which looked out upon some fields, and give three 
 taps. I arrived, and as soon as I raised my hand to give the 
 signal, was seized by four men in masks, who gagged and 
 bound me. They then stripped me of my friar's dress, and 
 scourged me with nettles until I was almost frantic with the 
 pain. When their vengeance was satisfied, they cast me loose, 
 removed the gag, and ran away. As I then suspected and 
 afterwards discovered to be true, I was indebted to the young 
 officer for this treatment, in return for what I had said, and 
 which his mistress had repeated. Smarting with pain, and 
 boiling with rage, I dragged on my clothes as well as I could, 
 and began to reflect in what manner I should act. Conceal 
 my situation from the other members of the convent I could 
 not, and to explain it would not only be too humiliating, but 
 subject me to more rigorous discipline. At last I considered 
 that out of evil might spring good; and gathering a large 
 bundle of the nettles which grew under the walls, I crawled 
 back to the convent. When I attained my cell, I threw off 
 my gown, which was now unbearable from the swelling of my 
 limbs, and commenced thrashing the walls of my cell and my 
 bed with the nettles which I had procured. 
 
 After a short time I moaned piteously, and continued so to 
 do, louder and louder, until some of the friars got up to inquire 
 the reason, when they found me apparently castigating myself 
 in this cruel manner. When they opened the door, I threw 
 myself on the bed and cried still more vociferously : this cei 
 tainly was the only part of my conduct which was not deceptive, 
 for I was in the most acute agony. To their inquiries I told 
 them that I had been guilty of great enormities; that the 
 superior had reproved me and ordered me penance ; and that 
 I had scourged myself with nettles, requesting them to continue 
 the application, as my strength had failed me. With this in- 
 junction they were too humane to comply. Some went for the
 
 THE MONK. 43 
 
 surgeon of the convent, while others reported the circumstance 
 to the superior. The former applied remedies which assuaged 
 the pain ; the latter was so pleased at my apparent contrition, 
 that he gave me absolution and relieved me from the penance 
 to which I had been subjected. When I recovered, I was more 
 in favour, and was permitted the same indulgences as before. 
 
 But I was some days confined to my bed, during which 
 I was continually reflecting on what had passed. I perceived, 
 to my misery, the pale which I had placed between me and 
 the world by embracing a monastic life, and how unfit I was 
 by temperament to fulfil my vows. I cursed my father and 
 mother, who had been the original cause of my present situa- 
 tion. I cursed the monastic dress, which blazoned forth my 
 unhappy condition. Then I thought of the treacherous girl, 
 and planned schemes of revenge. I compared my personal 
 qualifications with those of the young officer, and vanity sug- 
 gested that, were it not for my vile professional disguise, the 
 advantage was on my side. At last I decided upon the steps 
 that I would take. 
 
 As I before stated, my purse was well supplied from the 
 lessons which I gave in music, and from assisting at the 
 serenades. When I was sufficiently recovered to go out, 
 I proceeded to a barber, and on the plea of continual headache, 
 for which it had been recommended that I should shave my 
 head, requested him to make me a false tonsure. In a few 
 days it was ready, and being very well made, no difference 
 could be perceived between the wig and my own hair, which 
 was then removed. So far I had succeeded; but as the 
 greatest caution was necessary in a proceeding of this nature, 
 to avoid suspicion, I returned to the convent, where I remained 
 quiet for several days. One evening I again sallied forth, and 
 when it was quite dark, repaired to \hzfriperie show of a Jew, 
 where I purchased a second-hand suit of cavalier's clothes, 
 which I thought would fit me. I concealed them in my cell, 
 and the next morning went in search of a small lodging in 
 some obscure part, where I might not be subject to observa- 
 tion. This was difficult ; but I at last succeeded in finding 
 one to let which opened upon a general staircase of a house, 
 vhich was appropriated to a variety of lodgers who were con- 
 stantly passing and repassing. I paid the first month in ad-
 
 44 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 vance, stating it would be occupied by a brother whom I daily 
 expected, and in the meantime took possession of the key. 
 I bought a small chest, which I conveyed to my lodgings, and 
 having removed my cavalier's dress from the convent locked 
 it up. I then remained quiet as before, not only to avoid sus- 
 picion, but to ingratiate myself with the superior by my sup- 
 posed reformation. 
 
 After a few days I sallied forth, and leaving a note for one 
 of the most skilful perruquiers of Seville, desired him to call at 
 my lodgings at an hour indicated. Having repaired there to 
 be ready to receive him, I took off my monk's dress and false 
 tonsure, which I locked up in my chest ; I tied a silk hand- 
 kerchief round my head, and got into bed, leaving my cavalier's 
 suit on the chair near to me. The perruquier knocked at the 
 appointed time. I desired him to come in, apologised for my 
 servant being absent on a message, and stating that I had been 
 obliged to shave my head on account of a fever from which I 
 had now recovered, requested that he would provide me with 
 a handsome wig. I explained at his request the colour and 
 description of hair which I had lost ; and in so doing, repre- 
 sented it as much lighter than my own really was, and similar 
 to that of the young officer whose ringlets had been the cause 
 of my last disaster. I paid him a part of the price down, and 
 having agreed upon the exact time at which it should be de- 
 livered, he departed. When I rose from my bed, I resumed 
 my monastic dress and tonsure, and returned to the convent. 
 
 During the whole of the time occupied by these transactions, 
 I had been assiduous in laying up money, which before I had 
 squandered as fast as I obtained it, and had realized a con- 
 siderable sum. I could not help comparing myself to a chry- 
 salis previous to its transformation. I had before been a 
 caterpillar, I was now all ready to burst my confinement, and 
 flit about as a gaudy butterfly. Another week I continued my 
 prudent conduct, at the end of which I was admitted to my 
 superior, in whose hands I placed a sum of money which I 
 could very conveniently spare, and I received his benediction 
 and commendations for having weaned myself from my former 
 excesses. With a quickened pulse I hastened to my lodgings, 
 and throwing off my hateful gown and tonsure, dressed myself 
 in my new attire.
 
 THE MONK. 45 
 
 The transformation was complete. I could not recognise 
 myself. I hardly could believe that the dashing young cavalier 
 that confronted me in the mirror was the brother Anselmo. 
 " Is this a face," said I, communing with myself, " to be dis- 
 figured with a vile tonsure ? are these limbs to be hid under 
 the repulsive garment of a monk?" Again I surveyed myself, 
 and it was with difficulty that I could tear myself away from 
 contemplating my metamorphosis. I was indeed a butterfly. 
 At last I determined upon sallying forth. I locked up my 
 monastic dress and descended the staircase. I must acknow- 
 ledge that it was with trepidation I ventured into the street, 
 but I soon had reason to take confidence, for I was met by 
 one of my most intimate friends, who looked in my face and 
 passed on without the slightest recognition. Overjoyed at this 
 circumstance, I took courage, and boldly proceeded to the 
 Prado, where I was greeted with favourable glances from the 
 women, and sneers from the men, both of which I considered 
 equally flattering. In the evening I returned to my lodgings, 
 resumed the habit of my order, and gained the convent. I now 
 felt that there was no chance of discovery, and anticipated the 
 happiness which had been denied me. I subsequently ordered 
 the most fashionable and expensive clothes, hired my lodgings 
 for six months, assumed the name of Don Pedro, made the 
 acquaintance of many young men, and amongst others of the 
 officer who had treated me so ill. He took a fancy to me, 
 which I encouraged to further my views. I became his con- 
 fidant : he informed me of his amour with his cousin, adding 
 that he was tired of the business, and wished to break with 
 her; also, an excellent joke, the punishment he had inflicted 
 upon the friar Anselmo. 
 
 He was a great proficient with the small-sword, an accom- 
 plishment which of course had been neglected in my educa- 
 tion, and which I accounted for by stating that until the death 
 of my elder brother, I had been intended for the church. I 
 accepted his offer to be my instructor, and my first rudiments 
 in the science were received from him. Afterwards I applied 
 to a professor, and constantly practising, in the course of a few 
 months I knew, from occasional trials of skill with the officer, 
 that I was his superior. My revenge, which hitherto had been 
 controlled, was now ripe.
 
 46 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 But in narrating my adventures abroad, it must not be sup- 
 posed that I neglected everything that prudence or caution 
 could suggest to avoid discovery. On the contrary, now that 
 I had the means of enjoying myself, I was more careful that I 
 did not by any indiscretion excite surmises. I generally de- 
 voted four days out of the seven in the week to the convent 
 and to my professional occupation as music-master. To in- 
 crease the difficulty of identification, I became more serious in 
 my manner, more dirty in my person, as the brother Anselmo. 
 I pretended to have imbibed a fancy for snuff, with which I 
 soiled my face and monastic attire, and seldom if ever spoke, 
 or if I did, in a very solemn voice. So far from suspicion, I 
 every day gained more and more the good-will of the superior. 
 My absence in the daytime was not noticed, as it was known 
 that I gave lessons in music, and my irregularity during the 
 night was a secret between the porter and myself. 
 
 I hardly need observe that, as Don Pedro, I always lamented 
 not having been gifted with a voice, and have even, in the pre- 
 sence of my companions, sent a billet to brother Anselmo to 
 serenade a lady whom I courted as Don Pedro. I do not be- 
 lieve, until ulterior circumstances, that there was ever, in the 
 mind of any, the slightest idea that, under any dissimilar habits, 
 I was one and the same person. 
 
 But to continue : one day the young officer, whose name was 
 Don Lopez, informed me that he did not know how to act, he 
 was so pestered ith the jealousy and reproaches of his mis- 
 tress, and requested my advice as to how to proceed. I laughed 
 at his dilemma. " My dear Lopez," replied I, " introduce me 
 to her, and depend upon it that she will give you no more 
 trouble. I will make love to her, and pleased at her new con- 
 quest, she will soon forget you." 
 
 " My good felli *v," replied he, " your advice is excellent ; 
 will you come with me this afternoon ?" 
 
 Once more 1 was in the presence of her whom I had loved, 
 but loved no more, for I now only felt and lived for revenge. 
 She had not the most distant recognition of me. Piqued as 
 she was with Don Lopez, and fascinated with my exertions to 
 please, I soon gained an interest; but she still loved him 
 between the paroxy.-ms of her hate. Trying all she could to 
 recover him at one moment, and listening to my attentions at
 
 THE MONK. 47 
 
 another, he at last accused her of perfidy, and took his leave 
 for ever. Then her violence broke out, and as a proof of my 
 attachment, she demanded that I should call him to account. 
 I wished no better, and pretending to be so violently attached 
 to her that I was infatuated, I took occasion of his laughing at 
 me to give him the lie, and demand satisfaction. As it was in 
 the presence of others, there was no recall or explanation 
 allowed. We met by agreement alone, in the very field where 
 I received my chastisement. I brought with me my monastic 
 habit and tonsure, which I concealed before his arrival among 
 the very nettles which he had gathered for my chastisement. 
 The conflict was not long; after a few thrusts and paries he 
 lay dying at my feet. I immediately threw over my dress that 
 of the friar, and exchanging the wig for the tonsure, stood by 
 him. He opened his eyes, which had closed from the fainting 
 occasioned by the sudden gush from his wound, and looked at 
 me with amazement. 
 
 " Yes, Don Lopez," said I, " in Don Pedro behold the friar 
 Anselmo ; he whom you scourged with nettles ; he who has 
 revenged the insult/' I then threw off the monk's dress and 
 exposed to him the other beneath it, and changing my tonsure 
 for the wig, " Now you are convinced of the truth/' added I, 
 " and now I have my revenge." 
 
 " I am, I am," replied he, faintly ; " but if you have slain me 
 as Don Pedro, now that I am dying, I entreat you, as brother 
 Anselmo, to give me absolution. Carry not your revenge so 
 far as to deny me this." 
 
 I could not refuse, and I gave absolution in the one costume 
 to the man who had fallen by my hand in the other : foi my 
 own part, I thought it was an absurdity, but my revenge 
 was satisfied, and I would not refuse him such a poor con- 
 solation. 
 
 A few minutes afterwards he expired, and I hastened to my 
 lodgings, changed my dress, and repaired to the convent, 
 where as Don Pedro I wrote to Donna Sophia, informing her 
 of what had taken place, and of my having absconded until the 
 hue and cry should be over. For three weeks I remained in 
 the convent, or only appeared abroad as the father Anselmo. 
 I brought a considerable sum to the superior for the use of 
 the church, partly to satisfy the qualms of conscience which
 
 48 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 assailed me for the crime which I had committed, partly that 
 I might continue in his good graces. 
 
 At the expiration of the time I sent a note to the young lady, 
 as from Don Pedro, acquainting her with my return, and my 
 intention to call upon her in the dusk of the evening. I went 
 to my lodgings, dressed myself as Don Pedro, and tapping at 
 her door, was admitted ; but instead of being cordially greeted, 
 as I expected, I was repulsed, loaded with abuse, and declared 
 an object of detestation. It appeared that, although in her 
 rage at the desertion of her lover she had listened to the 
 dictates of revenge, now that he was no more, all her affection 
 for him had revived. I returned her upbraiding, and quitted 
 the room to leave the house : but she had no intention that I 
 should escape, and had stationed two of her relations below, 
 ready to intercept me. 
 
 She called to them as I descended the stairs ; when I arrived 
 at the hall, I found them with drawn swords to dispute my 
 passage. I had no resource but to fight my way ; and charging 
 them furiously, I severely wounded one, and shortly afterwards 
 disarmed the other, just as the enraged fair one, who perceived 
 that I was gaining the day, had run behind me and seized my 
 arms ; but she was too late : I threw her indignantly upon the 
 wounded man, and walked out of the house. As soon as I 
 was in the street, I took to my heels, gained my lodgings, 
 changed my dress, and repaired to the convent. 
 
 This adventure sobered me much. I now remained quiet 
 for some months, never assuming my dress as Don Pedro, lest 
 the officers of justice should lay hold of me. I became more 
 rigid and exact in my duties, and more austere in my manner. 
 
 The several confessional chairs in our church were usually 
 occupied by the senior monks, although, when absent from 
 sickness or other causes, the juniors occasionally supplied their 
 place. One of the monks had been taken ill, and I knew that 
 the mother of the young lady, who was very strict in her 
 religious duties, confessed at that chair every Friday ; I took 
 possession of it, with the hope that I should find out some 
 means of prosecuting my revenge. The young lady also con- 
 fessed at the same chair when she did come, which was but 
 seldom. Since the death of her lover, she had never made 
 her appearance.
 
 THE MONK. <9 
 
 As I anticipated, the mother came, and after having run over 
 a string of peccadilloes, for which I ordered a slight penance, 
 I inquired, through the punctured communication on the side 
 of the confessional chair, whether she had not children, to whicb 
 she answered in the affirmative. I then asked when her 
 daughter had confessed last. She mentioned a long date, and 
 I commenced a serious expostulation upon the neglect of 
 parents, desiring that her daughter might be brought to confess, 
 or otherwise I should be obliged to inflict a penance of some 
 hundred Pater-Nosters and Ave-Marias upon herself, for not 
 attending to her parental duties. The old lady, who had no 
 wish to submit to her own penance, promised to bring her 
 daughter the next day, and she was true to her word. Donna 
 Sophia appeared to come very unwillingly. As soon as she 
 had taken her seat by the confessional chair, she made a con- 
 fession of a hundred little nothings, and having finished her 
 catalogue, stopped, as if waiting for absolution. 
 
 " Have you made no reservation ? " inquired I, in the low 
 muttering tone which is used at the confessional ; for althougfl 
 neither party can distinguish the person of the other, I did not 
 wish her to recognise my voice. 
 
 " Everything," replied she, in a faint whisper. 
 
 " My daughter," replied I, " by your trembling answer 
 I know that you are deceiving yourself and me. I am an 
 old man, and have been too many years in this chair not 
 to ascertain by the answers which I receive whether the 
 conscience is unloaded. Yours, I am convinced, has some- 
 thing pressing heavily upon it, something for which you 
 would fain have absolution, but which you are ashamed to 
 reveal. If not a principal, you have been a party to crime ; 
 and never shall you have absolution until you have made 
 a full confession." Her heart swelled with emotion, she 
 attempted to speak, and burst into tears. "These are har- 
 bingers of good," observed I ; " I am now convinced that my 
 supposition was correct : pour out your soul in tribulation, and 
 receive that comfort which I am empowered to bestow. 
 Courage, my daughter ! the best of us are but grievous sinners." 
 As soon as she could check her sobbing, she commenced her 
 confession; narrating her penchant for me, her subsequent 
 attachment to the young officer, my abuse of him, and the 
 
 E
 
 50 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 punishment which had ensued his desertion, the introduction 
 of Don Pedro, her pique at having instigated him to kill her 
 lover, his death, and all that I have narrated to your highness. 
 " These are serious crimes, my daughter ! grievous, indeed ; 
 you have yielded to the tempter in your own person, caused 
 , the death of one man, you have led another astray, and have 
 ; deceived him when he claimed the reward of his iniquity ; but 
 i all these are trifles compared to the offence upon the holy 
 1 monk, which is the worst of sacrilege. And what was his fault ? 
 that he cautioned you against a person whose subsequent con- 
 duct has proved that the worthy man was correct in his sup- 
 positions. 
 
 "In every way you have offended Heaven; a whole life will 
 be scarce sufficient for the task of repentance, laying aside the 
 enormous crime of sacrilege, which in justice ought to be 
 referred to the Inquisition. Excommunication is more fitting 
 in your case than absolution." I waited some time before I 
 again spoke, during which she sobbed bitterly. " My daughter," 
 observed I, " before I can decide upon what is to be done to 
 save you from everlasting perdition, it is necessary that you 
 humble yourself before the religious man whose person you 
 have abused. Send to the convent to which he belongs, and 
 entreat him to come; and when you have confessed your 
 crime, offer to him the same implements of punishment which 
 through your instigation were so sacrilegiously applied. Sub- 
 mit to his sentence, and the penance which he may prescribe. 
 When you have done that, repair again to me. I shall be in 
 this chair the day after to-morrow." 
 
 The girl muffled up her face, waited a few minutes to com- 
 pose herself, and then returned to her mother, who wondered 
 what could have detained her so long. 
 
 That evening I received a note from Donna Sophia request- 
 ing me to call on the ensuing day. I found her in her room ; 
 she had been weeping bitterly, and when I entered, coloured 
 up with shame and vexation ; but she had been too much 
 frightened on the day before to resist the injunctions which she 
 had received : a large bundle of nettles lay on the chair ; and 
 when I entered she turned the key of the door, and falling down 
 on her knees, with many tears made a full confession. I ex- 
 pressed the utmost horror and surprise; she embraced my
 
 THE MONK. 51 
 
 knees, implored my pardon, and then, pointing to the nettles, 
 requested I would use them if I thought proper. Having said 
 this, she covered her face with her hands, and remained on her 
 knees in silence. 
 
 I must confess, that when I called to mind the punishment 
 which had been inflicted on me through her means, and the 
 manner in which she had attempted to betray me to my death, 
 I felt very much inclined to revenge myself by scourging her 
 severely ; but although the affection I once felt for her had 
 passed away, I had a natural tenderness for the sex, which 
 made me abandon this petty revenge. My object was to 
 remove her, so that I might not be recognised in my worldly 
 attire ; and she, I knew, was the only person who could prove 
 that I had killed her lover. I therefore raised her up, and tell- 
 ing her that I was satisfied with her repentance, and, as far as I 
 was personally concerned, forgave her ill-treatment, desired her 
 to repair to her confessor, who was the proper person to award 
 a punishment for such a catalogue of heinous crimes. The 
 next day I was in the confessional, when she narrated all that 
 had passed; I then told her she had nothing to do but to 
 propitiate Heaven by dedicating her musical talents to its ser- 
 vice ; pointing out that her only chance of salvation was from 
 immediately taking the veil. I refused to listen to any other 
 species of penance, however severe, for which she gladly would 
 have compromised the sentence. Goaded by her conscience, 
 miserable at the desertion and death of her lover, and alarmed 
 at the threats of excommunication, in less than a week she 
 repaired to the Ursuline Convent ; and, after a short probation, 
 she took the veil, and was admitted as one of the sisterhood. 
 
 As soon as my only accuser was fairly locked up, I occasionally 
 resumed my dress and wig. I say occasionally, because in the 
 society which I chiefly delighted in, and in which I became the 
 connoisseur of good wine that I asserted myself to be when 
 your highness overheard me, I had no occasion for it, being 
 quite as well received when I sang and played the guitar in 
 my monkish dress, as I should have been in any other. 
 Besides which, I never had to pay when in that costume, as I 
 was obliged to do when I sported the other, which was only 
 put on when I wished to make myself agreeable to any fair 
 one. I hardly need observe, that I took great care to avoid
 
 52 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 the society in the one dress with which I mixed in the other. 
 This disguise I continued very successfully for three years, 
 when a circumstance occurred which ended in my discovery, 
 and my eventually becoming a slave in your highness's 
 dominions. 
 
 For some time I had taught the niece of an elderly lady, 
 who was of noble family and very rich. The aunt was always 
 present at the lessons ; and, knowing that she was very devout, 
 I rejected all songs that were of an amorous tendency, and 
 would only practise such as were unimpeachable. In my 
 demeanour I was always sedate and respectful full of humility 
 and self-accusation. When I received my money from the old 
 lady, I used to thank her in the name of our convent, for 
 whose use it was to be appropriated, and call her donation a 
 charity, for which Heaven would reward her. Her confessor 
 died, and the old lady chose me to supply his place. This was 
 what I was anxious to obtain, and I redoubled my zeal, my 
 humility, and my flattery. 
 
 It was not that I had originally any design upon the affec- 
 tions of the niece, although she was a very pretty girl, but upon 
 the old lady's purse, for I knew that she could not last for 
 many years. On the contrary, I was anxious, if possible, to 
 have the niece removed, as it was supposed that she would 
 inherit the old lady's doubloons ; but this required time and 
 opportunity, and, in the meanwhile, I assiduously cultivated the 
 old lady's good graces. She used to confess once a week ; and 
 I often observed that she acknowledged as a sin, thinking too 
 much of one who had led her from her duty in former days, 
 and for whom she still felt too much worldly passion. One 
 evening when the clock had struck ten, we laid down the cards, 
 which we occasionally played, it being the day and her usual 
 hour for confessing. Again she repeated the same offence, and 
 I then delicately hinted that she might be more at ease if she 
 were to confide to me the circumstances connected with her 
 compunctions. She hesitated ; but, on my pointing out to her 
 that there ought to be no reservation, and that the acknowledg- 
 ment of the compunction arising from a sin was not that of the 
 sin itseli, she acquiesced. Her confession referred to her early 
 days, when, attached to a young cavalier, against the wishes of 
 her friends, under a solemn promise of marriage, she had con-
 
 THE MONK. 53 
 
 sented to receive him into her chamber. The intercourse con- 
 tinued for some time, when it was discovered. Her lover had 
 been waylaid and murdered by her relations, and she had been 
 thrown into a convent. There she had been confined, and the 
 child removed as soon as it was born ; she had resisted all the 
 force and threats employed to induce her to take the veil ; and 
 at the death of her father had been released and came into 
 possession of her property, of which they could not deprive 
 her ; that she made every endeavour to find out to where her 
 child had been removed, and at last discovered that it had 
 been removed to the Foundling Asylum ; but this information 
 was not obtained until some years afterwards, and all the 
 children sent there at that period had been dispersed. Never 
 having married, her thoughts would revert to the scenes which 
 had taken place with her adored Felix, although years had 
 rolled away, and she felt that she was wrong to dwell upon 
 what in itself had been so criminal. 
 
 I listened to her story with great interest, for the idea 
 occurred to me, that I might be the unfortunate offspring of their 
 loves ; and if not, the old lady might be induced so to believe. 
 I inquired whether her child had any marks by which he could 
 be recognised. She answered that she made most particular 
 inquiries of the people who attended her, and that one of the 
 women had stated that the child had a large wart upon the 
 back of its neck ; this, however, was not likely to remain, and 
 she had abandoned all hopes of its discovery. 
 
 I observed that warts were easily removed when contracted 
 accidentally, but that those which appeared at the birth were 
 no more to be removed than moles. I then turned the conver- 
 sation, by stating that I could not consider her conduct crimi- 
 nal ; it was more than could be expected from human nature 
 that she should not retain affection for one who had lived with 
 her as a husband, and died for her sake. I gave her absolution 
 for half a dozen Ave-Marias, and took my leave for the night 
 When I lay on my pallet, I reflected upon what had passed ; 
 the year and month agreed .exactly with the time at which I 
 had been sent to the Asylum. A wart, as she very truly 
 observed, might disappear. Might not I be the very one 
 whom she was lamenting ? The next morning I repaired to 
 the Asylum, and demanded the date of my reception, with all
 
 54 THE FACHA Of MANY 7 ALES. 
 
 the particulars, which were invariably registered in case of the 
 infants being eventually claimed. It was in the month of 
 February. There was one other entry in the same month, 
 same day, and nearly the same hour as my own. 
 
 " At nine at night, a male infant left at the door in a basket, 
 parties absconded, no marks, named Anselmo." 
 
 "At ten at night, a male infant brought to the door in a 
 capote, parties absconded, no marks, named Jacobo." 
 
 It appeared then that there were two children brought 
 within an hour of each other to the Asylum, and that I was 
 one of them. In the evening I returned to the old lady, and 
 accidentally resumed the subject of her not having made 
 further search for her child, and asked if she had the precise 
 date. She answered that she had it in her memory too well, 
 that it was on the i8th of February; and that when she 
 referred to the Asylum, they had informed her that the children 
 brought in February had no marks ; that they had all been 
 sent away, but where they could not tell, as the former 
 governor had died, and he was the only person who could give 
 the information. That either I or the other was her child was 
 clear, but to prove which, was impossible. It however made me 
 less scrupulous about my plan of proceeding, which was to 
 identify myself with the child she had lost. It was useless to 
 prove that I was sent in on that day, as there was a competitor ; 
 besides which, my monastic vows were at variance with my 
 speculation ; I therefore resolved to satisfy her, if I could not 
 satisfactorily prove it to myself or to the rest of the world, and 
 I took my measures accordingly. 
 
 It was in my worldly disguise that I determined to attempt 
 my purpose ; and as it was necessary to have a wart on my 
 neck, I resolved to obtain one as soon as possible. This was 
 easily managed ; a friar of the convent was troubled with these 
 excrescences, and I jocularly proposed a trial to see whether it 
 was true that the blood of them would inoculate. In a fortnight, I 
 had a wart on my finger which soon became large, and I then 
 applied the blood of it to my neck. Within three months I 
 had a large wart on the back of my neck, or rather a conglome- 
 ration of them, which I had produced by inoculation, assisted 
 by constant irritation ; during this period I was not so frequent 
 in my attendance upon the old lady, excusing myself on
 
 THE MONK. 55 
 
 account of the duties of the convent which devolved upon 
 me. The next point was, how to introduce myself in my 
 other apparel. This required some reflection, as it would be 
 but occasionally that I could make my appearance. After some 
 reflection, I determined that the niece should assist me, for I 
 knew that even if I succeeded in my plans, she would be a 
 participator in the property which I wished to secure. Often 
 left in her company, I took opportunities of talking of a young 
 friend whom I highly extolled. When I had raised her 
 curiosity, I mentioned, in a laughing manner, that I suspected 
 he was very much smitten with her charms, as I had often found 
 him watching at the house opposite. An admirer is always a 
 source of gratification to a young girl ; her vanity was flattered, 
 and she asked me many particulars. I answered them so as to in- 
 flame her curiosity, describing his person in a very favourable 
 manner,andextollinghisgoodqualities. I also minutely described 
 his dress. After the music-lesson was over, I returned to my 
 lodgings, arrayed myself in my best suit, and putting on my 
 curling ringlets, walked up and down before the window of the 
 house. The niece soon recognised me as the person whose 
 dress and appearance I had so minutely described, one moment 
 showing herself at the window, at another darting away with 
 all the coquetry of her sex. I perceived that she was flattered 
 with her conquest ; and, after parading myself for a short time, 
 I disappeared. 
 
 When I called the next morning in my monastic costume, I 
 had a billet-doux ready in my pocket. The singing com- 
 menced ; I soon found out that she had a prepossession, from 
 her selecting a song which in the presence of her aunt I should 
 have put on one side, but now it suited my purpose that she 
 should be indulged. When the aunt made her appearance we 
 stopped, and commenced another ; by this little ruse I became 
 a sort of confidant, and the intimacy which I desired was 
 brought about. When we had practised two or three songs, 
 Donna Celia, the aunt, left the room ; I then observed that I 
 had seen the young cavalier whom I had mentioned, and that 
 he appeared to be more infatuated than ever ; that he had re- 
 quested me as a favour to speak on his behalf, but that I had 
 threatened to acquaint her aunt if he mentioned the subject ; 
 for I considered that my duty as a confessor in the family
 
 56 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 would be very irreconcilable with carrying clandestine love- 
 messages. I acknowledged that I pitied his condition ; for to 
 see the tears that he shed, and listen to the supplications 
 that he had made, would have softened almost anybody ; but 
 that notwithstanding my great regard for him, I thought it 
 inconsistent with my duty to interfere in such business. I 
 added, that he had told me that he had walked before the 
 house yesterday afternoon, with the hope of meeting one of 
 the servants, whom he might bribe to convey a letter ; and 
 that I had threatened to acquaint Donna Celia if he mentioned 
 the subject again. Donna Clara (for such was her name) 
 appeared very much annoyed at my pretended rigour, but said 
 nothing. After a little while I asked her if she had seen him ; 
 she replied in the affirmative, without further remarks. Her 
 workbox lay upon the sofa, upon which she had been seated, 
 and I put the note in it without being perceived. The lesson 
 was finished, and I repaired to her aunt's apartments to pay 
 her a visit in the quality of a confessor. After half an hour's 
 conversation, I returned through the saloon, where I had left 
 Donna Clara ; she was at her embroidery, and had evidently 
 seen and read the note, for she coloured up when I entered. I 
 took no notice, but, satisfied that she had read it, I bade her 
 adieu. In the note, I had implored her for an answer, and 
 stated that I should be under her window during the whole 
 night. As soon as it was dark, I dressed myself as Don Pedro, 
 and repaired to the street, striking a few notes on the guitar to 
 attract her attention. I remained there more than half an 
 hour, when the casement opened, and a little hand threw out a 
 billet, which fell at my feet ; I kissed it with apparent rapture, 
 and retired. When I gained my lodgings, I opened it, and 
 found it as favourable as I could hope. My plan then was to 
 act as her confidant 
 
 When I called the next day, I told her that, satisfied with 
 the honourable intentions of the young cavalier, he had over- 
 come my scruples, and I had consented to speak in his behalf : 
 that I thought it was not right ; but the state of the young 
 man was so deplorable that I could not withstand his entreaties; 
 but that I expected that no steps would be taken by either 
 party without my concurrence ; and with this proviso, if she 
 was pleased with the young cavalier, I would exert my
 
 THE MONK. 57 
 
 influence in their behalf. Donna Clara's fa'.e beamed with 
 delight at my communication ; and she candidly acknowledged, 
 as she had before in the note, that his person and his character 
 were by no means displeasing. I then produced another note, 
 which I said he had prevailed upon me to deliver. After this, 
 affairs went on successfully. I repeatedly met her in the even- 
 ing ; and although I at first was indifferent, yet I soon became 
 attached for the many amiable and endearing qualities which 
 love had brought to light. She one day observed that there 
 was a strong resemblance between Don Pedro and me, but the 
 possibility of a serious shaven monk, and a gay cavalier with 
 his curling locks, being one and the same person, never entered 
 her head. When I considered matters ripe, I called upon 
 Donna Celia, and, with the preamble that I had something of 
 importance to communicate, informed her I had discovered 
 that a young man was attached to her niece, and that I 
 strongly suspected the regard was reciprocal ; that I knew the 
 young cavalier very well, who was very amiable, and possessed 
 many good qualities, but there seemed to be a mystery about 
 his family, as he never mentioned them. I ended by observing, 
 that I considered it my duty to acquaint her with the circum- 
 stance ; as, if she objected to the match, or had other views for 
 her niece, an immediate stop ought to be put to the corre- 
 spondence. 
 
 The old lady was very much astonished at the information, 
 and very angry that her niece should have presumed to make 
 an acquaintance without her knowledge. I waited until she had 
 said all she could think of, and then calmly took up the right of 
 a confessor, pointing out that she had herself fallen into the 
 same error in her youthful days ; that the young man had con- 
 fessed to me that his views were honourable j but had not an 
 idea, at the time, that I was acquainted with the family. 
 Donna Celia then appeared to be more pacified, and asked 
 many questions : all that she seemed to object to was the 
 mystery about his family, which at her request I promised to 
 clear up before any other steps should be taken. Cautioning 
 her against any violence of language to her niece, I took my 
 leave. As I went out I spoke a few words to Clara, informing 
 her of the denouement which had taken place, and recommend- 
 ign her by no means to irritate her aunt, but to be very peni-
 
 58 THE PACHA OP MANY TALES. 
 
 tent when she was reproved. Clara obeyed my injunctions, 
 and the next day when I called, I found her sitting by the 
 side of Donna Celia, who was apparently reconciled. I 
 motioned Clara out of the room, when Donna Celia informed 
 me that she had acknowledged her error ; and as she had pro- 
 mised for the future to be regulated by her advice, she had 
 overlooked her indiscretion. When she had finished : " Pre- 
 pare yourself, madam," said I, " for strange tidings the ways 
 of Heaven are wonderful. Last evening I had an explanation 
 with the young cavalier, Don Pedro, and he proves to be 
 that son whose loss you have so much lamented." 
 
 " Merciful Heaven ! " cried the old lady, and she fainted 
 away. As soon as she recovered, she cried out, " Oh where is 
 he ! bring him to me let a mother's eyes be blessed with his 
 sight let the yearnings of a mother's heart be recompensed 
 in his embraces let the tears of affection be wept upon his 
 bosom." 
 
 " Calm yourself, my dear madam," replied I : " the proofs 
 you have not yet seen. First be satisfied, and then indulge in 
 your delightful anticipation. When I pressed Don Pedro upon 
 the subject of his family, I told him candidly that his only 
 chance of success was unlimited confidence : he acknowledged 
 that he had been sent to the Asylum when an infant, and that 
 he did not know his parents ; that the mystery and consequent 
 stigma on his birth had been a source of mortification to him 
 through life. I asked him if he knew his age, or had a copy 
 of the register of his reception. He took it out of a small 
 cabinet ; it was on the 1 8th of February, in the same year that 
 you sent your child there. Still, as I was not sure, I stated 
 that I would call upon him this morning, and see what could 
 be done ; assuring him that his candid avowal had created 
 strong interest in his favour. This morning I repaired to the 
 Asylum, when I examined the register. Two children were 
 brought in on that night : here is the extract, and I feel much 
 mortified, as you will observe that no marks are mentioned. 
 If, therefore, the wart you spoke of was still remaining, the 
 uncertainty would have been as great as ever. When I re- 
 turned to him about an hour since, I renewed the subject, and 
 stated that I thought it was the custom to make a note of any 
 particular marks upon the children, by which they might be
 
 THE MONK. 59 
 
 eventually reclaimed. He replied that it was customary when 
 they were indelible, but not otherwise : that he had no inde- 
 lible mark, although a large wart had been on the back of his 
 neck as long as he could remember ; ' but ' added he, ' it is of 
 no use, all hopes of finding my parents have long since been 
 abandoned, and I must submit to my unfortunate destiny. I 
 have thought upon what has passed, and I feel that I have 
 acted wrong. Without family and without name, what right 
 have I to aspire to the hand of a young lady of good parent- 
 age ? I have made the resolution to conquer my feelings ; 
 and before the intimacy has been carried on to an extent that 
 a rupture would occasion any pangs to her that I adore, I will 
 retire from Seville, and lament in solitude my unfortunate 
 condition.' 
 
 " ' Are you capable to make such a sacrifice, Don Pedro ? ' 
 said I. ' I am, Father Anselmo,' replied he : ' I will always 
 act as a man of honour and of family, although I cannot prove 
 my descent.' 
 
 " ' Then,' said I, ' Don Pedro, do me the favour to call upon 
 me this evening at my convent, and I hope to have some 
 pleasing intelligence to impart." I then left him, to come here 
 and acquaint you with the joyful discovery." " But why did 
 you not bring him here immediately ? " cried Donna Celia. 
 
 " Madam, I have important duties at my convent which will 
 occupy me with the superior till late at night. These must be 
 attended to ; and it is not impossible that the affairs of our 
 convent may require my absence for some time, as there are 
 new leases of our lands which must be granted, and I have 
 reason to expect that the superior may despatch me on that 
 business. I will acquaint the young man with what has been 
 discovered, and will then send him to your arms : but it were 
 advisable that you allow a few hours for repose after the agita- 
 tion which you have undergone, and previous to the affecting 
 scene that will naturally take place. I wish I could be pre- 
 sent ; for it is not often, in this world, that we can witness the 
 best affections of the heart in their virtuous action." 
 
 I then took my leave, requesting Donna Celia to inform her 
 niece of the circumstances, as I presumed there would now 
 be no obstacle to the mutual attachment of the young people. 
 
 My reason for an early departure was that I might arrange
 
 60 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 the story I should tell, when, as Don Pedro, my new mother 
 would demand from me the events of my life. I had also to 
 request leave of absence, which I obtained in expectation of 
 some property being left to the convent by an elderly gentle- 
 man residing at Alicant, who was expected to die, and from 
 whom I produced a letter requesting my presence. As I was 
 on the best terms with the superior, and there was a prospect 
 of obtaining money, his consent was given. That I should be 
 there in time, I was permitted to depart that evening. I took 
 my leave of the superior, and the rest of the monks, intending 
 never to return, and hastened to my lodgings, where I threw 
 off my monastic habit, which from that hour has never been 
 resumed. I repaired to Donna Celia's house, was admitted 
 and ushered into a room to await her arrival. My person had 
 been set off to the best advantage. I had put on a new wig, 
 a splendid velvet cloak, silk doublet and hose ; and as I sur- 
 veyed myself for a second or two in the mirror, I felt the 
 impossibility of recognition, mingled with pride at my hand- 
 some contour. The door opened, and Donna Celia came in, 
 trembling with anxiety. I threw myself on my knees, and in a 
 voice apparently choked with emotion, demanded her blessing. 
 She tottered to the sofa overpowered by her feelings ; and still 
 remaining on my knees, I seized her hand, which I covered 
 with kisses. 
 
 " It is it is my child," cried she at last ; " all-powerful na- 
 ture would have told me so, if it had not been proved," and 
 she threw her arms round my neck, as she bent over me and 
 shed tears of gratitude and delight. I do assure your highness 
 that I caught the infection, and mingled my tears with hers ; 
 for I felt then, and I even now firmly believe, that I was her 
 son. Although my conscience for a minute upbraided me, 
 during a scene which brought back virtuous feelings to my breast, 
 I could not but consider that a deception which could produce 
 so much delight and joy, was almost pardonable. I took my 
 seat beside her, and she kissed me again and again, as one 
 minute she would hold me off to look at me, and the next 
 strain me in her embraces. 
 
 " You are the image of your father, Pedro," observed she 
 mournfully, " but God's will be done : if He has taken away, 
 He also hath given, and truly grateful am I for His bounty."
 
 THE MONK. 61 
 
 When we had in some degree recovered from our agitation, I 
 entreated her to narrate to me the history of my father, of whom 
 I had heard but little from the good brother Anselmo, and she 
 repeated to me those events of her youthful days which she 
 had communicated before. 
 
 " But you have not been introduced to Clara : the naughty 
 girl little thought that she was carrying on an amour with her 
 own cousin." 
 
 When Donna Celia called her down, I made no scruple of 
 pressing the dear girl to my heart, and implanting a kiss upon 
 her lips : with our eyes beaming love and joy, we sat down 
 upon the sofa, I in the centre, with a hand locked in the hand 
 of each. "And now, my dear Pedro, I am anxious to hear 
 the narrative of your life," said Donna Celia : " that it has 
 been honourable to yourself, I feel convinced." Thanking her 
 for her good opinion, which I hoped neither what had passed, 
 or might in future occur, would be the means of removing, I 
 commenced the history of my life in the following words : 
 
 "Commenced the history of your life?" interrupted the 
 pacha. " Does the slave laugh at our beards ? What then is 
 all this you have been telling us ? " 
 
 " The truth, your highness," replied the Spaniard. " What 
 I am about to tell, is the history of my life which I invented 
 to deceive the old lady Donna Celia, and which is all false." 
 
 " I understand ; Mustapha, this kafir is a regular kessehgou* 
 he makes one story breed another ; but it is late ; see that 
 he attends to-morrow afternoon, Bero ! Go, infidel ! the 
 muezzin calls to prayers." 
 
 The Spaniard quitted the sublime presence, and in obedience 
 to the call of the muezzin, the pacha and Mustapha paid their 
 customary evening devotions to the bottle. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE next day the Spanish slave was summoned to continue 
 his narrative. 
 
 " Your sublime highness of course recollects where I left off 
 yesterday evening," commenced the slave. 
 * Eastern storyteller.
 
 62 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 " Perfectly well," replied the pacha ; " you left off at the 
 beginning of your story; but I hope you will finish it this 
 evening, as I have already forgotten a great deal of what you 
 said." 
 
 " Your highness may recollect that I was seated " 
 
 " Yes, in our presence," interrupted the pacha ; " such was 
 our condescension to a Giaour. Now go on with your 
 story." 
 
 " With due submission to your highness, I was seated on a 
 sofa, between my mother Donna Celia and my mistress Donna 
 Clara." 
 
 " Very true ; I recollect now that you were." 
 
 " A hand clasped in the hand of each." 
 
 " Exactly," replied the pacha, impatiently. 
 
 " And was about to tell a story of my own invention, to de- 
 ceive the old lady my mother." 
 
 " Anna senna ! curses on your mother ! " cried the pacha, 
 in an angry tone. " Sit down and continue your story. Is 
 a pacha nothing? Is the lion to be chafed by a jackall ? Wal- 
 lah el Nebi ! By God and the Prophet ! do you laugh at our 
 beard ? The story ! " 
 
 " The story requested by your highness," replied the slave, 
 with great coolness, "was commenced in the following 
 words." 
 
 STOEY OF THE MONK. 
 
 What occurred during my infancy, my dearest mother, I do 
 not recollect ; but I can retrace to the age of seven years, 
 when I found myself in company with a number of others, 
 from the squalling infant of a few days old, up to my own age. 
 I also recollect that our fare was indifferent, and our punish- 
 ment severe. 
 
 "Poor child!" exclaimed Donna Celia, pressing my hand, 
 which was still locked in hers. I continued there until the age 
 of ten, when an old lady who came to the asylum took a fancy 
 to me ; for I often heard it remarked, that I was a very hand- 
 some boy, although I have rather grown out of my good looks 
 lately, Clara. 
 
 A pressure of my other hand, and a negative smile, was the 
 answer ; and I proceeded :
 
 THE MONK, 63 
 
 The old lady Donna Isabella, who was of the noble family 
 of Guzman, wanted a page, and intended to bring me up in 
 that capacity. She carried me to her house, where I was clad 
 in a fancy dress. I used to sit by her side on the carpet, and 
 run upon any message which might be required ; in fact, I was 
 a sort of human bell, calling up everybody and fetching every- 
 thing that was wanted: but I was well fed, and very proud of a 
 little dagger which I wore in my girdle. The only part of my 
 education to which I objected, was learning to read and write 
 from a priest, who was domiciled in the family, and who had 
 himself as great an aversion to teaching as I had to learning. 
 Had the affair rested entirely between us, we might have 
 arranged matters so as to please both parties ; but as the old 
 lady used to prove my acquirements by making me read to her, 
 as she knitted, we neither of us could help fulfilling our en- 
 gagements. By dint of bullying and beating, at last I was 
 sufficiently enlightened to be able to read a romance to my 
 mistress, or answer an invitation-note in the negative or affirma- 
 tive. My mistress had two nieces who lived with her, both 
 nearly grown up when I entered the family. They taught me 
 dancing for their own amusement, as well as many other things; 
 and by their care I improved very much, even in reading 
 and writing. Although a child, I had a pleasure in being 
 taught by two pretty girls. But it is necessary that I should 
 be more particular in my description of these two young ladies. 
 The eldest, whose name was Donna Emilia, was of a prudent, 
 sedate disposition, always cheerful, but never boisterous ; she 
 constantly smiled, but seldom if ever indulged in a laugh. 
 The youngest, Donna Teresa, was very different joyous and 
 light-hearted, frank and confiding in her temper, generous in 
 disposition : her faults arose from an excess of every feeling a 
 continual running into extremes. Never were two sisters more 
 fond of each other : it appeared as if the difference between 
 their dispositions but added to their attachment. The serious 
 character of the elder was roused to playfulness by the vivacity 
 of the younger, and the extravagance of the younger was kept 
 in due bounds by the prudence of the elder. As a child I 
 liked Donna Emilia, but I was devotedly fond of Donna 
 Teresu 
 
 I had been three years in this situation, when legal business
 
 64 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 required the presence of Donna Isabella at Madrid. The 
 young ladies, who were both very handsome, and remarkably 
 lilrc each other in person, were much admired by the cavaliers. 
 Two had gained the victory over the rival candidates Don 
 Perez was the favoured suitor of Donna Emilia, while Don 
 Florez was proud to wear the chains of the lively Teresa. 
 Donna Isabella had, however, no intention that her nieces 
 should quit her for the present; and aware, by the serenading 
 which took place every night, that there were pretenders to her 
 nieces' smiles, she hastened back to Seville sooner than she 
 had intended. 
 
 Although I had not been trusted by either, I had an idea of 
 what was going on; but with more prudence than most boys of 
 my age, I made no remarks either to my mistress or to the 
 young ladies. We had returned to Seville about a month, 
 when Donna Emilia called me aside, and said, " Pedro, can you 
 keep a secret?" 
 
 I told her " Yes, if I was paid for it." 
 
 " And what do you want to induce you to keep it, you little 
 miser?" 
 
 I replied " From you, only a kiss." 
 
 She called me a little rogue, gave me the kiss, and then told 
 me that a cavalier would be under the window a little after 
 vesper bell, and that I must give him a billet, which she put 
 into my hand. Of course, having received my payment before- 
 hand, I consented. At the time mentioned I looked out of the 
 gate, and perceiving a cavalier under the window, I accosted 
 him. "What ho, senhor, what is it you expect from a fair 
 lady?" 
 
 " A billet, my little page," replied he. 
 
 " Then here you have it," replied I, pulling it out of my vest. 
 He put a doubloon in my hand, and immediately disappeared. 
 
 I liked the gold very much, but I preferred the other pay- 
 ment more. I put the money into my pocket, and returned 
 into the house. I had hardly come into the hall, when Donna 
 Teresa, the other young lady, accosted me. " Pedro, I have 
 been looking for you can you keep a secret ? " 
 
 " Yes, if I am paid for it," replied I, as before. 
 
 " And what must it be that will keep that little tongue of 
 yours from chattering?"
 
 THE MONK. 65 
 
 *' From you," replied I, " it must be a kiss." 
 
 " Oh ! you little manikin I'll give you twenty," and she did 
 so, until she almost took away my breath. " And now," said 
 she, "there is a senhor waiting below for a note, which you 
 must take him." I took the note, and when I came to the 
 gate, found a cavalier there, as she had mentioned. "Oh, 
 senhor," said I, "what are you waiting for? is it a billet-doux 
 from a sweet lady ? " 
 
 " It is, my pretty boy," answered he. 
 
 " Perhaps this will interest you," replied I, handing him the 
 note. He snatched it from me, and would have departed. 
 " Senhor," said I, " I cannot allow my mistress to be affronted. 
 Her favours are beyond all price, but still they are always 
 coupled with gold. Since you are so poor, and gold must 
 pass, here is a piece for you," and I offered him the doubloon 
 which I had received from the other cavalier. 
 
 " You are a witty boy," replied he, " and have corrected my 
 negligence, for it was nothing more, I assure you. Add this 
 to the other" and he put a quarter-doubloon in my hand, 
 and disappeared. I returned to the house; and, as I had been 
 some time away from my mistress, I went into the saloon 
 where she was sitting alone. 
 
 " Pedro, come hither, child ; you know how good I have 
 been to you, and how carefully I have brought you up. Now 
 tell me, can you keep a secret?" "Yes, madam," replied I, 
 " I can keep yours, for it is my duty." 
 
 " That's a good child. Well, then, I have an idea that my 
 two nieces are followed by some of the gay cavaliers who saw 
 them at Madrid, and I wish you to find out if it is true. Do 
 you understand ? " 
 
 " Oh yes, madam," replied I ; " I do perfectly." 
 
 " Well, then, do you watch, and Pedro, here are two rt Is 
 for you., to buy sugar-plums." 
 
 Thus did I enter in one day into the real occupation of a 
 page ; I added the two reals to the gold, and, as you may sup- 
 pose, meant to serve as I was paid. But, as I found out after- 
 wards, I had made a terrible mistake with the two billets-doux. 
 That of Donna Emilia I had given to Don Florez, who was 
 Donna Teresa's admirer ; that of Donna Teresa I had given to 
 Don Perez, who was the lover of Donna Emilia: but I had 
 
 F
 
 6o THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 better explain to you, before I go on, what did not come to my 
 knowledge until the denouement took place. Don Perez, the 
 lover of Emilia, was a young man who was entitled to large 
 property at the death of an uncle, to whom he was heir by 
 entail. Don Florez, on the contrary, was in possession of a 
 splendid fortune, and able to choose for himself. From fear of 
 discovery, the notes were both in a disguised hand, and not 
 signed by the respective Christian names of the ladies. Donna 
 Emilia's ran thus " I found your note in the spot agreed, but 
 my aunt has taken away the key of the shrubbery, and is I 
 believe suspicious. Why are you so urgent? I trust your 
 affection, 'like mine, will but increase from delay. It will be 
 impossible to meet you to-night; but I have entered the page 
 in my service, and will write soon." That of Donna Teresa, 
 which I put in the hands of Don Perez, ran as follows : " I 
 can no longer refuse your solicitations for an interview. My 
 aunt has locked up the shrubbery, but if you have courage 
 enough to scale the garden-wall, I will meet you in the saloon 
 which opens upon the garden; but not a word must be said, as 
 the servants are continually passing the door neither can we 
 have a light I must trust to your honour." 
 
 Don Perez was delighted at Donna Emilia's having at last 
 yielded to his entreaties for a meeting; and Don Florez, as 
 much annoyed at the reserved conduct of his mistress, went 
 home accusing her of coquetry. At the appointed hour, Don 
 Perez met his supposed mistress in the saloon. The two 
 sisters were confidantes; and, as I was in their secret, they 
 made no scruple of talking before me. The next day, when 
 their aunt left the room, they began arguing upon the personal 
 merits of the respective cavaliers. After a good-humoured 
 controversy, they appealed to me. " Come, Pedro," said 
 Teresa, "you shall decide. Which do you think the hand- 
 somest cavalier ? " 
 
 " Why," answered I, " I think that your senhor is, for a fair 
 man, the handsomest I ever saw ; but still the beautiful dark 
 eyes of the Donna Emilia's cavalier, are equally prepos- 
 sessing." 
 
 " Why, Pedro, you have mistaken the two," said Emilia ; " it 
 is Don Perez, the fair one, who is my admirer, and the dark 
 senhor is Don Florez, who is in love with my sister." I per-
 
 THE MONK. 67 
 
 ceived that I had made a mistake when I delivered the notes, 
 and Teresa coloured up. But I had sense enough to answer 
 " Very true, madam, you are right; I now recollect that I am 
 confounding the two." 
 
 Shortly afterwards the aunt came into the room, and Teresa 
 quitted it, beckoning me to follow her. As soon as I had 
 joined her, she said, "Now, Pedro, tell the truth: did you not 
 make the mistake that you stated, and deliver my note to the 
 fair cavalier, Don Perez ? " 
 
 I answered, " that I did, as I had already delivered Emilia's 
 note to the dark gentleman." Donna Teresa put her hands 
 over her face, and wept bitterly. " Pedro, you must now keep 
 this secret, for it is of the greatest importance. My God, what 
 will become of me ? " cried she ; and for some time she was 
 in the greatest distress : at last she wiped her eyes, and after 
 much reflection, she took up paper and wrote a note. u Pedro, 
 take this note to the direction : recollect it is for the dark 
 cavalier that it is intended." Teresa had read the note of 
 Emilia to Don Perez, which had been received by Don Florez 
 in consequence her present note ran thus : " You may think 
 me harsh for having refused to see you last night, but I was 
 afraid. Do not accuse me of trifling with your feelings; I 
 will meet you in the saloon that leads to the garden, which was 
 last night occupied ; come at ten this evening." 
 
 I went out with the note and gave it into the hands of Don 
 Florez. "My dear boy, tell Donna Teresa I will not fail; I 
 know now why she could not receive me last night : I only 
 hope I may be as fortunate as Don Perez." He put a doub- 
 loon in my hand, and I went away. I had not quitted the 
 street when I met Don Perez. 
 
 " Ah ! my little page, this is indeed lucky ; just step to my 
 rooms while I write a note to Donna Emilia." I did so, and 
 he gave me a quarter-doubloon as before. "I thank you, 
 senhor," replied I ; " what with the doubloons of Don 
 Florez and your quarter-doubloons, I shall soon be a rich 
 man." 
 
 " How say you," replied he ; " Don Florez gives you doub- 
 loons then he spoils the market ; but I must not allow him to 
 pay you better than I do, or I shall not be served so faithfully. 
 Here's a doubloon and a half, which, with what you have
 
 68 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 already received, will make the accounts square." I made my 
 bow, and with many thanks withdrew. 
 
 Young as I was, I had an idea that something had occurred 
 at the mistaken meeting of last night, which seriously affected 
 Donna Teresa. As I was much more partial to her than to 
 her sister, I resolved not to deliver the note of Don Perez to 
 Emilia, until I had consulted Donna Teresa. On my return, 
 I beckoned her into her chamber, and told her the answer of 
 Don Florez, with his observation, "that he hoped he should 
 be as fortunate as Don Perez was last night." She coloured 
 with shame and vexation ; and I then told her how I had met 
 Don Perez, and what had passed. I then gave her the note, 
 and asked whether I should deliver it or not. She hastily tore 
 it open. It ran as follows : " How can I sufficiently express 
 my gratitude to my adored Emilia for her kindness to me last 
 night ? Tell me, dearest angel, when am I to have the pleasure 
 of meeting you again in the saloon? Till you once more grant 
 me the favour, life will be a blank." 
 
 " Pedro," said she, " you have indeed done me a service : 
 you have been my preserver. How can I ever repay you ? " 
 
 "Give me a double allowance of kisses this time," replied I. 
 
 " I will give you a thousand," answered she ; and she kissed 
 and blessed me, while tears ran down her cheeks. She then 
 took some paper, and imitating the handwriting, wrote as fol- 
 lows : " I must submit to your wishes, Donna Emilia ; and 
 while your sister blesses Don Florez, must yield to the severity 
 of your disposition. Still I hope that you will relent ; I am 
 very miserable ; write to me, if you have any love still remain- 
 ing for your adorer. Perez." 
 
 " Take this to Emilia, my sweet child. What can I do to 
 reward you?" * 
 
 " Why you must take care of my money," said I ; " for if my 
 mistress finds it out, I shall never be able to tell how I came 
 by it." She smiled mournfully as she received my doubloons, 
 and locked them up in a trinket-box. " I will add to your 
 wealth, Pedro," said she. 
 
 " No," replied I, " only kisses from you." I told her why 
 her aunt gave me the two reals, and we separated. I delivered 
 the note to Donna Emilia, who in the afternoon put an answer 
 into my hand ; but I would not act without Donna Teresa
 
 THE MONK. 69 
 
 knowing what took place ; and it occurred to me that it would 
 be very possible to repair the mischief which my mistake had 
 occasioned. I, therefore, took the answers of Donna Emilia 
 to her lover to Donna Teresa, and told her what I thought. 
 " My dear Pedro, you are indeed a treasure to me," replied 
 Teresa. 
 
 She opened Emilia's note, which ran as follows: "You 
 accuse me of unkindness, which I do not deserve. Heaven 
 knows my heart is but too yielding. I will arrange a meeting 
 as soon as I possibly can ; but, as I before said, my aunt is 
 suspicious, and I cannot make up my mind, like Teresa, to run 
 the risk of discovery." 
 
 Teresa tore up this note, and wrote as follows : " If a woman 
 has the misfortune to yield too much to the solicitations 
 of her lover, he becomes arrogant, and claims as a right what 
 only can be received as a favour. I consider that what passes 
 in darkness should remain as secret in the breast, and as silent 
 in the tongue. I now tell you candidly, that I shall consider it 
 as an insult if ever you refer to the meeting of last night ; and 
 to punish you for your arrogant request for another, shall treat 
 you with the same reserve as before. Recollect that the least 
 intimation of it, however private we may be, will be the signal 
 for your dismissal. At the same time, expecting implicit 
 obedience to this command, I shall punish you no further, if 
 you offend not again. When I feel inclined to see you, I will 
 let you know. Till then, yours, &c." 
 
 I took this note to Don Perez, whom I found at his lodgings, 
 drinking in company with Don Florez, for they had no secrets 
 from each other. Perez opened the note, and appeared a 
 little astonished. " Read this, Florez," said he, " and tell me if 
 woman is not a riddle." 
 
 " Well, now, I like her spirit," replied Florez ; " some women 
 would have been dying with apprehension at your leaving them : 
 she, on the contrary, considers that you are under greater ob- 
 ligations than before, and assumes her dominion over you. I 
 recommend you to comply with her injunctions, if you wish to 
 retain her love." 
 
 " I don't know but what you are right, Florez ; and, as we 
 are lords and masters after marriage, it is but fair that they 
 should hold their uninterrupted sway before. I feel more
 
 70 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 attached to her than ever; and, if she chooses to play the 
 tyrant, why she shall. It shows her good sense ; for keeping 
 us off, is the only way to induce us to go on." 
 
 I returned home, delivering a note from Don Perez to 
 Emilia, stating his intention to abide by her wishes ; and stated 
 to Donna Teresa all that had passed between the cavaliers. 
 
 "Thanks to your prudence and sagacity, my dear little 
 Pedro, all as yet is well ; but it may yet be discovered ; for I 
 will now confide to you, that the tenderness last night intended 
 for Don Florez, was, by your mistake, and the darkness and 
 silence prescribed at the meeting, lavished upon my sister's 
 admirer. But all will, I trust, be well, and I shall not suffer 
 for an unintentional misfortune." 
 
 That evening Don Florez was received by Teresa in the 
 saloon; and the next morning I was sitting, as usual, by my 
 mistress, when she asked, " Well, Pedro, have you discovered 
 anything ? " 
 
 " Yes, madam," replied I. 
 
 " And what is it, child ? " 
 
 " Why, madam, a gentleman asked me to give a letter, but I 
 would not." 
 
 " Who was it for, child ? " 
 
 " I don't know, madam, for I refused to take it in my hand." 
 
 " Well, Pedro, you were right ; the next time he offers you a 
 letter, take it, and bring it to me." 
 
 " I will, madam," said I. 
 
 " Here are two reals for you, child ; have you spent the last 
 I gave you ? " 
 
 " I left the room, when Donna Emilia met me outside, and 
 put a note into my hand for Don Perez. I first took it to my 
 friend Teresa, who opened it : " At last my affection has borne 
 down my resolution, and I consent to see you. There is no 
 other way but in the saloon. Be careful not to offend, or it 
 will be for the last time." 
 
 " This may go, Pedro," said Teresa, " and you may call at 
 Don Florez's lodgings as you pass by." 
 
 I delivered the note to Don Perez, and before he had 
 finished it, Don Florez entered the room. " Congratulate me, 
 my dear friend," said he. " I was received as kindly as I could 
 wish."
 
 777^ MONK. 71 
 
 " And my fair one has not taken long to relent," answered 
 Perez, "for I have an appointment with her this evening. 
 Pedro, tell your mistress that I do not write, but that I bless 
 her for her kindness, and shall not fail to meet her. Do you 
 understand ? Well, what are you waiting for ? Oh ! you little 
 rogue, I understand." And he threw me a doubloon. " Florez, 
 you give that boy too much money, and I am obliged 
 to do the same." Florez laughed, and I again took my 
 departure. 
 
 Thus did I continue in my vocation for some time, when the 
 old lady fell sick and died. She divided her fortune between 
 her two nieces, and, as they were now independent, they mar- 
 ried their respective lovers ; but the old lady forgot to mention 
 me in her will, and I should have been turned adrift on the 
 world had it not been for Donna Teresa, who immediately 
 appointed me as her own attendant. I was as happy as before, 
 although no more doubloons fell into my hands after the mar- 
 riages took place. It appears that Don Perez was so much 
 afraid of offending Donna Emilia, that he never ventured to 
 speak of the meeting which he supposed he had with her in 
 the saloon, until after marriage ; then, feeling himself quite at 
 liberty, he laughed at her on the subject. Donna Emilia was 
 all astonishment, declared most positively that it had not taken 
 place ; and, although he at first ridiculed the idea of her denial, 
 yet recollecting that he still had her notes in his possession, he 
 brought them out, and showed her the one in which she had 
 prohibited him from speaking on the subject. Donna Emilia 
 protested that it was not her writing, and was confounded at 
 the apparent mystery. She stated that Teresa had agreed to 
 meet Don Florez in the saloon that night. 
 
 "On the contrary," replied Don Perez, "he received a letter 
 from Donna Teresa, refusing him a meeting, at the same 
 time that I received this from you, giving me the assignation." 
 
 Donna Emilia burst into tears. " I see how it is," replied 
 she, " the page by mistake has given the note which I wrote 
 you to Don Florez, and Teresa's note fell into your hands. 
 You have taken an unworthy advantage of the circumstance, 
 and have met my sister. Never make me believe, Don Perez, 
 that you were not aware of the mistake, when she received 
 in the saloon, or that she could not distinguish you from
 
 72 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 Don Florez. Cruel sister, thus to rob me of my happiness ! 
 Treacherous Don Perez, thus to betray your friend and me ! " 
 
 Don Perez tried all he could to pacify his wife, but in vain. 
 Her jealousy, her pride, and her conscientious scruples were 
 roused, and she would not listen to any reasoning or protesta- 
 tions. Although he was almost certain that the fact was as his 
 wife had stated, he determined to make sure by referring to me. 
 He came to Don Florez's house, and, after staying a little 
 while, during which he appeared so uneasy that they asked 
 him whether he was unwell, he went away, making a sign for 
 me to follow him. He then entered into all the particulars, 
 and asked me about the delivery of the notes. I took it for 
 granted that an explanation had taken place between him and 
 his wife; my only object was to save Donna Teresa. 
 
 " Senhor, whether what Donna Emilia says is true, I know 
 not," replied I ; " but that it was not Donna Teresa who met 
 you I can certify, for I was in her room with her that night till 
 she went to bed, playing at piquet for sugar-plums." 
 
 " Then who could it be ? " observed he. 
 
 " I know not, senhor, for I did not go downstairs where my 
 mistress was, because she had sent me to bed, and I knew that 
 I should have been scolded for being up. Therefore I cannot 
 say whether Donna Emilia was with you or not." 
 
 Don Perez meditated some time, and then came to the con- 
 clusion that his wife was ashamed of having been too indulgent 
 to him in an unguarded moment, and would not acknowledge 
 it. Still he was far from being satisfied. He returned home to 
 explain what he had gathered to his wife, but found that she 
 had left the house some time before, without stating whither 
 she was going. As soon as Don Perez left the house I hast- 
 ened to my mistress, to acquaint her with what had passed and 
 what I had told him. 
 
 "I thank you for your kind intention, Pedro, but I am 
 afraid that all will be discovered. It is a judgment on me for 
 yny folly and indiscretion." 
 
 In the meantime, Donna Emilia, who had taken refuge in a 
 neighbouring convent, sent for Don Florez. He found her in 
 the convent parlour in tears. Convinced by jealousy that her 
 sister had an attachment to Don Perez, and that there had 
 been a mutual understanding, she stated to Don Florez the
 
 THE MO&K. 73 
 
 whole of the circumstances, and pointing out to him how 
 treacherously they had both been treated, acquainted him with 
 her intention of retiring from the world. 
 
 Don Florez, stirred to madness by the information, exclaimed, 
 " It was for this, then, that she put me off on that night, and 
 was kind to me the next. Cursed dupe that I have been ; but, 
 thank Heaven, it is not too late to be revenged. Don Perez, 
 you shall pay dearly for this." So saying, he quitted Donna 
 Emilia, uncertain whether he should first wreak his vengeance 
 upon Don Perez or his wife. But this point was soon decided, 
 for at the convent gate he encountered Don Perez, who had 
 been informed whither his wife had retreated. 
 
 " You are the person I have been anxiously wishing to see, 
 Don Perez treacherous villain, void of all honour." 
 
 " Not so, Don Florez. I am an unfortunate man, who is 
 half mad by a cruel mistake which had occurred. Recall your 
 words, for they are unjust." 
 
 " I do not intend to recall them, but assert the truth with the 
 point of my rapier. If you are not as great a coward as you 
 are a villain, you will follow me." 
 
 " Such language will admit of no reply. I am at your 
 vice," cried Don Perez. 
 
 The two brothers-in-law walked in silence until they reached 
 a field hard by, where they threw off their cloaks, and fought 
 with the fury of demons. Victory was decided in favour of 
 Don Perez his sword passed through the heart of his adversary, 
 who never spoke again. Don Perez viewed the body with a 
 stern countenance, wiped his sword, took up his cloak, and 
 walked straight to the house of Don Florez. " Donna Teresa, 
 said he [I only was present], "I call upon you, as you value 
 salvation in the day of judgment, to tell me the truth Was it 
 vou that, by an unfortunate mistake, I met one night in the 
 saloon? and were those caresses, intended for Don Florez, b 
 stowed upon me ? " . , 
 
 There was a wildness, a ferocity in his air that frightened her; 
 she stammered out at last" For my sins, it is true ; but you 
 know too well, that I never was false in heart, although, when 
 I found out my mistake, I attempted to conceal my in- 
 
 discretion." . .. ., . 
 
 " Had you, madam, been as virtuous as your sister, all this
 
 74 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 mischief would not have happened and your husband would 
 not now be lying a corpse, by the hand of his brother." 
 
 Donna Teresa fainted at this intelligence, and Don Perez 
 immediately quilted the he use. I hastened to her assistance, 
 and succeeded in restoring her to life. 
 
 "It is but too true," said she, mournfully; "crime will 
 always meet with punishment in this world, or in the next. By 
 permitting my love to overcome the dictates of virtue, by being 
 too fond of my husband, I have murdered him. O God ! I 
 have murdered him and rendered the lives of two others as 
 much a burden to them as my own will ever be. My poor, 
 dear sister, where is she ? " 
 
 I tried all my powers of consolation, but in vain ; all she 
 requested was that I would find out where her sister was, and 
 let her know. I set off upon my melancholy task, and met the 
 people bearing in the body of Don Florez. I shuddered as it 
 passed by, when I recollected how principal a part I had acted 
 in the tragedy. I soon gained the information, and brought it 
 to Donna Teresa. She dressed herself in deep mourning, and, 
 desiring me to follow her, knocked at the convent gate, and 
 requesting to see the superior, was admitted. The superior 
 came out of the parlour to receive her, not wishing that any 
 one should enter while Donna Emilia was in such a state of 
 misery and despair. 
 
 " It is my sister that I come to see, madam, and I must not 
 be refused; lead me to her, and be witness of the scene, if you 
 please." 
 
 The superior, who was not aware that Emilia would have 
 refused to see Donna Teresa, led the way, and we were ushered 
 into the presence of Emilia, who, looking up as Donna Teresa 
 entered, turned away from her as if in abhorrence. 
 
 " Emilia," said my mistress, "we are bom of the same mother, 
 we have lived as children, and we have grown up together; 
 never did we have a secret from each other, till this unfortunate 
 mistake occurred. On my knees, I request you to listen to me, 
 and to believe what I say." 
 
 " Plead your cause with your husband, Teresa ; it is more 
 necessary to pacify him than me." 
 
 " I have no husband, Emilia ; he is now pleading his own 
 cause with God for he has fallen by the sword of yours."
 
 THE MONK. 7S 
 
 Donna Emilia started. 
 
 "Yes, Emilia, dear, dear sister, it is but too true, and still 
 more true, that you have caused his death. Do not kill me too, 
 Emilia, by refusing to believe what I declare, as I hope for 
 eternal salvation that I never was aware of the mistake until 
 the boy discovered it to me on the ensuing day. If you knew 
 the shame, the vexation, the fear of discovery which racked my 
 frame, when I was but too sure of it, you would forgive my 
 having tried to hide a fault, the knowledge of which would 
 make others miserable, as well as me. Say you believe me 
 say you forgive me, Emilia. Oh ! Emilia, cannot you forgive 
 a sister ? " 
 
 Emilia answered not, and Teresa, clinging to her knees, and 
 embracing them, sobbed hysterically. At this moment Don 
 Perez, who had obtained admittance to see his wife, came into- 
 the room, and walking up to the part in which the two unfor- 
 tunate ladies remained in the attitudes described, said " You,. 
 Teresa, who have been the original cause of this unhappy 
 business, I mean not to reproach again. Your punishment has 
 been greater than your offence. It is to you, madam, I must 
 address myself, who, by not believing in the words of truth, 
 have caused me to slay my dearest friend and brother, and, 
 after having unwittingly wounded him in the tenderest point, 
 add to the injury by taking away his life. Are you yet satisfied 
 with having embittered my days by your injustice and unworthy 
 suspicions by having reduced your unfortunate, yet not guilty 
 sister, to the state of an unhappy, lonely woman, now suing in 
 vain for pardon at your feet ; by having been the occasion of 
 the death of your brother by marriage her husband and my 
 friend ? Say, madam, are you yet satisfied, or will you have 
 more victims to your unbelief?" 
 
 Emilia answered not, but continued with her face averted. 
 
 " Be it so, then, madam," replied Don Perez ; and, before 
 anyone was aware of his intention, he drew his sword, and fell 
 upon it. " Now, Emilia, let the sacrifice of my life be a proof 
 to you of my sincerity. As I hope for pardon, I have told the 
 truth ; " and Don Perez fell on his back, and was dead. 
 
 Emilia started round when he fell, and threw herself down 
 by his side in horror and amazement. The film that passion 
 had thrown over her eyes was removed, as she witnessed the
 
 76 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 last melancholy result of her unbelief. When Don Perez ceased 
 speaking, she threw herself on his body, in an agony of grief. 
 ' I do, I do believe Perez O God, he is dying ! Sister, 
 Teresa, come, come, he'll speak to you he's not angry with 
 you sister, sister, speak O God ! O God ! " screamed the 
 unhappy woman, " he's dead and I have murdered him ! " 
 and she dashed her head upon the floor. Teresa hastened to 
 her sister, and held her in her arms, while the tears poured 
 fast. It was some time before reason resumed her seat ; at 
 last, exhausted by the violence of her feelings, she was relieved 
 by a flood of tears. 
 
 " Who is it ? you, Teresa kind sister, whom I have used 
 so ill I do believe you I do believe, Teresa ; God forgive 
 me ! kiss me, sister, and say that you forgive me for am I not 
 punished ? " 
 
 " It is all my fault," answered Teresa, bursting into tears. 
 " Oh ! how wicked, how foolish have I been ! " 
 
 " No, no, sister, your fault is small compared to mine ; you 
 allowed your passion to overcome you, but it arose from an 
 excess of love, the best feeling in our nature the only remnant 
 of heaven left us since our fall. I too have allowed my passion 
 to overcome me ; but whence has it arisen ? from hatred and 
 jealousy, feelings which were implanted by demons, and which 
 create a hell wherever they command. But it is done, and 
 repentance comes too late." 
 
 The unfortunate sisters embraced each other and mingled 
 their tears together; and I hardly need say, that the lady abbess 
 and I could not restrain our meed of pity at the affecting scene. 
 As the evening closed, they separated, each to attend to the 
 same mournful duty of watching by the bodies of their hus- 
 bands, and bedewing them with their tears. A few days after 
 the interments took place, Emilia sent for her sister, and after 
 an affectionate interview, took the veil in the convent to which 
 she had retired endowing the church with her property. 
 Donna Teresa did not take the veil, but employed herself in 
 the more active duties of charity and benevolence ; but she 
 gradually wasted away her heart was broken. I stayed with 
 her for three years, when she died, leaving a considerable sum 
 to me, and the remainder of her wealth to beneficent institu- 
 tions. This is about five years ago ; since when I have been
 
 THE MONK. 77 
 
 living on the property, which is nearly all expended by my 
 extravagance. The stigma on my birth is, however, the only 
 subject which has weighed upon my spirits this is providen- 
 tially removed, and I trust that I shall not disgrace the mother 
 who has so kindly acknowledged me, or the dear girl who has 
 honoured this faulty person with her attachment. 
 
 My mother and Clara thanked me when I had concluded 
 my narrative, and we remained until a late hour entering upon 
 family affairs, and planning for the future. My mother informed 
 me that upon the estates she had only a life interest, as they 
 were entailed, and would revert to a cousin ; but that she had 
 laid by a considerable sum of money, intending it as a dowry 
 for my Clara, and that she hoped to increase it before she died- 
 As I was anxious to quit Seville, where I daily feared discovery, 
 I proposed that we should retire to the estate near Carthagena, 
 by which not only a considerable expense would be saved, but 
 I should feel more happy in the company of Clara and herself. 
 My mother and my intended gladly consented to the proposal, 
 not only for the above reasons, but because she was aware that 
 the questions which might be asked about me would tend to 
 the injury of her character. In less than a fortnight the 
 establishment at Seville was broken up, and we retired to the 
 country, where I was made happy by the possession of my 
 Clara. I now considered myself as secure from any discovery, 
 i and although I had led a life of duplicity, meant by future good 
 conduct to atone for the past. Whether Donna Celia was my 
 mother or not, I felt towards her as if she was, and after some 
 time, from habit, considered it an established fact. My Clara 
 was as kind and endearing as I could desire; and for five years 
 I was as happy as I could wish. But it was not to last; I was 
 to be punished for my deceit. My marriage with Clara, and 
 the mystery attached to my birth, which was kept secret, had 
 irritated the heir of the estate, who had been in hopes, by 
 marrying Clara himself, to secure the personal as well as the 
 real property. We occasionally met, but we met with rancour 
 in our nearts, for I resented his behaviour towards me. Fearful 
 of discovery, I had never paid any attention to music since my 
 marriage; I had always pretended that I could not sing. Even 
 my wife was not aware of my talent ; and although latterly I
 
 78 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 had no fear of the kind, yet as I had always stated my inability, 
 I did not choose to bring forth a talent, the reason for conceai.- 
 ing which I could not explain even to my wife and mother, 
 without acknowledging the deception of which I had been 
 guilty. 
 
 It happened that one evening at a large party I met my 
 cousin, the heir of the entailed estates. We were very joyous 
 and merry, and had drunk a good deal more than usual. The 
 wine was powerful, and had taken effect upon most of us. 
 Singing was introduced, and the night passed merrily away, 
 more visitors occasionally dropping in. My cousin was much 
 elated with wine, and made several ill-natured remarks, which 
 were meant for me. I took no notice for some time, but, as he 
 continued, 1 answered with such spirit as to arouse his indigna- 
 tion. My own blood boiled ; but the interference of mutual 
 friends pacified us for the time, and we renewed our applica- 
 tion to the bottle. My cousin was called upon for a song; he 
 had a fine voice and considerable execution, and was much 
 applauded. 
 
 " Now then," said he, in an ironical tone, " perhaps Don 
 Pedro will oblige the company; although perhaps the real 
 way to oblige them will be by not attempting that of which he 
 is not capable." 
 
 Stung with this sarcasm, and flushed with wine, I forgot my 
 prudence. Snatching the guitar from him, after a prelude 
 which created the greatest astonishment of all present, I com- 
 menced one of my most successful airs ; I sang it in my best 
 style, and it electrified the whole party. Shouts proclaimed 
 my victory, and the defeat of my relative. Some embraced 
 me in their enthusiasm, and all loudly encored ; but as soon 
 as there was a moment's silence, I heard a voice behind me 
 observe " Either that is the monk Anselmo's voice, or the 
 devil's." 
 
 I started at the words, and turned round to the speaker, but 
 he had mingled with the crowd, and I could not discover who 
 it was. I perceived that my relative had followed him on ; and 
 I now cursed my own imprudence. As soon as I could I 
 made my escape from the company, and returned home. As 
 I afterwards found out, my relative had immediately commu- 
 nicated with the person who had made the observation. He
 
 THE MONK. 79 
 
 was one of the priests who knew me at Seville. From him, my 
 cousin gained the information that Brother Anselmo had left 
 the convent about five years ago, and not having returned, it 
 was thought that an accident had happened to him. But a 
 discovery had since been made, which led them to suppose 
 that Brother Anselmo had, for some time, been carrying on a 
 system of deception. You may remember I stated, that when 
 I resumed my worldly apparel to introduce myself as the son 
 of Donna Celia, I changed the dress at my lodgings. I locked 
 up my friar's dress and the false tonsure in the chest, intending 
 to have returned and destroyed it ; but I quite forgot it, and 
 left Seville with the key of my lodgings in my pocket. The 
 landlord waited until his rent was due, when not hearing any- 
 thing of me, he broke open the door and found the chest. 
 This he opened, and discovered the false tonsure and friar's 
 gown. Knowing the monastic order to which it belonged, and 
 suspecting some mischief, he took it to our convent, and all 
 the habits of the monks being numbered in the inside, it was 
 immediately recognized as mine ; the false tonsure also betrayed 
 that I must have been breaking through the rules of my order, 
 and the most rigorous search after me was made for some time 
 without success. Possessed of this information, my vindictive 
 relative repaired to Seville to ascertain the exact date of my 
 quitting the convent, and found that it was about a fortnight 
 previous to Donna Celia having quitted Seville. He then 
 repaired to the landlord for further information. The landlord 
 stated that the lodgings had been taken by a monk, for his 
 brother, who had occupied them. He described the brother's 
 person, which exactly corresponded with mine ; and my rela- 
 tion was convinced that the monk Anselmo and Don Pedro 
 were one and the same person. He immediately gave notice 
 to the Inquisition. In the meantime, I was in the greatest 
 consternation. I felt that I should be discovered, and reflected 
 upon my conduct. I had lately abjured all deceit, and had 
 each day gained a step in the path of virtue. I acknowledged, 
 with bitterness, that I deserved all that threatened me, and 
 tnat, sooner or later, vice will receive its reward. Had I at 
 first made known my situation to Donna Celia, she would 
 have had interest enough (believing me to be her son) to have 
 obtained a dispensation of my vows. I might then have boldly
 
 So THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 faced the world y but one act of duplicity required another to 
 support it, and thus I had entangled myself into a snare, by 
 which I was to be entrapped at last. But it was not for myself 
 that I cared; it was for my wife, whom I doted on for my 
 mother (or supposed mother), to whom it would be the bitter- 
 ness of death. The thoughts of rendering others miserable as 
 well as myself drove me to distraction and how to act I 
 knew not 
 
 After much reflection, I resolved, as a last resource, to 
 throw myself upon the generosity of my adversary; for 
 although inimical to me, he bore a high character as a Spanish 
 cavalier. I desired to be informed the moment that he re- 
 turned from Seville ; and when the intelligence came, I imme- 
 diately repaired to his house, and requested an audience. I 
 was admitted : when Don Alvarez, for that was his name, 
 addressed me. 
 
 " You wish to speak with me, Don Pedro there are others 
 at your house by this time who wish to speak with you." 
 
 I guessed that he meant the officers of the Inquisition ; but 
 pretending not to understand the remark, I answered him : 
 " Don Alvarez, the enmity that you have invariably shown 
 toward me has, I am sure, proceeded from the affront which 
 you consider that your noble family has received by your 
 cousin having formed an alliance with one of unknown parent- 
 age. I have long borne with your pointed insults, out of 
 respect for her who gave me birth ; I am now about to throw 
 myself upon your generosity ; and probably when I inform you 
 that I am the unhappy issue of the early amour of Donna Celia 
 (which of course you have heard of), I may then claim your 
 compassion, if not your friendship, from having at least some 
 of the same noble blood in my veins." 
 
 , " I was not indeed aware of it," replied Don Alvarez, 
 with agitation ; " I would to heaven you had confided in me 
 before." 
 
 " Perhaps it would have been better," replied I, " but 
 permit me to prove my assertions." I then stated my having 
 been the friar Anselmo, the discovery of my birth by accident, 
 and the steps which I had taken. " I am aware," continued I, 
 "that I have been much to blame, but my love for Donna 
 Clara made me regardless of consequences. Your unfortunate
 
 THE MONK. 8l 
 
 enmity induced me, in an unguarded moment, to expose 
 myself, and it will probably end in my destruction." 
 
 " I acknowledge the truth of your remark, and that no power 
 can save you. I lament it, Don Pedro; but what is done 
 cannot be undone. Even now the officers of the Inquisition 
 are at your house." As he uttered these words, a loud knock- 
 ing at the door announced that they had followed me. " This 
 must not be, Don Pedro," said Don Alvarez ; " step this way." 
 He opened a panel, and desired me to go in ; and he hardly 
 had time to shut it before the officers came into the room. 
 
 " You have him here, Don Alvarez, have you not ? " in- 
 quired the chief. 
 
 " No, unfortunately," replied he ; "I tried to detain him, 
 but suspecting some discovery, he forced his way out, sword 
 in hand, and has gone I do not know in what direction ; but 
 he cannot be far saddle all the horses in my stable, and 
 pursue the sacrilegious wretch. I would sacrifice half my 
 worldly wealth that he should not escape rny vengeance." 
 
 As Don Alvarez was the informant, and uttered these words 
 with the apparent violence of rage, the inquisitors had no 
 suspicion, but hastened to comply with his request. As soon 
 as they had departed, he opened the panel and let me out. 
 
 " So far, Don Pedro, have I proved the sincerity of my 
 assertion ; but now, what remains to be done ? " 
 
 " But one thing, Don Alvarez ; to conceal the truth from 
 my poor wife and mother. I could bear it all with firmness, 
 but for them" and I fell on a sofa, and burst into tears. 
 Don Alvarez was much affected. 
 
 " Oh, Don Pedro ! it is too late now, or I should say, 
 * What a warning this ought to be to us that honesty is the 
 best policy ! ' Had you communicated to me the mystery of 
 your birth, this never would have occurred. Instead of having 
 been your persecutor, I should have been your friend. What 
 can I do ? " 
 
 " Kill me, Don Alvarez," replied I, baring my breast, " and 
 I will bless you for the deed. My death may afflict them, 
 but they will recover from their grief in time ; but to know 
 that I am murdered by the Inquisition as a sacrilegious 
 impostor, will bring them to their grave with shame and 
 mortification."
 
 82 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 u Your observation is correct ; but kill you I must not. I 
 will, however, so far comply with your wishes, that I will bear 
 the news of your death, and their hatred of the deed, rather 
 than the family should be disgraced." He then went to his 
 scrutoire, and taking out a bag of one thousand pistoles 
 " This is all the money that I have at present it will serve 
 you for some time. Put on one of my servant's dresses, and I 
 will accompany you to a seaport, and secure your safety 
 before I leave you. I will then state that I met you in a 
 fair duel, and will bribe the officers of the Inquisition to 
 hold their tongues about the circumstances which have been 
 communicated." 
 
 The advice was good, and I agreed to it ; following him as 
 a servant, I arrived safely at Carthagena, whence I took a 
 passage for New Spain. We sailed, and before we were clear 
 of the Straits of Gibraltar, we were attacked by one of the 
 cruisers of the State. We fought desperately, but were over- 
 powered by numbers ; and they took possession, after we had 
 lost more than half of our crew. They brought us into this 
 port ; where, with the rest, I was sold as a slave. 
 
 " Such is my history," ended the Spaniard, " which I trust 
 has afforded some amusement to your sublime highness." 
 
 The immediate answer of the pacha was a loud yawn. 
 
 " Shukur Allah ! Praise be to God you have done talking. 
 I do not understand much about it," continued the pacha, 
 turning round to Mustapha ; "but how can we expect a good 
 story from an unbelieving dog of a Christian ? " 
 
 " Wallah thaib ! Well said, by God ! " replied Mustapha ; 
 "who was I.okman, that they talk of his wisdom? Are not 
 these words of more value than strung pearls ? " 
 
 " What was the name of the country ? " demanded the 
 pacha. 
 
 "Spain, your sublime highness; the infidel tribes, which 
 you allowed to remain there, are employed in cultivating the 
 olive for true believers." 
 
 " Very true," rejoined the pacha ; " I remember now. Let 
 the kafir taste of our bounty. Give him two pieces of gold, 
 and allow him to depart." 
 
 " May the shadow of your sublime highness never be less,"
 
 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 3 
 
 said the Spaniard. "I have here a manuscript which I re- 
 ceived from an ancient monk of our order when at the point 
 of death. At the time of my capture it was thrown on one 
 side, and I preserved it as curious. It refers to the first 
 discovery of an island. As your highness is pleased to be 
 amused with stories, it may be worth while to have it trans- 
 lated." The Dominican then handed from his breast a dis- 
 coloured piece of parchment. 
 
 " Very good," replied the pacha, rising. " Mustapha ! let it 
 be put into Arabic by the Greek slave, who shall read it to us 
 some evening when we have no story-tellers." 
 
 " Be chesm ! Upon my eyes be it," replied Mustapha, 
 bowing low, as the pacha retired to his harem. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE pacha had repeated his perambulations for many nights 
 without success; and Mustapha, who observed that he was 
 becoming very impatient, thought it advisable to cater for his 
 amusement. 
 
 Among those who used to repair to Mustapha when he 
 exercised his former profession, was a French renegade, a man 
 of considerable talent .and ready invention, but a most un- 
 principled scoundrel, who, previous to the elevation of Musta- 
 pha, had gained his livelihood by daring piratical attempts in 
 an open boat. He was now in the employ of the vizier, com- 
 manding an armed xebeque which the latter had purchased. 
 She passed off as a government cruiser, but was in reality a 
 pirate. Selim, for that was the name which the renegade had 
 adopted when he abjured his faith, condemned every vessel 
 that had the misfortune to meet with him, taking out the 
 cargoes, burning the hull, and throwing the crews overboard, 
 with the privilege of swimming on shore if they could. By 
 this plan he avoided the inconveniences attending any appeal 
 from the jurisdiction of the High Court of Admiralty, which 
 he had established upon the seas. 
 
 The consequence was, that his cruises were more successful 
 tnan ever, and Mustapha, who was not content with pillaging
 
 84 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 the pacha's subjects on dry land, was amassing a large fortune 
 at their expense by his maritime speculations. 
 
 Occasionally, bales or packages would be recognized when 
 landed as having the identical marks and numbers of those 
 which had been shipped from the quay but a fortnight before ; 
 but the renegade could always give a satisfactory explanation 
 to the vizier ; and after a Jew, who could not bear the idea of 
 parting with his property without remonstrance, had been im- 
 paled, people shrugged up their shoulders and said nothing. 
 
 Now it occurred to Mustapha that Selim might be able to 
 assist his views. He talked fast and loud, vaunted his own 
 exploits, curled his whiskers as he swore to the most impro- 
 bable assertions, and had become a general nuisance and 
 terror since he had obtained the vizier's protection. 
 
 Mustapha sent for him ; and, as a preliminary question, 
 inquired if ever he had read the Arabian Nights. 
 
 " Yes, vizier," replied the renegade ; " many years before I 
 turned Turk." 
 
 " Do you recollect the voyages of Sindbad the Sailor? " 
 
 " To be sure I do ; he is the only man that could ever hold 
 a candle to me in lying." 
 
 " Well, then, his highness the pacha delights in such stories ; 
 and it is my wish that you prepare to recount your own 
 voyages, as Sindbad has done before you." 
 
 " But what am I to get for it ? " 
 
 " My goodwill and protection ; besides which, his highness, 
 if pleased, will not fail to order you a handsome present." 
 
 " Well," replied Selim, "any man who can produce gold in 
 this world will always be able to change it for base metal. I 
 can coin lies in my mint faster than he can coin sequins in 
 his ; and since you wish it, and say that it will be profitable, 
 why I am very much at his service." 
 
 " Then, Selim, observe my directions, for everything must 
 appear accidental." 
 
 In pursuance of the orders received from Mustapha, the 
 renegade remained that evening at the corner of a certain 
 street, through which Mustapha took care that the pacha 
 should pass in his disguise. When he perceived their approach, 
 the renegade exclaimed, " Allah, Allah ! when is the happy 
 time to come, promised in my seventh and last voyage ? "
 
 HUCKABACK. 85 
 
 " Who are you, and why do you call upon Heaven for happy 
 times ? " inquired the pacha. 
 
 " I am Huckaback the sailor," replied the renegade, " who, 
 after a life of danger and disaster, am anxiously awaiting the 
 fulfilment of a promise from the Most High." 
 
 "I must see this man to-morrow," observed the pacha; 
 " Mustapha, as you value your life, see that he attends." 
 
 The vizier bowed, and the pacha returned to the palace 
 without further adventure. 
 
 The next day, as soon as the business of the divan had 
 closed, the renegade was ordered in. Prostrating himself 
 before the pacha, he then rose, and folding his arms over his 
 breast, awaited his commands in silence. 
 
 " I have sent for you, Huckaback, to inquire the meaning of 
 the words you made use of last night, and to know what was 
 the promise made to you in your seventh and last voyage; 
 but I will thank you to begin at the first, as I wish to hear the 
 history of all your voyages." 
 
 " May it please your highness, as I live but to obey you, 
 all that has occurred in my eventful life shall, if you command 
 it, be submitted to your ear. It will, however, be necessary 
 that I should revert to my early days, to enable your highness 
 more fully to comprehend the whole." 
 
 " Aferin ! well said," replied the pacha ; " I don't care how 
 long a story it is, provided that it is a good one ; " and Selim, 
 having obeyed a sign from his highness, intimating that he 
 might sit down, commenced as follows : 
 
 HUCKABACK. 
 
 I AM a native of Marseilles, your highness, where I was 
 brought up to the profession of my father ; a profession (con- 
 tinued the wily renegade) which I have no hesitation to assert 
 has produced more men of general information, and more men 
 of talent than any other I mean that of a barber. 
 
 " Wallah thaib ; well said, by Allah ! " observed Mustapha. 
 The pacha nodded his approbation ; and the renegade pro- 
 ceeded with his story. 
 
 I was gifted by nature with a ready invention, and some 
 trouble and expense were bestowed upon my education. To
 
 S5 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 the profession of a barber my father added that of bleeding 
 and tooth-drawing. At ten years old I could cut hair pretty 
 well. People did say, that those upon whom I had operated 
 looked as if their heads had been gnawed by the rats ; but it 
 was the remark of envy : and, as my father observed, " there 
 must be a beginning to everything." 
 
 At fifteen, I entered upon the rudiments of shaving ; and 
 after having nearly ruined my father's credit, from the pounds 
 of flesh which I removed with the hair of my customers (who 
 were again consoled by his observing that " there must be a 
 beginning to everything"), I became quite expert. I was 
 subsequently initiated into the higher branches of tooth-draw- 
 ing and bleeding. In the former, at first I gave great dissatis- 
 faction, either from breaking the decayed tooth short off, and 
 leaving the stump in the socket, or from mistaking the one 
 pointed out, and drawing a sound engine of mastication in its 
 stead. In the latter, I made more serious mistakes, having 
 more than once cut so deep as to open the artery, while I 
 missed the vein ; in consequence of which I was never after- 
 wards employed, except by a husband to relieve a scolding 
 wife, or by nephews who were anxious about the health of an 
 everlasting uncle. But, as my father wisely observed, " there 
 must be a beginning to everything ; " and, as I could only 
 practise upon living subjects, "individuals must suffer for the 
 good of the community at large." At the age of twenty I was 
 an accomplished barber. 
 
 But rapid as was my career, I was not fated to continue in 
 it long. Like the shot propelled from the mouth of the 
 cannon, which, in its extreme velocity, is turned from the 
 direction which has been given it by glancing along the weakest 
 substance, so was my course of life changed from its direction 
 by meeting with a woman. 
 
 My father had a good customer ; he had shaved him every 
 morning for years, had extracted every tooth in his head, and 
 was now winding up his long account by bleeding him daily, 
 under the direction of an ignorant apothecary. I was often 
 at the house, not to bleed him, for my father either thought 
 him too valuable, or was too grateful for past favours to trust 
 him in my hands ; but I held the basin, procured water, and 
 arranged the bandages. He had a daughter, a lovely girl,
 
 HUCKABACK. s/ 
 
 whom I adored in secret; but her rank in life was too far 
 above mine to allow me to express my feelings. I was then a 
 handsome young man, although Time has since exerted his 
 utmost, through jealousy, to make me appear almost as old 
 and ill-favoured as himself. The young lady took a fancy to 
 me, complained of the toothache, and asked for remedies. 
 I offered to extract the tooth ; but either having heard of my 
 reputation, or not wishing to remove the excuse for our inter- 
 views, or, what is still more probable, having no toothache 
 whatever, she would not consent. 
 
 The death of her mother, which had taken place when she 
 was a child, had left her without guidance, and the helpless 
 situation of her father, without protection. Naturally of a 
 warm temperament, and yielding to the impulse of her feelings, 
 she carried on an intimacy which could only end in her dis- 
 grace ; and, at the expiration of a year, her situation could no 
 longer be concealed. I was now in a dilemma. She had two 
 brothers in the army, who were returning home, and I dreaded 
 their vengeance. I loved her very much, but I loved myself 
 more ; so, one evening, I packed up all that I could call my 
 own, and all that I could lay my hands on belonging to my 
 honoured parent, and shipped on board a Genoese vessel, 
 which was then standing out of the harbour. She was a large 
 ship, mounting twelve long guns, with a complement of sixty 
 men ; being what is termed in European countries a " letter of 
 marque." This implies that she rights her way without convoy, 
 capturing any of the enemy's vessels she may happen to fall in 
 with, who are not strong enough to resist her. We had cleared 
 out for Genoa, with a cargo of lead, which lay at the bottom 
 of the hold, and which merely served for ballast. 
 
 I soon found out, by the conversation of the crew, that we 
 were not to proceed to Genoa direct ; in fact, your highness, 
 she was a pirate, manned by a most desperate set of men. As 
 soon as my qualifications were made known, I had the honour 
 to remove the beards of sixty of the greatest villains that ever 
 were permitted to exist, receiving nothing but blows and curses 
 for my trouble. I certainly improved very much in my pro- 
 fession : for it was as much as my life was worth to draw blood, 
 although they made no scruple of carrying on a conversation 
 during the whole time of the operation. We had taken the
 
 88 THE PACffA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 cargoes out of several vessels, all of which were added to the 
 " manifest " by our correct captain ; when one day we were 
 chased by an English frigate. I never met the English on 
 shore ; but I must say that, afloat, they are the most imperti- 
 nent people that swim on the seas. They cannot be content 
 with minding their own business, although they have plenty on 
 their hands, but they must interfere in that of others. They 
 board you, and insist upon knowing where you come from, 
 whither you are bound, and what you have on board ; examin- 
 ing you with as much scrutiny as if they had been the dele- 
 gated custom-house officers of the whole world. 
 
 Now it did not exactly suit our captain to submit to such a 
 rigorous search ; he therefore made all sail for an island about 
 seven miles distant, and anchored under the protection of a 
 battery. Austria the nation to whom the island belonged 
 was not at war with England; she was preserving what is 
 called an " armed neutrality." 
 
 "Pray what is the meaning of an armed neutrality?" 
 demanded the pacha. 
 
 " It varies according to circumstances, your highness, but, 
 generally speaking, it means a charge of bayonets." 
 
 The frigate followed ; and being prevented by the shallow- 
 ness of the water from approaching sufficiently near to us her- 
 self, sent her boats to examine us ; but as there were six of 
 them full of men, and each mounting a gun at her bow, our 
 captain thought it advisable to refuse them permission to come 
 on board. As a hint that he disapproved of their measures, 
 he poured his whole broadside of round and grape into them, 
 when they were about a quarter of a mile distant : upon which 
 they gave three cheers, and were obstinate enough to pull faster 
 towards us than ever. 
 
 We received them with all the honours of war, in the shape 
 of cutlasses, pistols, and boarding-spikes : but they were very 
 determined. As soon as one was knocked down, another 
 jumped up in his place ; and somehow or another they had 
 possession of the ship in less time than I have been telling the 
 story. I was on the poop when an English sailor, with a pig- 
 tail as thick as a cable, made a cut at me ; I ran back to avoid 
 the blow, and, in so doing, came with such force against
 
 HUCKABACK. 89 
 
 another of their men, that we both tumbled overboard together. 
 I lost my cutlass, but he had not parted with his ; and as soon 
 as we lose to the surface, he seized me by the collar, and pre- 
 sented the point to my breast. It seemed to be all the same 
 to hjm whether he fought on the deck or in the water. For- 
 tunately I shifted a little on one side, and he only drove it 
 through my jacket. I recollected that I had my razor in my 
 pocket, which I took out under the water unperceived, and, 
 ' closing with him before he could repeat his thrust, I cut his 
 throat from ear to ear, and then made for the shore as fast as 
 I could. As I swam remarkably well, I had no great difficulty 
 in reaching it. As soon as I landed, I looked back, and 
 observing that the English boats were towing our vessel out, 
 I made all the haste I could to the fort, which was close at 
 hand. There I was hospitably received ; and we sat up till 
 past midnight, drinking, smoking, and abusing the English. 
 
 The next morning, a felucca anchored to procure some water; 
 and, as she was proceeding to Toulon, I requested a passage. 
 We sailed with a fine breeze ; but a heavy gale came on, which 
 tossed us about for many days, and the master of the vessel 
 had no idea to where she had been driven. He consoled us, 
 however, by asserting that we could never go to the bottom, as 
 there was a lady of great sanctity passenger in the cabin, who 
 had been sent for to assume the office of lady abbess of a 
 convent near Marseilles, and whom the saints would indubit- 
 ably preserve. 
 
 This was some comfort, although fine weather would have 
 been greater. The gale continued ; and the next morning we 
 thought that we descried land on the lee beam. The following 
 night we were certain of our conjectures having been correct, 
 for the vessel was thrown on shore, and in a few minutes went 
 to pieces. I had the good fortune to save myself upon a part 
 of the wreck, and lay half-dead upon the beach until the 
 morning. When the day broke, I looked around me : there 
 were the fragments of the vessel strewed upon the beach, or 
 tossed in mockery by the surge ; and close to me lay the dead 
 body of the lady whose sanctity the captain had assured us 
 would be a safeguard to us all. I then turned from the beach 
 to look at the inland country, and perceived, to my astonish- 
 ment, that I was not three miles from my native city, Mar-
 
 90 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 settles. This was a horrid discovery; for I knew that I should 
 receive no mercy, and could not proceed a mile without being 
 recognised. What to do was now the subject of my thoughts ; 
 and at last, as I viewed the body of the dead lady, it occurred 
 to me that I might pass myself off for her. 
 
 I stripped it of its outer garment ; and having then hauled 
 my own clothes upon the corpse, and covered it over with sea- 
 weed, I dressed myself in the religious habit which she had 
 worn, and sat down awaiting the arrival of the people, which 
 I knew must soon take place. I was then without a symptom 
 of beard ; and from the hardship and ill-treatment which I had 
 received on board of the Genoese, was thin and sallow in the 
 lace. It was easy, in a nun's dress, to mistake me for a woman 
 ~>f thirty-five years of age, who had been secluded in a cloister, 
 in the pockets of her clothes I found letters, which gave me the 
 necessary clue to my story, and I resolved to pass myself off as 
 La Soeur Eustasie, rather than be put in prison, or run through 
 the body. 
 
 I had scarcely time to finish reading these documents when 
 a party, attracted by the fragments on the beach, came up to 
 me. I narrated the loss of the vessel, the death of the whole 
 crew, my name and condition, my having come over at the 
 request of the bishop to assume the guidance of the convent 
 of St. Therese ; and added, that I had called upon the Virgin 
 in my distress, who had come to my aid, and floated me on 
 shore with as much care and comfort as if I had been reposing 
 on cushions of down. The report was spread, and credited ; 
 for the circumstance of a helpless woman being the sole 
 survivor of a whole crew was miracle enough in itself. 
 
 The bishop's carriage was sent for, and I was conducted into 
 the town, followed by a concourse of priests, monks, and 
 common people, who were anxious to kiss even the ground 
 that had been trod upon by a personage so especially under the 
 protection of Heaven. I was conducted to the bishop's palace, 
 where I held a sort of court, being visited by deputations from 
 the official bodies, the governor, and all the people of conse- 
 quence. After a sojourn of three days, I removed to the 
 convent of which I was the supposed abbess, and was enthu- 
 siastically received by the nuns, who flocked round me with 
 mingled veneration and delight.
 
 HUCKABACK. 53 
 
 On the second day of my establishment as abbess, the two 
 elder sisters, who could with difficulty be got rid of even when 
 I retired to bed the night before, introduced the whole of the 
 nuns in rotation, beginning with the elder, and ending with 
 those who last took the vow of chastity. I felt little interest, 
 I must confess, at the commencement of the levee ; but as it 
 came near to a close, many beautiful countenances attracted 
 my attention, and I gave the kiss of peace with more zest than 
 prudence would have justified. The last of the sisterhood 
 came forward, and was introduced as Soeur Marie. Gracious 
 Heaven ! it was the poor girl whom I had deserted. I started 
 when I saw her advance : her eyes were bent upon the ground, 
 as if in reverence to my acknowledged sanctity. As she knelt 
 before me to receive the kiss, she raised them up. Love can 
 pierce through all disguises. At the moment, she thought that 
 she beheld her fugitive lover, and caught her breath in amaze- 
 ment but recollection pointed out to her the utter impossi- 
 bility of the fact, and she sighed at the uncommon likeness, as 
 she received the kiss from those lips which had indeed been so 
 often pressed to hers before. 
 
 When the ceremony had been gone through, I complained 
 of fatigue, and requested to be left alone. 
 
 I wished to reflect upon what had passed, and determine 
 how I was to act : to escape the danger which threatened me, 
 I had placed myself in a situation of still greater difficulty. 
 Where could it end ? After a long reverie, I decided that I 
 would make Marie my confidante, and trust to circumstances to 
 guide my future conduct. I rang the bell, and, requesting the 
 presence of the elder sister of the convent, commenced an 
 inquiry into the different characters of the nuns who had been 
 presented. 
 
 Flattered by the confidence demanded, there was no end to 
 the loquacity and the ill-natured remarks of the old beldame : 
 she held her list in her hand, and ran over the families and 
 private history of each. It was two hours before she had 
 finished, which she did with Marie, of whose history she gave 
 me a most minut (Vtail ; and if she was as correct in her 
 reports of all the others, I certainly had no reason to compli- 
 ment myself upon being abbess, so far as the previous 
 characters of the nuns under my surveillance were concerned.
 
 92 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 ' Good sister," replied I, " I thank you for your information, 
 which I shall not fail to profit by in my plans for the improve- 
 ment of the morality of those under my charge. I have 
 always made it a rule that one of the sisterhood should 
 remain in my room every night, to watch and do penance. I 
 have found that when coupled with my seasonable exhortations, 
 it has produced an excellent effect. Of course I allude not to 
 sage and devout women like you ; I refer to those who, in their 
 ( folly and their flow of youthful passions, have not yet humbled 
 " themselves sufficiently by abstinence and mortification. Who 
 would you propose "to watch here this night? " 
 
 The old beldame, who I had perceived by the violence of 
 her manner had a dislike to Marie, immediately mentioned her 
 as one to whom severe penance would be of especial benefit. 
 I conversed with her for another half-hour ; then, wishing her 
 good night, prepared for bed, and requested that Marie might 
 be summoned to attend. 
 
 Marie entered with her book of Prieres in her hand, and, 
 bowing humbly to me as she passed, sat down near to the lamp 
 which was lighted before an image of the Virgin, at the further 
 end of the room, and commenced her task of watching and of 
 prayer. 
 
 " Marie," said I, as I stood by the bed : she uttered a faint 
 scream as she heard my voice for the first time, and throwing 
 herself down upon her knees before the image of the Virgin, 
 covered her face with her hands, and appeared to be in silent 
 but earnest supplication. 
 
 " Marie," again said I, " come here." She rose, and came 
 
 trembling to the foot of the bed. " To you, and to you alone, 
 
 do I intrust a secret which, if discovered, would subject me to 
 
 a painful and ignominious death. You were not deceived, 
 
 when you started at the face beneath the nun's attire ! and you 
 
 must now be certain, from the voice which you have heard, 
 
 that I am indeed Francois. How I became the lady abbess 
 
 > of this convent you have yet to learn." I then narrated what 
 
 \ I have already done to your highness. " By what means," 
 
 continued I, " I am to deliver myself from this dangerous 
 v situation, I know not ; I have, however, one consolation, in 
 
 finding myaelf once more in company with the object of my 
 love. Come hither, Marie ; it is indeed your own Francois."
 
 HUCKABACK. 
 
 93 
 
 Marie remained at the foot of the bed, but advanced not ; 
 and I perceived that the tears fell fast, as she cast her eyes to 
 heaven. 
 
 " Speak to me, Marie, if ever you loved me." 
 
 " That I loved you, Frangois, you know full well : not even 
 your unkind desertion could affect that love, which was un- 
 changeable. I dared all for your sake; my brothers, my 
 father, could not extort the secret from me, and their sus- 
 picions, although directed towards you, could never be con- 
 firmed. I bore the offspring of my guilt in solitary anguish, 
 afterwards loaded with reproaches when I needed comfort and 
 consolation, and stunned with imprecations when I required 
 soothing and repose. I buried it with shame and sorrow and 
 contumely. You had abandoned me, and I felt that all ties to 
 this world were over. I took the veil ; and never was the 
 world quitted by so willing a votary as myself. I have since 
 been peaceful, if not happy." 
 
 " And now, Marie, you shall be happy," cried I, stretching 
 out my arms to her. " Come to me : I will explain my motives 
 for leaving Marseilles, and what my future intentions were, if 
 they had not been frustrated by unforeseen events. All shall 
 yet be well." 
 
 " FranQois, all is well. I have taken a solemn vow it is 
 registered in heaven. You have by fraud and imposition 
 entered into a holy place, and assumed a holy character. Add 
 not to your crime by even harbouring the idea of impropriety, 
 and add not to my humiliation by supposing for a moment that 
 I am capable of being a participator. 
 
 " Holy Virgin," cried she, falling on her knees, " I demand 
 thy powerful aid in this conflict of worldly passions and holy 
 wishes. Oh ! make me dead to all but thee, and to the spouse 
 whom I have accepted at thy hands." 
 
 She then rose, and continued " How you will be able to 
 leave this convent, Frangois, I know not ; but your secret is 
 safe with me, provided that you do not again request my pre- 
 sence, as you have this night. My prayers shall ever be for 
 you ; but we must meet no more ! " and Marie waved her hand 
 mournfully, and quitted the apartment. 
 
 Although I had always a great contempt for the Catholic 
 religion, of which I at that period was a member, I was awed
 
 94 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 by the beauty of virtue as it appeared in Marie, and I passed 
 the night in melancholy reflections. I felt more love for her 
 than ever, and determined upon persuading her to quit the 
 convent and become my wife. The next morning I sent for her. 
 
 " Marie, you gave yourself to heaven when you imagined 
 that you had no tie upon earth. You were deceived ; there 
 was one whom you still loved, and who still adored you. 
 Vows made in delusion are not registered. Leave this con- 
 vent with me, become my wife, and you will do your duty 
 better towards heaven than by pining between these walls, 
 which contain nothing but envy, hatred, and remorse. 
 
 " Francois, you have had my answer. What has been done, 
 cannot be undone. Save yourself, and leave me to my un- 
 happy fate," answered Marie : then bursting into tears, " O, 
 Frangois, why, why did you leave me without one word? 
 Had you but pointed out your danger to me, I should have 
 been the first to have insisted upon your absence, and all, all 
 would have been borne with patience, if not with pleasure, 
 for your sake. If what you now say is truth, all would have 
 been well : but now I have nought to cheer me in my lonely 
 pilgrimage, and nought to wish but that it may soon come to 
 its close. I forgive you, Frangois ; but pity me, for I deserve 
 your pity." 
 
 " Once more, Marie, I entreat you to consent to my pro- 
 posal." 
 
 " Never, Frangois ; I will not be less faithful to my God 
 than I was to you : He will not desert me ; and if I suffer 
 now, will reward me for it hereafter." And Marie again quitted 
 my apartment. 
 
 My situation in the nunnery now became insupportable, and 
 I determined to escape. I pleaded ill-health, and kept my 
 bed. The physician of a neighbouring convent, who had a 
 great reputation, was sent for against my wishes. When I 
 heard of his arrival, I dressed to receive him, for I was fearful 
 of some scrutiny. He inquired what ailed me : I answered 
 that I had no pain, but that I was convinced I should soon 
 depart. He felt my pulse, and, not being able to discover 
 symptoms of disease, took his leave. 
 
 To the elder sisters who visited me, I spoke in enigmas, 
 and told them that I had a summons, that they must expect
 
 HUCKABACK* 95 
 
 soon to find me gone : and the sanctity of my reputation made 
 them receive my innuendos as inspired remarks. One night I 
 complained of being much worse, and requested their early 
 retiring : they would have sent for the physician, but I forbade 
 it, telling them I was beyond a physician's cure ; kissing them 
 all, and pronouncing over them a solemn blessing, I dismissed 
 them. As soon as it was dark, I threw off my nun's attire, 
 leaving it on the bed, as if I had slipped out of it ; and as the 
 windows of my apartment, which looked into the convent 
 garden, were not barred, unclothed as I was I dropped down, 
 and reached the ground in safety. I took the precaution, 
 when I was outside, to shut the window, that my having 
 escaped should not enter their ideas, and climbing a tree which 
 overhung the wall of the garden, dropped from a bough on the 
 other side, and found myself at liberty. As I knew that the 
 further I was from the nunnery, the less chance I had of being 
 supposed an impostor, I gained the highroad, and ran as fast 
 as I could in the direction from Marseilles to Toulouse. 
 
 I had proceeded several miles without encountering anybody 
 at that still hour of the night, occasionally alarmed at the 
 barking of some snarling cur, as I passed through the small 
 villages in my route, when worn out with fatigue and cold, I 
 sat down under a hedge to screen myself from the cold " mis- 
 tral " which blew. As the wind lulled, I heard sounds of 
 voices in lamentation, which appeared to proceed from the 
 road at a short distance. I rose, and continued my route, 
 when I stumbled over the body of a man. I examined him 
 by the faint light that was emitted from the stars. He was 
 quite dead ; and it immediately occurred to me that a robbery 
 had been committed, and the lamentations which I had heard 
 proceeded from those who had escaped with their lives. The 
 cloak of the dead man was lying underneath him ; it was a 
 capote, such as are worn by officers. I unclasped it from his 
 neck, round which it was fastened with two bear's-paws chased 
 in silver, and wrapping it round my benumbed limbs, pro- 
 ceeded further on to where I now occasionally heard voices 
 much plainer than before. I again fell in with two more pros- 
 trate bodies, and as the day had now begun to break, per- 
 ceived that they were clothed like people of low condition. 
 Passing my harri over their faces, I felt that they were quite
 
 96 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 dead and stiff. Afraid that if found close to the spot, and 
 unable to give any account of myself, I should be accused of 
 murder, I thought of immediate flight ; but the plaintive voice 
 of a woman met my ears, and it was an appeal that I could 
 not resist. I proceeded a few yards further, and perceived a 
 carriage, the horses of which lay dead in their traces, with the 
 driver beside them. To the hind wheels were secured with 
 ropes an elderly man and a young woman. 
 
 " God be praised, my dear father, help is at hand ! " said the 
 young woman, as I approached ; and as I came close to them, 
 she cried out, " Oh, I know him by his cloak : it's the gentle- 
 man who defended us so gallantly, and whom we supposed to 
 have been killed. Are you much hurt, sir ? " 
 
 Aware that I had better be anybody than myself, with my 
 usual invention and presence of mind, I replied, " Not much, 
 madam, thanks be to Heaven ! I was stunned, and they left 
 me for dead : I am happy that I am still alive, to be of service 
 to you." And I immediately proceeded to cast loose the ropes 
 by which the father and daughter (as by their conversation 
 they appeared to be) had been confined to the wheels. The 
 robbers had stripped them both nearly to the skin, and they 
 were so numbed with the cold that they could scarcely stand 
 when they were unbound, the poor girl especially, who 
 shivered as if suffering from a tertian ague. I proposed that 
 they should enter the carriage, as the best shelter they could 
 receive from the bitter keen wind which blew, and they agreed 
 to the prudence of my suggestion. 
 
 " If I am not requesting too great a favour, sir," said the old 
 gentleman, " I wish you would lend my poor daughter that 
 cloak, for she is perishing with the cold. ;> 
 
 " I will with pleasure, sir, as soon as you are both in the 
 carriage," replied I ; for I had made up my mind how to pro- 
 ceed. I assisted them in, and, shutting the door, slipped off 
 the cloak and put it in at the window, saying, " Believe me, 
 madam, I should have offered it to you before ; but the fact 
 is, the rascals served me, as I lay stunned, in the same manner 
 as they have you ; and I must now go in search of something 
 to cover myself." I then went off at a quick pace, hearing 
 the young woman exclaim, " Oh, my father, he has stripped 
 himself to cover me ! "
 
 HUCKABACK. 97 
 
 I immediately returned to the body of the gentleman whose 
 cloak I had borrowed, and for whom I had no doubt that I 
 had been mistaken. I stripped off all the clothes from his 
 rigid limbs, and put them on : they fitted me exactly, and, 
 what was more, were not stained with blood, as he had re- 
 ceived his death-wound from a bullet in the brain. I then 
 dragged the body to the other side of the hedge, where I threw 
 it into a ditch, and covered it with long grass, that it might 
 not be discovered. Daylight had made its appearance before 
 I had completed my toilet ; and when I came back to the 
 carriage the old gemletnan was loud in his thanks. I told him 
 that in returning to strip one of the other bodies, I had found 
 my own clothes in a bundle, which the robbers had left in their 
 haste to escape from pursuit. 
 
 The young lady said nothing, but sat shrouded up in the 
 cloak, in one corner of the carriage. I now entered into con- 
 versation with the old gentleman, who explained to me how 
 the attack began before I had come to their assistance : and 
 from the information I received from him, I was enabled to 
 form a very good idea of the story I was to tell. I found that 
 I had been on horseback, with my servant, when I rode to their 
 assistance ; that we had been both supposed to be killed ; and 
 that we were about five miles from any post-town. 
 
 By this time it was broad daylight, and I made another dis- 
 covery, which was that I was wearing an officer's undress. 
 Anxious to gratify my curiosity by a sight of the young lady, I 
 turned to her as she lay muffled up in the cloak, and expressed 
 a hope that she did not feel cold. She put her head out, an- 
 swered in the negative with such a sweet smile, upon such a 
 sweet face as I never had before witnessed. I looked at her as 
 if transfixed, and did not take my eyes off until she blushed, 
 and again sank back as before. 
 
 This brought me to my recollection : I offered to go for 
 assistance, and my services were thankfully accepted. I passed 
 by the men who had been killed, as I went on my mission ; 
 one was habited in a livery similar to the coachman who lay 
 dead by his horses ; the other was that of a groom, and I took 
 it for granted that he had been my servant. I searched in his 
 pockets for information, and, collecting the contents, com- 
 menced reading them as I walked along. 
 
 II
 
 98 THE PACHA OF MAN V TALES. 
 
 By his memoranda I found out that I had come from Aix. 
 By letters and papers in my own pockets I ascertained who I 
 was, who my father was, to what regiment I belonged, that I 
 was on leave of absence, and that I had a brother, whose 
 affectionate letter I read carefully for further information. I 
 had not time to count a considerable sum of money, which 
 was in my purse, before I fell in with a countryman, who was 
 leading his horses to the plough. Briefly narrating the circum- 
 stances, I offered him a handsome remuneration if he would 
 mount one of his horses and procure immediate assistance. 
 Having seen him off at a hand-gallop, I returned to the car- 
 riage to try if it were possible to have one more view of that 
 face which had so enchanted me. I stated the good fortune I 
 had met with, and my hopes of a speedy deliverance from 
 their trouble. I answered the old gentleman's inquiry of the 
 name and condition of the person to whom he and his daughter 
 had been so much indebted ; talked of my father the Comte 
 de Rouille ; of my regiment ; and then requested a similar 
 confidence. 
 
 He was the Marquis de Tonseca, and the young lady was 
 his daughter; they were proceeding to their chateau, about 
 seven miles distant, where he hoped I would accompany them 
 and allow him an opportunity of showing his gratitude. 
 
 I hesitated, talking of engagements not that I intended to 
 refuse the invitation, but because the young lady had not 
 joined in the request. My plan had the desired effect : again 
 the lovely head appeared from under the cloak, and the 
 sweetest voice in the world expressed a wish that I would not 
 refuse her father's invitation. I blushed, and stammered con- 
 sent. Pleased at her victory, she smiled, and again was 
 folded up in the cloak, which I could have torn to pieces for 
 its envious concealment. 
 
 Assistance had now arrived ; a crowd of people, headed by 
 an officer to take \heproces verbal, and two pair of post-horses 
 rame up ; the depositions of the marquis and myself were 
 briefly taken ; his as to what he had seen, and mine, "to the 
 best of my knowledge and belief." The papers were signed, 
 the dead bodies were carried off, the horses put to, and, at 
 the request of the marquis, I took my seat in the carnage be- 
 tween him and his daughter, and we proceeded to the chateau.
 
 HUCKABACK. 99 
 
 In two hours we arrived at a magnificent pile, which bespoke 
 the wealth and ancestry of the owner; and I had the pleasure 
 of carrying in my arms, up the long flight of steps by which we 
 ascended to the entrance, the beautiful girl, muffled up as she 
 was in the cloak. As soon as I had laid her down upon a sofa, 
 I left her to the care of the females who were in attendance, 
 and quitted the room. The marquis had retired to his own 
 apartment, to supply the deficiencies in his attire, and for a 
 short time I was left alone to my own reflections. " What is to 
 be the result of all this ?" thought I. " Is there to be no end of 
 my assumption of the clothes and titles of other people, this 
 continual transmigration before death ? Yet how much more 
 has it depended on circumstances than upon myself!" 
 
 After much reflection, I determined upon letting things take 
 their own course, trusting to my own ready invention and good 
 fortune for the issue. I felt it to be impossible to tear myself 
 from the sweet creature whose personal charms had already 
 fascinated me, and I vowed that there was no risk,. no danger, 
 that I would not brave to obtain her love. 
 
 In an hour we met at the breakfast-table, and I was more 
 than ever enchanted ; but I will not detain your highness by 
 dwelling too long upon the subject. 
 
 " No, don't, yaha bibi, my friend," said the pacha, yawning ; 
 " your story gets very dry already. We'll suppose the cypress 
 waist, the stag's eyes, and full moon of her face. We Mussul- 
 mans don't talk so much about women ; but I suppose, as you 
 were a Frenchman, and very young then, you knew, no better. 
 Why, you talk of women as if they had souls \" The renegade 
 did not think it advisable to express his opinion in contradic- 
 tion to that of his highness, and the assertions of the Prophet. 
 " It cannot be said that I behaved to them as if they had," 
 replied he; "and before I changed my religion, I was often 
 smitten with remorse for my selfish and unfeeling conduct 
 towards Marie; but all that is past: I am now a Turk;' 
 and the renegade passed his hand over his brow; for some 
 long-smothered feelings of virtue had been conjured up by 
 remorse, as he was reminded of the career of guilt which he 
 had run through, and which he had climaxed by the denial of 
 his Redeemer. After a short pause he continued
 
 100 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 For a week I remained in the society of the marquis and his 
 daughter, daily ingratiating myself more and more with both. 
 I had not declared my passion to his daughter, for there was 
 something that irresistibly prevented me; yet I knew that I 
 was not viewed with indifference. Our party was then in- 
 creased by the appearance of the Bishop of Toulouse, the 
 brother of the marquis, who came to congratulate him and his 
 niece upon their fortunate escape. I was presented as the 
 gentleman who had so materially assisted. The bishop stared 
 at me with surprise. 
 
 " It is strange," observed he, " that a body has been found 
 in a ditch, near to where the robbery had occurred, and has 
 been recognized to be that of the very young officer to whom 
 you now introduce me. How can this be ?" 
 
 The marquis and his daughter appeared astonished at the 
 intelligence (and in truth so was I), but it was only for a 
 second. "How say you, sir?" exclaimed I, with trepidation : 
 " a body recognized as the son of the Comte de Rouille' ? My 
 poor, poor brother ! my dear Victor, have you then perished ? 
 what injustice have I done you?" Throwing myself on the 
 fauteuil, I covered my face with my handkerchief, as if over- 
 powered with grief; but in reality I was reflecting what I" 
 should say next 
 
 "Your brother !" exclaimed the marquis, in surprise. 
 
 " Yes, marquis, my brother. I will now state the circum- 
 stances which induced me to conceal from you that he was in 
 my company at the time of the attack. When I galloped to 
 your assistance, I was followed by my brother, who was riding 
 with me to Marseilles, and of whom you recollect I have 
 spoken; but after the first discharge of fire-arms, I found 
 that he was not at my side, and I imagined that he had de- 
 serted me from fear. I could not bear that such a disgrace 
 upon the famil/ should be known, and therefore made no men- 
 tion of him when I came back. Little did I think, that while 
 I was accusing him in my heart of cowardice, he was dead, 
 and his heart's blood had been poured out in my defence. 
 Victor, my dear Victor!" continued I, "how great has been 
 my injustice and what can repay me for your loss?" 
 and I threw myself down on the sofa, as if frantic with 
 grief!
 
 HUCKABACK. 10. 
 
 " Huckaback," observed the pacha, " it appears to me that 
 in your younger days you were a great scoundrel." 
 
 " I acknowledge it," replied the renegade ; " but, in extenua- 
 tion, your highness must call to mind that at that time I was 
 a Christian." 
 
 " By the beard of the Prophet, that is well said, and very 
 true ! " replied the pacha. 
 
 The marquis and his brother were shocked at having so un- 
 intentionally plunged me into affliction. They offered conso- 
 lation, but finding their endeavours fruitless, quitted the room, 
 thinking it advisable to leave me to myself. Cerise, for that 
 was the name of the daughter, remained, and after a short 
 pause came to me, and in her silvery voice, as she laid her 
 hand upon my shoulder, addressed me : 
 
 "Console yourself, my dear Felix;" but I made no answer. 
 " How unhappy I am ! " said she : " it was in my defence 
 that he lost his life : it was to your courage that I am indebted 
 for my preservation ; he is dead, and you are miserable. Can 
 nothing repay you for the loss of your brother? nothing, 
 Felix?" 
 
 I raised my head, her eyes were swimming with tears, and 
 beaming with love. As I resumed my seat upon the sofa, I 
 drew her gently towards me. She offered no resistance, and 
 in a moment she sank down by my side, as my arms entwined 
 her beauteous form. 
 
 " Yes," murmured I, " Cerise : I am repaid." Smiling 
 through her blushes, she disengaged herself, and rose to de- 
 part. Returning once more at my request, she imprinted a 
 kiss upon my brow : she waved her hand and hastened out of 
 the room. 
 
 " That was a very nice girl, by your description," interrupted 
 the pacha ; " pray what might you pay for such a girl in your 
 country?" 
 
 " She was beyond all price," replied the renegade, with an 
 absent air, as if communing with times past. " Love is not to 
 be bought. The Moslem purchases the slave, and blind sub- 
 mission to his will, but he makes not love." 
 
 " No, he buys it ready made," replied the pacha ; " and I
 
 102 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 must say I wish you had done the same ; for with all this love- 
 making you get on but slowly with your story. Proceed." 
 
 I remained another week, when the bishop, who had not yet 
 taken his departure, one morning drove over to Marseilles, 
 and returned to dinner. "I was sent for," observed he, as we 
 sat down to table, " to consult as to the propriety of requesting 
 from the Pope the canonization of the Sceur Eustasie, of whom 
 you have heard so much, and whose disappearance has been 
 attributed to miraculous agency; but during our consultation, 
 a piece of information was sent in, which has very much 
 changed the opinion of parties as to her reputed sanctity. It 
 appears that near the spot where the vessel was wrecked, they 
 have discovered the body of a woman dressed in man's clothes ; 
 and it is now supposed that some miscreant has personified 
 her at the convent, and has subsequently escaped. The officers 
 of justice are making the strictest search; and if the individual 
 is found, he will be sent to Rome to be disposed of by the In- 
 quisition." 
 
 As your highness may imagine, this was not very agreeable 
 news ; I almost started from my chair when I heard it, but 
 I had sufficient mastery over myself to conceal my feelings, 
 although every morsel that I put into my mouth nearly 
 choked me. 
 
 But before dinner was over, the plot thickened ; a letter was 
 brought to the marquis from my adopted father, the Comte de 
 Rouille', stating that such contradictory reports had been re- 
 ceived, that he could not ascertain the truth. From one he 
 heard that his eldest son was alive, and at the chateau ; from 
 others, that he had been murdered ; others congratulated him 
 in their letters upon the escape of one of his sons. He re- 
 quested the marquis to inform him of the real state of affairs, 
 and to let him knqw by the bearer whether his eldest son was 
 with him, or whether he had met with the unfortunate death 
 that was reported ; and as his youngest son was at home, and 
 had been there for some months, he could not but imagine, as 
 both of them were hoentioned in the reports, that there might 
 be some imposture in "the business. 
 
 I perceived, by the change of countenance in the marquis, 
 that affairs were not going well, and was to a certain degree
 
 HUCKABACK. 103 
 
 prepared, when he gravely handed the letter to the bishop, 
 who, having read it, passed it over to me, saying, with a stern 
 look, " This concerns you, sir." I read it with a composed 
 countenance, and, returning it to the marquis, I observed, with 
 a sigh, " There is no kindness in such deception ; the blow 
 will only fall heavier upon the old man when it does come. 
 You are aware, sir, I mentioned it to you (or rather, I believe, 
 it was to Mademoiselle Cerise), that my father is blind, and 
 has been so for the last two years. They have been afraid to 
 tell him the truth, and have made him believe that Victor is 
 there. You must know, sir, that it was clandestinely that my 
 dear brother quitted his father's house to accompany me. Un- 
 happy hour when I yielded to his entreaties ! But, monsieur 
 le marquis, I perceive that it is now imperative that I should 
 go to my father ; he will need the assurance of my existence to 
 support him in his grief. I will, therefore, with your permis- 
 sion, write a few lines by the bearer of this communication, and 
 to-morrow morning at daylight must unwillingly tear myself 
 away from your charming society." 
 
 The cool and confident air with which I answered, removed 
 suspicion ; and having written a few lines to the comte, and 
 requested from the marquis the loan of his seal, I applied the 
 wax, and desired the servant to deliver it as an answer to the 
 messenger, whom I was not sorry to see galloping by the 
 window. " Oh/' cried I, " 'tis Pierre : had I known that, I 
 should have asked him some questions." 
 
 This well-timed exclamation of mine, I perceived, did not 
 fail to have its weight. We again sat down to table, and I was 
 treated with more than usual kindness by the marquis and his 
 brother, as if in compensation for their having, for a moment, 
 harboured a suspicion of my honesty. But I was ill at ease, 
 and I felt that I never had acted- with more prudence than in 
 proposing my early departure. 
 
 In the evening I was alone with Cerise. Since the news of 
 my brother's death, and the scene that followed, we had sworn 
 unalterable love, and in that instance only was I sincere. I 
 loved her to desperation, and I dote on her memory now, 
 though years have rolled away, and she has long been mingled 
 with the dead. Yes, Cerise, if from the realms of bliss, where 
 thy pure spirit dwells, thou canst look down upon a wretch so
 
 104 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 loaded with guilt as I am, oh, turn not away with horror, but 
 view with pity one who loved as fondly as man could love, and 
 hereafter will care little for all that paradise can offer, if thy 
 fair spirit must not bid him welcome ! 
 
 " I wish, Huckaback," observed the pacha, angrily, " that 
 you would go on with your story ; you are talking to a dead 
 woman, instead of a live pacha." 
 
 " I entreat your pardon," replied the renegade ; " but to 
 amuse your highness, I have entered into scenes which long 
 have been dismissed from my memory ; and the feelings 
 attending them will rise up, and cannot well be checked. I 
 will be more careful as I proceed." 
 
 Cerise was melancholy at the idea of my departure. I kissed 
 the tears away, and the time flew rapidly. I persuaded her to 
 allow me an interview after the family had retired, as I had 
 much to say to her. 
 
 "Well, well, we'll suppose all that," observed the pacha, 
 impatiently ; " now go on ; you remember you were to set off 
 in the morning." 
 
 " Yes, yes, your highness," replied the renegade, somewhat 
 displeased. 
 
 And I did set off in the morning upon one of the marquis's 
 horses, and rode as hard as I could to Toulon. I determined 
 again to try my fortune at sea, as I was afraid that I should be 
 discovered if I remained on shore. I purchased a small venture 
 with the money in my purse, and having made my agreement 
 with the captain of a vessel bound to St. Domingo, exchanged 
 my dress for a jacket and trousers, and was again at the mercy 
 of the waves. 
 
 " Such, your highness, is the history of my First Voyage, and 
 the incidents which resulted from it." 
 
 "Well," said the pacha, rising, "there was too much love, 
 and too little sea in it ; but I suppose if you had left the first 
 out, it would not have been so long. Mustapha, give him 
 five pieces of gold, and we will have his Second Voyage 
 to-morrow."
 
 HUCKABACK. 105 
 
 As soon as the pacha had retired, the renegade growled 
 out, " If I am to tell any more stories, I must not be checkea 
 and dictated to. I could have talked for an hour after I had 
 met Cerise, if I had not been interrupted : as it was, I cut the 
 matter short." 
 
 "But, Selim," replied Mustapha, "the pacha is not fond 
 of these sort of adventures; he likes something much more 
 marvellous. Could not you embellish a little ? " 
 
 " How do you mean? " 
 
 " Holy Prophet, what do I mean ? Why, tell a few lies 
 not adhere quite so much to matter of fact." 
 
 "Adhere to matter of fact, vizier ! why, I have not stated 
 a single fact yet ! " 
 
 " What ! is not all this true ? " 
 
 " Not one word of it, as I hope to go to heaven ! " 
 
 " Bismillah ! what, not about Marie and the convent and 
 Cerise?" 
 
 " All lies from beginning to end." 
 
 " And were you never a barber ? " 
 
 " Never in my life." 
 
 " Then why did you make such long apostrophes to the dead 
 Cerise, when you observed that the pacha was impatient ? " 
 
 " Merely because I was at fault, vizier, and wished to gaii> 
 time, to consider what I should say next." 
 
 "Selim," replied Mustapha, "you have great talent; but 
 mind that your next voyage is more wonderful : I presume it 
 will make no difference to you." 
 
 "None whatever; but the pacha is not a man of taste. 
 Now give me my five pieces, and I'll be off: I'm choked with 
 thirst, and shall not be comfortable till I have drunk at least a, 
 gallon of wine." 
 
 " Holy Prophet ! what a Turk ! " exclaimed the vizier, 
 lifting up his hands. "Here is your money, kafir; don't 
 forget to be here to-morrow." 
 
 " Never fear me, vizier : your slave lives but to obey you, as 
 we Turks say." 
 
 " We Turks ! " muttered the vizier, as he cast his eyes 
 upon the retiring figure of the renegade. " Well, of all the 
 
 scoundrels " " Well," muttered the renegade, who was 
 
 now out of hearing, " of all the scoundrels " Whom
 
 lo6 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 they were referring to in their separate soliloquies must be 
 left to the reader's imagination, for caution prevented either 
 of the parties from giving vent to the remainder of their 
 thoughts. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 " MASHALLMI ! How wonderful is God ! Did the caliph 
 Haroun ever hear such stories ? " observed the pacha, taking 
 the pipe from his mouth, as he was indulging in company with 
 Mustapha ; " that infidel tells strange histories of strange 
 countries. What will his mouth open to next ? " 
 
 "The Shaitan bachen for a son of the devil he still is, 
 although he wears the turban and bows to Allah will prove a 
 treasury of amusement to your sublime highness," replied 
 Mustapha ; " but what are the words of the sage ? ' If thou 
 hast gold in thy hazneh, keep it locked, and add thereto ; thus 
 shall thou become rich.' " 
 
 %< They are the words of wisdom," replied the pacha. 
 
 " Then may I advise your highness to walk out this evening 
 in search of more, and not exhaust that which is in your 
 possession." 
 
 " Wallah thaib ! It is well said ! " answered the pacha, 
 rising from his musnud, or carpet of state ; " the moon is up 
 when all is ready, we will proceed." 
 
 In a quarter of an hour the pacha, attended by Mustapha 
 and the armed slaves as before, again set out upon their 
 perambulations through the city of Cairo. 
 
 They had not walked more than half an hour when they 
 observed two men sitting at the door of a fruit-shop, at high 
 words with each other. The pacha held up his finger to 
 Mustapha, as a sign to stop, that he might overhear their 
 discourse. 
 
 " I 'ell you, Ali, that it is impossible to hear those long 
 stories of yours without losing one's temper." 
 
 "Long stories!" whispered the pacha to Mustapha with 
 delight, " the very thing ! Shukur Allah ! Thanks be to 
 God!"
 
 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 107 
 
 " And I tell you in reply, Hussan, that yours are ten times 
 worse. You never have spoken for ten minutes without my 
 feeling an inclination to salute your mouth with the heel of 
 my slipper. I wish there was anyone who would hear us both, 
 and decide the point." 
 
 " That I will," said the pacha, going up to them ; " to- 
 morrow I will hear both your stories, and decide upon the 
 merits of each." 
 
 "And who are you?" observed one of the men, with 
 surprise. 
 
 " His highness the pacha," replied Mustapha, coming for- 
 ward. Both the men prostrated themselves, while the pacha 
 directed Mustapha that they should be brought before him on 
 the following day ; and the vizier, having given them in charge 
 to the slaves who had followed at a distance, returned home 
 with the pacha, who was delighted at the rich harvest which he 
 expected to reap from the two people who accused each other 
 of telling such long stories. 
 
 When the divan of the following day had closed, the two men 
 were summoned into the presence of the pacha. 
 
 " I shall now decide upon the merits of your stories," ob- 
 served he. " Sit down there, both of you, and agree between 
 yourselves which of you will begin." 
 
 "May it please your highness, you will never be able to 
 listen to this man Ali," observed Hussan ; " you had better 
 send him away." 
 
 " Allah preserve your highness from all evil," replied Ali, 
 " but more especially from the talking of Hussan, which is as 
 oppressive as the hot wind of the desert." 
 
 " I have not sent for you to hear you dispute in my pre- 
 sence, but to year your stories. Ali, do you begin." 
 
 " I do assure your highness," interrupted Hussan, "that you 
 will not listen to him thre e minutes." 
 
 '' I do assure you," re torted the pacha, " that if you say one 
 word more, until you are ordered, you will be rewarded with 
 the bastinado for your tr ouble. Ali, begin your story." 
 
 " Well, your highness, it is about thirty years ago, you know t 
 that I was a little boy, yo u know" 
 
 Here Hussan lifted up his hands, and smiled. 
 
 "Well, your highness, you know "
 
 108 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 " I don't know, Ali : how can I know until you tell me ? " 
 observed the pacha. 
 
 " Well then, your highness must know, that ever since I was 
 born I have lived in the same street where your highness saw 
 us seated last night, and thirty years, you know, is a long period 
 in a man's life. My father was a gardener, and people of his 
 condition, you know, are obliged to get up early, that they may 
 be in time for the market, where, you know, they bring their 
 vegetables for sale." 
 
 "This is all very true, I daresay," observed the pacha; 
 " but you will oblige me by leaving out all those you knows, 
 which I agree with your comrade Hussan to be very tedious." 
 
 " That's what I have already told him, your highness. ' Ali,' 
 says I, ' if you can only leave out your you knows,' says I, 
 ' your story might be amusing : but,' says I " 
 
 " Silence with your says J's" observed the pacha ; " have 
 you forgotten the bastinado ? there seems to be a pair of you. 
 Ali, go on with the story, and remember my injunction ; the 
 felek and ferashes are at hand." 
 
 "Well, your highness, one morning he rose earlier than 
 usual, as he was anxious to be first in the market with some 
 onions, which, you know, are very plentiful ; and having laden 
 his ass, he set off at a good round pace for the city. There, 
 you know, he arrived at the market-place a little after the day 
 had dawned, when, you know " 
 
 " Did you not receive my orders to leave out you know ? 
 Am I to be obeyed or not? Now go on, and if you 
 offend again, you shall have the bastinado till your nails 
 drop off." 
 
 " I shall observe your highness's wishes," replied Ali. " A 
 
 little after the day had dawned, you , no, he, I mean, 
 
 observed an old woman sitting near one of the fruit-stalls, with 
 her head covered up in an old dark-blue capote ; and as he 
 passed by, you she, I mean, held out one of her fingers, and 
 said, ' Ali Baba,' for that was my father's name, ' listen to good 
 advice; leave your laden beast and follow me.' Now my 
 father, you know, not being inclined to pay any attention to 
 such an old woman, replied, you know " 
 
 " Holy Allah ! " exclaimed the pacha in a rage to Mustapha, 
 "what does this man deserve?"
 
 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 109 
 
 " The punishment due to those who dare to disobey your 
 highness's commands." 
 
 " And he shall have it ; take him out, and give him one 
 hundred blows of the bastinado ; put him on an ass, with his 
 face turned towards the tail, and let the officer Vho conducts 
 him through the town proclaim, 'Such is the punishment 
 awarded by the pacha to him who presumes to say that his 
 highness knows, when in fact he knows nothing.' " 
 
 The guards seized upon the unfortunate Ali, to put in execu- 
 tion the will of the pacha; and as he was dragged away, 
 Hussan cried out, " I told you so, but you would not believe 
 me." 
 
 " Well," replied Ali, " I've one comfort : your story's not 
 told yet. His highness has yet to decide which is the best." 
 
 After a few minutes' pause, to recover himself from the 
 ruffling of his temper, the pacha addressed the other man 
 " Now, Hussan, you will begin your story ; and observe that I 
 am rather in an ill-humour." 
 
 " How can your highness be otherwise, after the annoyance 
 of that bore All ? I said so ; ' Ali,' says I " 
 
 " Go on with your story," repeated the pacha, angrily. 
 
 " It was about two years ago, your highness, when I was 
 sitting at the door of the fruit-shop, which your highness might 
 have observed when you saw us last night, that a young female, 
 who seemed above the common class, came in, followed by a 
 porter. ' I want some melons,' says she. ' I have very fine 
 ones, so walk in/ says I; and I handed down from the upper 
 shelf, where they were placed, four or five musk, and four or 
 five water-melons 
 
 " Now,' says /, ' young woman, you'll obseive that these are 
 much finer melons,' says /, ' than you usually can procure ; 
 therefore the lowest price that I can take,' says /, ' is ' " 
 
 "Why, your says J's are much worse than All's you knows; 
 leave them out, if you please, and proceed with your story," 
 cried the pacha, with increased ill-humour. 
 
 " I will obey your highness, if possible. I stated the lowest 
 price, and she lifted up her veil. ' I have an idea,' said she, 
 as she allowed me to look upon one of the prettiest faces in 
 the world, ' that they are to be had cheaper.' 
 
 " I was so struck with her beauty, that I was quite speech-
 
 1 10 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. . 
 
 less. 'Am I not right?' said she, smiling. 'From you, 
 madam,' says /, ' I can take nothing ; put as many in the 
 basket of your porter as you please.' She thanked me, and 
 put into the basket all that I had handed down. ' Now,' says 
 she; ' I want some dates, the best and finest that you have.' I 
 handed some down that would have been admired by the 
 ladies of your highness's harem, ' These, madam,' says /, 
 ' are the best dates that are to be found in Cairo.' She tasted 
 them, and asked the price : I mentioned it. ' They are dear,' 
 replied she, ' but I must have them cheaper ;' and again she 
 lifted her veil. * Madam,' says /, ' these dates are much too 
 cheap at the price which I have mentioned ; it really is impos- 
 sible to take one para less. Observe, madam,' says /, ' the 
 beauty of them, feel the weight, and taste them,' says /, ' and 
 you must acknowledge, 'says f, 'that they are offered to you at 
 a price which,' says / " 
 
 "Holy Prophet!" cried the pacha, in a rage, "I will hear 
 no more of your says /V. If you cannot tell your story with- 
 out them, you shall fare worse than Ali." 
 
 " May it please your highness, how will it be possible for 
 you to know what I said, unless I point out to you what I did 
 say? I cannot tell my story without it." 
 
 " I'll see that," replied the pacha, in a savage tone ; and 
 making a sign, the executioner made his appearance. " Now, 
 then, go on with your story; and, executioner, after he has 
 repeated says 7 three times, off with his head ! Go on." 
 
 " I shall never be able to go on, your highness ; consider 
 one moment how harmless my says Fs are to the detestable 
 you knows of Ali. That's what I always told him ; * Ali,' says 
 /, ' if you only knew,' says /, ' how annoying you are ! Why 
 
 there,' says / " At this moment the blow of the scimitar 
 
 fell, and the head of Hussan rolled upon the floor ; the lips, 
 from the force of habit, still quivering in their convulsions 
 with the motioning which would have produced says /, if the 
 channel of sound had not been so effectually interrupted. 
 
 "The story's ended !" observed the pacha, in a rage. " Of 
 all the nuisances I ever encountered, these two men have beat 
 them all. Allah forbid that I should again meet with a says 1 
 or you know /" 
 
 " Your highness is all wisdom." observed Mustipha ; " may
 
 HUCKABACK. ill 
 
 such ever be the fate of those who cannot tell their stories 
 without saying what they said." The pacha, irritated at his 
 disappointment, and little soothed by the remark of Mustapha, 
 without making any answer to it, was about to retire to his 
 harem, when Mustapha, with a low salaam, informed him that 
 the renegade was in attendance to relate his Second Voyage, 
 if he might be permitted to kiss the dust in his presence. 
 " Khoda shefa midehed God gives relief," replied the pacha, 
 as he resumed his seat : "let him approach." 
 
 The renegade entered; and having paid the customary 
 obeisance, took his seat, and commenced the narrative of his 
 Second Voyage : 
 
 May it please your most sublime highness, the day after I 
 embarked we sailed with a fair wind, and having cleared the 
 Straits, flattered ourselves with the prospect of a successful 
 voyage ; but we were miserably disappointed, for three days 
 afterwards we fell in with a small brig under English colours. 
 As she was evidently a merchant-vessel, we paid no attention 
 to her running down to us, supposing she was out of her 
 reckoning, and wished to know her exact position on the chart. 
 But as soon as she was close to us, instead of passing under 
 our stern, as we expected, she rounded to, and laid us by the 
 board. Taken by surprise, and having no arms, we were 
 beaten down below ; and in a few minutes the vessel remained 
 in the possession of our assailants. They held a short con- 
 sultation, and then, opening the hatches, a boatswain pulled 
 out his whistle, and in a tremendous voice roared out, " All 
 hands ahoy .'" which was followed by his crying out, " Tumble 
 up, there tumble up.'" As we understood this to be a signal 
 for our appearance on deck, we obeyed the summons. When 
 we all came up, we found that if we had had any idea that they 
 were enemies, we might have beaten them off, as they were 
 only fifteen in number, while we mustered sixteen. But it was 
 too late : we were unarmed, and they had each of them a cut- 
 lass, with two pistols stuck in their girdles. As soon as we 
 were all on deck, they bound our arms behind us with ropes, 
 and ranged us in a line. Having inquired of each of us our 
 respective ranks and professions, they held a short consulta- 
 tion, and the boatswain, addressing me, said " Thank Heaven,
 
 U2 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 you scoundrel, that you were brought up as a barber, for it has 
 saved your life !" 
 
 He then cut loose the cords which bound me, and I re- 
 mained at liberty. " Now, then, my lads," continued the boat- 
 swain, " C0me, every man his bird '/" And, so saying, he seized 
 upon the captain of the vessel, and leading him to the gang- 
 way, passed his sword through his body, and tossed him into 
 the sea. 
 
 In the same manner each of the murderous villains led for- 
 ward the man he had selected, and putting an end to his life 
 either by the sword or pistol, launched the corpse into the 
 waves. 
 
 My blood curdled as I beheld the scene, but I said nothing. 
 I considered myself too fortunate to escape with life. When 
 it was all over, the boatswain roared out, "That j off s done! 
 Now, Mr. Barber, swab up all this here blood, and be d d to 
 you ! and recollect that you are one of us." I obeyed in fear 
 and silence, and then returned to my former station near the 
 taffrail. 
 
 The people who had captured us, as I afterwards found out, 
 were part of the crew of an English Guinea-man, who had 
 murdered the master and incite, and had taken possession of 
 the vessel. As our brig was a much finer craft in every re- 
 spect, they determined upon retaining her, and scuttling their 
 own. Before night they had made all their arrangements, and 
 were standing to the westward with a fine breeze. 
 
 But exactly as the bell struck eight for midnight, a tremen- 
 dous voice was heard at the hatchway, if possible more than a 
 hundred times louder than the boatswain's, roaring out, "AH 
 /lands ahoy !" 
 
 The concussion of the air was so great, that the ship trem- 
 bled as if she had been struck by a thunderbolt ; and as soon 
 as the motion had subsided, the water was heard to rush into 
 every part of the hold. Everybody ran on deck astonished 
 with the sound, expecting the vessel immediately to go down, 
 and looking at each other with horror as they stood trembling 
 in their shirts. The water continued to rush into the vessel 
 until it reached the orlop-beams ; then as suddenly it stopped. 
 
 When the panic had to a certain degree subsided, and they 
 perceived that the water did not increase, all hands applied to
 
 " Come, every man his bird! " 
 
 PACHA OP 1IANT TAI/KS.
 
 HUCKABACK. 113 
 
 the pumps, and by eight o'clock in the morning the vessel was 
 fiee. Still the unaccountable circumstance weighed heavy on 
 the minds of the seamen, who walked the deck without speaking 
 to each other, or paying any attention to the ship's course; and 
 as no one took the command, no one was ordered to the helm. 
 
 For my own part, I thought it a judgment upon tr 2m for 
 their cruelty; and, expecting that worse would happen, I had 
 made up my mind to my fate. I thought of Marie, and hoping 
 for pardon, yet fearing the worst, I vowed if I escaped that I 
 would amend my life. 
 
 At night we again retired to our hammocks, but no one 
 slept, so afraid were we of a second visitation. The bell was 
 not struck by the men, but it struck itself, louder than I ever 
 heard it before; and again the dreadful voice was heard, "All 
 hands ahoy J" again the water rushed in, and again we ran on 
 deck. As before, it mounted as high as the orlop-beams ; it 
 then stopped, and was pumped out again by eight o'clock on 
 the ensuing morning. 
 
 For a month, during which time we never saw land, for we 
 had lost all reckoning, and no one cared to steer the same 
 dreadful visitation took place. Habit had, to a degree, har- 
 dened the men ; they now swore and got drunk as before, and 
 even made a jest of the boatswain of the middle watch, as they 
 called him, but at the same time they were worn out with con- 
 stant fatigue ; and one night they declared that they would 
 pump no longer. The water remained in the vessel all that 
 day, and we retired to our hammocks as usual, when, at mid- 
 night, the same voice was again heard at the hatchway, not fol- 
 lowed by the rush of water, but by a shriek of " Tumble ///, 
 there tumble up /" 
 
 We all started at the summons, and hastened on deck ; there 
 was something that impelled us, in spite of ourselves. Never 
 shall I forget the horrid sight which presented itself. Stretched 
 in a row on the deck of the vessel lay the fifteen bloody corpses 
 of my shipmates who had been murdered. We stood aghast; 
 the hair rose straight up from our heads, as we viewed the 
 supernatural reappearances. After a pause of about five 
 minutes, during which we never spoke, or even moved, one of 
 the corpses cried out, in a sepulchral voice, " Come, every man 
 his bird!" and held up its arms as it lay. 
 
 I
 
 114 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 The man whose office it had been to take the living bcdy to 
 the gangway, and after killing it to throw it overboard, ad- 
 vanced towards it He was evidently impelled by a super- 
 natural power, for never shall I forget the look of horror, the 
 faint scream of agony, which escaped him as he obeyed the 
 summons. Like the trembling bird fascinated by the snake, 
 he fell into the arms of the dead body, which, grasping him 
 tight, rolled over and over in convolutions like a serpent, until it 
 gained the break of the gangway, and then tumbled into the sea 
 with its murderer entwined in its embraces. A flash of light- 
 ning succeeded, which blinded us for several minutes ; when 
 we recovered our vision, the remainder of the bodies had dis- 
 appeared. 
 
 The effect upon the guilty wretches was dreadful ; there they 
 lay, each man on the deck where he had crouched down when 
 the lightning had flashed upon him : the sun rose upon them, 
 yet they moved not; he poured his beams on their naked 
 bodies when at his meridian height, yet they still remained : 
 the evening closed in and found them in the same positions. 
 As soon as it was dark, as if released from a spell, they crawled 
 below, and went into their hammocks : at midnight again the 
 bell struck : again the voice was heard, followed by the shriek ; 
 again they repaired on deck : the fourteen remaining bodies lay 
 in a row : another of the murderers was summoned, obeyed, 
 and disappeared : again the flash of lightning burst upon us, 
 and all had vanished : and thus it continued every night, until 
 the boatswain, who was reserved for the last, was dragged over- 
 board after the rest by the corpse of the captain; and then a 
 tremendous voice from the maintop, followed by exulting 
 laughter, cried out, " That job's donef" Immediately after 
 which, the water rushed out of the bottom of the vessel, and 
 she was clear as before. 
 
 Returning thanks to Heaven that I was not a party sufferer 
 with the rest, I lay down, and for the first time for many weeks 
 fell into a sound sleep. How long I slept, I- know not: it may 
 have been days ; but I awoke at last by the sound of voices, 
 and found that the people on board of a vessel bound from 
 Mexico to the south of Spain, perceiving the brig lying with 
 her sails torn, and her yards not trimmed, had sent a boat to 
 ascertain whether there was anybody remaining in her. I was
 
 HUCKABACK. 115 
 
 afraid that if I told them what had happened, they either would 
 not believe me, or else would refuse to take on board a person 
 who had been in company with such examples of divine 
 vengeance. I therefore . stated that we had been attacked by 
 dysentery about six weeks before, and all had died excep fc 
 myself, who was supercargo of the brig. 
 
 As their vessel was but half full, the cargo consisting chiefly 
 of cochineal and copper, which is stowed in small space, the 
 captain offered to take as many of my goods as he could stow, 
 provided I would allow him the freight. This I willingly con- 
 sented to, and examining the manifest, selected the most 
 valuable, which were removed to the Spanish vessel. 
 
 We had a favourable wind; and having run through the 
 Straits, expected in a day or two we should anchor at Valencia, 
 to which port she was bound ; but a violent gale came on from 
 the N.E. which lasted many days, and drove us over to the 
 African shore. To increase our misfortunes, the ship sprung a 
 leak, and made so much water that we could scarcely keep her 
 free. 
 
 The Spaniards are but indifferent sailors, your highness, and 
 in a storm are more inclined to pray than to work : they 
 became frightened, gave over pumping, and having lighted a 
 candle before the image of St. Antonio, which was fixed on the 
 stern of the vessel, began to call upon him for assistance. Not 
 immediately obtaining their request, they took the image out 
 of the shrine, abused it, called it every vile name that they 
 could think of, and ended with tying it against the mainmast, 
 and beating it with ropes. 
 
 In the meantime the vessel filled more and more : whereas, 
 if, instead of praying, they had continued at the pumps, we 
 should have done well enough, as the gale was abating, and 
 she did not make so much water as before. 
 
 Enraged at their cowardice, and at the idea of losing so 
 much property as I had on board (for I considered it as my 
 own), I seized- the image from the mast, and threw it over- 
 board, telling them to go to their pumps, if they wished to be 
 saved. The whole crew uttered a cry of horror, and would 
 have thrown me after the image, but I made my escape up the 
 rigging, from whence I dared not descend for many hours. 
 
 Having now no saint to appeal to, they once more applied
 
 ii6 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 to the pumps. To their astonishment, the vessel made no 
 more water, and in the course of a few hours she was free. 
 
 The next morning the gale was over, and we were steering 
 for Valencia. I observed that the captain and sailors avoided 
 me, but I cared little about it, as I felt that my conduct had 
 saved the ship as well as my own property. On the second 
 day we anchored in the bay, and were boarded by the autho- 
 rities, who went down into the cabin, and had a long conver- 
 sation with the captain. They quitted the ship, and about an 
 hour afterwards I proposed going ashore, but the captain said 
 that he could not permit it until the next morning. While I 
 was expostulating with him as to the reasons for my detention, 
 a boat rowed alongside, from out of which came two personages 
 dressed in black. I knew them to be familiars of the Inqui- 
 sition ; and it immediately occurred to me that my personifi- 
 cation of the lady abbess had been discovered, and that my 
 doom was sealed. The captain pointed me out; they collared 
 and handed me into the boat, and pulled for the shore in 
 silence. 
 
 When we landed, I was put into a black coach, and con- 
 veyed to the palace of the Inquisition, where I was thrown 
 into one of the lowest dungeons. The next day the familiars 
 appeared, and led me to the hall of judgment, where I was 
 asked whether I confessed my crime. I replied that I did not 
 know what I was accused of. They again asked me if I would 
 confess, and on my making the same answer I was ordered to 
 the torture. 
 
 As I knew that I had no chance, I thought I might as well 
 avoid unnecessary pain, and declared that I did confess it. 
 
 "What instigated you to the deed?" 
 
 Not well knowing what to reply, as I was not exactly aware 
 of the nature of my offence, I answered that it was the blessed 
 Virgin. 
 
 " Blasphemer ! " cried the grand inquisitor ; " what ! the 
 blessed Virgin desired you to throw St. Antonio overboard ? " 
 
 Yes", replied I (glad that at all events the crime was not 
 what I had anticipated), " she did : and told me that it would 
 be the saving of the vessel." 
 
 " Where were you ? * 
 
 " On the deck."
 
 HUCKABACK. ill 
 
 " Where did you see her ? " 
 
 " She was sitting on a small blue cloud, a little above the 
 topsail-yard. 'Fear not, Francois,' said she, motioning with 
 her hand, ' to throw the image overboard.' " The inquisitors 
 were astonished at my boldness; a consultation was held, as to 
 whether I should be treated as a blasphemer, or the circum- 
 stance blazoned into a miracle. But it unfortunately happened 
 for me that a miracle had occurred very lately; and there were 
 very few people to be burnt at the auto-da-fe of the ensuing 
 month. 
 
 It was therefore decided against me. I was reviled, abused, 
 and sentenced to the flames; but I determined, as my only 
 chance, to put a good face upon the matter to the very last. 
 Looking up, as if to a point in the ceiling of the dark hall of 
 judgment, and holding my hand before, as if in amazement 
 " Holy Virgin," cried I, bending on my knee, " I thank thee 
 for the sign. My Lord," continued I, fiercely, "I fear you 
 not; you have sentenced me to perish by the flames; I tell you 
 that I shall leave my dungeon with honour, and be as much 
 courted as I have been now reviled." 
 
 The inquisitors were for a moment staggered; but their 
 surprise gave place to their cruelty, when they considered how 
 long they had tortured thousands for doubting points to which 
 they themselves had never for a moment given credence. I 
 was remanded to my dungeon ; and the gaoler, who had never 
 before witnessed such boldness in the hall of justice, and was 
 impressed with the conviction that I was supported as I had 
 affirmed, treated me with kindness, affording me comforts, 
 which, had it been known, would have cost him his situation. 
 
 In the meantime the cargo of the vessel was landed at the 
 custom-house, and she was hauled on shore to have her bottom 
 caulked and pitched, when, to the astonishment of the captain 
 and crew, the hole which had occasioned the leak was dis- 
 covered with the head of the figure of the saint, which I had 
 thrown overboard, so firmly wedged in, that it required some 
 force to pull it out. " A miracle ! a miracle ! " was cried from 
 the quays, and proclaimed through every part of the town. It 
 was evident that the Virgin had instigated me to throw over 
 the image, as the only means of stopping the leak. The friars 
 of the nearest convent claimed the image, from their propin-
 
 118 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 quity, and came down to the ship in grand procession to carry 
 it to their church. The grand inquisitor, hearing the circum- 
 stance, acknowledged to the bishop and heads of the clergy 
 my intrepid behaviour in the hall of judgment; and not three 
 hours after the ship had been hauled on shore, I was visited in 
 my dungeon by the grand inquisitor, the bishop, and a long 
 procession, my pardon requested, and the kiss of peace de- 
 manded and given. I was taken away with every mark of 
 respect, and looked upon as one under special favour of the 
 Virgin. "Did I not say, my lord, that I should leave my 
 dungeon in honour ? " 
 
 " You did, my friend," answered the inquisitor ; and I heard 
 him mutter, " Either there is such a person as the Virgin Mary, 
 or you are a most ready-witted scoundrel." 
 
 During my stay at Valencia, I was courted and feasted by 
 everybody, and sold my goods at an enormous price ; for every 
 one thought that to possess anything that had belonged to me 
 must bring them good fortune. I received many handsome 
 presents, had divers requests to become a member of the 
 different fraternities of monks, and eventually quitted the town 
 with a large sum of money, with which I proceeded to Toulon, 
 with the intention of making some inquiry after my dear Cerise, 
 whose image was still the object of my dreams, as well as of 
 my waking thoughts. 
 
 "Stop," said the pacha; "I wish to know, whether you 
 believe that the Virgin, as you call her, did thrust the head of 
 the image into the hole in the bottom of the ship ? " 
 
 " May it please your highness, I do not. I believe it 
 01 iginated from nothing but cause and effect. It is the nature 
 of a whirlpool to draw down all substances that come within 
 its vortex. The water pouring into the bottom of the ship is 
 but the vortex of a whirlpool reversed ; and the image of the 
 saint, when it was thrown overboard to leeward of the ship, 
 .vhich was pressed down upon it by the power of the wind, was 
 forced under the water, until it was taken into the vortex of the 
 leak, and naturally found its way into the hole." 
 
 " I daresay you are very right," answered the pacha ; " but I 
 don't understand a word you have said." 
 
 "Such, your highness, were the adventures attending my
 
 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 119 
 
 Second Voyage," concluded the renegade, with an inclination 
 of his head. 
 
 " And a very good voyage too ! I like it better than youi 
 first. Mustapha, give him ten pieces of gold; you will bring 
 him here to-morrow, and we will hear what happened in his 
 
 third." 
 
 " You observe," said Mustapha, when the pacha had retired, 
 " my advice was good." " Most excellent ! " replied the rene- 
 gade, holding out his hand for the money. ." To-morrow I'll lie 
 like any barber." 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 " KHODA shefa midehed God gives relief!" cried the pacha, 
 as the divan closed ; and, certainly, during its continuance 
 many had been relieved of their worldly goods, and one or 
 two from all future Avorldly thoughts or wanderings. " What 
 have we to-day, Mustapha ? " 
 
 " May your highness's shadow never be less !" replied the 
 vizier. " Have we not the slave who offered to lay his story 
 at your sublime feet, on the same evening that we met those 
 sons of Shitan Ali and Hussan, who received the punishment 
 merited by their enormous crimes? Have we not also the 
 manuscript of the Spanish slave, now translated by my faithful 
 Greek ; who tells me that the words are flowing with honey, 
 and their music is equal to that of the bulbul when singing to 
 his favourite rose ? " 
 
 " And the Giaour who relates his voyages and travels," 
 interrupted the pacha "where is he? No kessehgou of our 
 own race tells stories like unto his." 
 
 " The Giaour is on the waters, your highness. He is a very 
 rusiam on board of a ship, and brings wealth to the haznch of 
 your sublime highness. He consulted the astrologers, and the 
 stars were propitious. To-morrow I expect he will return." 
 
 " Well, then, we must content ourselves with what is offered. 
 Let the slave ctpproach, and we will listen to his story, since 
 we -cannot have the wonderful tales of Huckaback." 
 
 " V'hose dog was Lokman, to be compared to your sublime
 
 120 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 highness in wisdom?" replied Mustapha. "What are the 
 words of Hafiz ' Every moment that you enjoy, count it gain. 
 Who shall say what will be the event of anything ? ' " 
 
 The slave, who had been detained by the orders of Mustapha, 
 ffa.5 ordered to appear. During his confinement, Mustapha 
 had been informed by his people that he was "visited by 
 Allah ; " or in other words, that he was a madman. Never- 
 theless, Mustapha who was afraid to release a man (or rather, 
 a story) without the consent of the pacha, and could not send 
 for the renegade to supply any defalcation considered that, 
 upon the whole, it was better that he should be admitted to 
 the presence of the pacha. 
 
 " You asked me to hear your story," observed the pacha, 
 " and I have consented not to please you, but to please 
 myself, because I am fond of a good story ; which I take it 
 for granted yours will be, or you would not have presumed to 
 make the request. Now you may go on." 
 
 " Pacha," replied the slave, who had seated himself in a 
 corner, working his body backward and forward, " it is the 
 misfortune of those who not aware of the excitement which 
 as I before stated to your highness exceeds in altitude the 
 lofty and snow-covered peak of Hebrus and, nevertheless, 
 cannot be worth more than four or five paras " 
 
 " Holy Prophet ! what is all this?" interrupted the pacha ; 
 " I cannot understand a word that you say. Do you laugh at 
 our beard ? Speak more intelligibly. Remember ! " 
 
 " I remember it as if it were now," continued the maniac, 
 "although years have rolled away. Never will it be effaced 
 from my recollection while this heart, broken as it is, continues 
 to beat, or this brain may be permitted to burn. The sun had 
 just disappeared behind the rugged summits of the mountain 
 which sheltered my abode from the unkind north-east wind ; 
 the leaves of the vines that hung in festoons on the trellis 
 before my cottage, which, but a minute before, pierced by his 
 glorious rays, had appeared so brilliant and transparent, had 
 how assumed a browner shade, and, as far as the eye could 
 reach, a thin blue vapour was descending the ravine; the 
 distant sea had changed its intense blue for a sombre grey, 
 while the surf rolled sullenly to the beach, as if in discontent 
 that it could no longer reflect the colours of the prism 'as
 
 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 12 1 
 
 before, when it seemed to dance with joy under the brilliant 
 illumination of the god of day " 
 
 " Poof!" ejaculated the pacha, fanning himself. 
 
 " My boat was on the beach ; my eyes were fixed upon it 
 in happy vacancy, until the shades of night prevented my dis- 
 cerning the nets which were spread upon its gunnel. I turned 
 round at the soft voice of my Etana, who was seated near me 
 with her infant in her arms, and watching the little one's im- 
 patience, as it would demand a more rapid flow of milk from 
 that snowy breast, and the fond smile of the delighted mother, 
 as she bent over the first dear pledge of our affection. I felt 
 happy almost too happy; I had all I wished yes, I had" 
 and the maniac paused and smote his forehead; "but it is 
 past now." 
 
 After a second or two he resumed 
 
 " For my part it has always been my opinion that when the 
 wind backs to the south-east, the fish repair to the deep water; 
 and if you will be careful when you gather the grapes not to 
 throw in the stalks, that the wine will, as I before stated to 
 your highness, only increase the extreme difficulty of ascertain- 
 ing how far a man could conscientiously demand, that is to say, 
 in proportion to the degree of intellect, stated at different 
 intervals, and extending down the crags of the whole ravine." 
 
 " I cannot, positively, understand a word of all this !" ex- 
 claimed the pacha, with irritation ; " can you, Mustapha?" 
 
 " How is it possible for your slave to comprehend that 
 which is concealed from the wisdom of your highness?" 
 
 " Very true," replied the pacha. 
 
 " Your highness will understand it all by-and-by," observed 
 the maniac ; " but it will be necessary that you wait until I 
 have finished the story, when it will all reel off like a skein of 
 silk, which at present but appears to be ravelled." 
 
 " Well, then," replied the pacha, " I wish you would begin 
 at the end of your story, and finish with the beginning. Now 
 go on." 
 
 " There is naught under Heaven so interesting so graceful 
 so pleasing to contemplate as a young mother with her first- 
 born at her breast. The soft lisps and caresses of childhood 
 the expanding graces of the budding maiden the blushing, 
 smiling, yet trembling bride, all lose in the comparison with
 
 122 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 woman in her beauty, fulfilling her destiny on earth; her 
 countenance radiating with those intense feelings of delight, 
 which more than repay her for her previous hours of sorrow 
 and of anguish. But I'm afraid I tire your highness." 
 
 " Wallah el Nebi ! by God and his Prophet, you do indeed. 
 Is it all to be like that ? " 
 
 " No ! pacha. I wish to Heaven that it had been. Merciful 
 God ! why didst thou permit the blow ? Was not I grateful ? 
 Were not my eyes suffused with tears, springing from gratitude 
 and love, at the very moment when they rushed in when 
 their murdering weapons were pointed to my breast when the 
 mother shrieked as they tore away the infant as a useless in- 
 cumbrance, and dashed it to the ground when I caught it up, 
 and the pistol of the savage Turk put an end to its existence ? 
 I see it now, as I kissed the little ruby fountain which bubbled 
 from its heart : I see her too, as they bore her away senseless 
 in their arms. Pacha, in one short minute I was bereft of all 
 wife, child, home, liberty, and reason ; and here I am, a mad- 
 man and a slave ! " 
 
 The maniac paused : then starting upon his feet, he com- 
 menced in a loud voice : " But I know who they were I 
 know them all, and I know where she is, too : and now, pacha, 
 you shall do me justice. This is he who stole my wife ; this 
 is he who murdered my child ; this is he who keeps her from 
 my arms : and thus I beard him in your presence ; " and as he 
 finished his exclamations, he sprang upon the terrified Musta- 
 pha, seizing him by the beard with one hand, while, with the 
 other, he beat his turban about his head. 
 
 The guards rushed in, and rescued the vizier from the 
 awkward position in which he was placed by his own impru- 
 dence, in permitting the man to appear at the divan. 
 
 The rage of the pacha was excessive ; and the head of the 
 maniac would have been separated from his body, had it not 
 been for the prud :nce of Mustapha, who was aware that the 
 common people consider idiots and madmen to be under the 
 special protection of Heaven, and that such an act would be 
 sufficient to create an insurrection. At his intercession, the 
 man was taken away by the guards, and not released until he 
 was a considerable distance from the palace. 
 
 " Allah karim ! God is merciful ! " exclaimed the pacha as
 
 MANUSCRIPT OF THE MOXI'. 123 
 
 soon as the maniac had been carried away. " I'm glad that 
 he did not think it was me who had his wife." 
 
 "Allah forbid that your highness should have been so 
 treated. He has almost ruined the beard of your slave," 
 replied the vizier, adjusting the folds of his turban. 
 
 " Mustapha, make a memorandum never again to accept an 
 offer. I'm convinced that a volunteer story is worth nothing." 
 
 "Your highness speaks the truth no man parts readily 
 with what is worth retaining gold is not kicked up with the 
 sandal, nor are diamonds to be found glittering in the rays of the 
 sun. If we would obtain them, we must search and labour in 
 the dark mine. Will your highness be pleased to hear the 
 manuscript which has been translated by the Greek slave ? " 
 
 "Be it so," replied the pacha, not in the very best of 
 humours. 
 
 The Greek made his appearance and made his salutation, 
 and then read as follows : 
 
 MANUSCRIPT OF THE MONK, 
 Recording the Discovery of the Island of Madeira-. 
 
 BEFORE I am summoned to that offended tribunal, to-prOpi- 
 tiate which I have passed so many years in penitence and 
 prayer, let me record for the benefit of others the history of 
 one who, yielding to fatal passion, embittered the remainder 
 of his own days, and shortened those of the adored partner of 
 his guilt. Let my confession be public, that warning may be 
 taken from my example ; and may the sincerity with which I 
 acknowledge my offence, and the tears which I have shed, 
 efface it from the accumulated records of the wilfulness and 
 disobedience of man ! 
 
 In a few days this attenuated frame will be mingled with the 
 dust from which it sprung, and, scattered by the winds of 
 heaven, or by the labour of future generations, as chance may 
 dictate, will yield sustenance to the thistle which wars against 
 the fertility of nature, or the grain which is the support of our 
 existence, to the nightshade with its deadly fruit, or the 
 creeping violet with its sweet perfume. The heart which has 
 throbbed so tumultuously with the extreme of love, and which
 
 124' THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 has been riven with the excess of woe, will shortly pant no 
 more. The mind which has been borne down by the irresis- 
 tible force of passion which has attempted to stem the torrent, 
 but in vain, and, since the rage of it has passed away, has 
 been left like the once fertile valley which has been overflown, 
 a waste of barrenness and desolation, will shortly cease from 
 its wearied action. In a few brief days I must appear in the 
 presence of an offended, yet merciful Saviour, who, offering 
 everything, weeps at the insanity of our rejection. Let then 
 the confessions of Henrique serve as a beacon to those who 
 are inclined to yield to the first impulse ; when, alarmed at 
 the discovery of their errors, they will find that conviction has 
 arrived too late, and that, like me, they will be irresistibly im- 
 pelled, against the struggles of reason and of conscience. 
 
 I am an Englishman by birth : my parents were called away 
 before I was five years old ; yet still I have a dreaming memory 
 of my mother a faint recollection of one at whose knees I 
 used, each night, to hold up my little hands in orison, and 
 who blessed her child as she laid him to repose. 
 
 But I lost those whose precepts might have been valuable 
 to mf. in after-life, and was left to the guardianship of one who 
 thought that, in attending to my worldly interests, he fulfilled 
 the \vhole duty which was required of him. My education was 
 noc neglected, but there was no one to advise me upon points 
 of more serious importance. Naturally of a fiery and impatient 
 temper, endued with a perseverance which was only increased 
 by the obstacles which presented themselves, I encouraged 
 any feeling to be working in my mind in preference to re- 
 pose, which was hateful. To such excess did it arrive as I 
 grew up, that difficulty and danger, even pain and remorse, 
 were preferable to that calm sunshine of the breast whic'i 
 others consider so enviable. I could exist but by strong sensa- 
 tions ; remove them, and I felt as does the habitual drunkard 
 in the morning, until his nerves have been again stimulated by 
 a repetition of his draughts. My pursuits were of the same 
 tendency ; constant variety and change of scene were what I 
 coveted. I felt a desire " to be imprisoned in the viewless 
 winds, and blown with restless violence about the pendent 
 world." At night I was happy; for as soon as sleep had sealed 
 my eyes, I invariably dreamt that I had the power of aerosta-
 
 MANUSCRIPT OF THE MONK. 125 
 
 tion, and, in my imagination, cleaved through the air with the 
 strength of an eagle, soaring above my fellow-creatures, and 
 looking down upon them and their ceaseless drudgery with 
 contempt. 
 
 To a mind thus constituted by nature, and unchecked by 
 counsel, it is not surprising that the darling wish and constant 
 idea was to roam the world; and the vast ocean, which offered 
 to me the means of gratifying my passion, was an object of love 
 and adoration. If I had not the wings of the eagle, with which 
 fancy had supplied me in my dreams, still I could fly before 
 the wings of the wind, and, as in my aerial excursions when 
 asleep, leave uo track behind. As soon as I had arrived at the 
 age which allowed me to take possession of my property, I 
 sought the element so congenial to my disposition. For some 
 years I continued the profession, and was fortunate in my 
 speculations ; but I cared little for gain ; my delight was in 
 roving from clime to clime, flying before the gale, in looking 
 with defiance at the vast mountainous seas which threatened to 
 overwhelm me, in the roaring of the wind, in the mad raging 
 of the surf, in the excitement of battle, even in the destruc- 
 tion and disasters of the wreck. 
 
 It may be a source of astonishment that I arrived at the age 
 of thirty without ever feeling the sensation of love ; but so it 
 was. This most powerful of excitements, which was so to in- 
 fluence my future existence, had not yet been called into action; 
 but it was roused at last, and, like the hurricane, swept every- 
 thing before it in ruin and desolation. I was at Cadiz, where 
 I had arrived with a valuable cargo, when it was proposed that 
 I should witness the ceremony of taking the White Veil. As 
 the young woman who professed was of a noble family, and the 
 solemnity was to be conducted with the greatest splendour, I 
 consented. The magnificent decorations of the church, the 
 harmony of the singing, the solemn pealing of the organ, the 
 splendid robes of the priests in contrast with the sombre 
 humility of the friars and nuns, the tossing of the censers, the 
 ascending clouds of frankincense, and above all, the extreme 
 beauty of the fair devotee, produced feelings of interest which 
 I had not imagined could have been raised from any descrip- 
 tion of pageantry. When the ceremony was over, I quitted the 
 church with new and powerful sensations, which at the time I
 
 I 2 6 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 could not precisely analyze. But when I lay down on my couch, 
 I perceived that, although the splendour of the rites were but 
 faint in my recollection, the image of the sweet girl kneeling 
 before the altar was engraven on my heart. I felt an uneasiness, 
 a restlessness, a vacuum in my bosom, which, like that in the 
 atmosphere, is the forerunner of the tempest. I could not 
 sleep; but, tossing from one side to the other during the whole 
 night, rose the next morning feverish and unrefreshed. 
 
 Following, as usual, the impulse of my feelings, I repaired to 
 her relative, who had taken me to witness the ceremony, and 
 persuaded him to introduce me at the wicket of the convent. 
 
 As she had yet one year of probation previous to her taking 
 the final vows, which were for ever to seclude her from the 
 world, in seeing her there was no difficulty. Her duteous 
 resignation to the will of her parents, her serene and beautiful 
 countenance, her angelic smile, all contributed to the increase 
 of my passion; and, after an hour's conversation, I left her with 
 my heart in a state of tumult of which it is not easy to express 
 the idea. My visits were repeated again and again. In a short 
 time I declared my sentiments, and found that I was listened 
 to without offending. Before I quitted Cadiz, which my engage- 
 ments rendered imperative, I obtained from her a reciprocal 
 acknowledgment. And as there were still nine months to pass 
 away previous to her decision upon a monastic life, before that 
 period had elapsed I faithfully promised to return and claim 
 her as my own. As we professed the same faith, and she had 
 only been sacrificed that the possessions of her brother might 
 not be diminished by the fortune which her marriage would 
 require, I did not anticipate any objections from her parents. 
 I required no dower, having more than sufficient to supply her 
 with every luxury. We parted : our hands trembled as we 
 locked our fingers through the grating; our tears fell, but could 
 not be mingled ; our lips quivered, but could not meet ; our 
 hearts were beating with excess of love, but I could not strain 
 her in my embrace. "In three months more, Rosina !" ex- 
 claimed I, as I walked backward from the grating, my eyes still 
 fixed upon her. " Till then farewell, Henrique ! Relying upon 
 your faith and honour, I shall not hesitate to cherish your dear 
 image in my heart ; " and, overcome by her feelings, Rosina 
 burst into tears and hurried from my sight.
 
 MANUSCRIPT OF THE MONK. 127 
 
 I sailed with prosperous gales, and arrived safely at my own 
 country. My ventures were disposed of, I realized a large sum 
 of money, had completed all my arrangements, and in a few 
 days intended to return to Cadiz to fulfil my engagement vith 
 Rosina. I was in the metropolis, impatiently waiting for the 
 remainder of the freight to be put on board of the vessel in 
 which I had taken my passage, when one evening as I was 
 sauntering in the park, anticipating the bliss of rejoining the 
 object of my affection, I was rudely pushed aside by a person- 
 age richly attired, who was escorting two of the ladies of the 
 court. Fired at the insult, and as usual acting upon the first 
 impulse, I struck him in the face and drew my sword for- 
 getting at the time that I was in the precincts of the palace. I 
 was seized and imprisoned : my offence was capital ; my 
 adversary a relation of the king's. I offered a large sum for 
 my release ; but when they found out that I was wealthy, they 
 rejected as I increased my offers, until I was compelled to 
 sacrifice one half of my worldly possessions to escape from the 
 severity of the Star Chamber. But the loss of property was 
 nothing ; I had still more than enough : it was the dreadful 
 length of my confinement, during which anxiety had swelled 
 hours into days, and days into months of torture and suspense. 
 I had been incarcerated more than a year before I could obtain 
 my release. When in my imagination I conjured up Rosina 
 lamenting my infidelity, reproaching me in her solitude for my 
 broken vows, and (there was madness in the very thought) 
 yielding in her resentment and her grief to the solicitations of 
 her parents, and taking the veil, I was frantic; I tore my hair, 
 beat the walls of my prison, raved for liberty, and offered to 
 surrender up every shilling that I possessed. 
 
 " By the beard of the Prophet, this tires me," exclaimed the 
 pacha. " Murakhas, you are dismissed." 
 
 The Greek slave bowed, and retired. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE next morning the pacha observed to Mustapha, " I have 
 been thinking whether, as we have no story, it would not be as 
 well to let the Greek finish the story of yesterday evening."
 
 128 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 " True, O pacha," replied Mustapha ; " better is hard fare 
 than no food if we cannot indulge in the pilau, we must con- 
 tent ourselves with boiled rice." 
 
 "It is well said, Mustapha, so let him proceed." 
 The Greek slave was then ordered in, and recommenced as 
 follows : 
 
 Freedom was obtained at last ; I flew to the sea-coast, 
 chartered a small vessel, and chiding the winds as we scudded 
 along, because they would not blow with a force equal to my 
 impetuous desires, arrived at Cadiz. It was late in the evening 
 when I disembarked and repaired to the convent; so exhausted 
 was I by contending hopes and fears, that it was with difficulty 
 I could support my own weight I tottered to the wicket, and 
 demanded my Rosina. 
 
 " Are you a near relation," inquired the portress, " that you 
 request the presence of a sister?" Her interrogation decided 
 the point ; Rosina had taken the veil, had abjured the world 
 and me for ever. My brain reeled, and I fell senseless on the 
 pavement. Alarmed at the circumstance, the portress ran to 
 the lady abbess, informing her that a person had asked for 
 sister Rosina, and, receiving her answer, had fallen senseless at 
 the wicket. Rosina was present at the narration ; her heart 
 told her who it was; told her that also I had not been faithless. 
 Joy at my fidelity, and grief at her own precipitancy, which 
 rendered it unavailing, overpowered her, and she was led to her 
 cell in a state as pitiable as mine. 
 
 When I recovered my senses, I found myself in bed. I had 
 been there for weeks in a state of mental alienation. With 
 reason and memory, misery returned ; but I was no longer in 
 the frenzy of excitement ; my mind was as exhausted as ray 
 body, and I felt a species of calm despair. Convinced that all 
 was lost, that an insuperable bar was placed between Rosina 
 and me, I reasoned myself into a kind of philosophy ; and 
 resolved, as soon as I could recover my strength, to fly from a 
 place which had been the scene of so much anticipated happi- 
 ness, and of so much real woe. 
 
 One desire still remained ; it was to see Rosina previous to 
 my departure, that I might explain the cause of my delay. 
 Conviction told me that it was wrong ; but the impulse I could
 
 MANUSCRIP7 OF THE MOXK. 129 
 
 not resist : had I not yielded to it, I should have been unfor- 
 tunate, but not guilty. 
 
 I wrote to her, upbraiding her for her precipitation, and im- 
 ploring a final interview. Her answer was affecting it brought 
 showers of tears from my eyes, and again inflamed my love. 
 The interview was refused, as it could be productive of no 
 benefit, and would only call forth feelings in opposition to her 
 duty ; but it was so kindly, so gently negatived, that it was 
 evident her inclination was at variance with her pen ; and on 
 my repeating the request, as a proof that her affection had been 
 sincere, she unwillingly acceded. 
 
 We met for our misery for our guilt, we met. From that 
 moment, I resolved never to abandon her religion, virtue, 
 morality, every feeling was borne away by the reappearance of 
 the object of my adoration; and before the interview was 
 over, I again dared to breathe vows of fidelity to one who had 
 devoted herself to God. " This cannot be, Henrique," said 
 Rosina : " we must meet no more : reflect, and you will be 
 convinced of its impropriety. No dispensation from the vow 
 will be permitted by my parents all hopes of union in this 
 world are over. Oh ! mav we meet in heaven !" and she clasped 
 her hands in anguish as she disappeared. 
 
 I returned home, every pulse beating to madness. Again I 
 addressed her, imploring another meeting ; but received a firm 
 denial. So far from being baffled at this addition to the obstacles 
 which presented themselves, it but increased my determination 
 to surmount them. To overcome her duty to her parents, to 
 induce her to trample on her vows to God, to defy the torments 
 of the Inquisition, to release her from bolts and bars, to escape 
 from a fortified and crowded city each and every difficulty but 
 inflamed my ardour every appeal of conscience but added to 
 my wilful determination. 
 
 Although hitherto I had abhorred deceit, my first act was one 
 of duplicity. I wrote to her, stating that I had been permitted 
 an interview with her friends, and had made known to them 
 what had passed; that they had listened to me, and were dis- 
 posed to yield ; and although it was kept a secret from her, in 
 a few months her vows would be dispensed with. 
 
 How cruel how selfish was my conduct ! but it answered 
 my intention. Buoyed up with the prospect of future happi- 
 ly
 
 130 THE PACHA OF MANY 7 ALES. 
 
 ness, Rosina no longer struggled against the fatal passion no 
 longer refused to see me, and listen to my vows of eternal 
 fidelity. Deeper and deeper did she drink of the intoxicating 
 draught, until it had effaced from her mind, as it had already 
 done from mine, every other sensation than that of love. Al- 
 though I could have kissed the ground which she trod upon, 
 and have suffered the torments of a martyr for her sake, it was 
 with the pleasure of a demon that I witnessed my success, and 
 hailed her falling off from religion and from virtue. 
 
 Six months had passed away, during which, by bribes to the 
 portress, and the yielding of my mistress, I had contrived to 
 obtain admittance by night into the convent garden. One 
 evening I informed her that her parents, menaced by their con- 
 fessor, had rescinded their promise to me, and had decided 
 upon not obtaining her dispensation. Everything had been 
 prepared, that she might have no time for reflection : hurried 
 away by her own feelings, my persuasions, and my protestations, 
 she consented to fly with me to my own country. I bore the 
 trembling, fainting girl in my arms effected my escape from the 
 convent and the city embarked on board of a vessel which I 
 had ready to weigh at a moment's warning, and was soon far 
 distant from the port of Cadiz. 
 
 It was near midnight when we embarked, and I bore my 
 treasure down into the cabin of the vessel, muffled up in my 
 c'oak. Her Nun's dress had not been laid aside ; for I had not 
 provided myself with any other change of raiment. 
 
 Before morning it blew fresh. Rosina, who, as well as I, had 
 abandoned herself to that powerful love which engrossed us, lay 
 supported in my arms, when the captain of the vessel, coming 
 down to speak to me, perceived that she was arrayed in the 
 religious attire. He started when he viewed it, and hastily 
 quitted the cabin. I had a presentiment that all was not right, 
 and, removing my arms from Rosina, repaired on deck, where 
 I found him in consultation with the crew. The subject in 
 agitation was their immediate return to Cadiz to deliver us to 
 the Inquisition. I resisted the suggestion ; claimed the vessel 
 as my own, having chartered her, and threatened immediate 
 death to anyone who should attempt to alter her course ; but it 
 was in vain. Their horror at the sacrilege, and their fear of 
 being implicated in, and suffering the dreadful penalties attending
 
 MANUSCRIPT OF THE MONK. 131 
 
 it, bore down all my arguments ; my promises and my threats 
 were alike disregarded. 
 
 I was seized, overpowered, and the vessel steered in for land. 
 I raved, stamped, and imprecated in vain : at last I declared 
 that we all should suffer together, as I would denounce them 
 as having been aware of my intentions, and state that it was 
 only in consequence of my having refused to submit to further 
 extortion, that they had not fulfilled their agreement. This 
 startled them ; for they knew that the Inquisition gladly seized 
 upon all pretexts ; and that even if not convicted, their imprison- 
 ment would be long. Again they consulted ; and heaving the 
 vessel to the wind, they hoisted out the long-boat. Having 
 thrown into her a scanty supply of provisions and water, with 
 a few necessaries, they brought up the terrified Rosina from the 
 cabin, and, placing her in the boat, released and ordered me to 
 follow. As soon as I was in the boat, they cut the rope 
 by which it was towed, and we were soon left at a distance 
 astern. 
 
 Glad to escape from the cruelty of man, I cared little for the 
 danger to which we were subjected from the elements. I con- 
 soled my frightened Rosina ; I stepped the mast, hoisted the 
 sail, and steered in a southerly direction, with the intention of 
 landing on some part of the African coast. So far from being 
 alarmed at my situation, I felt happy. I was in a frail bark ; 
 but I had within it all that I cared for in this world. I sailed 
 I knew not where, but Rosina was in my company ; I felt the 
 uncertainty of our fate, but was more than compensated by the 
 certainty of possession. The wind rose, the sea ran high, and 
 curled in threatening foam ; we darted with rapidity before it ; 
 and steering with one arm, while Rosina was clasped in the 
 other, I delighted in our romantic situation ; and, pleased with 
 the excitement which it created, I was blind to the danger 
 Avhichwe encountered. 
 
 For six days we ran before the wind, when an accumulation 
 of clouds upon the southern horizon indicated that we should 
 have a change. I had no compass in the boat, but had steered 
 by the sun during the day, and by the stars during the night. I 
 now considered myself well to the southward, and determined 
 upon running eastward, that I might gain the African shore ; 
 but the gale was too strong to permit me to bring the broadside
 
 I 32 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 of my small bark to the wind, and I was compelled to continue 
 my course in a southerly direction. 
 
 For the first time, a sensation of alarm came over me: we 
 had but two days' more sustenance, and Rosina \vas worn out 
 by constant exposure. I myself felt the necessity of repose : 
 it was with difficulty that I could keep my eyelids raised; every 
 minute Nature demanded her rights, and I nodded at the 
 helm. 
 
 I was in a melancholy reverie, when I thought that I per- 
 ceived, as the clouds on the horizon occasionally opened, 
 something that had the appearance of the summit of a preci- 
 pice. They closed again ; I watched them with anxiety until 
 they gradually rolled away, and discovered a lofty island, 
 covered with trees and verdure down to the water's edge. I 
 shouted with delight, and pointed it out to Rosina, who 
 answered my exultations with a faint smile. My blood curdled 
 at the expression of her countenance : for many hours she had 
 been in deep thought ; and I perceived that the smile was forced 
 to please me, the intelligence I had imparted affording her but 
 little pleasure. I ascribed it to weariness and exhaustion ; and 
 hoping soon to be able to relieve her, I steered direct for the 
 only part of the shore which promised us a safe descent. In 
 an hour I was close to it : and, anxious to land before dark, I 
 steered the boat with the sail hoisted, through the surf, which 
 was much heavier than I expected. As soon as her bow struck 
 the beach, the boat was thrown on her broadside, and it required 
 all my exertions to save my beloved, which I did not effect 
 without our being completely washed by the surf, which, in a 
 few minutes, dashed the boat to pieces. I bore her to a cave 
 at a short distance from where we landed ; and, wrapping her 
 up in a cloak which I had saved from the boat, took away her 
 nun's attire, and exposed it to dry in the powerful rays of the 
 sun. I went in search of food, which I soon obtained. Banana 
 and cocoa-nuts grew in profusion and in beauty, and fresh water 
 ran down in noisy rills. I bore them to her, and congratulated 
 her that we were now beyond all pursuit, and in a spot which 
 promised to supply us with all that we required. She smiled 
 languidly; her thoughts were elsewhere. Her clothes were 
 dry, and I brought them to her : she shuddered at the sight of 
 them, and seemed to muster up her resolution before she could
 
 MANUSCRIPT OF THE MONK. 133 
 
 put them on. Night closed in upon us, and we remained in 
 the cave : our bed was formed of the cloaks and the sail of the 
 boat ; and, locked in each other's arms, separated from all the 
 world, and living but for each other, we fell asleep. The 
 morning broke : not a cloud was to be seen through the blue 
 expanse. We walked out, and dwelt in silent admiration upon 
 the splendour of the scene. The island was clothed in beauty ; 
 the sun poured his genial rays upon the wild fertility of nature ; 
 the birds were warbling forth their notes of joy ; the sea was 
 calm and clear as a mirror, reflecting the steep hills which 
 towered above each other. " Here, then, Rosina," cried I, at 
 last, with rapture, " we have all that we require, blessed in each 
 other's love." 
 
 Rosina burst into tears : " All all, Henrique, except an 
 approving conscience, without which I feel that I cannot live. 
 I love you love you dearly dote upon you, Henrique : you 
 cannot doubt it, after all that has occurred : but now that the 
 delirium of passion has subsided, conscience has been busy 
 too busy, for it has embittered all ; and I feel that happiness 
 is flown for ever. I wedded myself to God; I chose my 
 Saviour as my spouse ; I vowed myself to him was received 
 by him at the altar; and I abandoned this world for that which 
 is to come. What have I done ? I have been unfaithful to him 
 left him, to indulge a worldly passion ; sacrificed eternity for 
 perishable mortality ; and there is a solemn voice within that 
 tells me I am an outcast from all heavenly joys. Bear with me, 
 dear Henrique ! I mean not to reproach you, but I must con- 
 demn myself; I feel that I shall not long remain here, but be 
 summoned before an offended Lord. 
 
 " Merciful Saviour ! " cried she, falling on her knees, with 
 imploring eyes to heaven, "punish him not pardon him his 
 faults ; for what are they compared to mine ? He made no 
 vows, he has committed no infidelity, he is not the guilty one. 
 Spare him, O Lord, and justly punish her who has seduced him 
 into crime ! " 
 
 My heart smote me ; I threw myself on the ground, and wept 
 bitterly. I felt that it had been my duplicity which had de- 
 stroyed her virtuous resolutions; my selfishness which had ruined 
 her peace of mind and had plunged her into guilt. She knelt 
 by me, persuaded me to rise, curbing her own feelings as one
 
 134 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 kissed the tears from my cheeks, promising never to wound my 
 peace again. But it was gone gons for ever ; my crime burst 
 on me in all its magnitude ; I felt that I had been guilty of a 
 grievous and unpardonable sin, and had ruined the one I loved 
 as well as myself. She was still on her knees : kneelin 6 by her 
 side, I prayed to offended Heaven for mercy and forgiveness. 
 She joined me in my fervent aspirations ; and, with the tears of 
 repentance flowing down our cheeks, we remained some time in 
 the attitude of supplication. At last we rose. " Do you not 
 feel happier, Rosina?" inquired I. Rosina smiled mournfully 
 in reply, and we returned to the cave. 
 
 For many hours we spoke not, but remained in sad communion 
 with our own thoughts. The night again closed in, and we lay 
 down to repose ; and, as I clasped her in my arms, I felt that 
 she shuddered, and withdrew. I released her, and retired to 
 the other side of the cave, for I knew her feelings and respected 
 them. From that hour she was no more to me than a dear and 
 injured sister; and, although her frame hourly wasted away, her 
 spirits seemed gradually to revive. At the expiration of a fort- 
 night, she was too much reduced to rise from her bed ; and I 
 passed day and night sitting by her side in repentance and in 
 tears, for I knew that she was dying. A few hours before she 
 breathed her last, she appeared to recover a little, and thus 
 addressed me: 
 
 " Henrique, within this hour a balm has been poured into my 
 breast, for a voice tells me we are both forgiven. Great is our 
 crime, but our repentance has been severe ; and I feel assured 
 that we shall meet in heaven. For your kindness for your 
 unceasing love, you have my thanks, and an attachment which 
 Heaven does not forbid, for now it is pure. We have sinned, 
 and we have pleaded and obtained our pardon together : 
 together shall we be hereafter. Bless you, Henrique ! pray for 
 my soul, still clinging to its earthly love, but pardoned by Him 
 who knows our imperfection. Pure Mother of God, plead for 
 me ! Holy Saviour, who despised not the tears and contrition 
 pf the Magdalen, receive an unfaithful but repentant spouse 
 anto your bosom ; for when I made my vow, thou knowest that 
 my heart " 
 
 With what agony of grief did I hang over the body ! with 
 what bitter tears did I wash the clay-cold face, so beautiful, so
 
 MANUSCRIPT OF THE MONK. 135 
 
 angelic in its repose ! In the morning, I dug her grave : and 
 cleansing my hands, which were bleeding from the task, 
 returned to the corpse, and bore it, in its nun's attire, to the 
 receptacle which I had prepared. I laid it in, and collecting 
 the flowerets which blossomed round, strewed them over, and 
 watched till sunset, when I covered her up, layir g the earth in 
 small handfuls as lightly on her dear remains as the mother 
 would the coverlet upon her sleeping babe. Long it was before 
 I could prevail on myself to soil that heavenly face, or hide it 
 from my aching eyes. When I had, I felt that Rosina was 
 indeed no more, and that I was indeed alone. 
 
 For two years I remained in solitude. I erected a rude 
 chapel over her grave, and there passed my days in penance 
 and contrition. Vessels belonging to other nations visited the 
 island, and returning home with the intelligence, it was taken 
 possession of and colonised. To their astonishment, they 
 found me ; and, when I narrated my story and my wishes, 
 allowed me a passage to their country. Once more I em- 
 barked on the trackless wave, no longer my delight ; and as 
 the shore receded, I watched the humble edifice which I had 
 raised over the remains of my Rosina : it appeared to me as if 
 a star had settled over the spot, and I hailed it as a harbinger 
 of grace. When I landed, I repaired to the convent to which 
 I now belong ; and, taking the vows of abstinence and morti- 
 fication, have passed the remainder of my days in masses for 
 the soul of my Rosina, and prayers for ray own redemption. 
 
 Such is the history of Henrique ; and may it be a warning 
 to those who allow their reason to be seduced by passion, and 
 check not the first impulse towards wrong, when conscience 
 dictates that they are straying from the paths of virtue ! 
 
 " Holy Allah ! " exclaimed the pacha, yawning ; " is this the 
 bulbul singing to the rose ? What is it all about, Mustapha ? 
 or what is it written for, but to send one asleep ? Murakhas, 
 you are dismissed," continued the pacha to the Greek slave, 
 who retired. 
 
 Mustapha, who perceived that the pacha was disappointed in 
 the entertainment of the evening, immediately addressed him : 
 " The soul of your sublime highness is sad, and the mind is 
 wearied. What says the sage ? and are not his words of
 
 136 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 more value than large pearls ? ' When thou art sick and thy 
 mind is heavy, send for wine. Drink, and thank Allah that he 
 has given relief.' " 
 
 " Wallah thaib ! it is well said," replied the pacha. "Is 
 not the ' fire-water ' of the Franks to be obtained ? " 
 
 " Is not the earth, and what the earth contains, made for 
 your sublime highness ? " replied Mustapha, drawing from his 
 vest a bottle of spirits. 
 
 " God is great ! " said the pacha, taking the bottle from 
 his mouth, after a long draught, and handing it to his vizier. 
 
 " God is most merciful ! " replied Mustapha, recovering 
 his breath, and wiping down his beard with the sleeve of 
 his kalaat, as he respectfully passed the bottle over to his 
 superior. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 " HHAM d'illah ! Praise be to God ! " exclaimed the pacha, 
 as the divan closed. " This is dry work, hearing petitions for 
 three hours, and not a sequin to my treasury. Mustapha, has 
 the renegade come back ? '" 
 
 " The kafir waits to kiss the dust of your sublime feet/* 
 replied the vizier. 
 
 " Let him approach, then, Mustapha," said the pacha, joy- 
 fully; and the renegade immediately made his appearance. 
 
 " Kosh amedeid ! you are welcome, Huckaback. We have 
 had our ears poisoned since you quitted us. I forget where it 
 was that you left off." 
 
 " May it please your highness, at the ending of my second 
 voyage, in which " 
 
 " I remember when the Frankish woman-god stopped the 
 leak. You may proceed." 
 
 The renegade bowed, and commenced his third voyage as 
 follows : 
 
 " I believe that I stated to your highness, at the end of my 
 second voyage, I determined to go to Toulon, and make some 
 inquiry after my dear Cerise." 
 
 " 1 recollect you did," interrupted the pacha ; " but I tell you
 
 HUCKABACK. 137 
 
 again, as I told you before, that I want to know nothing about 
 her. Have the goodness to skip all that part, or it will be five 
 sequins out of your girdle." 
 
 "Your highness shall be obeyed," replied the renegade; 
 who, after musing a short time, continued : 
 
 THIRD VOYAGE OP HUCKABACK. 
 
 I WAS so affected at the intelligence of Cerise having de- 
 stroyed herself, that I found it impossible to remain on shore. 
 Having met with the captain of a whaler, who expatiated on 
 the fortune which might be realised by embarking in the specu- 
 lation, I purchased a large ship and fitted it out for a voyage to 
 Baffin's Bay. This consumed all the money I had left ; but as 
 I expected to return with ten times the sum, I made no scruple 
 of parting with it. 
 
 My crew consisted of about thirty men, all strong fellows ; 
 ten of them Englishmen, and the remainder from my own 
 country. We stood to the northward until we reached the ice, 
 which floated high as mountains, and steering in between it, we 
 at last came to a fine open water, where a large quantity of 
 whales where blowing in every direction. Our boats were 
 soon hoisted out, and we were extremely fortunate, having 
 twenty-three fish on board and boiled down before the season 
 was over. 
 
 I now considered my fortune made ; and the ship being full 
 up to the beams, we made all sail to return home. But a 
 heavy gale came on from the southward, which drove all the 
 ice together, and our ship with it, and we were in great danger 
 of being squeezed to atoms. Fortunately, we made fast in a 
 bight, on the lee side of a great iceberg, which preserved us, 
 and we anxiously awaited for the termination of the gale, to 
 enable us to proceed. But when the gale subsided, a hard 
 frost came on, and we were completely frozen up where we lay. 
 The ice formed round to the depth of several feet, and lifted 
 the ship, laden as she was, out of the water. 
 
 The English, who were experienced fishermen, told us that 
 we had no chance of being released until next spring. I as- 
 cended to the masthead, and perceived that for miles, as far as
 
 138 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 the eye could scan the horizon, there was nothing but one con 
 tinued succession of icebergs and floes inseparably united. 
 Despairing, therefore, of any release until the cold weather 
 should break up, I made all arrangements for remaining during 
 the winter. Our provisions were very short, and we were 
 obliged to make use of the whale-oil ; but it soon produced 
 such dysenteries, that it was no longer resorted to. 
 
 After two months, the cold became intense, and our fuel ran 
 short. At the end of three months the crew complained of 
 scurvy, and could not move about the decks. At the end of 
 the fourth month, they had all died except the chief harpooner 
 a fat porpoise of an Englishman and myself. 
 
 The bodies remained on the deck, for the cold was so intense 
 that they would not have been tainted for centuries ; and, as at 
 the end of five months the provisions were all expended, we 
 were again obliged to resort to the whale-oil. 
 
 The whale-oil produced a return of our complaints, and 
 having no other resource, we were forced by imperious hunger 
 to make our repasts from one of the bodies of our dead ship- 
 mates. They were so hard that it was with difficulty that we 
 could separate a portion with an axe, and the flesh broke off in 
 fragments, as if we had been splitting a piece of granite ; but it 
 thawed before the fire, which we had contrived to keep alight 
 by supplying it from the bulwarks of the quarter-deck, which 
 we cut away as we required them. The old harpooner and I 
 lived together on the best terms for a month, during which we 
 seldom quitted the cabin of the vessel, having now drawn 
 down the third dead body, which we cut up as we required 
 it with less difficulty than before, from the change in the 
 weather. 
 
 The ice continued breaking up, and all day and night we 
 were startled at the loud crashing which took place, as the ice- 
 bergs separated from each other. But my disgust at feeding 
 upon human flesh produced a sort of insanity. I had always 
 been partial to good eating, and was by no means an indifferent 
 cook ; and I determined to try whether something more palat- 
 able could not be provided for our meals ; the idea haunted me 
 day and night, and at last I imagined myself a French 
 restaurateur ; I tied a cloth before me as an apron, put on a 
 cotton nightcap instead of my fur cap, and was about to make
 
 HUCKABACK. 139 
 
 a trial of my skill, when I discovered that I had no lard, no fat 
 of any kind except train-oil, which I rejected as not being 
 suitable to the " cuisine Franfaise." My messmates who lay 
 dead, were examined one by one ; but they had fallen aw&y so 
 much previous to their decease, that not a symptom of fat was 
 to be perceived. Without fat I could do nothing ; and as I 
 thought of it in despair, my eye was caught by the rotundity of 
 paunch which still appertained to the English harpooner, the 
 only living being besides myself out of so many. " I must have 
 fat," cried I, fiercely, as I surveyed his unwieldy carcass. He 
 started when he observed the rolling of my eyes ; and per- 
 ceiving that I was advancing towards him, sharpening my 
 knife, he did not think it prudent to trust himself longer in my 
 company. Snatching up two or three blankets, he ran on deck, 
 and contrived to ascend to the main-top before I could follow 
 him. There he held me at bay, and I continued watching him 
 from below with my large carving-knife in my hand, which 
 I occasionally whetted. He remained aloft all night, and so 
 did I on deck, to get possession of him when he should 
 descend. I was so eager in my frenzy to obtain him, that I 
 felt neither cold nor hunger ; the weather during the day was 
 now warm enough to be pleasant, but the nights were piercing. 
 My fat shipmate remained in the top for three days and nights, 
 during which period I never removed from my post. At the 
 close of the third day he looked over the top brim, and im- 
 plored my mercy. When he showed himself, I hardly knew 
 him, so much had he wasted away; and it then struck me, that 
 if he remained aloft much longer he would have no more fat 
 than the others, and would not serve my purpose. I therefore 
 pledged him my honour, that I would not attempt his life for 
 ten days ; and as he was perishing with the cold, he agreed to 
 the armistice, and once more descended to the deck. But I 
 was saved the crime of murder, for he was so ravenous when 
 he came down, that he ate nearly the whole of a man's leg, and 
 died from repletion during the night. I cannot express to your 
 highness the satisfaction that I felt at finding that the car- 
 cass of the harpooner was in my possession. I surveyed my 
 treasure over and over again with delight. I could now cook 
 my French dishes. He was soon dissected, and all his unc- 
 tuous parts carefully melted down, and I found that I had a
 
 I 4 o THE P AC II A OF MANY TALES, 
 
 stock which would last me as long as the bodies which I had 
 remaining to exercise my skill upon. The first day I suc- 
 ceeded admirably. I cooked my dishes ; and when they were 
 ready, I took off my nightcap and apron, passed my fingers 
 through my hair, and fancied myself a garcon at a restaurateur's. 
 I laid the cloth, put the dishes on the table, and when it was 
 complete, went on deck and then returned as the bon vivant 
 who had ordered the dinner. 
 
 Never was any meal so delicious to my insane fancy. I de- 
 voured everything which I cooked, and drank water for cham- 
 pagne. I meditated upon what I should have for dinner on 
 the ensuing day, and then retired to my bed. In the meantime 
 the ice had separated, and the ship was again afloat; but I 
 cared not ; all my ideas were concentrated in the pleasures of 
 the table; and the next morning I went on deck to 
 obtain a piece of meat, when I was astonished at a terrific 
 growl. I turned my head and perceived an enormous white 
 bear, who was making sad depredations in my larder, having 
 nearly finished the whole body of one of my shipmates. He 
 was as large as an ox, so large that when he made a rush at 
 me, and I slipped down the ladder, he could not follow me. I 
 again looked up, and perceived that he had finished his meal. 
 After walking round the decks two or three times, smelling at 
 everything, he plunged overboard and disappeared. 
 
 Glad to be rid of so unpleasant a visitor, I came up, and 
 cutting off the meat I required, again exerted my cookery, was 
 again satisfied, and went to sleep. I never felt so happy as I 
 then did in my insane condition. All I thought of, all I 
 wished, I could command my happiness was concentrated in 
 eating my fellow-creatures, cooked in a proper manner, instead 
 of bolting them down to satisfy the cravings of imperious 
 hunger. I woke the next morning as usual, and when I 
 crawled on deck, was again saluted with the angry growl of the 
 bear, who was busy making a repast upon another body : when 
 he had finished, he plunged into the sea as before. 
 
 I now thought it high time to put an end to these depre- 
 dations upon my larder, which in a few days would have 
 left me destitute. My invention was called into action, and I 
 hit upon a plan which I thought would succeed. I dragged all 
 the bodies to the after-part of the quarter-deck, and blocked it
 
 HUCKABACK. I 4 I 
 
 up before the cabin-hatch with swabs and small sails, so as to 
 form a dam about eight inches high. I then w^nt below, and 
 brought up forty or fifty buckets of train-oil, which I poured 
 upon the deck abaft, so that it was covered with oil to the 
 height of several inches. On the ensuing morning the bear 
 came as I expected, and commenced his repast ; I had stationed 
 myself aloft, in the mizzen-top, with several buckets of oil, which 
 I poured upon him. His fur was otherwise well saturated with 
 what he had collected when he lay down on the deck to devour 
 one of the bodies more at his ease. When I had poured all 
 my buckets of oil over him but one, I threw the empty buckets 
 down upon him. This enraged him, and he mounted the rig- 
 ging to be revenged. I waited until he had arrived at the 
 futtock shrouds, when I poured my last bucket upon him, 
 which quite blinded him, and then gained the deck by sliding 
 down the back-stays on the opposite side. 
 
 A bear can climb fast, but it is very slow in its descent the 
 consequence was, that I had plenty of time for my arrange- 
 ments. I ran below, and lighting a torch of oakum, whick I 
 had prepared in readiness, placed it to his hinder quarters as 
 he descended. The effect was exactly what I had anticipated ; 
 his thick fur, covered in every part with oil, was immediately in 
 a blaze, and burnt with such rapidity, that before he could re- 
 cover his feet on deck, he was like an immense ball of fire. I 
 retreated down the companion-hatch to watch his motions. 
 His first act was to return to the quarter-deck and roll himself 
 in the oil, with an idea of quenching the flames ; but this added 
 fuel to them, and the animal, roaring in his agony, at last 
 jumped into the sea and disappeared. 
 
 Having thus rid myself of my intruder, I returned to my 
 cooking. The ship was now clear of ice, the weather was 
 warm, the bodies of my shipmates emitted a fetid smell, but I 
 saw and smelt nothing ; all that I observed was that the barley 
 which had been scattered on the deck by the fowls, had sprung 
 up about the decks, and I congratulated myself upon the variety 
 it would give to my culinary pursuits. I continued to cook, to 
 eat, and to sleep as before, when a circumstance occurred 
 which put an end to all my culinary madness. One night I 
 found the water washing by the side of my standing bed-place in 
 the cabin, and jumping out in alarm to ascertain the cause, I
 
 I 4 2 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 plunged over head and ears. The fact was, that the ship, when 
 lifted by the ice, had sprung a leak, which had gradually filled 
 her without my perceiving it. My fear of drowning was so 
 great, that I ran into the very danger which I would have 
 avoided. I darted out of the cabin windows into the sea, 
 whereas, had I got upon deck, I should have been safe ; for a 
 little reflection might have told me that a vessel laden with oil 
 could not have sunk ; but reflection came too late, and be- 
 numbed with the coldness of the waters, I could have struggled 
 but a few seconds more, when I suddenly came in contact with 
 a spar somewhat bigger than a boat's mast. I seized it to sup- 
 port myself, and was surprised at finding it jerked from me 
 occasionally, as if there was somebody else who had hold of it, 
 and who wished to force me to let it go ; but it was quite dark, 
 and I could distinguish nothing. I clung to it until daylight 
 appeared, when what was my horror to perceive an enormous 
 shark close to me. I nearly let go my hold and sunk, so para- 
 lyzed was I with fear. I anticipated every moment to feel his 
 teeth crushing me in half, and I shut my eyes, that I might not 
 add to the horrors of my death by being a witness to the means. 
 Some minutes had elapsed, which appeared to me so many 
 hours, when, surprised at being still alive, I ventured to open my 
 eyes. The shark was still at the same distance from me, and on 
 examination I perceived that the boat's mast or spar, to which 
 I was clinging, had been passed through his nose in a traverse 
 direction, being exactly balanced on either side. The shark 
 was of the description found in the north seas, which is called 
 by the sailors the blind shark. I now perfectly understood that 
 he had been caught and spritsail-yardcd, as the seamen term it, 
 and then turned adrift for their diversion. The buoyancy of 
 the spar prevents the animal" from sinking down under the 
 water ; and this punishment of their dreaded enemy is a very 
 favourite amusement of sailors. 
 
 I summoned up all my courage, and being tired of holding 
 on by the spar, resolved to mount upon his back, which I ac- 
 complished without difficulty, and found the seat on his shoulders 
 before the dorsal fin, not only secure but very comfortable. 
 The animal, unaccustomed to carry weight, made several 
 attempts to get rid of me ; but not being able to sink, I retained 
 my seat. He then increased his velocity, and we went over a
 
 " I found the seat on his shoulders before the dorsal fin, not only secure, 
 but very comfortable." 
 
 PALHA OF MAJfT TALES.
 
 HUCKABACK. 143 
 
 smooth sea, at the rate of about three knots an hour. For two 
 days I continued my course to the southward, upon my novel 
 conveyance, during which I had nothing to eat except a few 
 barnacles, and some parasitical vermin, peculiar to the animal, 
 which I discovered under his fins. I also found a small remora, 
 or sucking-fish, near his tail ; but when I put it to my mouth, it 
 fixed itself so firmly on both my lips that I thought they were 
 sealed for ever. No force could detach it, and there it hung 
 like a padlock for many hours, to my great mortification and 
 annoyance ; but at last it died, from being so long out of water; 
 and when it dropped off, I devoured it. 
 
 On the third day I observed land at a distance : it appeared 
 to be an island, but I had no idea what it could be. My steed 
 continued his course straight towards it, and being blind, ran 
 'his nose right upon the shore ; before he found out his mistake, 
 I slipped off his back, and climbing the steep side of the island, 
 was once more, as I thought, on terra firma. Tired with long 
 watching, I lay down and fell fast asleep. 
 
 I was awakened by something touching me on the shoulder, 
 and opening my eyes, I perceived that I was surrounded by 
 several people, whom I naturally inferred to be the inhabitants 
 of the island. They were clad in dresses which appeared to 
 me to be made of black leather, consisting of a pair of trousers 
 and a long pea-jacket, very similar to those worn by the Esqui- 
 maux Indians, which we occasionally fell in with in the North- 
 ern Ocean. They each held a long harpodn, formed entirely 
 of bone, in their right hands. 
 
 I was not a little surprised at being addressed in the patois 
 dialect of the Basques in my own country, which is spoken 
 about Bayonne and other parts adjacent to the Pyrenees. To 
 their questions I answered, that I was the only survivor of the 
 crew of a whaler, which had been frozen up in the ice during 
 the winter ; that she had filled with water, and that I had saved 
 myself on the back of a shark. 
 
 They expressed no surprise at my unheard-of conveyance to 
 the island ; on the contrary, they merely observed that sharks 
 were '.oo vicious to ride ; and asked me to accompany them to 
 their town, an invitation which I gladly accepted. As I walked 
 along I observed that the island was composed of white por- 
 ous pumice-stone, without the least symptoms of vegetation;
 
 J44 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 not even a piece of moss could I discover nothing but the 
 bare pumice-stone, with thousands of beautiful green lizards, 
 about ten inches long, playing about in every part. The road 
 was steep, and in several parts the rock was cut into steps to 
 enable you to ascend. After an hour's fatiguing walk, which 
 I never should have accomplished in my weak state without 
 the assistance of the islanders, we arrived at the summit. The 
 view which met my eye was striking. I was on the peak of a 
 chain of hills, forming an immense amphitheatre, encircling a 
 valley which appeared about fifteen miles in diameter, and 
 the major part of which was occupied by a lake of water. 
 
 I could discern what appeared to be the habitations of men 
 on different parts of the lake ; but there was not a tree or shrub 
 to be seen. 
 
 "What," demanded I of the man who appeared to take 
 lead of the rest of the party, "have you no trees here?" 
 
 " None whatever ; and yet we can do very well without them. 
 Do you not observe that there is no mould : that the island 
 is composed entirely of pumice-stone ?" 
 
 " I do," replied I. " Pray what is the name ot your 
 barren spot and in what part of the world are we?" 
 
 "As for its name, we call it Whale Island," replied the man ; 
 *' but as for where we are, we cannot exactly tell ourselves, for 
 we are a floating island, being entirely composed of pumice- 
 stone, whose specific gravity, as you must know, is much 
 lighter than that.of water." 
 
 "How strange!" observed I; "I cannot believe that you 
 are in earnest." 
 
 " And yet not so stiange as you imagine," replied my con- 
 ductor. " If you examine the structure of this island from 
 where you now stand, you will perceive at once that it has 
 been the crater of some large volcano. It is easy to imagine, 
 that having reared its head above the level of the sea, by some 
 of those sudden caprices of ever-working nature, the base has 
 again sunk down, leaving the summit of the crater floating on 
 the ocean. Such is our opinion of the formation of this island ; 
 and I doubt whether your geologists on the continent would 
 produce a more satisfactory theory." 
 
 " What ! you have communicated with Europe, then ? " cried 
 I, delighted at the hopes of return.
 
 HUCKABACK. MS 
 
 " We have had communication, but we do not communicate 
 again. In the winter-time, this island, which, strange as it may 
 appear to you, does not change its position many hundred 
 miles in the course of centuries, is inclosed with the icebergs 
 in the north : when the spring appears, we are disengaged, and 
 then drift a degree or two to the southward, seldom more." 
 
 " Are you not then affected by the winds and tides ? " 
 
 " Of course we are ; but there is a universal balance through- 
 out nature, and everything finds its level. There is order, 
 when there appears disorder and no stream runs in one 
 direction, without a counter stream to restore the equilibrium. 
 Upon the whole, what with the under-currents, and the changes 
 which continually take place, I should say that we are very 
 little, if at all, affected by the tides which may be considered as 
 a sort of exercise, prescribed by nature to keep the ocean in good 
 health. The same may be affirmed with respect to the winds. 
 Wind is a substance, as well as water, capable of great expansion, 
 but still a substance. A certain portion has been allotted 
 to the world for its convenience, and there is a regularity 
 in its apparent variability. It must be self-evident, when all 
 the wind has been collected to the eastward by the north-west 
 gales which prevail in winter, that it must be crowded and 
 penned up in that quarter, and, from its known expansive 
 powers, must return and restore equilibrium. That is the 
 reason that we have such a long continuance of easterly winds 
 in the months of February and March." 
 
 " You said that you had communication with Europe ? " 
 
 " We have, occasionally, visits perforce, from those who are 
 cast away in ships or boats ; but the people who come here 
 have never returned. The difficulty of leaving the island is 
 very great, and we flatter ourselves that few who have remained 
 any time with us, have ever felt the desire." 
 
 " What not to leave a barren rock without even a blade of 
 grass upon it." 
 
 " Happiness," replied my conductor, " does not consist in 
 the variety of your possessions, but in being contented with 
 what you have ; " and he commenced the descent of the hill. 
 
 I followed him in a melancholy mood, for I could imagine 
 little comfort in such a sterile spot. 
 
 " I am not a native of this island," observed he, as we 
 
 L
 
 I 4 6 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 walked along ; " it is more than four hundred years since it 
 was first inhabited, by the crew of a French vessel, which was 
 lost in the Northern Ocean. But I do not wish to leave it. I . 
 was cast on it in a whale-boat, when separated from the ship in 
 a snow-storm, about twenty-five years ago. I am now a 
 married man, with a family, and am considered one of the 
 wealthiest inhabitants of the island, for I possess between forty 
 and fifty whales." 
 
 " Whales ! " exclaimed I, with astonishment. 
 " Yes," replied my conductor, " whales, which are the 
 Staple of this island, and without them we should not be 
 so prosperous and so happy as we are. But you have much 
 to see and learn ; you will by-and-by acknowledge that there 
 is nothing existing in the world, which, from necessity and by 
 perseverance, man cannot subject to his use. Yon lake, which 
 covers the bottom of our valley, is our source of wealth and 
 comfort, and yields us an increase as plentiful as the most 
 fertile plains of Italy or France." 
 
 As we arrived close to the foot of the hills, I perceived 
 several black substances on the shores of the lake. " Are those 
 whales ? " inquired I. 
 
 " They were whales, but they are now houses. That one by 
 itself is mine, which I hope you will consider as yours, until 
 you have made up your mind as to what you will do." 
 
 We descended to the beach, and his companions, wishing 
 me good morning, left me with my conductor, who led the way 
 to his house. It was composed of the skin of one entire 
 whale, much larger than ever I had seen in the Northern 
 Ocean. The backbone and ribs of the animal served as 
 rafters to extend the skin, which bore the resemblance of a 
 long tent ; it was further secured by ropes, formed of the 
 twisted sinews, which passed over the top, and were made fast 
 to stakes of bone firmly fixed in the ground on each side. 
 When I entered, I found to my surprise that there was plenty 
 of light, which was supplied from windows composed of small 
 panes of whalebone, ground down very thin ; and at the further 
 end the head and skull of the animal formed a kitchen, the 
 smoke from the fire escaping through the spiracles or breathing- 
 holes above. 
 
 On each side of the room into which I was ushered were
 
 HUCKABACK. 147 
 
 raised seats, covered with seal-skins, and the other end of the 
 house was divided off, with a species of black skin, into sleeping- 
 apartments for the master of the house and his family. There 
 was not the least smell, as I anticipated before I entered this 
 strange dwelling-place. 
 
 I was introduced to his wife, who welcomed me with 
 cordiality. She was dressed in the same dark skin as her 
 husband, but of a much finer texture, and had a scarlet cap on 
 her head, which, on the whole, was not only comfortable but 
 becoming in its appearance. 
 
 A bowl of milk was presented to me, to refresh me after my 
 walk and long abstinence. 
 
 "How!" observed I, "have you milk here without pas- 
 ture?" 
 
 "Yes," replied my host; "drink it and tell me if you think it 
 palatable." 
 
 I did so, and found it very little different from the asses' 
 milk of my own country perhaps with a little more acidity of 
 taste. In the meantime several varieties of shell-fish, and a 
 large cheese, were placed upon the table, which, as well as the 
 stools, was composed entirely of bone. 
 
 " And cheese too ? " said I. 
 
 "Yes, and you will find it not bad. It is the milk of the 
 whale which you have drunk, and the cheese is prepared from 
 the same." 
 
 " Friend Huckaback," observed the pacha, " I think you are 
 telling me lies. Who ever heard of whale's milk ? " 
 
 "Allah forbid that I should attempt to deceive a person of 
 your highness's judgment; it could only end in mortification 
 and defeat to myself." 
 
 " That's very true," observed the pacha. 
 
 " Your highness has not called to mind that the whale is what 
 naturalists call a 'hot-blood animal/ with arteries and circula- 
 tion of blood similar to the human species ; and that it brings 
 forth its young alive, and nurses it at the breast." 
 
 " Very true," observed the pacha. " I had forgot that." 
 
 My conductor resumed as follows: "As I told you before, 
 the whale is the staple of this island. You observe that his
 
 I 4 S THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 skin serves us as a house ; from his bones we form all our im- 
 plements from his sinews, our thickest ropes down to our 
 finest thread. The dress we wear is composed of the belly-part 
 of the skin, dressed with a sort of soap, composed of the alkali 
 obtained from the seaweed which abounds in the lake, and the 
 oil of the whale. His blubber serves us for fuel and candle ; 
 his flesh for meat, and the milk is invaluable to us. It is true 
 we have other resources : we have our lizards, and a variety of 
 fish and shell-fish ; and when we are shut up in winter among 
 the icebergs, we procure the flesh and skins of the seals and the 
 polar bear. But we have no vegetable of any kind; and 
 although the want of bread may at first be unpleasant, a few 
 weeks will reconcile you to the privation. But it is time to 
 repose after your fatigues I will report your arrival to the 
 great harpooner, after I have shown you to your chamber." 
 He then conducted me to an inner room, where I found a 
 couch, composed of the skins of the polar bear, on which I 
 threw myself, and in a few minutes was fast asleep. 
 
 The next morning I was awakened by my host. " If you 
 wish to see the whales milked, this is the hour that they are 
 called in ; a short walk will explain more to you than many 
 hours' conversation." 
 
 I arose perfectly refreshed from my long nap, and followed 
 my conductor. We passed a large tank. " This is our water ; 
 we are obliged not to waste it, although we have a sufficiency ; 
 the tank is coated by a cement, formed of lime, obtained by the 
 burning of the shells offish. We make all our vessels that are 
 submitted to the fire of the same substance, mixed with pounded 
 lava; it is burnt in the fire, and glazed with sea salt." 
 
 We arrived at the edge of the lake, where we came to a large 
 shallow dock, cut out of the lava in the side, in which were 
 about two dozen young whales, who followed my host as he 
 walked round the edge. 
 
 " These are my calves ; we do not admit the mothers until 
 we have first drawn off what milk we require." 
 
 Several men now came down to the beach : one of them blew 
 a horn, formed out of a part of the horn of a sea unicorn, and 
 immediately a herd of whales collected at the sound, and swam 
 towards the beach. They all answered to their names ; and 
 when the men waded in the water up to their knees, quietly
 
 HUCKABACK. 149 
 
 grounded on their sides, so as to present one of their adders to 
 them clear of the water. This was squeezed by four men, and 
 the contents received into a large pail, composed of the bones 
 of a whale, neatly hooped together by the same substance. 
 
 As soon as the breast of the animal was empty, with a lash 
 of its tail it recovered the deep water, and swam round and 
 round in small circles, near to the spot. 
 
 " We always leave one breast for the calf," observed my host; 
 " when they are all milked, I shall open the pen and let the 
 mothers in." 
 
 " What are those enormous whales which are playing at a 
 distance." 
 
 " They are our whale oxen," answered my host ; " we find 
 that they grow to an enormous size. Our houses are built of 
 their skins." 
 
 " Is that a dead whale on the beach ? " 
 
 " It is one of our whale-boats," replied he, " but formed, as 
 you supposed, from the skin of a whale, hardened by frequent 
 applications of oil and lime. We use them to catch the whales 
 when we want them." 
 
 " You do not use the harpoon, then ? " 
 
 " Only when we kill ; in general we noose the tail, and fasten 
 the rope to one of these boats, which are so buoyant that the 
 whale cannot take it down, and soon tires with his own exer- 
 tions. I am now speaking of the males reserved for breeding, 
 or strange whales, who sometimes find their way into our lake 
 during the winter : our own are so domesticated from their 
 infancy that we .have little trouble with them ; but it is time 
 that we return. 
 
 " Here," observed my host, as we passed a whale-house, " is 
 one of our manufactories ; we will step in. This is the common 
 stuff of the country, which is used for partitions in houses, e. 
 This is a finer sort, such as I wear at present. Here we have 
 the skin of the whale calf, which is usually worn by the women. 
 This is the most expensive article of our manufacturers ; it is 
 the belly part of the calPs skin, which being white, admits of 
 a dye from the murex a shell-fish very common upon our 
 shores." 
 
 " Have you money ? " inquired I. 
 
 " None we exchange ; but the chief article of exchange,
 
 and which serves as money, is the whale cheese, which keeps 
 for years, and improves in quality. That fine cloth is worth 
 eight new cheeses a square yard, which is very dear." 
 
 We arrived at the house, where we found our repast ready; 
 an excellent stew received my commendation. 
 
 " It is one of our favourite dishes," replied my host ; " it is 
 made of lizards' tails." 
 
 "Lizards' tails!" 
 
 , "Yes; I am about to procure some for dinner, and you shall 
 see my preserve." 
 
 In the course of the day I walked with my host a short 
 distance up the hill, when we stopped at a large pit, covered 
 with net-work made with whale sinews. The man who accom- 
 panied us, descended, and soon returned with a pail of lizards 
 confined by a similiar net over them. He then took them out 
 one by one, and pulled their tails, which were immediately left 
 in his hand. He then notched the stump, and threw the 
 animal into the pit. 
 
 " Of what use is it to return the animals ? " observed I. 
 
 " Because their tails will grow again by next year." 
 
 " But why then were the stumps notched in the middle ? " 
 
 " That they might have two tails instead of one, which is in- 
 variably the case," replied my host 
 
 But I will not tire your highness with an account of all that 
 I saw, and which occurred during my stay on that island. If 
 I were to enter into the excellence of their government, which 
 consisted of a great harpooner and two councils of first and 
 second harpoons, or of the manners and customs of the in- 
 habitants, ceremonies at births, and marriages, and deaths of 
 , their amusements, and their ingenious supply of all their wants, 
 it would afford materials for at least two volumes quarto, with- 
 out margin. I shall, therefore, confine myself to stating, that 
 after a sojourn of six months, I became so impatient to quit 
 the island, that I determined to encounter any risk, rather than 
 not accomplish it. 
 
 My host and all the principal inhabitants, finding that no 
 persuasions could induce me to stay, consented at last to 
 furnish me with the means which I had hit upon to make 
 my escape. J 
 
 I omitted to mention to your highness, the whales had been
 
 HUCKABACK. 151 
 
 rendered so docile, that they not only were used for draught 
 on the lake but even for carrying on their backs. I never could 
 be persuaded to mount one, 1 nad such a horror of being seated 
 on a fish's back, after my travelling on the shark ; but I had 
 often crossed the lake in one of the great whale-boats towed by 
 one or two of the animals fastened to it by loops over their 
 tails. This conveyance suggested to me the idea of my escape, 
 which I proposed to make by means of one of these large 
 whale-boats, covered completely in, and to be towed out of 
 the mouth of the lake by one of the draught whales. 
 
 At my request a boat was prepared and covered in, with 
 whalebone windows to admit light ; a stock of provisions were 
 supplied me, sufficient for a long voyage, and .the whale being 
 put to, I departed amidst the tears and lamentations of the 
 friendly islanders, who looked upon me as a man bent upon 
 my own destruction. But I was aware that the fishery would 
 soon commence, and had great hopes of being picked up by 
 one of the vessels. I was soon clear of the lake, and the 
 lad who was on the back of the draught whale, having towed 
 me out in pursuance of his orders, until the island appeared 
 like a cloud on the horizon, cast me loose and hastened back, 
 that he might return home before dark. 
 
 For three weeks I remained in the inside of this enormous 
 boat, or rather I may say fish, tossed upon the waves, but 
 without injury, from its extreme buoyancy. One morning I 
 was awakened from a sound sleep by a sudden blow on the 
 outside of my vessel. I imagined that I had come in con- 
 tact with an iceberg ; but the sound of voices convinced me 
 that at last I had fallen in with my fellow-creatures. A har- 
 poon was now driven in, which I narrowly escaped, and a 
 volley of execrations followed, by which I knew immediately 
 that the people were English. 
 
 After a few minutes, they commenced sawing a hole in the 
 side of my whale-boat, and a piece being removed, a head 
 was put in. Fearful of another harpoon, I had raised up my 
 large white bear's skin as a defence, and the man perceiving 
 it, immediately withdrew his head, swearing that there was a 
 white bear in the belly of the whale. The boat shoved off, and 
 they commenced firing musket-balls, which pierced my boat 
 through and through, and I was obliged to lie down at the
 
 152 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 bottom to save my life. After about twenty shots, the boat 
 again came alongside, and a man, putting his head in, and 
 perceiving me at the bottom of the boat, covered with the bear's 
 skin, imagined that the animal had been killed, and reported 
 to his companions. With some degree of apprehension they 
 climbed in at the hole which they had cut, when I lifted up my 
 bear's skin, and made my appearance, dressed in the black skin 
 worn by the inhabitants of Whales' Island. This frightened 
 them still more ; one roared out that it was the devil, and they 
 all ran to make their escape at the hole by which they entered; 
 but in their eagerness they prevented each other. 
 
 It was with difficulty that I convinced them that I was harm- 
 less, which I did at last ; and having explained, in few words, 
 how I came there, they permitted me to go with them on board 
 of the ship. The captain was very sulky when he heard the 
 story; he had imagined it to be a dead whale, and had ordered 
 it to be towed alongside, to cut off the blubber. Disappointed 
 in his expectations, he swore that I was a Jonas, who had 
 come out of the whale's belly, and there would be no luck in 
 the ship if I remained. The sailors, whose profits in the 
 voyage are regulated by the number of fish taken, thought this 
 an excellent reason for throwing me overboard ; and had there 
 not been two sail in sight, standing towards them, I certainly 
 should have had some more adventures to narrate. At last 
 they consented to put me on board of one which had 
 hoisted French colours. She was from Havre, and having 
 twelve fish on board, was returning home. The captain con- 
 sented to give me a passage, and in two months I was once 
 more in my native country. 
 
 Such, your highness, were the adventures of my third 
 voyage. 
 
 "Wei 1 , the story of the island was rather too long," ob- 
 served the pacha ; " but, altogether, it was amusing. Mustapha, 
 I think it is worth ten pieces of gold."
 
 HUCKABACK. 153 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE next day the renegade commenced his fourth voyage in 
 the following words : 
 
 FOURTH VOYAGE OP HUCKABACK. 
 
 YOUR highness may imagine that I ought to have been pretty 
 well tired of going to sea, after so many mishaps ; but there is 
 a restlessness attending a person who has once been a rover, 
 that drives him from comfort and affluence in possession, to 
 seek variety through danger and difficulty in perspective. Yet 
 I cannot say that it was my case in the present instance, for I 
 was forced to embark against my inclination. I had travelled 
 through France to Marseilles, with a small sum of money pre- 
 sented to me by the captain of the ship who gave me a passage 
 home, for I could no longer bear the idea of not again seeing 
 my father, if he was alive ; and I felt no apprehensions from 
 the circumstance of the lady abbess, as I knew how soon 
 every thing in this world is forgotten, and that I was so 
 altered, from time and hardship, that I was not likely to be 
 recognized. 
 
 On my arrival at my native city, I proceeded to the well- 
 known shop, where I had been accustomed to exercise my 
 talents, under my father's superintendence. The pole was 
 extended from the door, the basin still turned round in 
 obedience to the wind ; but when I entered the shop, -which 
 was crowded with people (for it was Saturday afternoon), I 
 perceived that all the operators were unknown to me, and 
 that my father was not there. One of the expectants, who 
 waited his turn, politely made room for me beside him on the 
 bench, and I had time to look about me before I made any 
 interrogations. 
 
 The shop had been newly painted, and a looking-glass of 
 considerable dimensions had been added, and the whole wore 
 the appearance of a more thriving establishment. 
 
 " You are a stranger, monsieur," observed my neighbour. 
 
 " I am," replied I ; " but I have been in Marseilles before,
 
 154 7 HE PA Oil A OF MANY TALES. 
 
 and when I was last here I used to frequent this shop. There 
 was a short stout man who was at the head of it, but I do not 
 recollect his name." 
 
 "Oh Monsieur Maurepas. He is dead; he died about 
 two months since." 
 
 " And what became of his family? " 
 
 " He had but one son, who had an intrigue with the daughter 
 of an old officer in this town, and he was obliged to leave it. 
 No one has heard of him since ; he is supposed to have been 
 lost at sea, as the vessel in which he embarked never arrived 
 at the port to which she was bound. The old man died worth 
 money, and there is a lawsuit for his property now carried on 
 between two distant relations." 
 
 "What became of the lady you were speaking of?" 
 
 " She retired to a convent, not three miles off, and is since 
 dead. There was some mystery about the abbess, and she 
 was supposed to be able to explain it I believe s!ie was 
 pronounced ' contumacious ' by the Inquisition, and put into 
 prison, where she died from the severity of her treatment." 
 
 My heart smote me when I heard this. The poor girl had 
 endured all this severity on my account, and was faithful even 
 to the last. I fell into a reverie of most painful feelings. 
 Cerise, too, whose fate I had before ascertained when I was at 
 Toulouse dear, dear, Cerise ! 
 
 "I tell you again, Huckaback, I wish to have no more 
 of Cerise," cried the pacha. " SLe is dead, and there's an 
 end of her." 
 
 The information that I received made me doubtful how to 
 proceed ; I could easily prove my identity, but I had a degree 
 of apprehension that I might be catechized in such a manner 
 as to raise suspicions. At the same time, without a sous in 
 the world, I did not much like the idea of abandoning all 
 claim to my father's property. I had formerly dressed the 
 peruke of an elderly gentleman who practised in the law, and 
 with whom I was a great favourite. Although five years had 
 elapsed since I first ran away from my father, I thought it 
 wery likely that he might be still alive. I resolved to call at 
 his house. When I knocked and asked if he was at home, the
 
 HUCKABACK. 155 
 
 girl who opened the door replied in the affirmative, and I was 
 shown into the same little study, littered with papers, into 
 which I formerly used to bring him his peruke. 
 
 " Your pleasure, sir? " inquired the old man, peering at me 
 through his spectacles. 
 
 " I wish/' replied I, " to ask your opinion relative to a 
 disputed succession." 
 
 " What is the property ? " 
 
 " That of Monsieur Maurepas, who died some short time 
 since." 
 
 " What, have we another claimant ? If so, as I am em- 
 ployed by one party already, you must go elsewhere. I wish 
 Frangois would make his appearance and claim his own, poor 
 fellow." 
 
 Delighted to find that the old gentleman had still a regard 
 for me, I made no scruple of making myself known. 
 
 " I am Francois, sir," replied I. 
 
 The old gentleman rose from his seat, and coming close 
 to me, looked at me earnestly in the face. After a minute's 
 scrutiny 
 
 "Well I do believe you are; and pray, sir, where have 
 you been all this while ? " 
 
 " That's what I cannot very well tell ; but I have seen and 
 suffered much." 
 
 " But that's what you must tell, if you wish to obtain your 
 property that is to say, you must tell me. Don't be afraid, 
 Frangois : it is a part of our profession to be confidants to 
 strange secrets ; and I think there are many locked up in 
 this breast of more importance than any which you can 
 disclose." 
 
 " But, sir, if my life is concerned ? " 
 
 " What, then your life will be safe. If I told all I knew, I 
 could hang half Marseilles. But, laying my professional duty 
 aside, I wish you well ; so now sit down, and let me hear your 
 narrative." 
 
 I felt that I could confide in my old acquaintance, and 
 I therefore commenced a detail of my adventures. When I 
 stated my being wrecked near Marseilles, he interrupted me, 
 laughing, 
 
 " And you were the holy abbess ? "
 
 156 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 " I was." 
 
 " Well, I thought I recollected your face, when I came with 
 the rest of the tom-fools to pay my respects to you : and when 
 it was whispered that a man had personified the holy abbess, 
 I said to myself, ' that it was either Francois or the devil,' but 
 I never mentioned my suspicions." 
 
 When I had finished my narrative, he observed, "Now, 
 Francois, there will be some risk of proving your identity in a 
 court of justice, which the other parties will insist upon. What 
 I should advise you to do is, to compromise with the party 
 that employs me. Make over to him a conveyance of all the 
 property, on condition of your receiving one half, or more if we 
 can get it. I will represent you as a careless young man, 
 anxious to obtain money and spend it. If he agrees, you will 
 obtain a good round sum without risk, and I shall oblige both 
 of my clients, which is always my endeavour." 
 
 I agreed to the good sense of the proposal, and my old 
 friend advanced me some louis to enable me to improve my 
 appearance. Advising me not to show myself too much, he 
 offered me a bed at his house. I left him to procure a more 
 decent wardrobe ; and, for better disguise, fitted myself with 
 an officer's undress suit, and having purchased a few other 
 necessaries, returned to his house. 
 
 "Well, upon my honour, you do justice to your dress. I 
 don't wonder at Mademoiselle de Fonseca falling in love with 
 you. That is a sad story, though I don't know whether I 
 ought to trust you with my housekeeper, for she is very young 
 and very pretty. Promise me, on your honour, that you will 
 not make love to the poor girl, for I have an affection for her, 
 and will not have her added to your list of broken hearts." 
 
 " Mention it not, I beg, sir," replied I, mournfully ; " my 
 heart is dead and buried with her whose name you have just 
 mentioned." 
 
 " Well, then, go upstairs "and introduce yourself. I have 
 people waiting in the next room." 
 
 I obeyed his directions, and when I entered the parlour 
 above, perceived a youthful figure working at her needle, with 
 her back towards me. She turned her head at my approach 
 what was my amazement, what was my delight, when I beheld 
 Cerise !
 
 HUCKABACK. 157 
 
 " Holy Prophet," exclaimed the pacha, " is that woman corne 
 to life again ? " 
 
 "She was never dead, your highness, and will occupy 
 your attention more than once, if I am to proceed with my 
 voyages." 
 
 " But I hope there will be no more love-scenes." 
 
 " Only the present one, your highness : for after that we 
 were married." 
 
 Cerise looked at me for one moment, screamed, and fell life- 
 less on the floor. I caught her in my arms, and, as she lay 
 senseless, called her by her name, and imprinted a hundred 
 kisses on her lips. 
 
 The noise had alarmed the old gentleman, who, unobserved 
 by me, came in, and witnessed the scene. " Upon my honour, 
 sir, considering your promise to me just now, you are making 
 rather free." 
 
 " Tis Cerise, my dear sir Cerise !" 
 
 " Cerise de Fonseca ? " 
 
 " Yes, the same ; the dear girl whom I have ever lamented." 
 
 " Upon my soul, Mr. Francois, you've a talent for ad- 
 ventures," said the old gentleman, leaving the room, and 
 returning with a tumbler of water. Cerise was soon restored, 
 and lay trembling in my arms. Our old friend, who con- 
 sidered that he was " de trop" quitted the room, and left us 
 together. 
 
 I will not dwell upon a scene which can have no charms to 
 those who, like your highness, buy love ready made ; I shall 
 Iherefore narrate the history of Cerise, which at my request was 
 imparted, previous to her receiving a similar confidence on my 
 part. 
 
 " Allow me to observe, Felix (or what is your name, you im- 
 postor ?)" said Cerise, half reproachfully and half in jest. 
 
 " My name is Frangois." 
 
 " Well, then, Frangois ; but I shall never like that name so 
 well as Felix, for it was to Felix that but there's nothing in a 
 name, after all except that the first is engraven on my heart, 
 and cannot be effaced. But let me tell my story, and allow 
 me to commence with an observation, which my acquaintance 
 with you, and subsequent reflections, have deeply impressed
 
 IS8 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 upon my mind. It unfortunately happens, that those who are 
 highest in rank in this world pay dearly for it in a point upon 
 which almost all the real happiness of life consists. I mean in 
 the choice of the partner with whom they are destined to walk 
 the pilgrimage of life hand in hand ; and the higher their rank 
 the more strictly are they debarred from making a selection 
 which the meanest peasant can enjoy without control. 
 
 " A king has no choice, he must submit to the wishes of 
 his subjects, and the interests of his country. The aristocracy 
 in our country are little better off, at least the female part of 
 it ; for they are dragged from convents to the altar, and offered 
 up as a sacrifice to family connection. At the time that we 
 were, or were supposed to be (for as yet it is a mystery to me), 
 
 assisted by you on the road " 
 
 " In one point not a supposition certainly, my Cerise, for I 
 took off my only garment to cover you." 
 
 " You did you did I think I see you now, leaving the 
 side of the chariot ; I loved you from that moment. But to 
 continue : I was then going down to the chateau, to be intro- 
 duced to my future husband, whom I had never seen, although 
 the affair had been long arranged. 
 
 " My father had no idea that any harm could result from a 
 few days' acquaintance ; and he felt too grateful to forbid you 
 the house ; but he little knew how situation and opportunity 
 will overcome time ; and I knew more of you in a few days 
 than I thought I could have known of any man in so many 
 years. That I loved you loved you dearly you know 
 well. 
 
 " But to proceed (nay, don't kiss me so, or I shall never 
 tell my story). The next morning I heard that you had gone, 
 as you told me it was your intention : but my father's horse 
 did not come back my father was grave, and the bishop more 
 gloomy than usual. Two days afterwards I was informed by 
 my father that you were an impostor, that all had been dis- 
 covered, and that, if taken, you would probably be seized by 
 the Inquisition ; but you had fled the country, and were sup- 
 posed to have embarked at Toulon. He added, that my hus- 
 band would arrive in a few days. 
 
 " I considered all that he had told me, and I formed the 
 following conclusions : First, that you were n >t the person
 
 HUCKABACK'. 159 
 
 you described yourself to be ; and, secondly, that he had dis- 
 covered our attachment, and had insisted upon your not re- 
 appearing ; but that you had deserted me, and left the country, 
 I knew, after what had passed, to be impossible. But whether 
 you were Monsieur de Rouille or not you were all I coveted, 
 and all that I adored ; and I vowed that for you I would live 
 or die. I felt assured that one day or another you would come 
 back ; and that conviction supported me. M-y future husband 
 appeared he was odious. The time fixed for our wedding 
 drew nigh I had one resource, which was flight. A young 
 girl who attended me (you recollect her, she came and told us 
 the bishop was coming, when we were in the garden), I knew 
 to be attached to me. I took her in my confidence, and through 
 her means obtained a peasant's dress, with the promise of 
 shelter in her father's cottage, some leagues distant. The 
 night before the marriage was to take place, I ran down to the 
 river that flows past the chateau, threw my bonnet and shawl 
 on the bank, and then made my escape to where her father 
 was waiting to receive me, in a cart which he had provided as 
 a conveyance. The girl, who was left, managed admirably ; it 
 was supposed that I had drowned myself ; and as they had no 
 further occasion for her services, she was dismissed, and joined 
 me at her father's cottage. I remained there for more than a 
 year, when I thought it advisable to move, and come to Mar- 
 seilles, where I obtained the situation of housekeeper to this 
 old gentleman, who has treated me more like a daughter than 
 a domestic. Now, Mr. Frangois, can you give so good an ac- 
 count of yourself?" 
 
 "Not quite, Cerise; but I can honestly declare, that when 
 I thought you alive, I never forgot you ; and believing you 
 dead, I never ceased to lament you, nor have I looked at a 
 woman since. Our old friend below can prove it, by my 
 answer when he cautioned me against the charms of his 
 housekeeper." 
 
 I did not, your highness, tell the whole truth to Cerise ; for 
 I have always considered it perfectly justifiable to retain facts 
 which cannot add to people's happiness. I declared that I left 
 her because my life would have been forfeited if I had re- 
 mained, and I valued it only for her sake. That I always in- 
 tended to return ; and when I quilted Valencia, and had
 
 160 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 become a man of property, I immediately proceeded to makv. 
 inquiries, and heard the news of her death. Neither did I ac- 
 quaint her with the profession which I had followed ; I merely 
 stated that my father was a man of eminence, and that he had 
 died rich ; for although people of good family will sometimes 
 bow to love, taking the risk of high or low birth, they are 
 always mortified when they discover that their ticket in the 
 lottery has turned up a blank. 
 
 Cerise was satisfied we renewed our vows and the old 
 gentleman, who declared that of all the secrets in his possession 
 ours would be the most dangerous to him if discovered, was 
 not sorry to see us united, and quit the house. 
 
 I obtained two-thirds of my fortune from the claimant ; and 
 with it and my wife repaired to Toulon. 
 
 For one year I enjoyed uninterrupted happiness. My wife 
 was everything to me, and so far from leaving her in search of 
 variety, I could not bear to go out of the house unless she ac- 
 companied me : but we were living much too fast, and at the 
 end of the year I found one-third of my property had been 
 spent. My affection would not permit me to reduce my wife 
 to beggary, and I determined to take some measures to secure 
 the means of future existence. Consulting her on the occasion, 
 with many tears Cerise acknowledged my prudence : and 
 having divided the remainder of my property, one half of 
 which I laid out in merchandise, and the other I gave to her 
 for her support during my absence, I embarked on board of a 
 vessel bound to the West Indies. 
 
 We made the islands without any accident, and I was ex- 
 tremely successful in my speculations : I began to think that 
 fortune was tired of persecuting me ; but knowing how 
 treacherous she was, I shipped one half my return cargo in 
 another vessel, that I might have one more chance. 
 
 When our captain was ready to sail, the passengers repaired 
 on board, and amongst others a rich old gentleman who had 
 come from Mexico, and who had been waiting for a passage 
 home to France. He was very ill when he came on board, 
 and I recommended his losing a little blood, offering my ser- 
 vices on the occasion. They were accepted ; the old gentle- 
 man recovered, and we were very intimate afterwards. We 
 had been about a fortnight clear of the island, when a hurri-
 
 HUCKABACK. 161 
 
 cane came on, the equal of which in force I never beheld. 
 The sea was one sheet of foam, the air was loaded with spray, 
 which was thrown with such violence against our faces that we 
 were blinded ; and the wind blew so strong that no one could 
 stand up against it,. The vessel was thrown on her beam 
 ends, and we all gave ourselves up for lost. Fortunately the 
 masts went by the board, and the ship righted. But when 
 the hurricane abated, we were in an awkward predicament ; 
 the spare spars had been washed overboard, and we had no 
 means of rigging jury-masts and making sail. There we lay 
 rolling in a perfect calm which had succeeded^ and drifting to 
 the northward by the influence of what is called the Gulf 
 Stream. 
 
 One morning, as we were anxiously looking out for a vessel, 
 we perceived something at a distance, but could not ascertain 
 what it was. 
 
 At first we imagined that it was several casks floating, which 
 had been thrown overboard, or had forced their way out of 
 the hold of some vessel which had foundered at sea. But at 
 last we discovered that it was an enormous serpent, coming 
 directly on towards the vessel, at the rate of from fifteen to 
 twenty miles an hour. As it approached, we perceived, to our 
 horror, that it was about a hundred feet long, and as thick as 
 the main-mast of a seventy-four ; it occasionally reared its 
 head many feet above the surface, and then plunging it down 
 again continued its rapid course. When it neared us to within 
 a mile, we were so alarmed that we all ran down below. The 
 animal came to the ship, and rearing its body more than half- 
 way out of the water, so that if our masts had been standing, 
 his head would have been as high as our topsail-yards, looked 
 down on deck. He then lowered his great diamond-shaped 
 head, and thrusting it down the hatchway, seized one of the 
 men in his teeth, plunged into the sea, and disappeared. 
 
 We were all horror-struck, for we expected his reappearance, 
 and had no means of securing ourselves below, every grating 
 and sky-light having been washed overboard in the hurricane. 
 The old gentleman was more alarmed than the rest. He sent 
 for me, and said, 
 
 " I did look forward to once more seeing my relations in 
 France, but that hope is now abandoned. My name is Fonseca, 
 
 M
 
 162 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 I am a younger brother of a noble family of that name, and I 
 intended, if not to enrich my brother, at least to endow his 
 daughter with the wealth I have brought with me. Should my 
 fears be verified, I trust to your honour for the performance of 
 my request. It is, to deliver this casket, which is of great 
 value, into the hand of either one or the other. Here is a 
 letter with their address, and here is the key ; the remainder of 
 my property on board, if saved, in case of my death, is yours; 
 and here is a voucher for you to show in case of necessity." 
 
 I took the casket, but did not tell him that I was the husband 
 of his niece, as he might have disinherited her for having 
 married so much below her rank in life. The old gentleman 
 was right in his supposition, the serpent returned in the after- 
 noon,and seizing him as he had the sailor in the morning, again 
 plunged into the sea ; and so he continued bearing two or 
 three off every day, until I was the only one left. On the 
 eighth day he had taken off the last but me, and I knew that 
 my fate must be decided in the evening ; for, large as he was, 
 he could penetrate every part of the ship, and could draw you 
 to him, when you were many feet distant, by sucking in his 
 breath. 
 
 There happened to be two casks, of a material lately in- 
 vented in England, which we were taking to France on trial ; 
 during the hurricane, one had burst, and the stench proceeding 
 from it was intolerable. Although it had gradually evaporated, 
 I perceived that whenever the serpent approached anything 
 that had been defiled with it, he immediately turned away, as 
 if the smell was as unbearable to him as it was to us. I don't 
 know what it was composed of, but the English called it coal 
 tar. It struck me that I might save myself by means of this 
 offensive composition. I knocked out the head of the re- ; 
 maining cask, and arming myself with a broom dipped in it, I 
 jumped into the cask which contained the remainder, and 
 awaited my fate with anxiety. The serpent came; as usual, 
 forced his head and part of his body down the hatchway, per- 
 ceived me, and, with his eyes darting fire, reached out his head 
 to seize me. I dashed the broom into his mouth, and bobbed 
 my head immediately under the coal tar. When I lifted it up 
 again, almost suffocated, the animal had disappeared. I 
 crawled out, and looking ovej the side, perceived him lashing
 
 HUCKABACK. 163 
 
 the ocean in his fury, plunging and diving to rid himself of 
 the composition with which I had filled his mouth. After 
 exhausting himself with his furious endeavours, he went down, 
 and I saw him no more. 
 
 "Did you never see him again?" inquired the pacha. 
 
 " Never but that once ; nor has the animal been seen before 
 or since, except by the Americans, who have much better 
 eyes than the people of Europe can boast of." 
 
 The vessel drifted to the northward with the Gulf Stream, 
 until she was close to the land, when a pilot-boat came out 
 and boarded her. The people belonging to her were much 
 annoyed to find me on board. Had there been no one in 
 her, they would have claimed the whole vessel and cargo, 
 whereas they were now only entitled to one-eighth. I under- 
 stood English enough to hear them propose and agree to 
 throw me overboard. I immediately ran down below to secure 
 my casket, and when I returned on deck they launched me 
 over the side. I sank down, and diving under the counter, 
 laid hold of the rudder-chains, unperceived by them. In the 
 meantime another pilot-boat came to us, and sent her boat on 
 board : I swam to it, and was hauled in. The captains being 
 rivals, I was taken to New York as evidence against the people 
 who had attempted my life. I stayed there just long enough 
 to sell my seven-eighths of the cargo, and see the men hung, 
 and I then took passage in a vessel bound to Bordeaux, where 
 I arrived in safety. From thence I repaired to Toulon, and 
 found my dear Cerise as beautiful and as fond as ever. 
 
 I was now a rich man ; I bought a large estate, with a mar- 
 quisate attached to it. I also purchased the chateau of 
 Eonseca, and made a gift of it to my dear wife. I was pleased 
 at having the means of raising her again to that rank in society 
 which she had quitted for my sake. For some years we lived 
 happily, although we had no children. After that, events 
 happened which again sent me to sea. Such, your highness, 
 is the history of my Fourth Voyage. 
 
 " Well," observed the pacha, " I never heard of so large a 
 snake before; did you, Mustapha?"
 
 164 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 "Never, your highness; but travellers see strange things. 
 What is to be the extent of your highness's bounty?" 
 
 " Give him ten pieces of gold," said the pacha, rising from 
 the throne, and waddling behind the curtain. 
 
 Mustapha told out the sequins. " Selim, if I might advise 
 you, it would please his highness better if you continued more 
 at sea, and dealt a little more in the marvellous. That wife of 
 yours Cerise, as you call her is rather a bore." 
 
 " Well, I'll get rid of her to-morrow ; but I can tell you, 
 vizier, that I deserve all my pay, for it's rather fatiguing wo^k 
 besides, my conscience." 
 
 " Holy Prophet ! hear him his conscience ! Go, hypocrite 
 drown it in wine to-night, and it will be dead to-morrow ; 
 and don't forget to kill your wife." 
 
 " Allow me to observe that you Turks have very little taste; 
 nevertheless I will get rid of her after your own fashion, for 
 she shall go to the bottom of the sea Bashem usttm, on my 
 head be it." 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 THE next morning the pacha hurried over the business of the 
 day, for Mustapha had intimated that the renegade considered 
 his fifth voyage to be one of great marvels. Selim was intro- 
 duced as before, and commenced the narrative. 
 
 FIFTH VOYAGE OF HUCKABACK. 
 
 YOUR highness may be surprised, that being in the possession 
 of wealth, rank, and my charming Cerise, I should have again 
 ventured upon the treacherous ocean. Of course your high- 
 ness has heard of the revolution which took place in France, 
 and all the horrors which attended it ? 
 
 "Yes, I believe there is a country of that name ; I can't say 
 that I ever heard of the revolution. Holy Prophet ! but these 
 people have strange ideas," continued the pacha to the vizier,
 
 HUCKABACK. 165 
 
 " to imagine that we must know or care about what is going on 
 m their barbarous countries. You may proceed, Huckaback." 
 
 It will be necessary to say a few words upon the subject, 
 your highness, but I will be as concise as possible. One day, 
 a party of men from my native city (Marseilles), dressed in 
 red caps, their shirt-sleeves tucked up, and armed with various 
 weapons, surrounded my chateau, insisting upon my immedi- 
 ately informing them whether I was for the summoning of the 
 Estates-General. I answered, most certainly, if they wished it. 
 They cheered me, and went away. 
 
 Shortly afterwards, they came to ascertain if I approved of 
 the National Convention. I answered that I approved of it 
 excessively. They were satisfied, and again disappeared. 
 They came a third time, to inquire if I was a republican, to 
 which I gave the affirmative. A fourth, to know whether I 
 sided with the Girondists ; I declared myself one of that party, 
 and hoped that I should be asked no more questions. But 
 before two or three months had passed away, another party 
 came to ascertain whether I was a real Jacobin, . which I 
 solemnly pronounced myself to be ; a second time, to kno\v 
 whether I thought proper to be called citizen, or have my head 
 cut off; I declared in favour of the former, and made them a 
 present of my title of marquis. But at last they surrounded 
 my house, with loud cries, declaring that I was an aristocrat, 
 and insisted upon carrying my head away upon a pike. This 
 I considered a subject of remonstrance. I assured them that 
 I was no aristocrat, although I had purchased the property ; 
 and that, on the contrary, I was a citizen barber from Mar- 
 seilles ; that I had relinquished the title of marquis, which I 
 had bought with the property, and had therefore no claim 
 whatever to aristocracy. But they insisted upon proofs, and 
 ordering my valets to bring down the materials, desired me to 
 shave a dozen of their party. I shaved for my life, and ac- 
 quitted myself so much to their satisfaction that they all em- 
 braced me, and were about to depart, when one of the women 
 demanded that my wife (whose aristocratical descent was 
 known) should be surrendered up, as a proof of my sincerity. 
 We all have our moments of weakness : had I had the prudence 
 to comply with the request, things would have ended happily,
 
 166 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES: 
 
 but I was foolish enough, although I had been married twelve 
 years, to demur at the prospect of the head of my charming 
 Cerise being carried away on a pike. I represented to them 
 (as she clung to me for protection), that although of noble 
 descent, she had reduced herself to my level by marrying a 
 citizen barber. After a short consultation, they agreed that 
 she was sufficiently degraded to live. They contented them- 
 selves with breaking open my cellar, that they might drink my 
 health, and departed. But, your highness, I had soon cause 
 to repent of my folly. Cerise was a charming woman, and an 
 affectionate wife in adversity, but prosperity was her ruin, as 
 well as mine. She had already had an affair with a comte, who 
 had lately been dismissed for a handsome young abbe: but we 
 do not mind these little egaremens in our country, and I neither 
 had leisure nor inclination to interfere with her arrangements. 
 Satisfied with her sincere friendship for me, I could easily 
 forgive a few trifling infidelities, and nothing had disturbed the 
 serenity or gaiety of our establishment until this unfortunate 
 expose which I was obliged to make, and to prove the truth of 
 in her presence, viz., that I had been a barber. Her pride 
 revolted at the idea of having formed such a connection, her 
 feelings towards me were changed to those of the most deadly 
 hatred; and although I had saved her life, she ungratefully 
 resolved to sacrifice mine. The little abbe's head had been 
 taken off several weeks before, and she now formed a liaison 
 with one of the Jacobin associes, on condition that he would 
 prove his attachment by denouncing me as an aristocrat. 
 
 Fortunately, I had notice given to me in sufficient time to 
 make my escape to Toulon. Leaving my wife, and, what was 
 of mfyre consequence, the whole of my property, in the hands 
 of the Jacobin, I joined the mob, and vowing vengeance upon 
 all aristocrats, became one of the most violent leaders of the 
 sans culottes. Two months afterwards, when the gates of Toulon 
 had been opened to the army, and I was assisting at a noyade, 
 I had the pleasure of seeing my Jacobin locum tenens, who had 
 been denounced in his turn, tied back to back to a female : it 
 was my adored Cerise. I had no time to speak to her, for they 
 were hurried on board of the vessel. It sank with them, and 
 some hundreds more ; and as the beautiful auburn hair of my 
 wife was borne up from her shoulders, upon which it had been
 
 HUCKABACK. 167 
 
 hanging loose, and floated a second or two on the wave after 
 her head had disappeared, I sighed at the remembrance of the 
 transitory enjoyment of competence and love which I had 
 shared with my charming Cerise. 
 
 " And is she really dead now, Huckaback ? " inquired the 
 pacha. 
 
 "Yes, your highness, she is." 
 
 " Allah karim God is most merciful. There is an end of 
 that woman at last ; now the story will go on." 
 
 I have reason to believe that I should have become a person 
 of some consequence, if I had been able to remain in France ; 
 but another foolish attempt on my part to save the life of the 
 old lawyer at Marseilles, who had assisted me in recovering 
 part of my father's property, rendered me suspected. Aware 
 that between suspicion and the guillotine there were but few 
 hours of existence, I contrived to get on board of an Italian 
 brig that had put in from stress of weather, and made my 
 escape. The vessel was bound to North America for a cargo 
 of salt fish, to be consumed on the ensuing Lent, and had a 
 crew of fifteen men. The captain was very ill when we sailed, 
 owing, as he said, to a cup of wine which his wife had mixed 
 with her tears, and persuaded him to drink at their parting. 
 He gradually declined as we proceeded on our voyage, until at 
 last he was not able to quit his bed ; and no person on board 
 except myself having any knowledge of keeping a ship's reckon- 
 ing, that duty devolved upon me. 
 
 A few days before his death, the captain sent for me : 
 " Francois," said he, " my wife has poisoned me, that I might 
 not return to interrupt a connection which she had formed 
 during my absence. I have no children, and no relations that 
 have ever cared for me. I am the owner of the cargo, as well 
 as the captain of this vessel, and it is my intention to make it 
 over to you ; I consider that you have the greatest claim to it, 
 as there is nobody on board except yourself who can navigate 
 her. Understand me, it is not out of any particular regard, so 
 much as to prevent my wife from obtaining my property, that 
 I select you as my heir ; you have, therefore, to thank Heaven 
 for your good fortune, more than you have me. I have but one
 
 1 68 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 request to make in return, which is, that you will faithfully pro- 
 mise to cause five hundred masses to be said for my soul, upon 
 your arrival in Italy." 
 
 I readily made the promise which he required, and the cap- 
 tain drew up a will, which he read and executed before the 
 whole of the crew, by which the vessel and cargo were made 
 over to me. Two days afterwards he expired. We sewed him 
 up in a hammock, and threw him overboard. Although it was 
 quite calm at the time, a gale sprang up immediately afterwards, 
 which eventually increased to a hurricane. 
 
 We were obliged to bear up, and for several days scudded 
 under bare poles, until I found that we were in the very centre 
 ot the Atlantic, out of the track of any vessels. Gradually the 
 weather became more settled, and we again spread our canvas 
 to the breeze. To my surprise, I observed, that although by 
 my reckoning we were nearly one thousand miles from any land, 
 several aquatic birds were hovering about the ship, of a de- 
 scription that seldom go far from the shore. I watched them 
 as the sun went down, and perceived that they took their flight 
 to the south-east. Anxious to discover any land not hitherto 
 described, I steered the ship in that direction during the night, 
 and early on the next morning we found ourselves close to an 
 island, apparently ten or fifteen miles long, very high, and of a 
 conical shape, which I knew was not laid down upon any chart. 
 I resolved to examine it, and dropped my anchor in a small bay, 
 at the bottom of which a few houses announced that it was in- 
 habited, although I could not distinguish anything like guns or 
 fortification. We had not furled our sails, when a boat shoved 
 off from the shore and pulled towards us. She soon came 
 alongside, and astonished us as much by the peculiarity of her 
 structure as by the appearance of the people who were on board. 
 She was a wide canoe, very beautifully carved and inlaid, or 
 rather veneered, with gold ornaments. She had a flag, hoisted 
 to a staff, hanging over the stern, the field of which was white, 
 with a representation of a fountain, worked in gold thread. 
 But what astonished us more than all was the peculiarity of 
 their features, which, although they were well-featured men, 
 were of a beautiful light blue, their eyes black, and their hair 
 of a rich auburn. 
 
 The personage in the stern-sheets ascended the side, and
 
 HUCKABACK. 169 
 
 addressing me in excellent Portuguese, inquired if I could 
 speak the language. 
 
 I answered in the affirmative, and he then welcomed us in 
 the name of the king upon my arrival at the island, asking me 
 the number of my crew, whether I had any sick on board, and 
 many other particulars, all of which he noted down upon tablets 
 of gold, with a piece of red cinnabar. 
 
 Having replied to all his interrogations, I then obtained from 
 him the following particulars ; viz., That the island had been 
 originally peopled by one of the ships belonging to Vasco de 
 Gama's squadron, which, returning from the East Indies, laden 
 with the produce of the East, and specimens of the various 
 inhabitants of the newly-discovered territories, had been cast 
 away and utterly wrecked. That the island, which otherwise 
 was fertile and well stocked, was one mine of gold, which, in 
 absence of other metals, they were necessitated to employ for 
 every article and utensil in common use. But the greatest 
 curiosity which the island contained, was a fountain of water at 
 the foot of the centre peak, of a beautiful colour, and pro- 
 ducing longevity to those who drank of it, from which it had 
 received the name of the Isle of the Golden Fountain. That 
 when they had landed, about three hundred years ago, they 
 consisted of various nations and colours, male and female ; but 
 the climate and the use of the waters had, in the course of 
 time, produced the change in their complexions which we 
 beheld, and all the inhabitants were now of that peculiar tint, 
 with the exception that the females were not so dark as the 
 men. Few ships had ever touched there ; and the crews of 
 those who had fallen in with the island had preferred remaining,, 
 which accounted for its being so totally unknown ; that the 
 king was very partial to strangers, and always received them at 
 his palace, which was built close to the Golden Fountain. He 
 concluded by requesting me to accompany him on shore, and 
 pay my respects ; stating that if I wished to quit the island, his 
 majesty would permit me to load my vessel with as much as- 
 she could carry of the metal so precious in other countries,, 
 but so little valued in this. 
 
 I must acknowledge that I was quite overjoyed at his narra- 
 tion. I considered my fortune to be made, and hastened to> 
 accompany the ambassador, who stated that the king would not
 
 70 TUB PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 be pleased if I did not permit the major part of my ship's 
 company to attend me to the palace. As the men were very 
 eager to go on shore after the account which they had heard, 
 and he assured me that the wind never blew home in the bay, 
 which was on the lee side of the island, I consented to their 
 wishes, and allowed all but two to quit the vessel. 
 
 We were much surprised when we landed at the village to 
 perceive that even the pig-troughs, posts, and rails, and indeed 
 every article in which metal could be employed, were of solid 
 gold; but we had not time for examination, as we found 
 several sledges, drawn by small bullocks, waiting for us near the 
 beach. 
 
 We mounted, and the animals set off in a swift canter, upon 
 a smooth and ascending road, and in less than two hours we 
 arrived at the king's palace, which was an extensive building, 
 not very remarkable in its structure, excepting the unusual 
 sight of the large columns of gold, supporting the porticos, 
 which extended from it on every side. But when we had 
 alighted and were proceeding through the porticos, I was 
 astonished at the wonderful finish of the statues which embel- 
 lished them. They were mounted on plinths of the burnished 
 metal, and carved out of a sort of light blue chalcedony, which, 
 joined with their masterly execution, gave them the appearance 
 of life. I was surprised at the strange attitudes which the 
 sculptors had chosen to represent, all more or less distorted, 
 although the human proportions were admirable. Some ap- 
 peared as if they had been placed on their legs when asleep, 
 others laughing or crying, nay, one or two were represented in 
 the act of vomiting. Amongst the whole I could not perceive 
 one image in which the human form was represented in a 
 noble or graceful posture, and I pitied the tastes of those who 
 could have employed workmen of such extraordinary talents in 
 representing the image of his Maker under such a degrading 
 variety of postures. I was about to make this remark to my 
 conductor, but I was checked by the remembrance that I was 
 in a king's palace, not in a studio ; and that kings have their 
 fancies, which they are not inclined to submit to public 
 criticism. 
 
 When we arrived at the end ot the portico, two lofty 
 doors were thrown open, and we were struck dumb with the
 
 HUCKABACK. 171 
 
 magnificence of the scene which presented itself to our 
 eyes. 
 
 The king was seated on a throne of the most splendid work- 
 manship ; the precious metal had been oxydized to every shade 
 of colour, and was wrought in beautiful mosaic ; the walls and 
 ceiling were entirely covered with the same, in some parts bur- 
 nished, to reflect as mirrors, in others elaborately carved in 
 ornamental fretwork, as peculiar from the elegance of its 
 design as from the superiority of its execution. On each side 
 of the throne, extending to the door at which we entered, were 
 a row of ladies, and behind them, raised on a platform about 
 two feet higher, another row of courtiers, all dressed in stuffs oi 
 cloth of gold, which were embroidered with flowers of variously- 
 coloured metal, so as to present the most perfect imitation of 
 nature. The women were very fair compared to the men, and 
 their cerulean tint was far from being disagreeable, as it gave a 
 transparency to their complexions ; but none of them could be 
 compared to the king's daughter, who was nearly white, and of 
 the most perfect symmetry in feature and in form ; her auburn 
 hair was so long, that it hung down to the bottom of her dress, 
 and was ornamented with gold chains and ornaments of 
 polished steel, which were entwined in its tresses. She sat at 
 the foot of the throne, near to the king, and I was so astonished 
 at her heavenly appearance, that I could not remember the 
 compliments which I had intended to pay his Maj esty, but re- 
 mained speechless before him. 
 
 The king received us very graciously, asking me many ques- 
 tions, and broke up the audience (after half an hour), desiring 
 some of the handsomest ladies to select one of my companions, 
 and each hold herself responsible for his comfort and amuse- / 
 ment. I forgot to mention, that as every country has its ! 
 peculiar customs, one here appeared to me very singular. 
 When I asked the gentleman usher what was the usual homage 
 paid to the king of the country, he informed me that you ad- 
 vanced your hand before you on a level with your face, and 
 snapped your fingers at him. That the louder you could snap 
 them, the more accomplished and elegant you were considered. 
 But in my confusion I quite forgot his injunctions ; and it was 
 not until the ladies all snapped their fingers in obedience to the 
 commands of their sovereign, that I recollected the omission
 
 172 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 which I had been guilty of. Before the king retired, he inti- 
 mated that he expected we should take up our abodes at the 
 palace for some days, and we should have the honour of sitting 
 at his table in the afternoon's banquet. 
 
 The whole company separated ; those who had charge of my 
 companions leading them different ways, leaving me alone with 
 the princess, who had risen from her seat when directed by her 
 father to take charge of me. I could have fallen down and 
 worshipped her; as it was, I involuntarily dropped on one 
 tnee, and looked up in her face as if I had been contemplating 
 a celestial visitant. 
 
 She smiled, and addressed me : " I am ordered to attend to 
 your happiness and comfort, and I obey my father's commands 
 with pleasure. I only trust that your happiness may be more 
 lasting than it usually is in this deceitful world," and she sighed 
 deeply. 
 
 I continued in my position at her feet, and, encouraged by 
 her urbanity, poured forth a torrent of what to the many are 
 considered compliments, but which to her were but truths. I 
 became eloquent from excitation ; and being at this time, as 
 I before observed to your highness, a very personable man, 
 I perceived that she was pleased with my efforts to obtain her 
 favour. 
 
 " I have more than once had this duty allotted to me, when 
 strangers have visited the island," observed she ; " but I have 
 always been wearied, and have called in my women to assist 
 me. I have never yet seen one like you ; you are gentle, and 
 of a very different description from those who generally have 
 been introduced as the captains of vessels which have arrived 
 here. I then was indifferent, if not glad, when my duty was 
 at an end; but I feel otherwise now" and she again sighed. 
 
 ^"If it depended upon me, fair princess, and upon my 
 wishes, I am afraid that you would consider the duration of it 
 to be most tedious. Never have I beheld any creature so per- 
 fect and so beautiful ! Oh, that your task might be continued 
 for the term of my existence !" 
 
 " It probably may," answered she, gravely ; and then, as if 
 recollecting herself, she assumed a more cheerful air, and con- 
 tinued : " But we are losing time which should be otherwise 
 employed. Come sir, permit me to obey my father's commands,
 
 HUCKABACK. 173 
 
 and try to beguile the hours by contributing to your 
 amusement." 
 
 Offering me her hand, which I respectfully raised to my lips, 
 she then conducted me over the palace, directing my attention 
 to every object that she considered worthy of notice ; and we 
 had passed two or three hours in conversation, and remarks 
 upon the objects before us, when I expressed my wish to 
 behold the curious fountain from which the island took its 
 name. 
 
 "I shall obey you," replied she : and again her face assumed 
 a mournful cast. She led the way to a hall of black marble, 
 in the centre of which the fountain threw up its water to the 
 height of twelve or fourteen feet, and fell into a spacious basin. 
 The water of it, when in a body, shone with all the colours of 
 the rainbow, and the sparkling drops which were thrown out 
 on every side were brilliant as the purest gold. 
 
 " How beautiful ! " exclaimed I, after some minutes of silent 
 admiration. " These, then, are the waters of longevity." 
 
 "And also of intoxication," replied the princess. "They 
 will be produced at the banquet of the king ; and, O sir ! be 
 temperate, very temperate, in the use of them." 
 
 I promised that I would, and we continued our walk to the 
 porticos of the palace, where I pointed to the statues of blue 
 chalcedony, and begged her to inform me by whom they had 
 been executed, and why they were all in such grotesque and 
 absurd positions. 
 
 " That is a question which I cannot answer, further than that 
 they were made in the island. We must now return, as the 
 king's banquet will be ready." 
 
 We sat down at the table of the king, that is to say, I and 
 my companions ; for no courtiers, male or female, were per- 
 mitted to have the same honour. Each lady stood behind the 
 person who had been intrusted to her charge, and waited upon 
 him. My gallantry, as a Frenchman, was sorely wounded at 
 the idea of my charming princess performing the duties of a 
 menial, and I expressed my feelings to her in a low tone of 
 voice. She shook her head, as if to rebuke me, and I said no 
 more. When we had finished the banquet, his majesty ordered 
 the water of the golden fountain to be produced, which it 
 mmediately was by those in attendance, and extolling its
 
 174 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 virtues, desired a cup to be filled for each guest, which was 
 handed to him by the attendant ladies. 
 
 As the princess presented the cup, she contrived to press 
 one of her fingers against mine, before she removed them, to 
 remind me of my promise. I drank but sparingly, but the 
 effects were instantaneous my spirits rose buoyant, and I felt 
 a sort of intellectual intoxication. At a sign made by the king, 
 the ladies now took their seats beside us, and by their attention 
 and caresses increased the desire for the water, which they 
 supplied in abundance. I must confess that at each sip that I 
 took, the princess, who had taken her seat by me, appeared so 
 much more charming in my eyes, that notwithstanding the 
 repeated pressure of her foot to remind me of my promise, I 
 could not resist the impulse to drink. 
 
 The boatswain and one of the seamen were very drunken 
 characters, and had very soon poured down so much of the 
 water, that they dropped off their stools on the marble pave- 
 ment, without sense or motion. This recalled me to my 
 senses, which were rapidly stealing away; I rose from my seat, 
 and pointing out to my companions that it would ill become 
 them to intoxicate themselves in the presence of his majesty, 
 requested that they would drink no more, but leave the 
 table before they were incapacitated from paying the proper 
 attentions to their fair conductors. The last argument had 
 more weight than the first; and notwithstanding the remon- 
 strances of the king, who showed the greatest anxiety that we 
 should remain, the party rose from the table and separated. 
 The two men who were intoxicated were carried away by some 
 of the courtiers, and the king with marks of displeasure quitted 
 the hall. I was again left alone with my charming princess, 
 and, inflamed with the exhilarating draught which I had taken, 
 I threw myself at her feet, declaring my violent passion, and 
 my wish never to quit the island, if I could be blessed with a 
 reciprocal feeling on her part. I perceived that I had made an 
 impression; and following up my success, I protested and she 
 listened, until the evening closed in and found us still seated 
 upon the steps of the throne. At last she rose and said, " I 
 know not whether you be sincere in what you say, but I must 
 acknowledge that I hope you are ; and I shall be very miser- 
 able if it shpuld prove otherwise. But you are now under the
 
 HUCKABACK. 175 
 
 effects of the intoxicating water, and may deceive yourself. 
 Come, sir, it is time that I conduct you to your chamber, 
 where you must sleep away the exhilarating effects of the 
 golden fountain. To-morrow morning, if you are of the same 
 opinion, I may be induced to make a discovery." 
 
 The next morning I woke without any headache from the 
 intemperance of the previous night. As soon as I quitted the 
 apartment I met the princess outside. " I am still in the same 
 mind, dear princess," said I, implanting a kiss upon her hand, 
 "to live for you alone, or die if I cannot remain with you." 
 
 She smiled, and answered, "Then for you will I sacrifice 
 everything ; for until I beheld you, I never was aware that I 
 had a heart. Rise and follow me, and you shall know all." 
 
 We passed the large hall, with which the whole of the bed- 
 chambers communicated, and she conducted me through a 
 dark passage to a room, in which were several golden plinths 
 without statues. At the further end of it I perceived, to my 
 horror, that two of them were already occupied with the forms 
 of the boatswain and sailor who had been intoxicated the night 
 before. They were now changed into the same blue chalcedony 
 of which the statues in the porticos were composed. 
 
 "Do you recognize these figures?" inquired the princess. 
 
 " I do, indeed," answered I, with amazement 
 
 " Such are the effects," continued she, " of intoxication from 
 the water of the golden fountain. They contain in solution so 
 large a quantity of the matter which by mineralogists is de- 
 nominated silex, that once allow the senses to be overpowered 
 by repeated draughts, and in a few hours the effects which you 
 behold will be produced. It is by these means that my father 
 has obtained the variety and number of statues which you 
 have seen all of whom were once visitors to the island in 
 different ships, not one of the crews of which have ever re- 
 turned. It has also the power of producing longevity, and 
 hardening the hearts of those who use it in moderation. My 
 father's cruelty, therefore, is not thought of by his subjects, 
 who, if convicted of any heinous crime, are forced to drink this 
 water, and are erected as monuments of his displeasure in 
 various parts of the island. You may ask, how is it that I 
 have not as little remorse as the other inhabitants ? The fact 
 is, that I was naturally of a kind and tender heart; and ray
 
 76 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 mother, v/ho lamented it because she felt that it would not add 
 to my happiness in this world of cruelty and deceit, was more 
 than ever anxious that I should drink the waters; but what is 
 forced upon us in childhood, is generally remembered as we 
 grow up, with disgust. The consequence is, that I have never 
 used the waters since her death, which happened when I was 
 but seven years old. Had I not made this discovery, in all 
 probability you and all your companions would have fallen 
 victims this evening, when the banquet will be spread and the 
 water will be produced as before. My prepossession in your 
 favour has, I trust, been the means of preserving the lives of 
 those who remain." 
 
 " Cursed treachery 1 " exclaimed I ; " and now, what is to be 
 done?" 
 
 "You must escape. Caution your men not to drink this 
 evening, and make some excuse to repair on board for an hour 
 
 or two in the forenoon of to-morrow. As for me " 
 
 " Without you, princess, I cannot will not go. Either 
 consent to accompany me, or here I stay, risking all ; for I had 
 sooner be a senseless statue upon a plinth in the portico of 
 your abode, than quit the island with a broken heart." 
 
 " Then he is true ; and there are some who are good some 
 who are not deceitful in this world ! " exclaimed the princess, 
 falling on her knees, as the tears trickled down her cheeks. 
 " I am sure you'll treat me kindly," continued she, holding my 
 hand in hers ; " if you do not, I shall die." 
 
 I pressed her to my bosom, and vowed to love her till death ; 
 and we hastened back to my chamber, that we might consult 
 upon our arrangements. I found an opportunity, in the course 
 of the forenoon, to acquaint all my companions of their danger, 
 except one whom I could not meet with. 
 
 In the evening we again sat down to the banquet, and soon 
 after the water had been produced, the one who had not been 
 warned fell off his chair in a state of intoxication. I made 
 this an excuse for drinking no more. Assuming an angry tone 
 towards my companions, I apologized to the king for their 
 want of respect in his presence, and rose from the table in 
 spite of all his remonstrances. The next morning I stated to 
 the king that I wished to return to my ship for an hour or two, 
 that I might bring him a present of ivory, which I had been
 
 HUCKABACK. 177 
 
 informed would be acceptable. The princess offered to attend 
 us, and the king, satisfied with her surveillance, consented to 
 our departure, on condition that we would not fail to return in 
 time for the banquet, which we most faithfully promised. 
 While the sledges were preparing, I requested the princess to 
 obtain several flasks of the golden water, that I might present 
 them as curiosities to all the learned societies in Europe. This 
 she accomplished, and stowing them in her own sledge with 
 several articles of wearing apparel, not only took them from the 
 palace unperceived, but they were carried on board without the 
 knowledge of my companions. I immediately cut my cables, 
 and made all sail out of the bay without any molestation, as the 
 natives did not suspect my intentions; I never felt more happy 
 than when I found myself once more floating on the wave, in 
 company with my beautiful princess, whose affectionate manners 
 endeared me to her more and more every day. 
 
 Unfortunately, in our hurry to escape, we quite overlooked 
 the circumstance of our water-casks being nearly empty, and 
 we were soon reduced to half a pint per diem. To render our 
 situation more disastrous, the weather became intensely hot, 
 and the people, in spite of all my remonstrances, contrived 
 every night to steal a part of the water which was not yet 
 expended, so that at last we found ourselves becalmed, without 
 a drop of water on board. 
 
 But all my apprehensions were now swallowed up by one of 
 greater interest. A fever seized my dear princess, who, accus- 
 tomed to every luxury and a beautiful climate, could not bear 
 up against the close confinement of a vessel under a tropical 
 sun. Notwithstanding all my care and attention, in three days 
 after she was attacked she expired in my arms, blessing me for 
 my attachment and my love, and regretting that she was sum- 
 moned from the world so soon after she had discovered that 
 there was an object in it worth living for. I threw myself 
 upon 
 
 Here the renegade appeared to be much affected; he covered 
 his face with the wide sleeve of his under-garment, and was 
 silent. 
 
 "By God and his Prophet, these Franks are great fools 
 about women," observed the pacha to Mustapha. "I must 
 
 N
 
 178 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 own, though, that I like this princess better than Cerise, and I 
 am very sorry that she is dead. Come, Huckaback, go oc. 
 Where did you throw yourself ? " 
 
 On her body (continued the renegade, mournfully), where I 
 remained for many hours. At last I rose in a frenzy, quite 
 indifferent as to life or death. I went on deck, where I found 
 my crew much in the same condition, from their agonizing 
 thirst; but I mocked them, and laughed at the smooth expanse 
 of water, which, far as the eye could reach, was not rippled by 
 the slightest breeze, and turned my eyes up in derision to the 
 sun, who poured down his vertical streams of light and heat, as 
 if he would consume us with his powerful rays. I thought but 
 of one subject, I had but one desire, which was, to rejoin the 
 object of my adoration. On a sudden I called to mind the 
 flasks of golden water, which till then I had forgotten, and 
 rushing down into the cabin, I determined to intoxicate myself, 
 and quit this world of disappointment and unrealized fruition. 
 As if fearful that the spirit of my loved princess should have 
 already so far journeyed to the realms of bliss, that I might not 
 be able to discern her when I had shaken off the incumbrance 
 of an earthly body, and was at liberty to pursue, I seized a 
 flask, and pouring out the water with a hand trembling with 
 anxiety, drank off a glass. I was hastily refilling it, when the 
 gurgling sound struck upon the ears of my companions, who, 
 rushing down like the fainting animals who hear the music of 
 the fountain in the desert, poured tumultuously into the cabin, 
 and in spite of all my remonstrances to leave me sufficient for 
 the completion of my desires, seized upon the flask in my hand, 
 as well as upon all those that remained, emptied them in a few 
 seconds with their copious draughts, and returned laughing and 
 shouting to the deck above. 
 
 The water which I had already drunk produced one good 
 effect ; it hardened my heart for the time, and I fell into a sort 
 of stoical indifference, which lasted many hours. I then repaired 
 on deck, where I found all my companions changed into blue 
 chalcedony not one alive. The heavens, too, had changed ; 
 clouds obscured the sun, the wind was rising, and ever and 
 anon a mournful gust blew through the shrouds; the birds 
 were screaming on the wing, and the water-line of the black
 
 UUCKABACK. 179 
 
 horizon was fringed with a narrow ridge of foam. The thunder 
 rolled at a distance, and I perceived that convulsion of the 
 elements was at hand. The sails were all set, and without 
 assistance I could not reduce them ; but I was indifferent to 
 my fate. The lightning now darted in every direction, and 
 large drops of rain pattered on the deck. With the means of 
 existence, the desire of life returned : I spread out the spare 
 sails, and as the torrents descended, and the vessel bowed to 
 her gunwale in submission to the blast, I filled the empty casks. 
 I thought of nothing else until my task was completed. I 
 strode carelessly over the bodies of my companions, the sails 
 were blown from the yards, the yards themselves were snapt 
 asunder, the top-masts fell over the sides, the vessel flew 
 before the boiling surge ; but I heeded not I filled the casks 
 with water. When I had finished my labours, a reaction took 
 place, and I recollected the loss which I had sustained. I 
 descended to the cabin. There she lay in all her beauty. I 
 kissed the cold cheek, I wrapped up the adored image, carried 
 it on deck, and launched it into the wave; and as it disappeared 
 under the raging billows, I lelt as if my heart, in its struggles 
 to escape, had burst the strings which confined it in my bosom, 
 and leapt into the angry flood to join her. Exhausted with my 
 ieelings, I fell down in a swoon ; how long I remained I cannot 
 exactly say, but it was nearly dark when I lost my recollection, 
 and broad daylight when I recovered. The vessel was still 
 flying before the gale, which now roared in its resistless fury ; 
 the tattered fragments of the sails were blown out before the 
 lower yards like so many streamers and pennants, and the 
 wrecks of the topmasts were still towing alongside through the 
 foaming surge. The indurated bodies of my companions were 
 lying about the decks, washed by the water which poured into 
 the vessel, as she rolled deeply from one side to the other, 
 presenting her gunwales as if courting the admittance of the 
 wave. " Are you, then, tired of your existence, as well as I ? " 
 thought I, apostrophizing the vessel. " Have you found out at 
 last, that while you swim you've naught to encounter but 
 difficulty and danger? That you enter your haven but to 
 renew your tasks, and again become a beast of burthen ; that 
 when empty you must bow to the slightest breeze, and when 
 laden must groan and labour for the good of others. Have "
 
 1 80 THE P AC II A OF MANY TALES. 
 
 " Holy Prophet ! I never heard of people talking to ship* 
 before,, and I don't understand it," observed the pacha. "Leave 
 out all you said to the ship, and all the ship said to you in 
 reply, and go on with your story." 
 
 The gale lasted for three days, and then it as suddenly fell 
 calm. I had observed by the compass that we had been 
 running to the eastward, and I supposed that we were not very 
 far from the Western Isles. As I surveyed the bodies of my 
 companions, it occurred to me that they ought to fetch a high 
 price in Italy as specimens of art, and I resolved to dispose of 
 them as the work of men. Having no other employment, I 
 brought up the spare planks from below, and made packing- 
 cases for them all. It was with some difficulty that I contrived, 
 by means of tackles, to lower them to the hold, which I suc- 
 ceeded in accomplishing with safety excepting in one instance, 
 when, from the tackle-fall giving way, the image fell to the 
 bottom of the vessel, and being very brittle, was broken into 
 pieces. As it was no longer of any value as a statue, I broke it 
 up to examine it, and I can assure your highness that it was 
 very wonderful to witness how every part of the human body 
 was changed into flint, of a colour corresponding with that 
 which it had been when living. The heart was red, and on my 
 arrival in Italy I had several seals made from it, which were 
 pronounced by the lapidaries who cut them to be of the finest 
 blood-red cornelian. I have now a piece of the dark stone of 
 which the liver was composed, which I keep for striking a light. 
 As it afterwards proved, almost all of it was valuable, for the 
 alternate fat and lean formed a variety of beautiful onyxes and 
 sardonyx, which I disposed of very advantageously to the 
 cameo-engravers. I was several days employed in packing up, 
 but I had plenty of provisions and water, and had no doubt 
 that I should be seen by some vessel before they were expended. 
 Three weeks had elapsed, when one morning I went on deck, 
 and saw land on both sides of me. I immediately recognized 
 the rock of Gibraltar, and the Straits, through which I was 
 drifting. I was boarded by a Spanish gun-boat from Algesiras, 
 and having stated that all my crew had died two months before 
 of the yellow-fever, I was towed in, put into quarantine for 
 forty days, and then permitted to equip my vessel and procure
 
 HUCKABACK. iSl 
 
 sailors. This I was enabled to do by selling two of the flasks 
 which held the water, and which, like all the other utensils of 
 the island from which I had escaped, were of pure gold. 
 
 I did not think it prudent to go to Leghorn, where not only 
 the vessel might be recognized, and the widow give me some 
 trouble, but the statues also might have been identified as the 
 men who had sailed in the vessel, and occasion my being burnt 
 as a necromancer by the Inquisition. I directed my course for 
 Naples, where I arrived in safety. Having disembarked my 
 metamorphosed crew, I hired a large room to exhibit them, and 
 expected to realize a considerable sum : but as I could not 
 name the artist, and the figures had not the grace which the 
 Italians admire, they remained on my hands, and were even 
 found fault with as not being well executed. I sold two of the 
 least prepossessing to a Sicilian nobleman, who I understood 
 had a large country seat decorated with monstrosities ; and I 
 then determined, as I had received a high price for the pieces 
 of the one which had been broken up, to retail the others in 
 the same way. It answered admirably, and I received more 
 money for the fragments than I had asked for the images in an 
 unmutilated state. The remainder of the golden flasks also 
 realized a large sum ; I produced them one by one, and dis- 
 posed of them to English collectors, as having been purloined 
 by the excavators from the ruins of Pompeii. I had now plenty 
 of money, and resolved to return to my native city. An op- 
 portunity offering, I embarked, and safely arrived at Marseilles. 
 
 " Did you fulfil your promise to the Italian captain, by having 
 five hundred masses said for his soul ? " inquired Mustapha. 
 
 " Upon my salvation, I never thought of it to this moment !" 
 replied the renegade. 
 
 "Such, your highness, are the adventures of my fifth voyage; 
 and I trust that the narration of them has afforded you enter- 
 tainment." 
 
 "Yes," observed the pacha, rising, "that was something like 
 a voyage. Mustapha, give him thirty pieces of gold. Hucka- 
 back, we will hear your sixth voyage to-morrow" and the 
 pacha retired behind the screen, and, as usual, went into the 
 apartment of the women. 
 
 " Pray, Selim, was there any truth in that history of the
 
 182 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 princess? I thought at first that it was all invention; but when 
 you wept " 
 
 " That was for the sake of effect," answered the renegade : 
 " when I get warmed with my story, I often work myself up to 
 a degree that I almost believe it myself." 
 
 " Holy Prophet ! what a talent !" rejoined Mustapha. "What 
 an excellent prime minister you would have made in your own 
 country ! Here's your money ; will your next voyage be as 
 good?" 
 
 " I'll try, at all events; as I find that principal increases with 
 the interest," said the renegade, chinking the sequins in his hand. 
 " An revoir, as we say in France " and the renegade quitted 
 the divan. 
 
 " Allah what a talent ! " muttered the vizier to himself, as 
 the renegade disappeared. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 ON the ensuing day, after the usual business of the divan had 
 been gone through, the renegade was called in, and taking his 
 seat, commenced the narrative of his sixth voyage. 
 
 SIXTH VOYAGE OF HUCKABACK. 
 
 MAY it please your highness, It was my intention to have 
 remained quietly on shore, after so many hairbreadth escapes 
 and singular adventures ; but I found France so changed, that 
 I was disgusted with my own country. Everything was upside 
 down the nobles, the wealthy, the talented, either were 
 murdered, or living in abject poverty in other countries, while 
 the lower classes had usurped their place, and governed the 
 land. But what decided me once more to go to sea, was that 
 the continual demands for fresh levies to recruit the republican 
 armies, convinced me that I had no chance of long remaining 
 in quiet. Of two evils I preferred what I considered to be the 
 least ; and rather than die in a ditch on shore, I preferred the 
 dangers which might be incurred afloat. I bought a large ship, 
 and fitted her for a voyage of speculation to Lima, in South
 
 HUCKABACK. 183 
 
 America. As the English cruisers covered the seas, and I was 
 resolved that I would not be taken by a vessel of small force, 
 I shipped with me a compliment of forty men, and had twelve 
 guns mounted on her decks. We escaped through the gut of 
 Gibraltar, and steered our course for Cape Horn, the southern- 
 most point of America. Nothing worth narrating occurred 
 until we made the land, when a strong adverse gale came on, 
 which, after attempting in vain to beat against it, blew away 
 most of our sails and finally obliged us to bear up, and run away 
 to the southward and eastward. 
 
 From the working and straining of the vessel, the decks had 
 become so leaky that the water ran through every part of the 
 ship. Our provisions (particularly our bread) being spoiled 
 and obliged to be thrown overboard, we were necessitated to 
 be put upon short allowance. As we had no hopes of being 
 able to support ourselves upon what was left until our arrival 
 at Lima, I determined to run for the nearest island, where I 
 might obtain a fresh supply, and then renew our attempt to 
 beat round the Cape. I was in some doubts where to proceed, 
 but after running eastward for a fortnight, we discovered 
 land on the lee bow, which I considered to be the unin- 
 habited island of New Georgia ; but as we approached it, we 
 thought that we perceived people on the beach, and when 
 Avithin five miles we could plainly distinguish that they were 
 soldiers in their uniforms, ranged up rank-and-file. The colour 
 of their clothes could not be made out with the glass, but it 
 was easy to be distinguished that they had yellow facings; 
 from which I inferred that they were our enemies the English. 
 " Peste ! " thought I, " is it possible that these grasping islanders 
 have made a settlement on this place ? Where will they go to 
 next ? " The different companies appeared to be from one to 
 two dozen in number; sometimes they stood quite still, at 
 others they walked a little way on the beach ; but they con- 
 stantly adhered to their rank-and-file position ; and as I could 
 not perceive that they had any muskets in their hands, I in- 
 ferred that they were merely practising the marching evolutions. 
 No houses or fortifications were distinguishable, and I deter- 
 mined to run the ship nearer in, that I might observe their 
 motions. I did so, and when within two miles, I again rounded 
 to, and putting my eye to the glass, perceived to my astonish-
 
 l$4 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 ment that a whole regiment of them ran into the surf, and re- 
 appeared on the outside of it in the form of aquatic birds, 
 swimming and diving in every direction. I now began to 
 suspect that it was an enchanted island, and not forgetting the 
 lesson of the Golden Fountain, I made all sail, and we soon 
 left it out of sight astern. I think it right to state to your 
 highness, that on mentioning this circumstance to an English- 
 man who had been employed in the spermaceti whale fishery, 
 he asserted that they really were birds, called Patagonian 
 penguins, who had often deceived others by their martial 
 appearance. He stated that they had no wings, but only 
 flappers, and when on shore, invariably stood upright like men 
 in ranks ; that they were about three or four feet high when in 
 this posture, and had two broad yellow streaks on each side of 
 their necks. How far his assertions were true I do not know, 
 for the people of that country who have doubled the Cape 
 consider themselves entitled to tell any falsehoods which they 
 think proper, and to shoot you if you venture to express a 
 doubt as to their veracity. One of my chief reasons for dis- 
 liking the English is, that they are such abominable liars. 
 
 We now steered more to the southward, and in three days 
 discovered another small island. It was apparently well 
 wooded, although not large. We hove to to windward of it, 
 and not perceiving any inhabitants, I lowered down a boat, 
 and sent the first mate on shore to reconnoitre. He returned 
 in an hour, informing me that the island was covered with 
 cocoa-nut trees in full bearing, and that he had seen several 
 wild pigs, but no symptoms of its being inhabited. That there 
 was no anchorage that he could discover, as the shore rose 
 perpendicularly, like a wall, from the ocean. We therefore 
 ran to leeward, and discovered that a reef of coral rocks ex- 
 tended nearly two miles from that side of the island. The 
 boats were again lowered; and after surveying, the mate re- 
 ported that there was a passage, wuh plenty of water for the 
 ship, through the very centre of the reef, which would bring 
 her into a small bay, where she might lie in perfect security. 
 Before night we had gained the anchorage, and furled sails. 
 The next morning I went on shore to reconnoitre : we found 
 some springs of fresh water, cocoa-nuts and other trees in 
 abundance, and occasionally fell in with herds of wild pigs,
 
 HUCKABACK. 185 
 
 which appeared, with the exception of birds, to be the only 
 animals that existed upon the island. Satisfied that I now had 
 an opportunity of revictualling my ship, I unbent my sails, 
 struck my topmasts, unrove my running rigging, and, in short, 
 made every preparation for a long stay. I then sent parties 
 on shore to erect tents and shoot the wild pigs, while I super- 
 intended the fixing of coppers on the beach to boil the salt 
 out of the sea-water, which would be necessary for curing the 
 provisions. I also dug shallow pans in the rock, close to the 
 water's edge, that I might gain as much salt as possible by 
 means of evaporation. Everything was prepared in the course 
 of the day, and the major part of my ship's company were 
 landed, and slept in the tents. In three days we had salted 
 down several casks of pork, and had collected a large quantity 
 of cocoa-nuts. 
 
 On the fourth morning I heard a dispute among the men, 
 some of them swearing that they would not remain, and that 
 the ship ought to go to sea immediately. Astonished at these 
 remarks after they had expressed themselves so well pleased, I 
 inquired the reason. They answered, that there was magic in 
 the island ; and on my requiring an explanation, they took me 
 to the salt-pans, which, upon our arrival, had been cut in the 
 rocks within a foot of the water's edge, but had now receded 
 from the shore to a distance of nine or ten feet. I must own 
 that I was surprised at the circumstance, which was quite un- 
 accountable ; but still did not feel inclined to leave the island 
 without first obtaining the necessary supply of provisions. I 
 pointed out to the men, that although I could not explain so 
 strange an incident, yet as we had seen and heard nothing, 
 and should certainly starve if we went to sea without pro- 
 visions, it would be better to remain until we had procured a 
 supply, observing that it was not impossible that the water 
 might have receded, instead of the island having advanced. 
 The latter remark seemed to quiet them, although, at the time 
 that I made it, I knew it to be incorrect, as the rocks above 
 water near the beach were not higher out of it than before. 
 This the seamen did not pay attention to, and I took care not 
 to point it out to them. They agreed with my supposition, 
 that the water had receded, and said no more about it. 
 
 We remained a fortnight longer, during which the same
 
 186 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 phenomenon continued, each day the salt-pans and coppers 
 being further off from the beach. At last the men, perceiving 
 that the rocks did not rise higher from the water, again became 
 alarmed, and broke out into open mutiny. By this time I had 
 cured a sufficiency of provisions, and I made no objection; 
 indeed I must confess that I was by no means easy in my own 
 mind at these supernatural appearances. We struck our tents, 
 sent everything on board, rove the rigging, bent the sails, and 
 prepared for our departure. Soon after we repaired on board, 
 I happened to cast my eyes upon the lead-line, which was 
 hanging over from the main chains, and observed that it lay in 
 a bight ; hauling up the slack, I found, to my surprise, that 
 instead of five fathoms water in which we had anchored, we 
 were in less than three. 
 
 At first it occurred to me that this was a floating island, like 
 the one I before described, and that it was gradually rising 
 more to the surface ; but this idea did not satisfy me. Throw- 
 ing the lead and line in the boat, I pushed off, and sounded in 
 several directions, and had the mortification to find that in the 
 passage which the ship had entered, there was not sufficient 
 water for her to go out again, even if we were to have dis- 
 charged the whole cargo. I soon discovered the cause of this 
 apparent mystery; for as I went farther out on the reef, I 
 found that whole trees and solid masses of coral had sprung 
 up to the water's edge, in parts which I knew were several 
 fathoms deep when we entered. I had often heard that the 
 islands in these seas were formed by corals, but I had no idea 
 of the rapidity with which they were extended. 
 
 Your highness must know that all the zoophyte, or animal 
 plants, are composed of small insects, who work in millions 
 under the water, until they rise to the top. Such was the case 
 in the present instance, and thus by the labours of the minutest 
 of the creation, in the short space of three weeks, my ship was 
 shut up so as to render escape hopeless. 
 
 I returned on board, and explained to the men the real 
 cause of the apparently supernatural effects of what we had 
 witnessed. Satisfied that my assertions were correct, they 
 seemed to care little at being obliged to remain on an island 
 which afforded them the means of such comfortable subsistence. 
 As nothing could be done for the ship, we went on shore again,
 
 HUCKABACK. 187 
 
 and repitching the tents, waited quietly until we might be taken 
 off by some vessel which should chance to pass that way. 
 
 In a fortnight the ship was aground, and the island con- 
 tinued to increase so rapidly, that in two months she was raised 
 high and dry out of the water, about half a mile from the beach. 
 The vegetation seemed to advance as regularly and as rapidly 
 as the island, and after the rainy season the trees had grown 
 up so high, that the ship was completely hid in a large wood, 
 and it was just possible to see her lower masts above the 
 branches. For some time the men seemed perfectly contented. 
 We had plenty of stores in the ship of every description : the 
 cargo I had taken on board was chiefly manufactures, and as 
 the island provided fresh meat, fish, and fruit, they were in 
 want of nothing. But sailors are such changeable and restless 
 beings, that I really believe they would soon be tired of Para- 
 dise itself. After a sojourn of nine months, during which they 
 perhaps lived better than they ever had before, they began to 
 murmur and talk of getting away in some manner or another. 
 As my cargo was valuable, I was in hopes that a vessel would 
 visit the island, and take it on board ; I therefore made every 
 remonstrance that I could imagine to induce them to wait 
 some time longer ; but they would not listen to me, and made 
 preparations for building a vessel at the weather side of the 
 island, out of the materials that the ship afforded. The reason 
 why they chose the weather side was, that they perceived that 
 the island only increased to leeward ; whereas to windward it 
 was a perpendicular rock of coral, which you could not obtain 
 bottom alongside of, with two hundred fathoms of line. They 
 had cut a slip out of the rock, and were already occupied with 
 driving out the bolts and fastenings of the ship that was shored 
 up in the woods, when one evening we perceived a large fleet 
 of canoes coming towards us. As I knew that I could not be 
 far from the Sandwich Islands, I immediately pronounced 
 them to come from that quarter, in which supposition I was 
 correct ; for although the island was not inhabited, the islanders 
 had for. some years been aware of its existence, and came to 
 gather the crop of cocoa-nuts which it annually produced. I 
 advised my men to keep quiet in the woods, removing the 
 tents and every object that might create suspicion of our being 
 on the island ; but they were of a different opinion, and as
 
 iSS THE PACII A OF MANY TALES. 
 
 they had lately discovered the means of collecting the toddy 
 from the cocoa-nut trees, and distilling arrack, they had been 
 constantly drunk, mutinous, and regardless of my authority. 
 They thought it would be much easier to take the large canoes 
 from the islanders, and appropriate them to their own use, 
 than to build a vessel; and notwithstanding my entreaties, 
 they persisted in their resolution to make the attempt. 
 
 As the canoes approached, we counted fourteen, all of a very 
 large size, and with my glass I could distinguish that they had 
 fifty or sixty persons on board of each, including the women. 
 I pointed this out to the sailors, stating that I did not believe 
 there were more than ten women in each canoe, so that the 
 men must amount to seven hundred, a force much too large 
 to give them any chance of success in their rash intentions. 
 But I did more harm than good : the mention of the women 
 seemed to inspire them with fresh ardour, and they vowed 
 that they would kill all the men, and then would be content to 
 remain on the island with the women. They armed themselves 
 with muskets, and retired among the trees as the canoes 
 approached, fearful that the islanders would not land if they 
 were discovered. The canoes ran between the reefs, and in a 
 few minutes the whole of the islanders disembarked, not con- 
 ceiving it necessary to leave any but the women in the canoes, 
 the water being as smooth as a fishpond. 
 
 The arrangements of my men were certainly very good : they 
 allowed the islanders to go up to the tents, which were now 
 more than a mile from the beach, and then walking down 
 under cover of the trees, rushed to the canoes, and putting 
 one man in each with their muskets and ammunition, shoved 
 them off and made them fast to the coral rocks, about two 
 hundred yards distant. The screams of the women and the 
 shoving off of the canoes alarmed the men, who hastened down 
 to ascertain the cause. As soon as they came within halt 
 musket-shot, the sailors who were on shore, amounting to 
 twenty-five, fired a volley out of the wood, which killed and 
 wounded a great number. The islanders retreated in confusion, 
 then gave a loud shout and advanced. Another volley was 
 fired, and they again retreated, bearing off their killed and 
 wounded. They now held a consultation, which ended in their 
 dividing into two bodies, one of which separated from the
 
 HUCKABACK. 189 
 
 r, so that they might attack the party in the wood from two 
 different points. 
 
 In the meantime several of the women leaped overboard 
 and swam on shore, and the men in the boats were so busy in 
 preventing the others from following, that they could give no 
 assistance to the party in the wood, although they were within 
 musket-shot. The conduct of the islanders puzzled our men ; 
 and although I had taken no part in this murderous attack, yet 
 as I considered my life at stake, I thought that I might assist. 
 I therefore advised them to retreat to the ship, which, if they 
 once gained possession of, they would be enabled to keep the 
 islanders at bay. My advice was followed, and creeping 
 through the thick underwood, we reached the ship in safety, 
 having climbed up by rope ladders, which were hanging from 
 her, to enable us to go on board, to fetch any articles we 
 required. We hauled them up after us, and waited the issue. 
 In a few minutes, one of the parties of the islanders came up, 
 and seeing the ship with us on board, gave a loud yell, and let 
 fly their spears. We returned a volley which killed many, but 
 they were very brave, and continued the attack, although we 
 fired twenty or thirty rounds with great execution. 
 
 The other party now came up, and the conflict continued ; 
 they made every attempt to climb the stern and sides of the 
 vessel, but were repulsed ; and as the evening closed in, they 
 retired, taking away their killed and wounded, which we esti- 
 mated at two hundred men. When they retreated, we fired 
 some of our large guns in that direction, as much to frighten the 
 islanders as to let our comrades in the canoes know where we 
 were. 
 
 We kept a sharp look-out till dark, but saw no more of them. 
 I proposed that we should attempt to communicate with the 
 men in the canoes, and desire them to permit some of them to 
 drift on shore after taking out the women, as the islanders 
 woiud then in all probability go away. But as the men very 
 justly remarked, nobody, in the first place, would venture on 
 such a dangerous service, and in the next, if the islanders 
 obtained some of their canoes, they would attack the others 
 and overpower the sailors that were in them. This plan was, 
 therefore, justly overruled. I then proposed that one man 
 should steal down to the beach, swim off, and desire the four-
 
 igo THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 teen men to take all the women into one canoe, and pull round 
 to the north side of the island during the night, leaving the 
 remainder for the islanders to go away in. This was considered 
 a good scheme, but no one would volunteer; and, as I had 
 proposed it, I thought that I was in honour bound to go, as 
 otherwise the men would, in future, have had no opinion of me. 
 I therefore stated my intention, and taking my musket and 
 ammunition, I slipped down by a rope. As soon as I was on 
 my legs, I perceived something crawling out of the wood 
 towards the ship. I could not exactly decipher what it was, so 
 I crept under the counter of the vessel, where it was so dark 
 that I could not be distinguished. As it approached, I made 
 it out to be one of the islanders with a fagot of wood on his 
 back ; he placed it close to the side or" the vessel, and then 
 crawled back as before. I now perceived that there were 
 hundreds of these fagots about the ship, which the islanders 
 had contrived to carry there during the night ; for although the 
 moon was up, yet the vessel was so inclosed with trees that the 
 light did not penetrate. I immediately comprehended that it 
 was their intention to set fire to the vessel, and I was thinking 
 of communicating the information to my companions on board, 
 when two more crawled from the woods, and deposited their 
 bundles so close to me, that we were nearly in contact. I 
 therefore was obliged to leave those who were on board to make 
 the best of it, and imitating the islanders, I crawled from the 
 vessel into the brushwood, trailing the gun after me. It was 
 fortunate that I took this precaution, for in every part of the 
 wood where I crept to, there were dozens of them making up 
 fagots ; but it was too thick with underwood, and too dark, to 
 distinguish anything, although I heard them close to me 
 breaking off the branches. I did the same as I went on, to 
 avoid discovery, until I had passed by them, when I continued 
 my route to where the canoes had been left. I arrived in 
 safety at the outskirts of the wood close to the beach, and per- 
 ceived the canoes still lying at the rocks, to which they had 
 been taken ; but the moon shone bright, and I hesitated to 
 walk out in the light, until I ascertained whether there were 
 any islanders on the beach. As I waited a short time in the 
 dark shade of the trees, close to one of the springs of fresh 
 water, I heard a moan close to me, and looking in that direc-
 
 HUCKABACK. 191 
 
 tion, I perceived a body on the ground. I went towards it, 
 and could distinguish very plainly that it was one of the 
 women who had swam on shore. She was nearly lifeless, and 
 feeling, as every man must have done, compassion at her 
 unfortunate condition, I knelt down by her to see if I could 
 afford her any assistance. As she had very little clothes round 
 her body, I discovered, by passing my hand over her, that she 
 was wounded with a musket-ball above the knee, and was 
 exhausted from pain and loss of blood. I tore my neckcloth 
 and shirt into bandages, and bound up her leg ; I then fetched 
 some water from the spring in my hat, which I poured into her 
 mouth, and threw over her face. She appeared to recover, and 
 I felt happy that I had been of some use, and not being able 
 to descry any of the islanders, was proceeding to the beach, 
 that I might swim off to the canoes, when just as I walked out 
 of the shade, two or three muskets were fired by those on 
 board. These were followed by others, and loud yells from 
 the islanders, who had swam off in hundreds, and were attack- 
 ing our people. The conflict was very short, for the men, not 
 being able to load their muskets quick enough, were over- 
 powered by the islanders, who climbed into the canoes ; and 
 in a few minutes they were all paddled to the beach. 
 
 I now thought that it was all over with my men on board of 
 the ship, and so it proved : for an hour before daylight the 
 islanders lighted the fagots, and, at the same time, attacked the 
 vessel with great fury. The fire continued to blaze higher and 
 higher, the muskets were constantly discharging, and the shouts 
 and yells continued for about an hour, when I heard no more 
 reports from the muskets, and took it for granted that my men 
 were overcome, which was the case, as I afterwards found out; 
 many were killed by the spears when on board, others when 
 they leaped from the vessel to avoid the flames, and the 
 remainder had been suffocated. 
 
 As the sun rose above the horizon, a loud explosion took 
 place, by which I knew that the flames had communicated with 
 the magazine, and that the ship had been blown to atoms. I 
 determined to hide myself in the bushes, with the hope of not 
 being discovered. Before I went, I made a hasty visit to the 
 poor wounded woman, to see how she was. It was broad 
 daylight, and I found that I had afforded succour to a very
 
 la 7 'HE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 beautiful young girl, about sixteen or seventeen years old. As 
 she still appeared faint, I brought her some water, and when 1 
 gave it to her, she expressed her gratitude with her eyes. 
 Examining the bandages, which had slipped a little on one side, 
 I replaced them, and then darted into the thickest of the 
 underwood. As I pressed on, bent half double, my head 
 suddenly came in contact with something hard ; I looked up, 
 and found that it was the head of one of the islanders, who 
 was also forcing his way through the bushes ; an immense, 
 powerful man, who immediately sprang upon me, and pinned 
 me to the ground. He was followed by several others who 
 came to his assistance, and all resistance was useless. They 
 pulled some of the creeping withies, that grow in those coun- 
 tries, and bound me hand and foot ; then selecting a large pole, 
 they made me fast to it, and carried me away. When they 
 arrived at the beach, I was laid down on my back, exposed to 
 the burning sun. Left to my own reflections, and calling to 
 mind all that I could recollect from the voyages and travels 
 which I read, I concluded that I was to be made a sacrifice of 
 to their gods. I prayed to heaven for mercy, and resigned 
 myself to my fate, which appeared inevitable. 
 
 The islanders had all assembled on the beach close to where 
 I lay. The dead bodies of their companions who had fallen 
 in the conflict, and the wounded, were carried into the canoes. 
 They formed a circle round the fire, which they had kindled, 
 made several speeches, and danced a war-dance. I turned 
 round on my side, and perceived, to my horror, that they had 
 collected all the bodies of my companions, and were devouring 
 them. What they did not feel inclined to eat, they packed up 
 in baskets, and put into the canoes. I anticipated that such 
 would be my own fate not at present, as they had more than 
 they could consume but that I should be reserved for a 
 festival, after their arrival in their own country. Nor was I 
 incorrect in my supposition : they collected together all the 
 bones, which they carried with them, and put me on board, 
 hoisted their mat sails, and steered away for their own 
 islands. 
 
 On the third day we arrived, when I was carried on shore 
 and confined in what I believe was a burying-ground. They 
 stuffed me every day with pork and other victuals to keep me
 
 " I beheld, imaging over me with an air of the tenderest solicitude, the 
 beautiful savage." 
 
 PACHA OF MANY TALES.
 
 HUCKABACK. 193 
 
 alive, and in good condition, but they never cast me loose from 
 the pole to which I was bound, I heard processions, shouts, 
 and lamentations for the dead ; but I could see nothing, for I 
 was now too weak to turn on my side. When I had been a 
 week in this confined state, the agony arising fro'n. the swelling 
 of my limbs and from the increased tightness of the ligatures 
 was so great, that I called for death to relieve me from my 
 sufferings ; and when I once more found myself raised upon 
 the shoulders of men, I was as impatient for my approaching 
 fate as I should have been, under other circumstances, for my 
 release. My senses were gradually overpowered by the pain, 
 which was so much increased by the renewed suspension of my 
 body. 
 
 I have a distinct recollection of being placed on the ground 
 in a large circle of the screams of a woman, and of a confused 
 uproar, which followed. When I came to my senses, I found 
 myself in a hut, unbound, and lying upon soft mats, with 
 fomentations applied to my limbs ; and when my eyes opened, 
 I beheld, hanging over me with an air of the tenderest solici- 
 tude, the beautiful savage whom I had found wounded, and 
 had succoured on the night of the affray. 1 subsequently 
 learnt that when I had been brought into the circle, she had 
 recognised me as the person who had assisted her ; that she 
 claimed my life, pointing to her wound, and producing the 
 bandages with which I had bound it up, and which were 
 identified with the remainder as part of the dress which I still 
 wore. A council was held ; and as it appeared that I could 
 not have been with the party in the ship, for I had been taken 
 prisoner in the' woods, near to where the girl lay, after many 
 speeches pro and con, it was decided that my life should be 
 spared, and that I should be married to the girl who had been 
 the means of preserving it. She had carried me away to her 
 hut, and was now returning the debt of gratitude which she had 
 incurred. 
 
 Owing to her unwearied kindness and attention, I soon re- 
 covered, and before I was aware that I was to be her husband 
 I courted her by signs, and all the little attentions that could 
 be suggested by gratitude and love. As soon as I was sup- 
 posed to be sufficiently recovered, I was led into a large circle 
 of the islanders, to be formally admitted into their society. A 
 
 o
 
 194 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 venerable old man made a speech, which I presume was not a 
 very good one, from its extreme length, and then several men 
 laid hold of me, and throwing me on the ground, face down- 
 wards, sat astride on me, and commenced running needles into 
 the upper part of my thighs. The pain was excessive ; but as all 
 the islanders were tattooed about the loins, I presumed it was an 
 operation that I must submit to, and bore it with fortitude. 
 
 "And pray what is that tattooing?" 
 
 " Tattooing, may it please your highness, is puncturing the 
 sis in with needles or sharp points and then rubbing Indian 
 ink or gunpowder into the wounds. This leaves an indelible 
 mark of a deep blue tint. All the islanders in those seas 
 practise it, and very often the figures that are drawn are very 
 beautiful." 
 
 " Mashallah ! How wonderful is God ! I should like to see 
 it," rejoined the pacha. 
 
 "Allah forbid," replied the renegade, "that I should expose 
 my person to your highness. I know my duty better." 
 
 "Yes, but I must see it, yaha bibi, my friend !" continued 
 the pacha, impatiently; "never mind your person. Come 
 obey my orders." 
 
 The renegade was a little at a nonplus, as he never had 
 undergone the operation which he had described. Fortunately 
 for the support of his veracity, it happened that during one of 
 his piratical excursions, in an idle fit, he had permitted one of 
 his companions to tattoo a small mermaid on his arm. 
 
 " Min Allah ! God forbid," rejoined the renegade ; "my life 
 is at the disposal of your highness, and I had sooner that you 
 should take it, than I would affront your august eyes with that 
 exposure in question ; fortunately I can gratify your highness's 
 curiosity without offending decency as, after they had finished 
 the operation I was describing, they made the figure of their 
 most respected deity upon my arm." The renegade then 
 pulled up his sleeve, and showed the figure of a mermaid, with 
 a curling tail, a looking-glass in one hand and a comb in the 
 other. " Here your highness will perceive a specimen of their 
 rude art. This is a representation of their goddess Bo-gee, 
 in one hand she holds an iron rake, with which she tattooes 
 those who are good, and the mark serves as a passport when
 
 HUCKABACK. 191, 
 
 they apply for admission into the regions of bliss. In the other, 
 she brandishes a hot iron plate, with which she brands those 
 who are sentenced to be punished for their sins." 
 
 " Allah karim God is merciful ! And why has she a fish's 
 tail ?" inquired the pacha. 
 
 " The people I am describing inhabit a cluster of islands, 
 and it is to enable her to swim from one to the other, as hei 
 presence may be required." 
 
 "Very true," observed the pacha "now you may go on 
 with your story." 
 
 As I mentioned to your highness, they tattooed me without 
 mercy ; the operation lasted an hour, when they put me on my 
 feet again. Another speech was made, which I understood as 
 little of as the former ; they left me with my wife, and the cere- 
 mony was at an end. 
 
 I must say I wished that I had not been naturalized and 
 married both on the same day. I was so swelled and so stiff 
 with the tattooing, that it was with difficulty I could, with the 
 assistance of my wife, walk back to my hut. However, by the 
 remedies which she constantly applied, in the course of three 
 days I felt no further inconvenience. 
 
 I now considered myself settled for the remainder of my life. 
 I was passionately attached to Naka-poop, for such was the 
 name of my young wife, and notwithstanding my French educa- 
 tion, could not but acknowledge that her natural and unsophisti- 
 cated manners were more graceful and more fascinating than is 
 all the studied address of my own countrywomen. She was of 
 high rank in her own country, being nearly of kin to the king ; 
 and for two years my life slipped away in uninterrupted hap- 
 piness and peace. But alas ! and the renegade covered up 
 his face. 
 
 " Come, Huckaback, you surely have been too much accus- 
 tomed to lose your wives by this time to make a fuss about it. 
 These Franks are strange people," observed the pacha to the 
 vizier ; " they've a tear for every woman." 
 
 " Your highness must excuse me ; I shall not offend again, 
 for I nevej married afterwards. My charming Naka-poop died 
 in childbtd, and the island became so hateful to me, that I
 
 196 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 determined to quit it. An opportunity occurred by an Ameri- 
 can vessel, which arrived with some missionaries." 
 
 "What are missionaries?" inquired the pacha. 
 
 "People who came to inform the islanders that Bo-gee 
 was not a goddess, and to persuade them to embrace the 
 true faith." 
 
 " Very right," replied the pacha ; " there is but one God, and 
 Mahomet is his prophet Well " 
 
 As I understood both languages I was employed as an inter- 
 preter, but it was' impossible to explain what the missionaries 
 intended to convey, as the language of the islanders had not 
 words that were analagous. A council was held; and the 
 answer which the missionaries received was as follows : 
 
 " You tell us that your God rewards the good and punishes 
 the wicked so does Bo-gee. We speak one language you 
 speak another. Perhaps the name of your God means Bo-gee 
 in ours. Then we both worship the same God, under different 
 names. No use to talk any more ; take plenty of pigs and 
 yams, and go home." 
 
 The missionaries took their advice, their pigs and their yams, 
 and I went home with them. We arrived at New York, where 
 I claimed and received from the Bible Society my pay as in- 
 terpreter to the missionaries from the time they landed up to 
 the day of our return. I never should have thought of claim- 
 ing it, had it not been for the advice of one of the missionaries 
 who took a fancy to me. 
 
 With the money that I received, I paid my passage, in a 
 vessel bound to Genoa, where I arrived in safety, but without 
 the means of subsistence. But what doth the poet say, " Ne- 
 cessity is a strong rider with sharp stirrups, who maketh the 
 sorry jade do that which the strong horse will not do." Having 
 no other resource, I determined once more to try my fortune 
 upon the ocean. 
 
 " Allah wakbar God is everywhere ! It was your talleh 
 your destiny, Huckaback." 
 
 " It was his kismet his fate, your sublime highness," rejoined 
 Mustapha, " that he should go through those perils to amuse 
 your leisure hours."
 
 HUCKABACK. 197 
 
 " Wallah thaib well said, by Allah ! Let the slave rejoice 
 in our bounty. Give him ten pieces of gold ; we will open our 
 ears to his next voyage to-morrow. Murakhas, you are dis- 
 missed." 
 
 " May your sublime shadow never grow less," replied Hucka- 
 back, as he salaamed out of the pacha's presence. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 THE LAST VOYAGE OF HUCKABACK. 
 
 YOUR highness will be surprised at the unheard-of adventures 
 that occurred to me in my last voyage, and I think I can boldly 
 assert that no man, either before or since, has explored so much, 
 or has been in the peculiarly dangerous situation in which I 
 have been placed by destiny. 
 
 Notwithstanding the danger which I incurred from my 
 former expedition to the Northern Ocean, I was persuaded 
 to take the command of a whaler about to proceed to those 
 latitudes : we sailed from Marseilles early in the year, that we 
 might arrive at the northward in good time, and be able to 
 quit the Frozen Ocean before the winter had set in. We were 
 very fortunate at our arrival in Baffin's Bay, and very soon had 
 eighteen fish on board. The autumn was hardly commenced 
 before I proposed to return, and we were steering in a southerly 
 direction, when we encountered two or three large icebergs, 
 upon the edges of which the walrusses or sea-horses were lying 
 in herds. As we had some casks still empty, I determined to 
 fill them with the oil to be obtained from these animals, and 
 hoisted out my boats to attack them. We killed a large num- 
 ber, which we sent on board, and continued our fishery with 
 great success, having only lost one boat, the bottom plank of 
 which had been bitten out by the tusks of one of these unwieldly 
 animals. Of a sudden the wind changed to the southward, 
 and the small icebergs which were then to windward rapidly 
 closed with the large one upon which we were fishing. The 
 harpooners observed it, and recommended me to return to the 
 ship, but I was so amused with the sport that I did not heed
 
 198 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 their advice. A sea-horse was lying in a small rave accidentally 
 formed on the upright edge of the iceberg, and wishing to at- 
 tack him, I directed my boat to pull towards it. At this time 
 there was not more than twenty yards of water between the 
 two icebergs, and a sudden squall coming on, they closed with 
 great rapidity. The men in the other boats immed'ately pulled 
 away, and as I afterwards learnt when I arrived at Marseilles, 
 they escaped, and returned home in the ship ; but those in 
 mine, who were intent upon watching me as I stood in the 
 bow of the boat with the harpoon to strike the animal, did not 
 perceive the danger until the stern of the boat was touched by 
 the other iceberg. The two now coming within the attraction 
 of cohesion of floating bodies, were dashed like lightning one 
 against the other, jamming the men as well as the boat into 
 atoms. 
 
 Being in the bow of the boat, and hearing the crash, I had 
 just time in a moment of desperation to throw myself into the 
 cave upon the back of the sea-horse, when the two enormous 
 bodies of ice came in contact the noise, I have no doubt, 
 was tremendous, but I did not hear it, as I was immediately 
 inclosed in the ice. Although at first there were interstices, 
 yet, as the southerly gale blew the icebergs before it into the 
 northern region, all was quickly cemented together by the frost, 
 and I found myself pent up in an apartment not eight feet 
 square, in company with a sea-horse, 
 
 I shall not detain your highness by describing my sensations : 
 my ideas were, that I was to exist a certain time, and then die 
 for want of fresh air ; but they were incorrect. At first, indeed, 
 the cave was intolerably hot, from the accumulation of breath, 
 and I thought I should soon be suffocated. I recollected all 
 my past sins, I implored for mercy, and lay down to die ; but I 
 found that the ice melted away with the heat, and that, in so 
 doing, a considerable portion of the air was liberated, so that 
 in a few minutes my respiration became more free. The animal, 
 in the meantime, apparently frightened at his unusual situation, 
 was perfectly quiet ; and as the slightest straw will be caught 
 at by the drowning man, so did the idea of my preservation 
 come into my head. I considered how much air so enormous 
 an animal must consume, and determined upon despatching him, 
 that I might have more for my own immediate wants. 1 took
 
 HUCKABACK. 109 
 
 out my knife, and inserting it between the vertebral bones .hat 
 joined his head to his neck, divided the spinal marrow, and he 
 immediately expired. 
 
 When I found that he was quite dead, I crawled from his 
 shoulders, and took up a more convenient berth in that part of 
 the cave which was before his head, to which I had been afraid 
 to venture while the animal was alive, lest he should attack me 
 with his enormous tusks. The air soon became more pure, 
 and I breathed freely. Your highness may be surprised at the 
 assertion ; but, whether I obtained the air from the ice itself, 
 or whether the ice was sufficiently porous to admit of it, I know- 
 not ; but from that time I had no difficulty of respiration. In 
 our country we have had instances of women and children, who 
 have been buried in the snow for two months, and yet have 
 been taken out alive, and have recovered, although they had 
 little or no nourishment during their inhumation. I recollected 
 this, and aware that the carcass of the animal would supply 
 me for years, I began to indulge a hope that I might yet be 
 saved, if driven sufficiently to the southward to admit of my 
 being thawed out. I was convinced that the ice about me 
 could not be more than six or eight feet thick, as I had 
 sufficient light to distinguish the day from the night. Afterwards 
 my eyesight became so much more acute, that I could see very 
 well to every corner of the cave in which I was embedded. 
 
 During the first month the calls of hunger obliged me to make 
 frequent attacks upon the carcass of the sea-horse ; after that, 
 my appetite decreased, until at length I would not touch a 
 mouthful of food in a week, I presume from the want of fresh 
 air and exercise, neither of which I could be said to enjoy. I 
 had been about two months in this hole, when a violent shock 
 like that of an earthquake took place, and I fell from the top 
 of the cave to the bottom, and for a minute was knocked about 
 like a pea in a rattle. I had almost lost my senses before it 
 was over, and I found myself lying upon what was before the 
 top of the cave. From these circumstances I inferred that the 
 iceberg in which I was inclosed had come in contact with 
 another, and that I had been broken off from it, and was floating 
 on the sea with other pieces, which, when collected in large 
 quantities, are termed a floe of ice. Whether my situation was 
 changed for the better I knew not, but the change inspired me
 
 200 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 with fresh hopes. I now calculated that five months had 
 elapsed, and that it was the depth of winter, therefore I had no 
 chance of being released until the ensuing spring. 
 
 " Allah wakbar, God is everywhere !" interrupted the pacha. 
 " But I wish to know, Huckaback, how you were so exactly 
 aware of the time which had passed away." 
 
 " Min bashi, and head of thousands ! " replied Huckaback, 
 " I will explain to your highness. I once jammed my nail at 
 the bottom, and I expected to lose it. It did not however 
 come off, but grew up as before, and I had the curiosity to 
 know how often people changed their nails in the course of a 
 year. It was exactly two months, and from this I grounded 
 my calculations. I observed specks on my nails, and as they 
 grew up, so did I calculate time." 
 
 " Mashallah, how wonderful is God ! Wallah thaib ! Well 
 said, by Allah ! I never should have thought of that," 
 observed the pacha. " Proceed with your story." 
 
 The five months had elapsed, according to my calculations, 
 when one morning I heard a grating noise close to me ; soon 
 afterwards I perceived the teeth of a saw entering my domicile, 
 and I correctly judged that some ship was cutting her way 
 through the ice. Although I could not make myself heard, I 
 waited in anxious expectation of deliverance. The saw ap- 
 proached very near to where I was sitting, and I was afraid that 
 I should be wounded, if not cut in halves ; but just as it was 
 within two inches of my nose, it was withdrawn. The fact was, 
 that I was under the main floe, which had been frozen together, 
 and the firm ice above having been removed and pushed away, 
 I rose to the surface. A current of fresh air immediately 
 poured into the small incision made by the saw, which not only 
 took away my breath from its sharpness, but brought on a 
 spitting of blood. Hearing the sound of voices, I considered 
 my deliverence as certain. Although I understood very little 
 English, I heard the name of Captain Parry frequently 
 mentioned a name, I presume, that your highness is well 
 acquainted with. 
 
 " Pooh ! never heard of it," replied the pacha.
 
 HUCKABACK. 201 
 
 " I am surprised, your highness ; I thought everybody must 
 have heard of that adventurous navigator. I may here observe 
 that I have since read his voyages, and he mentions as a 
 curious fact, the steam which was emitted from the ice which 
 was nothing more than the hot air escaping from my cave when 
 it was cut through a singular point, as it not only proves the 
 correctness of his remarks, but the circumstance of my having 
 been there, as I am now describing it to your highness." 
 
 But, alas ! my hopes soon vanished : the voices became more 
 faint : I felt that I was plunged under the floe to make room 
 for the passage of the ship, and when I rose, the water which 
 had filled the incision made by the saw, froze hard, and I was 
 again closed in perhaps for ever. I now became quite frantic 
 with despair, I tore my clothes and dashed my head against 
 the corners of the cave, and tried to put an end to my hated 
 existence. At last, I sank down exhausted with my own 
 violent efforts, and continued sullen for several days. 
 
 But there is a buoyant spirit in our composition which raises 
 our heads above the waters of despair. Hope never deserts us, 
 not even in an iceberg. She attends us and supports us to the 
 last ; and although we reject her kind offices in our fury, she 
 still watches by us, ready to assist and console us, when we are 
 inclined to hearken to her encouraging whispers. 
 
 I once more listened to her suggestions, and for. six months 
 fed upon them, aided by occasional variations of the flesh of 
 the sea-horse. It was now late in the summer, and the ice in 
 which I was bound up had evidently melted away. One 
 morning I was astonished by perceiving that the light of the 
 sun seemed to change its position regularly every quarter of an 
 hour. Had it done so occasionally during the day, and at no 
 stated intervals, I should have imagined that the ice that I was 
 inclosed in altered its position with the winds and currents ; 
 but the regularity astonished me. I watched it, and I found 
 the same phenomenon occurred, but at shorter intervals, and it 
 continued until the light shifted from side to side every minute. 
 
 After some reflection, the horrid idea occurred to me that I 
 must have been drifted to the coast of Norway, and was in the 
 influence of the dreadful whirlpool called the Maelstrom, and 
 that, in a few minutes, I should be engulfed for ever ; and,
 
 202 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 whilst I was thinking that such might be the case, the light 
 revolved each fifteen seconds. "Then it is!" cried I, in 
 despair ; and, as I uttered the words, it became quite dark, and 
 I knew that I had sunk in the vortex, and all was over. 
 
 It may appear strange to your highness, that after the first 
 pang, occasioned by the prospect of perdition, had passed away, 
 that so far from feeling a horror at my situation, I mocked and 
 derided it. I could feel no more, and I waited the result with 
 perfect indifference. From the marks in my nails, I afterwards 
 found out that I was nearly six months in the interior of the 
 earth. At last, one day, I was nearly blinded by the powerful 
 light that poured through my tenement, and I knew that I was 
 once more floating on the water. 
 
 " Allah kebir ! God is most powerful ! " exclaimed the pacha. 
 " Holy prophet, where was it that you came up again ? " 
 
 " In the harbour of Port-Royal in Jamaica. Your highness 
 will hardly credit it, but on my honour it is true." 
 
 The heat of the sun was so great, that in a very short time 
 the ice that surrounded me was thawed, and I found myself at 
 liberty ; but I still floated upon the body of the sea-horse, and 
 the ice which was under the water. The latter soon vanished, 
 and striding the back of the dead animal, although nearly blinded 
 by the rays of the sun, and suffocated by the sudden change of 
 climate, I waited patiently to gain the shore, which was not one 
 mile distant : but before I could arrive there, for the sea-breeze 
 had not yet set in, an enormous shark, well known among the 
 English by the name of Port-Royal Tom, who had daily rations 
 from government, that by remaining in the harbour he might 
 prevent the sailors from swimming on shore to desert, ranged 
 up alongside of me. I thought it bard that I should have to 
 undergo such new dangers, after having been down the Mael- 
 strom, but there was no help for it. He opened his enormous 
 jaws, and had I not immediately shifted my leg, would have 
 taken it off. As it was, he took such a piece out of my horse, 
 as to render it what the sailors call lopsided. Again he attacked 
 it, and continued to take piece after piece off my steed, until 
 I was afraid that he would come to the rider at last, when a 
 boat full of black people, who were catching filing fish, per-
 
 HUCKABACK. 203 
 
 ceived me and pulled to my assistance. They took me on 
 shore, and carried me to the governor, to whom I gave a history 
 of my adventures ; but Englishmen suppose that nobody can 
 meet with wondrous adventures except themselves. He called 
 me a liar, and put me in the Clink, and a pirate schooner having 
 been lately taken and the crew executed, I was declared to have 
 been one of them ; but, as it was clearly proved that the vessel 
 only contained thirty men, and they had already hung forty- 
 seven, I was permitted to quit the island, which I did in a small 
 vessel bound to America, on condition that I would work my 
 passage. 
 
 We had gained to the northward of the Bahama Isles, and 
 were standing to the westward before a light breeze, when early 
 one morning several waterspouts were observed to be forming 
 in various directions. It was my watch below, but as I had 
 never seen one of these curious phenomena of nature, I went 
 on deck to indulge my curiosity. 
 
 "Pray what is a waterspout?" inquired the pacha; "I 
 never heard of one before." 
 
 " A waterspout, your highness, is the ascent of a large body 
 of water into the clouds one of those gigantic operations by 
 which Nature, apparently without effort, accomplishes her will, 
 pointing out to man the insignificance of his mist vaunted 
 undertakings." 
 
 " Humph ! that's a waterspout, is it ? " replied the pacha ; 
 ** I'm about as wise as before." 
 
 " I will describe it more clearly to your highness, for there 
 is no one who has a better right to know what a waterspout is 
 than myself." 
 
 A black cloud was over our heads, and we perceived that 
 for some time it was rapidly descending. The main body then 
 remained stationary, and a certain portion of it continued 
 bellying down until it had assumed the form of an enormous 
 jelly-bag. From the end of this bag, a thin, wiry, black 
 tongue of vapour continued to descend until it had arrived 
 half-way between the cloud and the sea. The water beneath, 
 then ruffled on its surface, increased its agitation more and 
 more until it boiled and bubbled like a large caldron, throwing
 
 204 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 its foam aside in every direction. In a few minutes a small 
 spiral thread of water was perceived to rise into the air, and 
 meet the tongue which had wooed it from the cloud. When 
 the union had taken place, the thread increased each moment 
 in size, until it was swelled into a column of water several feet 
 in diameter, which continued to supply the thirsty cloud until 
 it was satiated and could drink no more. It then broke, the 
 sea became smooth as before, and the messenger of heaven 
 flew away on the wings of the wind, to dispense its burden 
 over the parched earth in refreshing and fertilizing showers. 
 
 While I was standing at the tafifrail in admiration of this 
 wonderful resource of nature, the main boom gibed and struck 
 me with such force that I was thrown into the sea. Another 
 waterspout forming close to the vessel, the captain and crew 
 were alarmed, and made all sail to escape, without regarding me ; 
 for they were aware that if it should happen to break over them, 
 they would be sent to the bottom with its enormous weight. I 
 had scarcely risen to the surface, when I perceived that the 
 water was in agitation round me, and all my efforts to swim 
 from the spot were unavailing, for I was within the circle oi 
 attraction. Thus was I left to my fate, and, convinced that I 
 could not swim for many minutes, I swallowed the salt-water 
 as fast as I could, that my struggles might the sooner be 
 over. 
 
 But as the sea boiled up, I found myself gradually drawn 
 more to the centre, and when exactly in it, I was raised in a 
 sitting posture upon the spiral thread of water, which, as I ex- 
 plained to your highnes, forced itself upwards to join the 
 tongue protruded by the cloud. There I sat, each second rising 
 higher and higher, balanced like the gilt ball of pith which is 
 borne up by the vertical stream of the fountain which plays in the 
 inner court of your highness's palace. I cast my eyes down, 
 and perceived the vessel not far off, the captain and crew 
 holding up their eyes in amazement at the extraordinary 
 spectacle. 
 
 " I don't wonder at that," observed the pacha. 
 
 I soon reached the tongue of the cloud, which appeared as 
 if impatient to receive me the hair of my head first coming
 
 HUCKABACK. 205 
 
 within its attractive powers, was raised straight on end then 
 seized, as it were, and twisted round. I was dragged up by it 
 each moment with increased velocity, as I whirled round in 
 my ascent. At last I found myself safely landed, and sat down 
 to recover my breath, which I had nearly lost for ever. 
 
 ' And, pray, where did you sit, Huckaback ? " 
 
 " On the cloud, your highness." 
 
 " Holy Prophet ! What, a cloud bear your weight ? " 
 
 " If your highness will call to mind that at the same time the 
 cloud took up several tons of water, you cannot be surprised 
 at its supporting me." 
 
 " Very true," replied the pacha. " This is a very wonder- 
 ful story ; but before you go on, I wish to know what the 
 cloud was made of." 
 
 " That is rather difficult to explain to your highness. I can 
 only compare it to a wet blanket. I found it excessively cold 
 and damp, and caught a rheumatism while I was there, which 
 I feel to this day." 
 
 When the cloud was saturated, the column divided, and we 
 rapidly ascended, until the cold became intense. We passed 
 a rainbow as we skimmed along, and I was very much sur- 
 prised to find that the key of my chest and my clasp-knife 
 forced themselves through the cloth of my jacket, and flew 
 with great velocity towards it, fixing themselves firmly to the 
 violet rays ; from which I discovered that those peculiar rays 
 were magnetic. I mentioned this curious circumstance to an 
 English lady whom I met on her travels, and I have since 
 learnt that she has communicated the fact to the learned 
 societies as a discovery of her own. However, as she is a 
 very pretty woman, I forgive her. Anxious to look down upon 
 the earth, I poked a hole with my finger through the bottom ot 
 the cloud, and was astonished to perceive how rapidly it was 
 spinning round. We had risen so high as to be out of the 
 sphere of its attraction, and in consequence remained sta- 
 tionary. I had been up about six hours, and although close 
 to the coast of America when I ascended, I could perceive 
 that the Cape of Good Hope was just heaving in sight. I 
 was enabled to form a very good idea of the structure of the
 
 2o6 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 globe, for at that immense height I could see to the very 
 bottom of the Atlantic ocean. Depend upon it, your highness, 
 if you wish to discover more than other people can, it is 
 necessary to be " up in the clouds." 
 
 " Very true," replied the pacha ; " but go on." 
 
 I was very much interested in the chemical process of turn- 
 ing the salt water into fresh, which was going on with great 
 rapidity while I was there. Perhaps your highness would like 
 me to explain it, as it will not occupy your attention more than 
 an hour. 
 
 " No, no, skip that, Huckaback, and go on." 
 
 But as soon as I had gratified my curiosity, I began to be 
 alarmed at my situation, not so much on account of the means 
 of supporting existence, for there was more than sufficient. 
 
 " More than sufficient ! Why, what could you have to eat ? " 
 " Plenty of fresh fish, your highness, which had been taken 
 up in the column of water at the same time as I was, and the 
 fresh water already lay in little pools around me. But the cold 
 was dreadful, and I felt that I could not support it many hours 
 longer, and how to get down again was a problem which I 
 could not solve." 
 
 It was, however, soon solved for me, for the cloud, having 
 completed its chemical labours, descended as rapidly as it had 
 risen, and joined many others, that were engaged in sharp 
 conflict. As I beheld them darting at each other, and dis- 
 charging the electric fluid in the violence of their collision, I 
 was filled with trepidation and dismay, lest, meeting an adver- 
 sary, I should be hurled into the abyss below, or be withered 
 by the artillery of heaven. But 1 was fortunate enough to 
 escape. The cloud which bore me descended to within a hun- 
 dred yards of the earth, and then was hurried along by the 
 wind with such velocity and noise, that I perceived we were 
 assisting at a hurricane. 
 
 As \ve neared the earth, the cloud, unable to resist the force
 
 HUCKABACK. 207 
 
 of its attraction, was compelled to deliver up its burthen, and 
 down I fell, with such torrents of water, that it reminded me 
 of the deluge. The tornado was now in all its strength. The 
 wind roared and shrieked in its wild fury, and such was its 
 force that I fell in an acute angle. 
 
 " What did you fall in ? " interrupted the pacha. " I don't 
 know what that is." 
 
 " I fell in a slanting direction, your highness, describing the 
 hypothenuse between the base and perpendicular, created by 
 the force of the wind, and the attraction of gravitation." 
 
 " Holy Prophet ! who can understand such stuff? Speak 
 plain ; do you laugh at our beards ? " 
 
 " Min Allah ! God forbid ! Your servant would indeed 
 eat dirt," replied Huckaback. 
 
 I meant to imply, that so powerful was the wind, it almost 
 bore me up, and when I first struck the water, which I did 
 upon the summit of a wave, I bounded off again, and ricochetted 
 several times from one wave to another, like a shot fired from 
 a gun along the surface of the sea, or the oyster-shell skimmed 
 over the lake by the truant child. The last bound that I gave 
 pitched me into the rigging of a small vessel on her beam-ends, 
 and 1 hardly had time to fetch my breath before she turned 
 over. I scrambled up her bends, and fixed myself astride 
 upon her keel. 
 
 There I remained for two or three hours, when the hurricane 
 was exhausted from its own violence. The clouds disappeared, 
 the sun burst out in all its splendour, the sea recovered its 
 former tranquillity, and Nature seemed as if she was maliciously 
 smiling at her own mischief. The land was close to me, and 
 the vessel drifted on shore. 1 found that I was at the Isle of 
 France, having, in the course of twelve hours, thus miraculously 
 shifted my position from one side of the globe unto the other. I 
 found the island in a sad state of devastation ; the labour of 
 years had been destroyed in the fury of an hour the crops 
 were swept away the houses were levelled to the ground the 
 vessels in fragments on the beach all was misery and desola- 
 tion. I was, however, kindly received by my countrymen, who 
 were the inhabitants of the isle ; and in four-and- twenty hours
 
 208 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 we all danced and sang as before. I invented a very pretty 
 quadrille, called the Hurricane, which threw the whole island 
 into an ecstasy, and recompensed them for all their sufferings. 
 But I was anxious to return home, and a Dutch vessel pro- 
 ceeding straight to Marseilles, I thought myself fortunate to 
 obtain a passage upon the same terms as those which had 
 enabled me to quit the West Indies. We sailed, but before we 
 had been twenty-four hours at sea, I found that the captain was 
 a violent man, and a most dreadful tyrant. I was not very 
 strong, and not being able to perform the duty before the 
 mast, to which I had not been accustomed, I was beat so un- 
 mercifully that I was debating in my mind whether I should 
 kill the captain and then jump overboard, or submit to my hard 
 fate ; but one night, as I lay groaning in the forecastle, after a 
 punishment I had received from the captain, which incapaci- 
 tated me from further duty, an astonishing circumstance 
 occurred, which was the occasion, not only of my embracing 
 the Mohammedan religion, but of making use of those expres- 
 jions which attracted your highness's attention when you 
 passed in disguise. " Why am I thus ever to be persecuted ? " 
 exclaimed I in despair. And as I uttered these words, a 
 venerable personage, in a flowing beard, and a book in his 
 hand, appeared before me, and answered me : 
 
 "Because, Huckaback, you have not embraced the true 
 faith." 
 
 "What is the true faith?" inquhed I, in fear and amaze- 
 ment. 
 
 " There is but one God," replied he, "and I am his Pro- 
 phet" 
 
 " Merciful Allah ! " exclaimed the pacha, " why, it must have 
 been Mahomet himself." 
 
 " It was so, your highness, although I knew it not at the 
 time." 
 
 " Prove unto me that it is the true faith," said I. 
 
 " I will," replied he j "I will turn the heart of the infidel 
 captain ; " and he disappeared. The next day the captain of 
 the vessel, to my astonishment, came to me as I lay in the 
 forecastle, and begging my pardon for the cruelty that he had
 
 HUCKABACK. 209 
 
 been guilty of, shed tears over me, and ordered me to be 
 carried into his cabin. He laid me in his own bed, and 
 watched me as he would a favourite child. In a short time I 
 recovered; after which he would permit me to do no duty, 
 but insisted upon my being his guest, and loaded me with 
 every kindness. 
 
 " God is great ! " ejaculated the pacha. 
 
 I was lying in my bed, meditating upon these things, when 
 the venerable form again appeared to me. 
 
 "Art thou now convinced?" 
 
 " I am," replied I. 
 
 " Then prove it by submitting to the law the moment that 
 you are able. You shall be rewarded not at once, but when 
 your faith has been proved. Mark me, follow your profession 
 on the seas, and when once you find yourself sitting in the 
 divan at Cairo, with two people originally of the same pro- 
 fession as yourself, without others being present, and have 
 made this secret known, then you shall be appointed to the 
 command of the pacha's fleet, which, under your directions, 
 shall always meet with success. Such shall be the reward of 
 your fidelity." 
 
 It is now four years that I have embraced the true faith, 
 and, sinking under poverty, I was induced to make use of the 
 exclamation that your highness heard ; for how can I ever hope 
 to meet two barbers at the divan without other people being 
 present ? 
 
 " Holy Prophet ! how strange ! Why, Mustapha was a 
 barber, and so was I ! " cried the pacha. 
 
 " God is great ! " answered the renegade, prostrating him- 
 self. " Then I command your fleet ? " 
 
 " From this hour," replied the pacha. " Mustapha, make 
 known my wishes." 
 
 " The present in command," replied Mustapha, who was 
 not a dupe to the wily renegade, "is a favourite with the 
 men." 
 
 " Then send for him, and take off his head. Is he to inter- 
 fere with the commands of Mahomet ? " 
 
 f
 
 210 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 The vizier bowed, and the pacha quitted the divan. 
 
 The renegade, with a smile upon his lips, and Mustapha, 
 with astonishment, looked at each other for a few seconds : 
 " You have a great talent, Selim," observed the vizier. 
 
 " Thanks to your introduction, and to my own invention, it 
 will at last be called into action. Recollect, vizier, that I am 
 grateful you understand me ; " and the renegade quitted the 
 divan, leaving Mustapha still in his astonishment 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 " MUSTAPHA," said the pacha, taking his pipe out of his mouth, 
 after an hour's smoking in silence, " I have been thinking it 
 very odd that our Holy Prophet (blessed be his name !) should 
 have given himself so much trouble about such a son of Shitan 
 as that renegade rascal Huckaback, whose religion is only in 
 his turban. By the sword of the Prophet, is it not strange that 
 he should send him to command my fleet ? " 
 
 " It was the will of your sublime highness," replied Mustapha, 
 " that he should command your fleet." 
 
 " Mashallah ! Was it not the will of the Prophet ? " 
 
 Mustapha smoked his pipe, and made no reply. 
 
 " He was a great story-teller," observed the pacha, after 
 another pause. 
 
 " He was," drily replied Mustapha. " No kessehgou of our 
 true believers could equal him ; but that is now over, and the 
 dog of an Isauri must prove himself a Rustam in the service of 
 your sublime highness. Aware that your highness would re- 
 quire amusement, and that it was the duty of your slave, who 
 shines but by the light of your countenance, to procure it, I 
 have since yesterday, when the sun went down, despairing to 
 find his glory eclipsed by that of your sublime highness, ordered 
 most diligent search to be made through the whole of the 
 world, and have discovered, that in the caravan now halted on 
 the outskirts of the town, there is a famous kessehgou, pro- 
 ceeding to Mecca to pay his homage to the shrine of our 
 Prophet; and I have despatched trusty messengers to brin<*
 
 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 211 
 
 him into the presence of the Min Bashi, to whom your slave, 
 and the thousands whom he rules, are but as dust : " and 
 Mustapha bowed low. 
 
 " Aferin ! excellent ! " exclaimed the pacha ; " and when will 
 he be here ? " 
 
 " Before the tube now honoured by kissing the lips of your 
 highness shall have poured out in ecstasy the incense of another 
 bowl of the fragrant weed, the slippers of the kessehgou will 
 be left at the threshold of the palace. Be chesm, on my eyesi 
 be it." 
 
 " Tis well, Mustapha. Slave," continued the pacha, ad- 
 dressing the Greek who was in attendance, with his arms folded 
 and his eyes cast down to the ground, " coffee, and the strong 
 water of the Giaour." 
 
 The pacha's pipe was refilled, the coffee was poured down 
 their respective throats, and the forbidden spirits quaffed with 
 double delight, arising from the very circumstance that they 
 were forbidden. 
 
 " Surely there must be some mistake, Mustapha. Does not 
 the Koran say, that all that is good is intended for true 
 believers ? and is not this good ? How then can it be 
 forbidden? Could it be intended for the Giaours? May 
 they, and their fathers' graves, be eternally defiled ! " 
 
 " Amen ! " replied Mustapha, laying down the cup and 
 drawing a deep sigh. 
 
 Mustapha was correct in his calculations. Before the pacha 
 had finished his pipe, the arrival of the story-teller was an- 
 nounced : and after waiting a few minutes from decorum, 
 which seemed to the impatient pacha to be eternal, Mustapha 
 clapped his hands and the man was ushered in. 
 
 " Kosh amedid ! you are welcome," said the pacha, as the 
 kessehgou entered the divan : he was a slight, elegantly- 
 moulded person, of about thirty years of age. 
 
 " I am here in obedience to the will of the pacha," replied 
 the man, in a most musical voice, as he salaamed low. " What 
 does his highness require of his slave Menouni ? " 
 
 " His highness requires a proof of thy talent, and an 
 opportunity to extend his bounty." 
 
 " I am less than dust, and am ready to cover my head with 
 ashes, not to feel my soul in the seventh heaven at the con-
 
 212 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 descension of his highness ; yet would I fain do his bidding 
 and depart, for a vow to the Prophet is sacred, and it is written 
 in the Koran " 
 
 " Never mind the Koran just now, good Menouni ; we ask 
 of thee a proof of thy art. Tell me a story." 
 
 " Most proud shall I be of the honour. Will not my face be 
 whitened to all eternity? Shall your slave relate the loves of 
 Leilah and Majnoun?" 
 
 " No, no," replied the pacha ; " something that will interest 
 me." 
 
 " Then will I narrate the history of the Scarred Lover." 
 
 " That sounds well, Mustapha/' observed the pacha. 
 
 " Who can foresee so well as your sublime highness ? " re- 
 plied Mustapha. " Menouni, it is the pleasure of the pacha 
 that you proceed." 
 
 " Your slave obeys. Your sublime perspicuity is but too well 
 acquainted with geography ? " 
 
 " Not that I know of. Hath he ever left his slippers at our 
 threshold, Mustapha ? " 
 
 " I suspect," replied Mustapha, " that he goes all over the 
 world, and therefore he must have been here. Proceed, 
 Menouni, and ask not such questions. By virtue of his 
 office, his sublime highness knows everything." 
 
 " True," said the pacha, shaking his beard with great dignity 
 and satisfaction. 
 
 " I did not presume to put the question," replied Menouni, 
 whose voice was soft and silvery as a flute on a summer's 
 silent eve, " as, to perfectly understand the part of the world 
 from which my tale has been transmitted, I thought that a 
 knowledge of that science was required : but I have eaten dirt, 
 and am covered with shame at my indiscretion, which would 
 not have occurred, had it not been that the sublime sultan, 
 when I last had the honour to narrate the story, was pleased 
 to interrupt me, from his not being quite convinced that the 
 parts of the world were known to him. But I will now pro- 
 ceed with my tale, which shall go forward with the majestic 
 pace of the camel, proud in his pilgrimage over the desert, 
 towards the shrine of our Holy Prophet."
 
 THE SCARRED LOVER. 213 
 
 THE SCARRED LOVER. 
 
 IN the north-eastern parts of the vast peninsula of Indh, theie 
 did exist a flourishing and extended kingdom, eminent for the 
 beauty of the country, the fertility of the soil, and the salubrity 
 of the climate. This kingdom was bounded on the east by a 
 country named Lusitania, that lies northerly towards the coast 
 of Iceland, so called from the excessive heat of the winter. On 
 the south it was bounded by a slip of land, the name of which 
 has slipped my memory ; but it runs into the seas under the 
 dominion of the great cham of Tartary. On the west it is 
 bounded by another kingdom, the name of which I have also 
 forgotten ; and on the north by another kingdom, the name of 
 which I do not remember. After this explanation, with your 
 sublime highness's knowledge, to which that of the sage 
 Lochman was but in comparison as the seed is to the water- 
 melon, I hardly need say that it was the ancient kingdom of 
 Souffra. 
 
 " Menouni, you are quite right," observed the pacha. 
 " Proceed." 
 
 " Fortunate is your slave to stand in the presence of so 
 much wisdom," continued Menouni, " for I was in doubt ; the 
 splendour of your presence had startled my memory, as the 
 presence of the caravan doth the zebra foal of the desert." 
 
 In this delightful kingdom, where the nightingales sang away 
 their existence in their love for the rose, and the roses gave 
 forth their perfume until the air was one continued essence ot 
 delight, such as is inhaled by the true believers when they first 
 approach the gates of Paradise, and are enchanted by the 
 beckoning of the houris from the golden walls, there lived 
 a beautiful Hindu princess, who walked in loveliness, and whose 
 smile was a decree to be happy to all on whom it fell ; yet, for 
 reasons which my tale shall tell, she had heard the nightingale 
 complain for eighteen summers and was still unmarried. IK. 
 this country, which at that time was peopled by Allah with 
 intidels, to render it fertile for the true believers, and to be 
 their slaves upon their arrival, which did occur some time after
 
 PI4 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 the occurrences which I now relate, it was not the custom for 
 the females of Souffra to lead the life of invisibility, permitted 
 only to those who administer to the delights of the followers 
 of the Koran ; and although it was with exceeding modesty of 
 demeanour, still did they on great occasions expose their 
 charms to the public gaze, for which error, no doubt, if they 
 had had souls, beautiful as they were, they would have been 
 damned to all eternity. Civilization, as Menou hath said, 
 must extend both far and wide before other nations will be so 
 polished as to imitate us in the splendour, the security, and the 
 happiness of our harems \ and when 1 further remark to your 
 highness 
 
 " Proceed, good Menouni," interrupted Mustapha, " his high- 
 ness is not fond of remarks." 
 
 "No, by our beard," rejoined the pacha; " it is for you 
 to tell your story, and for me to make remarks when it is 
 over." 
 
 " I stand in the presence of wisdom," said Menouni, who 
 bowed low and proceeded. 
 
 The beauteous Babe-bi-bobu, for such was the name of the 
 princess, and which in the language of the country implied, 
 "the cream-tart of delight," WAS left queen of the Souffrarians 
 by the death of her father ; and by his will, sworn to by all the 
 grandees of the empire, she was enjoined at twelve years of 
 age to take to herself a husband ; but it was particularly ex- 
 pressed that the youth so favoured should be of the same high 
 caste as herself, and without scar or blemish. When, therefore, 
 two years after her father's death, the beautiful Babe-bi-bobu 
 had attained the age of twelve years, swift runners on foot, and 
 speedy messengers mounted upon the fleetest dromedaries and 
 Arab horses of the purest race, were despatched through all 
 the kingdom of Souffra, to make known the injunctions of the 
 will ; the news of which at last flew to the adjacent kingdoms, 
 and from them to all the corners of the round world, and none 
 were ignorant. In the kingdom of Souffra, from which the 
 choice was to be made, all the youth of caste were in a state 
 of fermentation, because they had a chance of obtaining the 
 honour ; and all those of lower caste were in a state of fer-
 
 THE SCARRED LOVER. 215 
 
 mentation, to think they had no chance of obtaining such an 
 honour ; and all the women of high caste, or low caste, 01 
 no caste, were all in a state of fermentation, because 
 because 
 
 " Because they always are so," interrupted the pacha. " Pro- 
 ceed, Menouni." 
 
 " I thank your sublime highness for having relieved me in 
 my case of difficulty; for who can give reasons for the conduct 
 of women ? " 
 
 It is sufficient to say that the whole country was in a state 
 of fermentation, arising from hope, despair, jealousy, envy, 
 curiosity, surmising, wondering, doubting, believing, dis : 
 believing, hearing, narrating, chattering, interrupting, and 
 many other causes too tedious to mention. At the first 
 intelligence every Souffrarian youth new-strung his mandolin, 
 and thought himself sure to be the happy man. Hope was 
 triumphant through the land ; roses advanced to double their 
 price ; the attar was adulterated to meet the exorbitant demand, 
 and nightingales were almost worshipped ; but this could not 
 last. Doubt succeeded to the empire of hope, when reflection 
 pointed out to them, that out of three millions of very eligible 
 youths, only one could be made happy. But when the coun- 
 sellors are so many, the decision is but slow; .and so numerous 
 were the meetings, the canvassings, the debates, the discussions, 
 the harangues, and the variety of objections raised by the 
 grandees of the country, that at the age of eighteen the beau- 
 teous bird of paradise, still unmated, warbled her virgin strain 
 in the loneliness of the royal groves, 
 
 " But why," interrupted the pacha, " why did they not marry 
 her, when there were three millions of young men ready to 
 take her? I can't understand the cause of six years' delay." 
 
 The reason, most sublime, was, that the grandees of Souffra 
 were not endowed with your resplendent wisdom, or the beau- 
 tiful Babe-bi-bobu had not so long languished for a husband. 
 All this delay was produced by doubt, which the poets truly 
 declare to be the father of delay. It was a doubt which arose
 
 2i6 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 in the mind of one of the brahmins, who, when a doubt arose 
 in his mind, would mumble it over and over, but never masti- 
 cate, swallow, or digest it ; and thus was the preservation of 
 the royal line endangered. For years had the aspirants for 
 regal dignity, and more than regal beauty, hovered round the 
 court, each with his mandolin on his arm, and a huge packet 
 of love-sonnets borne behind him by a slave ; and yet all was 
 doubt, and the beautiful Princess Babe-bi-bobu remained un- 
 married. 
 
 " I doubt whether we shall ever come to the doubt," in- 
 terrupted the pacha, impatiently, " or the princess to a 
 husband." 
 
 The doubt shall now be laid at your excellency's feet. It 
 was, as to the exact meaning of the words, without scars or 
 blemish, and whether moles were to be considered as scars or 
 blemishes. The brahmin was of opinion that moles were 
 blemishes, and many others agreed with him that is, all those 
 who had no moles on their persons were of his opinion ; while, 
 on the other hand, those who were favoured by nature with 
 those distinguishing marks, declared that so far from their 
 being scars or blemishes, they must be considered as additional 
 beauties granted by Heaven to those most favoured. The 
 dispute ran high, and the beautiful Princess Babe-bi-bobu 
 remained unmarried. This great question was at last very 
 properly referred to the mufti. These sages handled it, and 
 turned it, and twisted it, added to it, multiplied it, subtracted 
 from it, and divided it, debated it fasting, debated it on a full 
 stomach, nodded over it, dreamt on it, slept on it, woke up 
 with it, and analysed it, criticised it, and wrote forty eight folio 
 volumes, of which twenty-four were advocates of, and twenty- 
 four opponents to the question ; the only conclusion which they 
 could come to at last was, that moles were moles and the 
 beautiful Princess Babe-bi-bobu remained unmarried. 
 
 The question was then taken up by the dervishes and fakirs 
 of the country in a religious point of view; they split into two 
 parties, tried the question by a dispute under a banyan-tree, 
 which lasted eighteen months, and still not half of the holy 
 men had given their sentiments upon the question ; tired of
 
 THE SCARRED LOVER, 217 
 
 talking, they proceeded to blows, and then to ai. atheraatisation 
 and excommunication of each other; lastly, they had recourse 
 to impalement to convince each other ; more than a thousand 
 perished on each side ; and still the beautiful Princess Babe-bi- 
 bobu remained unmarried. 
 
 The colleges and schools of the kingdom took up the ques- 
 tion, and argued it metaphysically, and after having irrecover- 
 ably lost, between the two sides, twenty-two millions of threads 
 of arguments, the question was as fresh as ever, and the 
 beautiful Princess Babe-bi-bobu remained unmarried. 
 
 But this was not all ; for at last the whole nation joined in 
 the quarrel, splitting into violent and angry factions, which 
 divided town against town, inhabitants against inhabitants, 
 house against house, family against family, husband against 
 wife, father against son, brother against sister; and in some 
 cases, where he had doubts on both sides, a man against him- 
 self. The whole nation flew to arms, distinguishing themselves 
 as Molists and Anti-molists ; four hundred insurrections, and 
 four civil wars, were the consequence ; and, what was a worse 
 consequence, the beautiful Princess Babe-bi-bobu remained 
 unmarried. Your sublime highness must allow that it was a 
 very nice question 
 
 " What is your opinion, Mustapha ? " demanded the pacha. 
 
 " Is your slave to speak ? Then I would say, that it was 
 absurd to make such a mountain of a mole-hill." 
 
 " Very true, Mustapha. This princess will never be married ; 
 so proceed, good Menouni." 
 
 I should observe to your sublime highness, that the Molists 
 were the strongest party, and the most arrogant ; not content 
 with wearing the marks of nature, they stuck upon their faces 
 fictitious moles of every hue and colour, and the most violent 
 partisans appeared as if they were suffering from some cuta- 
 neous disorder. It was also a singular circumstance, that no 
 Molist was ever known to change sides, whereas, after bathing, 
 many of the Anti-molists were found most shamefully to 
 apostatise. Everything was disastrous, and the country in a 
 state of anarchy and confusion, when the question was most 
 fortunately settled by the remark of a little slave about twelve
 
 2i8 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 years old, who was regularly flogged by his master every morn- 
 ing that he got up, upon a suspicion of Molism, and as 
 regularly every evening by his mistress, on a second suspicion 
 of Anti-molism. This poor little fellow whispered to another 
 boy, that moles were blemishes or not, just as people happened 
 to think them, but, as for his part, he thought nothing about 
 the matter. The espionage at that time was so strict, that even 
 a whisper was to be heard at the distance of miles, and this 
 observation was reported ; it certainly was new, because it was 
 neutral, when neutrality was not permitted or thought of; it 
 was buzzed about ; the remark was declared wonderful ; it ran 
 like wildfire through the suburbs, it roared through the city, it 
 shook the very gates of the palace ; at last it reached the holy 
 in divan, who pronounced it to be inspiration from the Deity, 
 and immediately there was issued a solemn edict, in which it 
 was laid down as a most positive and important article of 
 Souffrarian faith, that moles were not scars, and only blemishes 
 when they were considered to be so. Everyone praised the 
 wisdom of this edict ; it was read and subscribed to as an 
 article of faith ; towns greeted towns, house congratulated 
 house, and relations shook hands ; what was still stranger was, 
 husbands and wives were reconciled and what was even more 
 delightful, there was now some chance of the beautiful Princess 
 Babe-bi-bobu no longer remaining unmarried. 
 
 This fortunate edict, by which it was clear that those who 
 believed a mole to be a blemish were quite safe, and those who 
 did not believe it, were in no manner of danger, set everything 
 to rights ; the metropolis was again filled with aspirants, the air 
 tortured with the music of the mandolins, and impregnated 
 with the attar of roses. Who can attempt to describe the 
 sumptuousness of the palace, and the splendour of the hall in 
 which the beautiful princess sat to receive the homage of the 
 flower of the youth of her kingdom. Soothingly soft, sweetly, 
 lovingly soft, were the dulcet notes of the warbling asparas, or 
 singing-girls, now ebbing, now flowing in tender gushes of 
 melody, while down the sides of the elegant and highly-pillared 
 hall, now advancing, now retreating, the dancing-girls, each 
 beautiful as Artec herself in her splendour, seemed almost to 
 demand, in their aggregate, that gaze of homage due only to 
 the peerless Individual who at once burned and languished on
 
 THE SCARRED LOVER. 219 
 
 her emerald throne. Three days had the princess sat in that 
 hall of delight, tired and annoyed with the constant stream of 
 the Souffra youths, who prostrated themselves and passed on. 
 The fourth morning dawned, and none could say that either by 
 gesture, sigh, or look, they had been distinguished by even a 
 shadow of preference. And the noble youths communed in 
 their despair, and murmured among themselves ; many a foot 
 was stamped with unbecoming impatience, and many a mou- 
 stache twisted with a pretty indignation. The inhabitants of 
 the capital blamed the impetuosity of the youths ; to say the 
 least of it, if it were not disloyal, it was ungallant ; and what 
 was worse, they showed no regard for the welfare of the citizens, 
 over whom they each aspired to reign as sovereign, for they 
 must be aware that now was the time that the citizens, from 
 such an influx of aspirants, were reaping a golden harvest. 
 And they added, with great truth, that a princess who had been 
 compelled to wait six years to satisfy the doubts of others, had 
 a most undeniable right to wait as many days to satisfy her 
 own. On the fourth day, the beautiful Babe-bi-bobu again 
 took her seat on the golden cushions, with her legs crossed, 
 and her little feet hidden under the folds of her loose, azure- 
 coloured satin trousers, and it was supposed that there was 
 more brightness in her eyes, and more animation in her coun- 
 tenance than on the previous days ; but still the crowd passed 
 on unnoticed. Even the learned brahmins, who stood im- 
 movable in rows on each side of her throne, became impatient; 
 they talked about the fickleness of the sex, the impossibility of 
 inducing them to make up their minds ; they whispered wise 
 saws and sayings from Ferdistan and others, about the caprice 
 of women, and the instability of their natures, and the more 
 their legs ached from such perpetual demand upon their support, 
 the more bitter did they become in their remarks. Poor posing 
 old fools ! the beauteous princess had long made up her mind, 
 and had never swerved from it through the tedious six years 
 during which the doubts and discussions of those venerable 
 old numskulls had embroiled the whole nation in the Molean 
 and Anti-molean controversy. 
 
 It was about the first hour after noon that the beautiful 
 Babe-bi-bobu, suddenly rising from her recumbent attitude, 
 clapped her pretty little hands, the fingers of which were
 
 r.20 7 HE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 beautifully tipped with henna, and beckoning to her attendant?, 
 retired gracefully from the hall of audience. The surprise and 
 commotion was great, and what made her conduct more par- 
 ticular was, that the only son of the chief brahmin who had 
 first raised the question, and headed the Anti-molist party, 
 was at the moment of the princess's departure prostrate before 
 the throne, with his forehead, indeed, to the ground, but his 
 bosom swelling high with hope and ambition. Within a bower 
 of orange-trees, in the deep recesses of the royal gardens, to 
 which she had hastened, sat the panting princess. She selected 
 some flowers from those which were scattered round her, and 
 despatched them to her favourite musician and attendant, 
 Acota. Who was there in the whole kingdom of Souffra who 
 could so sweetly touch the mandolin as Acota? Yet, who 
 was there, not only in Souffra, but in all the adjacent countries, 
 who struck such occasional discordant notes as Acota, and 
 that in the ear of the beautiful Princess Babe-bi-bobu, who, 
 far from being displeased, appeared to approve of his occa- 
 sional violence, which not only threatened to crack the strings 
 of the instrument, but the tympanums of those who were near, 
 who longed to escape, and leave the princess to enjoy the 
 dissonance alone, little thinking that the discord was raised 
 that their souls' harmony might be undisturbed by the presence 
 of others, and that the jarring of the strings was more than 
 repaid to the princess, by the subsequent music of Acota's 
 voice. 
 
 Acota seated himself, at a signal from the princess, and 
 commenced his playing, if such it could be called, thrumming 
 violently, and jarring every chord of his instrument to a tone 
 of such dissonance, that the attendant girls put their fingers 
 into their ears, and pitied the beautiful Babe-bi-bobu's bad 
 taste in music. 
 
 " Ah ! Acota," said the princess, opening upon him all the 
 tenderness of her large and beaming eyes, " how weary am I 
 of sitting on my cushion, and seeing fop after fop, fool after 
 fool, dawdle down upon their faces before me ; and, moreover, 
 I am suffocated with perfumes. Strike your mandolin again 
 louder, beloved of my soul still louder, that I may be further 
 relieved of this unwished-for crowd." 
 
 Thereupon, Acota seized his mandolin, and made such an
 
 THE SCARRED LOVER. 221 
 
 unaccountable confusion of false notes, such a horrid jarring, 
 that all the birds within one hundred yards shrieked as they 
 fled, and the watchful old chamberlain, who was always too 
 near the princess in her opinion, and never near enough, in 
 his own, cried out, " Yah yah baba senna, curses on his 
 mother, and his mandolin into the bargain ! " as his teeth 
 chattered ; and he hastened away, as fast as his obesity would 
 permit him. The faithful damsels who surrounded the princess 
 could neither stand it nor sit it any longer they were in 
 agonies, all their teeth were set on edge ; and at last, when 
 Acota, with one dreadful crash, broke every string of his 
 instrument, they broke loose from the reins of duty, and fled 
 in every direction of the garden, leaving the princess and 
 Acota alone. 
 
 "Beloved of my soul," said the princess, "I have at last 
 invented a plan by which our happiness will be secured ! " and 
 in a low tone of voice, but without looking at each other, that 
 they might not attract the observation of the chamberlain, they 
 sweetly communed. Acota listened a few minutes to the soft 
 voice of the princess, and then took up his broken-stringed 
 mandolin, and with a profound reverence, for the benefit of the 
 old chamberlain, he departed. 
 
 In the meantime, a rumour was spread abroad that at sunset 
 a public examination of all the candidates was to take place 
 on the bank of the rapid-flowing river, which ran through a 
 spacious meadow near to the city, in order to reject those 
 candidates who might prove, by any scar or blemish, not to 
 come expressly within the meaning of the old king's will. 
 Twelve old fakirs, and twenty-four mollahs with spectacles, 
 were appointed as examining officers. It was supposed, as 
 this was a religious ceremony, that all the females of Souffra, 
 who were remarkable for their piety, would not fail to attend 
 and all the world were eager for the commencement of the 
 examination. O then it was pleasant to see the running, and 
 mounting, and racing, among the young Souffrarian rayahs, 
 who were expected to be examined; and a stranger would 
 have thought that a sudden pestilence had entered the city, 
 from the thousands upon thousands who poured out from it, 
 hastening to the river-side, to behold the ceremony. But to 
 the astonishment of the people, almost all the rayahs, as soon
 
 222 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 as they were mounted, left the city in an opposite direction, 
 some declaring that they were most surely without scar or 
 blemish, but still they could not consent to expose their 
 persons to the gaze of so many thousands ; others declared 
 that they left on account of scars and honourable wounds 
 received in battle ; and until that afternoon, the Souffrarians 
 were not aware of how much modesty and how much courage 
 they had to boast in their favoured land ; and many regretted, 
 as they viewed the interminable line of gallant young men 
 depart, that the will of the late king should have made scars 
 received in battle to be a bar to advancement ; but they were 
 checked by the brahmins, who told them that there was a holy 
 and hidden mystery contained in the injunction of the old 
 king's will. 
 
 " By the beard of the Prophet, it takes a long time to get a 
 husband for this princess of yours, Menouni," observed the 
 pacha, with a yawn. 
 
 " Your sublime highness will not be surprised at it, when 
 you consider the conditions of the old king's will." 
 
 The examination was most strict, and even a small cut was 
 sufficient to render a young man ineligible ; a corn was con- 
 sidered as a blemish, and a young man even having been bled 
 by a leech to save his life, lost him all chance of the princess. 
 
 " Pray may I ask, if a barber had cut the skin in shaving 
 their heads, was that considered as a scar ? " 
 
 "Most decidedly, your highness." 
 
 " Then those fakirs and mollahs, with their spectacles, and 
 the brahmins, were a parcel of fools. Were they not, Mus- 
 tapha?" 
 
 "Your highness's wisdom is like the overflowing of the 
 honey-pot," replied Mustapha. 
 
 " You know, Mustapha, as well as I do, that it is almost 
 impossible not to draw blood, if there happens to be a pimple, 
 or a bad razor; but, however, proceed, Menouni, and if 
 possible marry this beautiful princess." 
 
 About two hours before suaset, the beautiful Babe-bi-bobu,
 
 THE SCARRED LOVER. 223 
 
 "the cream tart of delight," more splendidly dressed than 
 before, again entered the hall of audience, and found to her 
 surprise that there remained, out of the many thousands of 
 young rayahs, not fifty who could pretend to the honour of 
 her hand and throne. Among them, no longer dressed as a 
 musician, but robed in the costume of his high caste, stood 
 the conscious and proud Acota ; and, although his jewels 
 might not have vied with those worn by others who stood by 
 him, yet the brightness of his eyes more than compensated. 
 Next to Acota stood Mezrimbi, the son of the chief brahmin, 
 and he only could be compared to Acota in personal beauty ; 
 but his character was known he was proud, overbearing, and 
 cruel. The beauteous Babe-bi-bobu feared him, for there was 
 a clause in her father's will, by which, if the first choice of the 
 princess should prove by any intermediate accident to be in- 
 eligible, his father, the chief brahmin, was empowered to make 
 a selection for the princess, and his decision was to be equally 
 inviolable. The beauteous eyes of the princess first lighted 
 upon the form of Mezrimbi, and she trembled, but the proud 
 bearing of Acota reassured her ; and waving her hand as she 
 sat, she addressed the assembled youths as follows : 
 
 " Faithful and gentle rayahs, impute it to no want of modesty, 
 that, for once, I sink the graceful bashfulness of the virgin, and 
 assume the more forward deportment of the queen. When all 
 appear to possess such merit, how can I slight all but one by 
 my decision? Let me rather leave it to the immortal Vishnu 
 to decide who is most worthy to reign over this our kingdom 
 of Souffra. Let Vishnu prompt you to read your destiny ; I 
 have placed a flower in this unworthy bosom, which is shortly 
 to call one of you its lord. Name, then, the flower, and he 
 who first shall name it, let him be proclaimed the lawful king 
 of Souffra. Take, then, your instruments, noble rayahs, and 
 to their sounds, in measured verse, pour out the name of the 
 hidden flower, and the reason for my choice. Thus shall fate 
 decide the question, and no one say that his merits have been 
 slighted." 
 
 Having finished her address, the beauteous princess let fall 
 her veil, and was silent. A shout of applause was followed 
 by wild strum mings and tunings of mandolins, and occasional 
 scratching ot heads or turbans, to remember all that Hafiz had
 
 224 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 ever written, or to aid their attempts at improvise versification. 
 Time flew on, and no one of the young rayahs appeared in- 
 clined to begin. At last one stepped forward, and named the 
 rose, in a borrowed couplet. He was dismissed with a graceful 
 wave of the hand by the princess, and broke his mandolin in 
 his vexation, as he quitted the hall of audience. And thus 
 did they continue, one after another, to name flower after 
 flower, and quit the hall of audience in despair. Then might 
 these beautiful youths, as they all stood before the princess, be 
 compared, themselves, to the most beauteous flowers, strong 
 rooted in their hopes, and basking in the sun of her presence ; 
 and as their hopes were cut off, what were they but the same 
 flowers severed from their stalks and drooping before the 
 sunny beams, now too powerful to be borne, or, loaded with 
 the dew of tears, removed to fade away unheeded? There 
 were but few left, when Mezrimbi, who had, as he thought, 
 hit upon the right name, and who, watching the countenance 
 of Acota, which had an air of impatient indifference upon it, 
 which induced Mezrimbi to suppose that he had lighted upon 
 the same idea, and might forestall him, stepped forward with 
 his mandolin. Mezrimbi was considered one of the best poets 
 in Souffra ; in fact, he had every talent, but not one virtue. 
 He bent forward in an elegant attitude, and sang as follows : 
 
 " Whom does the nightingale love? Alas ! we 
 Know. She sings of her love in the silence of 
 Night, and never tells the name of her adored one. 
 
 What are flowers but the language of love ? 
 And does not the nightingale rest her breast 
 Upon the thorn, as she pours out her plaintive notes ? 
 
 Take then out of thy bosom the sweet flower of May 
 Which is hidden there, emblematical of thy love, 
 And the pleasing pain that it has occasioned." 
 
 When Mezrimbi had finished the first two verses, the beau- 
 teous princess started with fear that he had gained her secret, 
 and it was with a feeling of agony that she listened to the 
 last agony succeeded by a flow of joy, at his not having been 
 successful. Impatiently she waved her hand, and as impa- 
 tiently did Mezrimbi depart from her presence. 
 
 Acota. then stepped forward, and after a prelude, the beauty
 
 THE SCARRED LOVER. 225 
 
 of which astonished all those around the queen's person for 
 they had no idea that he could play in tune sang in a clear, 
 melodious voice the following stanzas : 
 
 " Sweet, blushing cheek ! the rose is there, 
 
 Thy breath, the fragrance of its bowers ; 
 Lilies are on thy bosom fair, 
 
 And e'en thy very words seem flowers. 
 
 But lily, rose, or flower, that blows 
 
 In India's garden, on thy breast 
 Must meet its death by breathing sweets 
 
 Where it were ecstasy to rest. 
 
 A blossom from a nettle ta'en 
 
 Is in thy beauteous bosom bound, 
 Born amid stings, it gives no pain, 
 
 'Tis sweetness among venom found.'* 
 
 Acota was silent. The beauteous princess, as the minstrel 
 finished, rose slowly and tremulously from her cushions, and 
 taking the blossom of a nettle from her bosom, placed it in 
 the hands of the happy Acota, saying, with a great deal oi 
 piety, " It is the will of Heaven." 
 
 " But how was it possible for Acota to find out that the 
 princess had a nettle blossom in her bosom ? " interrupted the 
 pacha. " No man could ever have guessed it. I can't make 
 that out. Can you, Mustapha ? " 
 
 " Your sublime highness is right ; no man ever could have 
 guessed such a thing," replied Mustapha. "There is but one 
 way to account for it, which is that the princess must have 
 told him her intentions when they were alone in the royal 
 garden." 
 
 " Very true, Mustapha well, thank Allah, the princess is 
 married at last." 
 
 "I beg pardon of your sublime highness, but the beauteous 
 princess is not yet married," said Menouni ; " the story is not 
 yet finished." 
 
 " Wallah el nebi ! " exclaimed the pacha. " By God and 
 his Prophet, is she never to be married ? " 
 
 " Yes, your sublime highness, but not just yet. Shall I pro- 
 ceed ?" 
 
 r
 
 2.-5 7 HE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 " Yes, Menouni, and the faster you get on the belter." 
 
 Amidst the cries of " Long live Acota, Souffraria's legiti- 
 mate king " 
 
 "Legitimate. Pray, good Menouni, what may that word 
 mean ? " 
 
 " Legitimate, your sublime highness, implies that a king and 
 his descendants are chosen by Allah to reign over a people." 
 
 " Well, but I don't see that Allah had much to do with the 
 choice of Acota." 
 
 "Nor with the choice of any other king, I suspect, your 
 sublime highness ; but still the people were made to believe 
 so, and that is all sufficient. Allah does not interfere in the 
 choice of any but those who reign over true believers. The 
 sultan is the Holy Prophet's vicegerent on earth and he, 
 guided by the Prophet, invests virtue and wisdom with the 
 kalaats of "dignity, in the persons of his pachas." 
 
 " Very true," said the pacha, " the sultan is guided by Allah, 
 and," continued he, in a low tone to Mustapha, " a few hun- 
 dred purses to boot. Menouni, you may proceed." 
 
 Amidst the cries of "Long live Acota, Soufiraria's legiti- 
 mate king ! " Acota was led to the throne by the attendant 
 grandees of the nation, where he received the homage of all 
 present. It was arranged by the grandees and mollahs that 
 the marriage should take place the next day. The assembly 
 broke up, and hastened in every direction to make preparations 
 for the expected ceremony. 
 
 But who can describe the jealousy, the envy, and the indig- 
 nation which swelled in the breasts of Mezrimbi and his father, 
 the chief brahmin ? They met, they consulted, they planned, 
 and they schemed. Acota was not yet king, although he was 
 proclaimed as such he was not king until his marriage with the 
 beautiful Princess Babe-bi-bobu, " the cream tart of delight," 
 and should he be scarred or blemished before the marriage of 
 the ensuing day, then must the brahmin, by the will of the old 
 king, choose his successor ; and who could he choose but his 
 own son ? 
 
 " Father," said young Mezrimbi, his beautiful countenance
 
 THE SCARRED LOVER. 227 
 
 distorted by the vilest passions of Jehanum, " I have planned 
 as follows : I have mutes ready to obey my wishes, and a 
 corrosive, burning acid, which will eat deeply into the flesh of 
 the proud Acota. I know that he will pass the time away in the 
 garden of the royal grove. I know even the bower in which 
 he hath wooed and won the fair princess. Let us call these 
 mutes, explain to them what we wish, and. by to-morrow's sun 
 the throne of Souffraria will fall to the race of Mezrimbi. 
 Are we not of the purest blood of the plains, and is not Acota 
 but a rayah of the mountains?" 
 
 And the chief brahmin was pleased with his son's proposal ; 
 the mutes were summoned, the black, tongueless, everything- 
 less, hideous creatures, bowed in their humility, and followed 
 their master, who, with the chief brahmin, ventured, by a cir- 
 cuitous route, to invade the precincts of the royal grove. 
 Slowly and cautiously did they proceed towards the bower, 
 where, as Mezrimbi had truly said, Acota was waiting for his 
 beloved princess. Fortunately, as they approached, a dis- 
 turbed snake, hissing in his anger, caused an exclamation from 
 the old brahmin, which aroused Acota from his delicious 
 reverie. Through the foliage he perceived and recognized 
 Mezrimbi, his father, and the mutes. Convinced that they 
 meditated mischief towards himself, he secreted himself among 
 the rose-bushes, lying prostrate on the ground ; but in his haste 
 he left his cloak and mandolin. Mezrimbi entered the bower, 
 and explained to the mutes by signs what it was which he de- 
 sired, showed them the cloak and mandolin to make known 
 the object of his wrath, and put into their hands the bottle of 
 corrosive acid. They satisfied him that they comprehended 
 his wishes, and the party then retired, the chief brahmin quit- 
 ting the grove for his own house, the mutes lying in wait, under 
 some bushes, for the arrival of Acota, and Mezrimbi walking 
 away into the recesses of the grove, anxious as to the issue 
 of the plot. Acota, perfectly aware of what was intended, 
 laughed in his sleeve, and thanked Allah for this fortunate dis- 
 covery ; he crawled away on his hands and knees, so as not to 
 be perceived, and hid himself, with his cloak and mandolin, 
 watching in turn the motions of the others and thus did all 
 parties watch until the sun descended behind the blue hills 
 which divided the kingdom of Souffrarir from that of the other
 
 *2S THE P AC II A OF MANY TALES. 
 
 kingdom, which my treacherous memory has dared to forget in 
 your highness's sublime presence. Mezrimbi was the only one 
 who was not motionless ; he paced up and down in all the 
 anxiety of anticipation and doubt, and at last he stopped, and, 
 tired out with contending feelings, sat down at the foot of a 
 tree, close to where Acota was concealed. The nightingale 
 was pouring forth her sweet melody, and, friendly to lovers, she 
 continued it until Mezrimbi, who had listened to it, and whose 
 angry feelings had been soothed with her dulcet strains, fell 
 fast asleep. Acota perceived it, and approaching him softly, 
 laid his cloak over him, and taking up his mandolin, struck a 
 chord which he knew would not be lost upon the quick-eared 
 mutes, although not so loud as to awake Mezrimbi. Acota was 
 right; in a minute he preceived the dark beings crawling 
 through the underwood like the jackals who had scented out 
 their prey, and Acota was again concealed in the thick foliage. 
 They approached like shadows in the dark, and perceived the 
 sleeping Mezrimbi, with the cloak of Acota, and the mandolin 
 which Acota, after striking it, had laid by his side. It was 
 sufficient. Mezrimbi's face was covered with the burning acid 
 before even he was awakened ; his screams were smothered in 
 a shawl, and satisfied with having obeyed the injunctions of 
 their master, the mutes hastened back to report their success, 
 taking, however, the precaution of tying the hands and feet of 
 Mezrimbi, that he might not go home to receive any help in 
 his distress. They escaped out of the gardens, and reported 
 to the chief brahmin the success of their operations, and how 
 they had left him (Acota) in the woods. The old Mezrimbi, upon 
 reflection, thought it advisable that the person of Acota should 
 be in his power, that he might be able to produce him when 
 required upon the ensuing day. He therefore desired the 
 mutes to go back and bring Acota to the house, keeping a 
 strict guard that he might not escape. 
 
 When the mutes had quitted Mezrimbi, Acota rose from his 
 hiding-place, and went towards the unfortunate wretch, who 
 still groaned with pain, but his face was muffled up in a shawl, 
 so that his features were hidden. At first Acota had intended 
 to have reviled and scoffed at his treacherous enemy, but his 
 good heart forbade it. Another idea then came into his head. 
 He took off the cloak of Mezrimbi, and substituted his own ;
 
 THE SCARRED LOVER. 229 
 
 he exchanged turbans and scimitars, and then left him and 
 went home. Shortly after Acota quitted the wood the mutes 
 returned, lifted the miserable Mezrimbi on their shoulders, and 
 carried him to the house of the chief brahmin, who, having 
 ordered him to be guarded in an outhouse, said his prayers, 
 and went to bed. 
 
 The sun rose and poured his beaming rays upon the land ot 
 Souffraria, and thousands and thousands of the inhabitants had 
 risen before him, to prepare for the day of delight, the day on 
 which they were to be blessed with a king the day on which 
 the beauteous Princess Babe-bi-bobu, the cream tart of delight, 
 was no longer to remain unmarried. Silks and satins from 
 China, shawls and scarfs from Cashmere, jewels and gold and 
 diamonds, horses and camels and elephants were to be seen 
 spread over the plains and the city of Souffra. All was joy 
 and jubilee and feasting and talking, for the beautiful Princess 
 Babe-bi-bobu was that day to be married. 
 
 "I wish to Heaven she was," observed the pacha, impa- 
 tiently. 
 
 "May it please your sublime highness, she soon will be." 
 
 At an early hour the proclamation was made that the prin- 
 cess was about to take unto herself a husband from the high 
 caste youths of Souffra, and that all whom it might concern 
 should repair to the palace, to be present at the ceremony. 
 As it concerned all Souffra, all Souffra was there. The sun 
 had nearly reached to the zenith, and looked down almost 
 enviously upon the gay scene beneath, broiling the brains of 
 the good people of Souffra, whose heads paved, as it were, the 
 country for ten square miles, when the beauteous princess Babe- 
 bi-bobu made her appearance in the hall of audience, attended 
 by her maidens and the grandees of Souffra, who were ihj 
 executors to her father's will. At the head of them was the 
 chief brahmin, who looked anxiously among the crowd for his 
 son Mezrimbi, who had not made his appearance that morning. 
 At last he espied his rich dress, his mantle, his turban and 
 jewelled scimitar, but his face was muffled up in a shawl, and 
 the chief brahmin smiled at the witty conceit of his son, that 
 of having his own beauteous person unmuffled as well as that
 
 230 THE I AC II A OF MANY TALES. 
 
 of the now scarred Acota. And then silence was commanded 
 by a thousand brazen trumpets, and enforced by the discharge 
 of two thousand pieces of artillery ; ten square miles of people 
 repeated the order for silence, in loud and reiterated shouts, 
 and at last silence obeyed the order, and there was silence. 
 The chief brahmin rose, and having delivered an extempo- 
 raneous prayer, suitable to the solemnity and importance of 
 the occasion, he proceeded to read the will of the late king ; 
 he then descanted upon the Molean controversy, and how it 
 was now an article of the Souffrarian faith, which it was heresy 
 and impalement not to believe, that " moles were not scars, 
 and only blemishes when they were considered so to be." 
 " The choice of the princess," continued the learned brahmin, 
 " has, however, not been made ; she has left to chance that 
 which was to have proceeded from her own free will, and that 
 without consulting with the ministers of our holy religion. My 
 heart told me yesterday that such was not right, and contrary 
 not only to the king's will, but the will of Heaven ; and I com- 
 muned deeply on the subject after I had prayed nine times 
 and a dream descended on me in my sleep, and I was told 
 that the conditions of the will would be fulfilled. How to 
 explain this answer from above I know not : perhaps the youth 
 who was fortunate in discovering the flower, is alao the youth 
 of the princess's choice." 
 
 " Even so," replied the princess, in a soft melodious voice, 
 " and therefore is my father's will obeyed." 
 
 " Where, then, is the fortunate youth ? " said the chief brah- 
 min ; " let him appear." 
 
 Babe-bi-bobu, who, as well as others, had in vain looked 
 lound for Acota, was astonished at his not making his appear- 
 ance, and still more so when he did, as they thought, appear, 
 led in by the four black mutes, with his face enveloped in a 
 shawl. 
 
 "This, then," said the chief brahmin, "is the favoured 
 youth, Acota. Remove the shawl, and lead him to the 
 princess." 
 
 The mutes obeyed, and to the horror of Babe-bi-bobu, there 
 stood Acota, as she thought, with a face so scarred and burnt 
 that his features were not distinguishable. She started from 
 her throne, uttered one wild shriek, which was said to have
 
 THE SCARRED LOVER 231 
 
 been heard by the whole ten square miles of population, and 
 fainted in the arms of her attendants. 
 
 "We know his dress, most noble grandees," continued the 
 chief brahmin, "but how can we recognize in that object, the 
 youth without scar or blemish? It is the will of Heaven,' 1 
 continued the chief brahmin, piously and reverently bending 
 low. And all the other grandees replied in the same pious 
 manner, " It is the will of Heaven." " I say," continued the 
 chief brahmin, " that this must have been occasioned by the 
 princess not having chosen as ordained by the will of her 
 father, but having impiously left to chance what was to have 
 been decided by free will. Is not the hand, the finger of Pro- 
 vidence made manifest?" continued he, appealing to the gran- 
 dees. And they all bowed low, and declared that the hand 
 and finger of Providence were manifest; while the mutes, 
 who knew that it was their hands and fingers which had 
 done the deed, chuckled as well as they could with the rem- 
 nants of their tongues. "And now," continued the chief 
 brahmin, " we must obey the will of the late king, which ex- 
 pressly states that if any accident should happen after the 
 choice of the princess had been made, that I, the chief of our 
 holy religion, should select her husband. By virtue, then, 
 of my power, I call thee forth, my son, Mezrimbi, to take 
 his place. Bow down to Mezrimbi, the future king of 
 SoufTraria." 
 
 Acota, muffled up to the eyes, and dressed in the garments 
 of Mezrimbi, stepped forth, and the chief brahmin and all pre- 
 sent, in pursuance to his order, prostrated themselves before 
 Acota, with their foreheads in the dust. Acota took that 
 opportunity of removing the shawl, and, when they rose up, 
 stood by the throne, resplendent in his beauty and his pride. 
 At the sight of him the chief brahmin raised a cry, which was 
 heard not only further than the shriek of the beautiful Princees 
 Babe-bi-bobu, but had the effect of recalling her to life and 
 recollection. All joined in the cry of astonishment when they 
 beheld Acota in the garments of Mezrimbi. 
 
 "Who, then, art thou?" exclaimed the chief brahmin, to his 
 son, in Acota's dress. 
 
 " I am," exclaimed his son, exhausted with pain and mortifi- 
 cation, "I am I was Mezrimbi."
 
 232 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 " Grandees," cried Acota, " as the chief brahmin has already 
 asserted, and as you have agreed, in that you behold the finger 
 of Heaven, which ever punishes hypocrisy, cruelty, and injus- 
 tice ;" and the chief brahmin fell down in a fit, and was carried 
 out, with his unfortunate son Mezrimbi. 
 
 In the mean time the beauteous Princess Babe-bi-bobu had 
 recovered, and was in the arms of Acota, who, resigning her to 
 her attendant maidens, addressed the assembly in a speech of 
 so much eloquence, so much beauty, and so much force that 
 it was written down in letters of gold, being considered the ne 
 this ultra of the Souffrarian language ; he explained to them 
 the nefarious attempt of Mezrimbi to counteract the will of 
 Heaven, and how he had fallen into the snare which he had 
 laid for others. And when he had finished, the whole assembly 
 hailed him as their king : and the population, whose heads 
 paved, as it were, a space often square miles, cried out, " Long 
 life to the King Acota and his beautiful princess Babe-bi-bobu, 
 the cream tart of delight !" 
 
 Who can attempt to describe the magnificent procession 
 which took place that evening? Who can describe the proud 
 and splendid bearing of king Acota, or the beaming eyes of 
 the beautiful Princess Babe-bi-bobu? Shall I relate how the 
 nightingales sang themselves to death ? shall I " 
 
 "No, pray don't," interrupted the pacha; "only let us 
 know one thing was the beautiful Babe-bi-bobu married at 
 last?" 
 
 " She was, that very evening, your sublime highness." 
 "Allah be praised!" rejoined the pacha. " Mustapha, let 
 Menouni know what it is to tell a story to a pacha, even 
 though it is rather a long one, and I thought the princess 
 would never have been married." And the pacha rose and 
 waddled to his harem. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 ON the ensuing day the pacha was sitting at his divan, accord- 
 ing tc his custom, Mustapha by his side, lending his ear to the
 
 THE PACHA OP MANY TALES. 233 
 
 whispers of divers people who came to him in an attitude of 
 profound respect. Still they were most graciously received, as 
 the purport of their intrusion was to induce the vizier to in- 
 terest himself in their behalves when their cause came forward 
 to be heard and decided upon by the pacha, who in all cases 
 was guided by the whispered opinion of Mustapha. Mustapha 
 was a good-hearted man : he was always grateful, and if any 
 one did him a good turn he never forgot it. The consequence 
 was, that an intimation that a purse of so many sequins would 
 be laid at his feet if the cause to be heard was decided in fa- 
 vour of the applicant invariably interested Mustapha in the 
 favour of that party ; and Mustapha's opinion was always coin- 
 cided in by the pacha, because he had (or supposed that he 
 had) half of the sequins so obtained. True, the proverb says, 
 " you should be just before you are generous ;" but Mustapha's 
 arguments when he first proposed to the pacha this method of 
 filling the royal treasury were so excellent that we shall hand 
 them down to posterity. " In the first place," said Mustapha, 
 "it is evident that in all these causes the plaintiffs and 
 defendants are both rascals. In the second place it is impos- 
 sible to believe a word on either side. In the third place, 
 exercising the best of your judgment, you are just as likely to 
 go wrong as right. In the fourth place, if a man happens to 
 be wronged by our decision, he deserves it as a punishment 
 for his other misdeeds. In the fifth place, as the only respect- 
 ability existing in either party consists in their worldly wealth, 
 by deciding for him who gives most, you decide for the most 
 respectable man. In the sixth place, it is our duty to be grate- 
 ful for good done to us, and in so deciding we exercise a virtue 
 strongly inculcated by the Koran. In the seventh place, we 
 benefit both parties by deciding quickly, as a loss is better 
 than a law-suit. And in the eighth and last place, we want 
 money." 
 
 On this day a cause was being heard ; and, although weighty 
 reasons had already decided the verdict, still, pro jorm&, the 
 witnesses on both sides were examined ; one of these, upon 
 being asked whether he witnessed the proceedings, replied, 
 "That he had no doubt but there was doubt on the subject; 
 but that he doubted whether the doubts were correct." 
 
 " Doubt no doubt what is all this ? do you laugh at ou
 
 234 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 beards?" said Mustapha sternly, who always made a show of 
 justice. " Is it the fact or not?" 
 
 " Your highness, I seldom met a fact, as it is called, without 
 having half a dozen doubts hanging to it," replied the man : 
 " I will not therefore, make any assertion without the reserva- 
 tion of a doubt." 
 
 "Answer me plainly," replied the vizier, "or the ferashes 
 and bamboo will be busy with you very shortly. Did you see 
 the money paid?" 
 
 " I believe as much as I can believe anything in the world 
 that I did see money paid ; but I doubt the sum, and I doubt 
 the metal, and I have also my other doubts. May it please 
 your highness, I am an unfortunate man ; I have been under 
 the influence of doubts from my birth ; and it has become a 
 disease which I have no doubt will only end with my existence. 
 I always doubt a fact, unless " 
 
 "What does the ass say? What is all this but bosh? 
 nothing. Let him have a fact." 
 
 The pacha gave the sign the ferashes appeared the man 
 was thrown, and received fifty blows of the bastinado. The 
 pacha then commanded them to desist. " Now, by our beard, 
 is it not a fact that you have received the bastinado ? If you 
 still doubt the fact, we will proceed." 
 
 " The fact is beyond a doubt," replied the man, prostrating 
 himself. " But excuse me, your sublime highness, if I do con- 
 tinue to assert that I cannot always acknowledge a fact, without 
 such undeniable proofs as your wisdom has been pleased to 
 bring forward. If your highness were to hear the history 
 of my life, you would then allow that I have cause to doubt." 
 
 " History of his life ! Mustapha, we shall have a story." 
 
 "Another fifty blows on his feet would remove all his 
 doubts, your highness," replied Mustapha. 
 
 " Yes ; but then he will be beaten out of his story. No, no ; 
 let him be taken away till the evening, and then we shall see 
 how he will make out his case." 
 
 Mustapha gave directions, in obedience to the wish of the 
 pacha. In the evening, as soon as they had lighted their pipes, 
 the man was ordered in ; and, in consideration of his swelled 
 feet, was permitted to sit down, that he might be more at ease 
 when he narrated his story, which was as follows ;
 
 UUDUS2. 35 
 
 TH3 STORY OF IIUDUSL 
 
 MOST sublime pacha, allow me first to observe that, although 
 I have latterly adhered to my own opinions, I am not so intole- 
 rant as not to permit the same licence to others : I do not 
 mean to say that there are not such things as facts in this 
 world, nor to find fault with those who believe in them. I am 
 told that there are also such things as flying dragons, griffins, 
 and other wondrous animals, but surely it is quite sufficient for 
 me, or anyone else, to believe that these animals exist, when it 
 may have been our-rfortune to see them ; in the same manner, 
 I am willing to believe in a fact, when it is cleared from the 
 mists of doubt ; but up to the present, I can safely say that I 
 seldom have fallen in with a fact, unaccompanied by doubts, 
 and every year adds to my belief that there are few genuine 
 facts in existence. So interwoven in my frame is doubt, that I 
 sometimes am unwilling to admit, as a fact, that I exist. I 
 believe it to be the case, but I feel that I have no right to 
 assert it, until I know what death is, and may from thence draw 
 an inference which may lead me to a just conclusion. 
 
 My .name is Hudusi. Of my parents I can say little. My 
 father asserted that he was the bravest janissary in the sultan's 
 employ, and had greatly distinguished himself. He was always 
 talking of Rustam, as being a fool compared to him ; of the 
 number of battles he had fought, and of the wounds which he 
 had received in leading his corps on all desperate occasions ; 
 but as my father often bathed before me, and the only wound 
 I could ever perceive was one in his rear, when he spoke of 
 his bravery, I very much doubted the fact. 
 
 My mother fondled and made much of me, declared that I 
 was the image of my father, a sweet pledge of their affections, 
 a blessing sent by Heaven upon their" marriage ; but, as my 
 father's nose was aquiline, and mine is a snub, or aquiline 
 reversed ; his mouth large, and mine small ; his e^es red and 
 ferrety, and mine projecting ; and, moreover, as she was a very 
 handsome woman, and used to pay frequent visits to the cave 
 of a sainted man in high repute, of whom I was the image, 
 when she talked of the janissary's paternity, I very muck doubted 
 the fact. 
 
 An old mollah taught me to read and write and repeat the
 
 236 ' THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 verses of the Koran and I was as much advanced as any boy 
 under his charge but he disliked me very much for reasons 
 which I never could understand, and was eternally giving me 
 the slipper. He declared that I was a reprobate, an unbeliever, 
 a son of Jehamim, who would be impaled before I was much 
 older ; but here I am, without a stake through my body, at the 
 age of forty-five ; and your highness must acknowledge that 
 when ffe railed all this in my ears, I was justified in very much 
 doubting the fact. 
 
 When I was grown up, my father wanted me to enrol myself 
 in the corps of janissaries, and become a lion-killer like him- 
 self; I remonstrated, but in vain; he applied, and I was 
 accepted, and received the mark on my arm which constituted 
 me a janissary. I put on the dress, swaggered and bullied 
 with many other young men of my acquaintance, who were 
 all ready, as they swore, to eat their enemies alive, and who 
 curled their moustachios to prove the truth of what they said. 
 We were despatched to quell a rebellious pacha; we bore 
 down upon his troops with a shout enough to frighten the devil, 
 but the devil a bit were they frightened ; they stood their 
 ground : and as they would not run, we did, leaving those who 
 were not so wise to be cut to pieces. After this, when any 
 of my companions talked of their bravery, or my father declared 
 that he should soon be promoted to the rank of a spahi, and 
 that I was a lion's whelp, I very much doubted the fact. 
 
 The pacha held out much longer than was at first antici- 
 pated : indeed, so long as to cause no little degree of anxiety 
 in the capital. More troops were despatched to subdue him ; 
 and success not attending our efforts, the vizier, according to 
 the custom, was under the disagreeable necessity of parting 
 with his head, which was demanded because we turned tail. 
 Indeed, i*. was to oblige us that the sultan consented to deprive 
 himself of the services of a very able man ; for we surrounded 
 the palace, and insisted that it was all his fault : but, consider- 
 ing our behaviour in the field of battle, your highness must 
 admit that there was reason to doubt the fact. 
 
 We were again despatched against this rebellious pacha, who 
 sat upon the parapets of his stronghold, paying down thirty 
 sequins for the head of every janissary brought to him by his 
 own troops, and I am afraid a great deal of money was spent
 
 HUDUSl. 237 
 
 in that way. We fell into an ambuscade, and one half of the 
 corps to which my father belonged were cut to pieces, before 
 we could receive any assistance. At last the enemy retired. I 
 looked for my father, and found him expiring ; as before, he 
 had received a wound on the wrong side, a spear having trans- 
 fixed him between the shoulders. " Tell how I died like a 
 brave man," said he, " and tell your mother that I am gone 
 to Paradise." From an intimate knowledge of my honoured 
 father's character, in the qualities of thief, liar, and coward, 
 although I promised to deliver the message, / very much 
 doubted these facts. 
 
 That your highness may understand how it was that I hap- 
 pened to be left alone, and alive on the field of battle, I must 
 inform you that I inherited a considerable portion of my 
 father's courageous temper, and not much liking the snapping 
 of the pistols in my face, I had thrown myself down on the 
 ground, and had remained there very quietly, preferring to be 
 trampled on, rather than interfere with what was going on above. 
 
 " By the sword of the Prophet ! there is one fact you were 
 a very great coward," observed the pacha. 
 
 "Among my doubts, your highness, I certainly have some 
 doubts as to my bravery." 
 
 " By the beard of the pacha, I have no doubts on the sub- 
 ject," observed Mustapha. 
 
 " Without attempting to defend my courage, may I observe 
 to your highness, that it was a matter of perfect indifference to 
 me whether the sultan or the pacha was victorious ; and I did 
 not much admire hard blows, without having an opportunity of 
 putting a few sequins in my pocket. I never knew of any man, 
 however brave he might be, who fought for love of fighting or 
 amusement ; we all are trying in this world to get money ; and 
 that is, I believe, the secret spring of all our actions." 
 
 "Is that true, Mustapha?" inquired the pacha. 
 
 " May it please your sublime highness, if not the truth, it 
 is not very far from it. Proceed, Hudusi." 
 
 The ideas which I have ventured to express before your 
 sublime highness, were running in my mind, as I sat down 
 among the dead and dying, and I thought how much better off
 
 238 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 were the pacha's soldiers than those of our sublime sultan, 
 who had nothing but hard blows, while the pacha's soldiers re- 
 ceived thirty sequins for the head of every one of our corps of 
 janissaries ; and one idea breeding another, I reflected that it 
 would be very prudent, now that the pacha appeared to be 
 gaining the advantage, to be on the right side. Having made 
 up my mind upon this point, it then occurred to me, that I 
 might as well get a few sequins by the exchange, and make 
 my appearance before the pacha, with one or two of the heads of 
 the janissaries who were lying close to me. I therefore divested 
 myself of whatever might give the idea of mj belonging to 
 the corps, took off the heads and rifled the pockets of three 
 janissaries, and was about to depart, when I thought of my 
 honoured father, and turned back to take a last farewell. It 
 was cruel to part with a parent, and I could not make up my 
 mind to part with him altogether, so I added his head, and the 
 contents of his sash to those of the other three, and smearing 
 my face and person with blood, with my scimitar in my hand, 
 and the four heads tied up in a bundle, made my way for the 
 pacha's stronghold ; but the skirmishing was still going on out- 
 side of the walls, and I narrowly escaped a corps of janissaries, 
 who would have recognized me. As it was, two of them fol- 
 lowed me as I made for the gate of the fortress ; and, encum- 
 bered as I was, I was forced to turn at bay. No man fights 
 better than he who finds himself hard pressed ; and even a 
 man who otherwise would not fight at all will fight well when 
 he can't help it. I never was so brave is. my life. I cut down 
 one, and the other ran away, and this in the presence of the 
 pacha, who was seated on the embrasure at the top of the wall ; 
 and thus I gained my entrance into the fort. I hastened to the 
 pacha's presence, and laid at his feet the four heads. The 
 pacha was so pleased at my extraordinary valour that he threw 
 me a purse of five hundred pieces of gold, and ordered me to be 
 promoted, asking me to what division of his troops I belonged. 
 I replied, that I was a volunteer. I was made an officer; and 
 thus did I find myself a rich man and a man of consequence 
 by merely changing sides. 
 
 " That's not quite so uncommon a method of getting on in 
 the world as you may imagine," observed Mustapha, drily.
 
 HUDUST. 239 
 
 " Mustapha," said the pacha, almost gasping, " all these are 
 words, wind bosh. By the fountains that play round the 
 throne of Mahomet, but my throat feels as hot and as dry 
 with this fellow's doubts, as if it were paved with live cinders. 
 I doubt whether we shall be able ever to moisten it again." 
 
 " That doubt your sublimity ought to resolve immediately. 
 Hudusi, Murakhas my friend, you are dismissed." 
 
 Hardly had the doubter gathered up his slippers, and backed 
 out from the presence, when the pacha and his minister were, 
 with an honest rivalry, endeavouring to remove at once their 
 doubts and their thirst ; and were so successful in their attempts 
 that they, in a short time, exchanged their state of dubiety into 
 a very happy one of ebriety. 
 
 CHAPTER XVL 
 
 THE next morning the pacha and his minister, after the busi- 
 ness of the divan, with their heads aching from the doubts of 
 Hudusi, or the means that they had taken to refute them, in not 
 the best humour in the world, listened to the continuation of 
 them, as follows : 
 
 I have heard it observed, continued Hudusi, that the sudden 
 possession of gold will make a brave man cautious, and he who 
 is not brave, still more dastardly than he was before. It cer- 
 tainly was the case with me; my five hundred pieces of gold 
 had such an effect that everything in the shape of valour 
 oozed out at my ringers' ends. I reflected again, and the 
 result was that I determined to have nothing more to do with the 
 business, and that neither the sultan nor the pacha should be 
 the better for my exertions. That night we made a sally; and 
 as I was considered a prodigy of valour, I was one of those 
 who were ordered to lead on my troop. I curled my mousta- 
 chios, swore I would not leave a janissary alive, flourished my 
 scimitar, marched out at the head of my troop, and then took 
 to my heels, and in two days arrived safely at my mother's house. 
 As soon as I entered, I tore my turban, and threw dust upon 
 my headj in honour of my father's memory, and then sat down. 
 My mobner embraced me we were alone.
 
 840 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 " And your father ? Is it for him that we are to mourn ? '" 
 
 " Yes," replied I, " he was a lion, and he is in Paradise." 
 
 My mother commenced a bitter lamentation; but of a sudden 
 recollecting herself, she said, " But, Hudusi, it's no use tearing 
 one's hair and good clothes for nothing. Are you sure that 
 your father is dead? " 
 
 " Quite sure," replied I. " I saw him down." 
 
 " But he may only be wounded," replied my mother. 
 
 " Not so, my dearest mother ; abandon all hope, for I saw 
 his head off." 
 
 " Are you sure it was his body that you saw with the head 
 off?" 
 
 " Quite sure, dear mother, for I was a witness to its being 
 cut ofi." 
 
 " If that is the case," replied my mother, " he can never 
 come back again, that's clear. Allah acbar God is great. 
 Then (must we mourn." And my mother ran out into the 
 street before the door, shrieking and screaming, tearing her 
 hair and her garments, so as to draw the attention and sympathy 
 of all her neighbours, who asked her what was the matter. 
 " Ah ! wahi, the head of my house is no more," cried she, "my 
 heart is all bitterness my soul is dried up my liver is but as 
 water ; ah ! wahi, ah ! wahi," and she continued to weep and 
 tear her hair, refusing all consolation. The neighbours came 
 to her assistance ; they talked to her, they reasoned with her. 
 restrained her violence, and soothed her into quietness. They 
 all declared that it was a heavy loss, but that a true believer 
 had gone to Paradise ; and they all agreed that no woman's 
 conduct could be more exemplary, that no woman was ever 
 more fond of her husband. I said nothing, but I must 
 acknowledge that, from her previous conversation with me, 
 and the quantity of pilau which she devoured that evening for 
 her supper, I very much doubted the fact. 
 
 I did not remain long at home ; as, although it was my duty 
 to acquaint my mother with my father's death, it was also my 
 duty to appear to return to my corps. This I had resolved 
 never more to do. I reflected that a life of quiet and ease was 
 best suited to my disposition ; and I resolved to join some 
 religious sect. Before I quitted my mother's roof I gave her 
 tmny sequins, which she was most thankful for, as she was in
 
 aUDU&L 341 
 
 straitened circumstances. " Ah ! " cried she, as she wrapt up 
 the money carefully in a piece of rag, " if you could only have 
 brought back your poor father's head, Hudusi ! " I might 
 have told her that she had just received what I had sold it for 
 but I thought it just as well to say nothing about it ; so I 
 embraced her, and departed. 
 
 There was a sort of dervishes, who had taken up their 
 quarters about seven miles from the village where my mother 
 resided ; and as they never remained long in one place, I 
 hastened to join them. On my arrival, I requested to speak 
 with their chief, and imagining that I was come with the 
 request of prayers to be offered up on behalf of some wished- 
 tbr object, I was admitted. 
 
 " Khoda shefa midehed God gives relief," said the old man. 
 "What wishest thou, my son? Khosh amedeed you are 
 welcome." 
 
 I stated my wish to enter into the sect from a religious 
 feeling ; and requested that I might be permitted. 
 
 " Thou knowest not what thou askest, my son. Ours is a 
 hard life, one of penitence, prostration, and prayer ; our food 
 is but of herbs and the water of the spring ; our rest is broken, 
 and we know not where to lay our heads. Depart, yaha bibi, 
 my friend, depart in peace." 
 
 " But, father," replied I (for to tell your highness the truth, 
 notwithstanding the old man's assertions as to their austerities 
 of life, I very much doubted the fact), " I am prepared for all 
 this, if necessary, and even more. I have brought my little 
 wealth to add to the store, and contribute to the welfare of 
 your holy band ; and I must not be denied." I perceived that 
 the old man's eyes twinkled at the bare mention of gold, and I 
 drew from my sash five-and twenty sequins, which I had 
 separated from my hoard, with the intention of offering it. 
 " See, holy father," continued I, " the offering which I would 
 make." 
 
 " Barik Allah praise be to God," exclaimed the dervish, 
 " that he has sent us a true believer. Thy offering is accepted ; 
 but thou must not expect yet to enter into the austerities of our 
 holy order. I have many disciples here who wear the dress, 
 and yet they are not as regular as good dervishes should be ; 
 but there is a time for all things, and when their appetite to do 
 
 R
 
 242 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 wrong fails them, they will (Inshallah, please God), in all proba- 
 bility, become more holy and devout men. You are accepted." 
 And the old man held out his hand for the money, which he 
 clutched with eagerness, and hid away under his garment. 
 "Ali," said he to one of the dervishes who had stood at some 
 distance during my audience, " this young man what is your 
 name Hudusi is admitted into our fraternity. Take him 
 with thee, give him a dress of the order, and let him be 
 initiated into our mysteries, first demanding from him the oath 
 of secrecy. Murakhas, good Hudusi, you are dismissed." 
 
 I followed the dervish through a narrow passage, until we 
 arrived at a door, at which he knocked ; it was opened, and I 
 passed through a courtyard, where I perceived several of 
 the dervishes stretched on the ground in various postures, 
 breathing heavily, and insensible. 
 
 "These," said my conductor, "are holy men who are 
 favoured by Allah. They are in a trance, and during that 
 state are visited by the Prophet, and are permitted to enter 
 the eighth heaven, and see the glories prepared for true 
 believers." I made no reply to his assertion, but as it was 
 evident that they were all in a state of beastly intoxication, I 
 very much doubted the fact. 
 
 I received my dress, took an oath of secrecy, and was in- 
 troduced to my companions, whom I soon found to be a set 
 of dissolute fellows, indulging in every vice, and laughing at 
 every virtue ; living in idleness, and by the contributions made 
 to them by the people, who firmly believed in their pretended 
 sanctity. The old man with the white beard, who was their 
 chief, was the only one who did not indulge in debauchery. 
 He had outlived his appetite for the vices of youth, and fallen, 
 into the vice of age a love for money, which was insatiable. 
 I must acknowledge that the company and mode of living were 
 more to my satisfaction than the vigils, hard fare, and constant 
 prayer, with which the old man had threatened me when I 
 proposed to enter the community, and I soon became an adept 
 in di i simulation and hypocrisy, and a great favourite with my 
 brethren. 
 
 I ought to have observed to your sublimity, that the sect of 
 dervishes of which I had become a member, were then desig- 
 nated by the name of howling dervishes ; all our religion con-
 
 HUDUSL 243 
 
 sisted in bowling like jackals or hyenas, with all our might, 
 until \ve fell down in real or pretended convulsions. My howl 
 was considered as the most appalling and unearthly that wa? 
 ever heard ; and, of course, my sanctity was increased in propor- 
 tion. We were on our way to Scutari, where was our real place 
 of residence, and only lodged here and there on our journey to 
 fleece those who were piously disposed. I had not joined more 
 than ten days when they continued their route, and after a 
 week of very profitable travelling, passed through Constanti- 
 nople, crossed the Bosphorus, and regained their place of 
 domiciliation, and were .received with great joy by the in- 
 habitants, to whom the old chief and many others of our troop 
 vvcre well known. 
 
 Your sublime highness must be aware that the dervishes are 
 not only consulted by, but often become the bankers of, the 
 inhabitants, who intrust them with the care of their money. 
 My old chief (whose name, I should have mentioned before, 
 was Ulu-bibi) held large sums in trust for many of the people 
 with whom he was acquainted; but his avarice inducing 
 him to lend the money out on usury, it was very difficult 
 to recover it when it was desired, although it was always 
 religiously paid back. I had not been many months at Scutari, 
 before I found myself in high favour, from my superior howling 
 and the duration of my convulsions. But during this state, 
 which by habit soon became spasmodic, continuing until the 
 vital functions were almost extinct, the mind was as active as 
 ever, and I lay immersed in a sea of doubt which was most 
 painful. In my state of exhaustion I doubted everything. I 
 doubted if my convulsions were convulsions, or only feigned ; 
 I doubted if I was asleep or awake ; I doubted whether I was 
 in a trance, or in another world, or dead, or 
 
 " Friend Hudusi," interrupted Mustapha, " we want the facts 
 of your story, and not your doubts. Say I not well, your high- 
 ness ? What is all this but bosh ? nothing." 
 
 " It is well said," replied the pacha. 
 
 "Sometimes I thought that I had seized possession of a 
 fact, but it slipped through my fingers like the tail of an 
 eel." 
 
 " Let us have the facts which did not escape thee, friend,
 
 244 THE PACHA OF MANY 7 ALES 
 
 and let the mists of doubt be cleared away before the glory of 
 the pacha," replied Mustapha. 
 
 One day I was sitting in the warmth of the sun, by the tomb 
 of a true believer, when an old woman accosted me. "You 
 are welcome," said I. 
 
 "Is your humour good?" said she. 
 
 " It is good," replied I. 
 
 She sat down by me ; and after a quarter of an hour, she 
 continued : " God is great," said she. 
 
 "And Mahomet is his Prophet," replied I. "In the name 
 of Allah, what do you wish ? " 
 
 "Where is the holy man? I have money to give into his 
 charge. May I not see him ? " 
 
 " He is at his devotions ; but what is that ? Am not I the 
 same ? Do I not watch when he prayeth ? Inshallah please 
 God, we are the same. Give me the bag." 
 
 " Here it is," said she, pulling out the money : " seven 
 hundred sequins, my daughter's marriage-portion; but there 
 are bad men, who steal, and there are good men, whom we can 
 trust. Say I not well ? " 
 
 " It is well said," replied I ; " and God is great." 
 
 " You will find the money right," said she. " Count it." 
 
 I counted it and returned it into the goat-skin bag. " It is 
 all right. Leave me, woman, for I must go in." 
 
 The old woman left me, returning thanks to Allah that her 
 money was safe ; but from certain ideas running in my mind, I 
 very much doubted the fact. I sat down full of doubts. I 
 doubted if the old woman had come honestly by the money, 
 and whether I should give it to the head dervish. I doubted 
 whether I ought to retain it for myself, and whether I might 
 not come to mischief. I also had my doubts 
 
 ' I have no doubt," interrupted Mustapha, " but that you 
 kept it for yourself. Say is it not so ? " 
 
 Even so did my doubts resolve into that fact. I settled it in 
 my mind, that seven hundred sequins, added to about four 
 hundred still in my possession, would last some time, and that 
 I was tired of the life of a howling dervish. I therefore set up
 
 HUDUSI. 245 
 
 one last long final howl, to let my senior know that I was 
 present, and then immediately became absent. I hastened to 
 the bazaar, and purchasing here and there at one place a vtit, 
 at another a shawl, and at another a turban I threw off my 
 dress of a dervish, hastened to the bath, and after a few minutes 
 under the barber, came out like a butterfly from its dark shell. 
 No one would have recognised in the spruce young Turk, the 
 filthy dervish. I hastened to Constantinople, where I lived 
 gaily, and spent my money ; but I found that to mix in the 
 world, it is necessary not only to have an attaghan, but also to 
 have the courage to use it ; and in several broils which took 
 place, from my too frequent use of the water of the Giaour, I 
 invariably proved that, although my voice was that of a lion, 
 my heart was but as water, and the finger of contempt was but 
 too often pointed at the beard of pretence. One evening, as I 
 was escaping from a coffee-house, after having drawn my 
 attaghan, without having the courage to face my adversary, I 
 received a blow from his weapon which cleft my turban, and 
 cut deeply into my head. I flew through the streets upon the 
 wings of fear, and at last ran against an unknown object, which 
 I knocked down, and then fell alongside of, rolling with it in 
 the mud. I recovered myself, and looking at it, found it to be 
 alive, and, in the excess of my alarm, I imagined it to be Shitan 
 himself; but if not the devil himself, it was one of the sons of 
 Shitan, for it was an unbeliever, a Giaour, a dog to spit upon ; 
 in short, it was a Frank hakim so renowned for curing all 
 diseases that it was said he was assisted by the Devil. 
 
 " Lahnet be Shitan ! Curses on the devil ! " said Mustapha, 
 taking his pipe out of his mouth, and spitting. 
 
 " Wallah thaib ! It is well said," replied the pacha. 
 
 I was so convinced that it was nothing of this world, that, 
 as soon as I could recover my legs, I made a blow at him with 
 my attaghan, fully expecting that he would disappear in aflame 
 of fire at the touch of a true believer ; but, on the contrary, he 
 had also recovered his legs, and with a large cane with a gold 
 top on it, he parried my cut, and then saluted me with such a 
 blow on my head, that I again fell down in the mud, quite in- 
 sensible. When I recovered, I found myself on a mat in an
 
 246 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 outhouse, and attended by my opponent, who was plastering 
 up my head. " It is nothing," said he, as he bound up my 
 head ; but I suffered so much pain, and felt so weak from loss 
 of blood, that in spite of his assertions, I very much doubted 
 the fact Shall I describe this son of Jehanum ? And when I 
 do so, will not your highness doubt the fact? Be chesm, upon 
 rny head be it, if I lie. He was less than a man, for he had no 
 bzard ; he had no turban, but a piece of net-work, covered 
 with the hair of other men in their tombs, which he sprinkled 
 with the flour from the baker's, every morning, to feed his brain. 
 He wore round his neck a piece of linen, tight as a bowstring, 
 to prevent his head being taken off by any devout true believer, 
 as he walked through the street. His dress was of the colour 
 of hell, black, and bound closely to his body, yet must he have 
 been a great man in his own country, for he was evidently a 
 pacha of two tails, which were hanging behind him. He was a 
 dreadful man to look upon, and feared nothing; he walked into 
 the house of pestilence he handled those whom Allah had 
 visited with the plague he went to the bed, and the sick rose 
 and walked. He warred with destiny ; and no man could say 
 what was his fate until the hakim had decided. He held in 
 his hand the key of the portal which opened into the regions 
 of death ; and what can I say more ? he said live, and the 
 believer lived ; he said die, and the houris received him into 
 Paradise. 
 
 " A yesedi ! a worshipper of the devil," exclaimed Mustapha. 
 " May he and his father's grave be eternally denied ! " re- 
 sponded the pacha. 
 
 I remained a fortnight under the hakim's hands before I was 
 well enough to walk about; and when I had reflected, I 
 doubted whether it would not be wiser to embrace a more 
 peaceful profession. The hakim spoke our language well ; and 
 one day said to me, " Thou art more fit to cure than to give 
 wounds. Thou shalt assist me, for he who is now with me will 
 not remain." I consented, and putting on a more peaceful 
 garb, continued many months with the Frank physician, tra- 
 velling everywhere, but seldom remaining long in one place ; 
 he followed disease instead of flying from it, and I had my
 
 HUDUSL 24} 
 
 doubts whether, from constant attendance upon the dying, I 
 might not die myself, and I resolved to quit him the first 
 favourable opportunity. I had already learnt many wonderful 
 things from him; that blood was necessary to life, and that 
 without breath a man would die, and that white powders cured 
 fevers, and black drops stopped the dysentery. At last we 
 arrived in this town; and the other day, as I was pounding the 
 drug of reflection in the mortar of patience, the physician 
 desired me to bring his lancets, and to follow him. I paced 
 through the streets behind the learned hakim, until we arrived 
 at a mean house, in an obscure quarter of this grand city, over 
 which your highness reigns in justice. An old woman, full of 
 lamentation, led us to the sick couch, where lay a creature, 
 beautiful in shape as ahouri. The Frank physician was desired 
 by the old woman to feel her pulse through the curtain, but he 
 laughed at her beard (for she had no small one), and dre\v 
 aside the curtains and' took hold of a hand so small and so 
 delicate, that it were only fit to feed the Prophet himself near 
 the throne of the angel Gabriel, with the immortal pilau pre- 
 pared for true believers. Her face was covered, and the Frank 
 desired the veil to be removed. The old woman refused, and 
 he turned on his heel to leave her to the assaults of death. The 
 old woman's love for her child conquered her religious scruples, 
 and she consented that her daughter should unveil to an un- 
 believer. I was in ecstasy at her charms, and could have asked 
 her for a wife; but the Frank only asked to see her tongue. 
 Having looked at it, he turned away with as much indifference 
 as if it had been a dying dog. He desired me to bind up her 
 arm, and took away a basin full of her golden blood, and then 
 put a white powder into the hands of the old woman, saying 
 that he would see her again. I held out my hand for the gold, 
 but there was none forthcoming. 
 
 " We are poor," cried the old woman to the hakim, " but 
 God is great." 
 
 " I do not want your money, good woman," replied he ; "I 
 will cure your daughter." Then he went to the bedside and 
 spoke comfort to the sick girl, telling her to be of good courage, 
 and all would be well. 
 
 The girl answered in a voice sweeter than a nightingale's, 
 that she had but thanks to offer in return, and prayers to the
 
 248 7 HE PACI. A OF MANY TALES. 
 
 Most Higli. " Yes," said the old woman, raising her voice, "a 
 scoundrel of a howling dervish robbed me at Scutari of all I had 
 for my subsistence, and of my daughter's portion, seven hundred 
 sequins, in a goat-skin bag ! " and then she began to curse. 
 May the dogs of the city howl at her ugliness ! How she did 
 curse ! She cursed my father and mother she cursed their 
 graves flung dirt upon my brother and sisters, and filth upon 
 the whole generation. She gave me up to Jehanum, and to 
 every species of defilement. It was a dreadful thing to hear 
 that old woman curse. I pulled my turban over my eyes, that 
 she might not recognize me, and lifted up my garment to cover 
 my face, that I might not be defiled with the shower of curses 
 which were thrown at me like mud, and sat there watching till 
 the storm was over. Unfortunately, in lifting up my garment, 
 I exposed to the view of the old hag the cursed goat-skin bag, 
 which hung at my girdle, and contained, not only her money, 
 but the remainder of my own. " Mashallah how wonderful 
 is God ! " screamed the old beldame, flying at me like a tigress, 
 and clutching the bag from my girdle. Having secured that, 
 she darted at me with her ten nails, and scored down my face, 
 which I had so unfortunately covered in the first instance, and 
 so unfortunately uncovered in the second. What shall I say 
 more? The neighbours came in I was hurried before the 
 cadi, in company with the old woman and the Frank physician. 
 The money and bag were taken from me I was dismissed by 
 the hakim, and after receiving one hundred blows from the 
 ferashes, I was dismissed by the cadi. It was my fate and I 
 have told my story. Is your slave dismissed ? 
 
 " No," replied the pacha ; " by our beard, we must see to 
 this, Mustapha; say, Hudusi, what was the decision of the 
 cadi ? Our ears are open. ' 
 
 " The cadi decided as follows : That I had stolen the 
 money, and therefore I was punished with the bastinado : but, 
 as the old woman stated that the bag contained seven hundred 
 sequins, and there were found in it upwards of eleven hundred, 
 that the money could not belong to her. He therefore retained 
 it until he could find the right owner. The physician was fined 
 fifty sequins for looking at a Turkish woman, and fifty more for 
 shrugging up his shoulders. The girl was ordered into the 
 cadi's harem, because she had lost her dowry ; and the old
 
 HUDUSL 249 
 
 woman was sent about her business. All present declared that 
 the sentence was wisdom itself; but, for my part, I very much 
 doubted the fad." 
 
 " Mustapha," said the pacha, " send for the cadi, the Frank 
 physician, the old woman, the girl, and the goat-skin bag ; we 
 must examine into this affair." 
 
 The officers were despatched : and in less than an hour, 
 during which the pacha and his vizier smoked in silence, the 
 cadi and the others made their appearance. 
 
 " May your highness's shadow never be less!" said the cadi, 
 as he entered. 
 
 " Mobarek ! may you be fortunate ! " replied the pacha. 
 " What is this we hear, cadi ? There is a goat-skin bag, and a 
 girl, that are not known to our justice. Are there secrets like 
 those hid in the well of Kashan speak ! what dirt have you 
 been eating? " 
 
 " What shall I say ? " replied the cadi ; " I am but as dirt ; 
 the money is here, and the girl is here. Is the pacha to be 
 troubled with every woman's noise, or am I to come before him 
 with a piece or two of gold Min Allah God forbid ! Have 
 I not here the money, and sei'en more purses ? Was not the 
 girl visited by the angel of death ; and could she appear before 
 your presence lean as a dog in the bazaar ? Is she not here ? 
 Have I spoken well ? " 
 
 " It is well said, cadi. Murakhas you are dismissed." 
 
 The Frank physician was then fined one hundred sequins 
 more; fifty for feeling the pulse, and fifty more for looking at a 
 Turkish woman's tongue. The young woman was dismissed 
 to the pacha's harem, the old woman to curse as much as she 
 pleased, and Hudusi with full permission to doubt anything but 
 the justice of the pacha. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 " MASHALLAH ! God be praised ! we are rid of that fellow and 
 his doubts. I have been thinking, Mustapha, as I smoked the 
 pipe of surmise, and arrived at the ashes of certainty, that a 
 man who had so many doubts, could not be a true believer. I
 
 250 THE FACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 wish I had sent him to the mollahs; we might have been 
 amused with his being impaled, which is a rare object now- 
 a-days." 
 
 " God is great," replied Mustapha, " and a stake is a strong 
 argument, and would remove many doubts. But I have an 
 infidel in the court-yard who telleth of strange things. He 
 hath been caught like a wild beast; it is a Frank Galiongi, who 
 hath travelled as far as that son of Shiran, Huckaback; he was 
 found in the streets, overpowered by the forbidden juice, after 
 having beaten many of your highness's subjects, and the cadi 
 would have administered the bamboo, but he was as a lion, 
 and he scattered the slaves as chaff, until he fell, and could not 
 rise again. I have taken him from the cadi, and brought him 
 here. He speaketh but the Frankish tongue, but the sun who 
 shineth on me knoweth I have been in the Frank country; and 
 Inshallah ! please the Lord, I can interpret his meaning." 
 
 "What sort of a man may he be, Mustapha?" 
 
 "He is a baj baj a big belly a stout man; he is an 
 anhunkher, a swallower of iron. He hath sailed in the war 
 vessels of the Franks. He holdeth in one hand a bottle of the 
 forbidden liquor; in the other, he shakes at those who would 
 examine him, a thick stick. He hath a large handful of the 
 precious weed which we use for our pipes in one of his cheeks, 
 and his hair is hanging behind, down to his waist, in a rolled 
 up mass, as thick as the arm of your slave." 
 
 "It is well we will admit him; but let there be armed men. 
 at hand. Let me have a full pipe ! God is great," continued 
 the pacha, holding out his glass to be filled ; " and the bottle 
 is nearly empty. Place the guards, bring in the infidel." 
 
 The guards in a few minutes brought into the presence of 
 the pacha a stout-built English sailor, in the usual dress, and 
 with a tail which hung down behind, below his waist. The 
 sailor did not appear to like his treatment ; and every now and 
 then, as they pushed and dragged him in, turned to one side 
 or the other, looking daggers at those who conducted him. 
 He was sober, although his eyes bore testimony to recent in- 
 toxication, and his face, which was manly and handsome, was 
 much disfigured by an enormous quid of tobacco in his right 
 cheek, which gave him an appearance of natural deformity. 
 As soon as he was near enough to the pacha, the attendants
 
 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 251 
 
 let him go. Jack shook his jacket, hitched up his trousers, 
 and said, looking furiously at them, " Well, you beggars, have 
 you done with me at last ? " 
 
 Mustapha addressed the sailor in English, telling him that 
 he was in the presence of his highness the pacha. 
 
 " What, that old chap, muffled up in shawls and furs is he 
 the pacha ? Well, I don't think much o' he ; " and the sailor 
 turned his eyes round the room, gaping with astonishment, and 
 perfectly unmindful how very near he was to one who could 
 cut off his head or his tail by a single movement of his 
 hand. 
 
 "What sayeth the Frank, Mustapha?" inquired the pacha. 
 
 " He is struck dumb with astonishment at the splendour of 
 your majesty, and all that he beholds." 
 
 "It is well said, by Allah!" 
 
 " I suppose I may just as well come to an anchor," said the 
 sailor, suiting the action to the word, and dropping down on 
 the mats. " There," continued he, folding his legs in imitation 
 of the Turks, " as it's the fashion to have a cross in your hawse, 
 in this here country, I can be a bit of a lubber as well as your- 
 selves. I wouldn't mind if I blew a cloud, as well as you, old 
 fusty-musty." 
 
 "What does the Giaour say? What son of a dog is this, 
 to sit in our presence ? " exclaimed the pacha. 
 
 "He sayeth," replied Mustapha, "that in his country, no 
 one dare stand in the presence of the Prankish king; and, 
 overcome by his humility, his legs refuse their office, and he 
 sinks to the dust before you. It is even as he sayeth, for I 
 have travelled in their country, and such is the custom of that 
 uncivilized nation. Mashallah ! but he lives in awe and 
 trembling." 
 
 " By the beard of the Prophet, he does not appear to show 
 it outwardly," replied the pacha; " but that may be the custom 
 also." 
 
 " Be chesm, on my eyes be it," replied Mustapha, " it is even 
 so. Frank," said Mustapha, " the pacha has sent for you that 
 he may hear an account of all the wonderful things which you 
 have seen. You must tell lies, and you will have gold." 
 
 " Tell lies ! that is, spin a yarn ; well, I can do that, but my 
 mouth's baked with thirst, and without a drop of something,
 
 252 THE P AC II A OF MAb Y TALES. 
 
 the devil a yarn from me ; and so you may tell the old Billy- 
 goat, perched up there." 
 
 " What sayeth the son of Shiran ? " demanded the pacha, im- 
 patiently. 
 
 "The unbeliever declareth that his tongue is glued to his 
 mouth from the terror of your highness's presence. He fainteth 
 after water to restore him, and enable him to speak." 
 
 " Let him be fed," rejoined the pacha. 
 
 But Mustapha had heard enough to know that the sailor 
 would not be content with the pure element. He therefore 
 continued, " Your slave must tell you, that in the country of 
 the Franks they drink nothing but the fire-water, in which the 
 true believers but occasionally venture to indulge." 
 
 "Allah acbar! nothing but fire-water? What, then, do they 
 do with common water?" 
 
 " They have none but from heaven the rivers are all of the 
 same strength." 
 
 " Mashallah ! how wonderful is God ! I would we had a 
 river here. Let some be procured, then, for I wish to hear his 
 story." 
 
 A bottle of brandy was sent for, and handed to the sailor, 
 who put it to his mouth, and the quantity he took of it before 
 he removed the bottle to recover his breath, fully convinced the 
 pacha that Mustapha's assertions were true. 
 
 " Come, that's not so bad," said the sailor, putting the bottle 
 down between his legs ; "and now I'll be as good as my word, 
 and I'll spin old Billy a yarn as long as the main-top bowling." 
 
 "What sayeth the Giaour?" interrupted the pacha. 
 
 " That he is about to lay at your highness's feet the wonderful 
 events of his life, and trusts that his face will be whitened before 
 he quits your sublime presence. Frank, you may proceed." 
 
 " To lie till I'm black in the face well, since you wish it ; 
 but, old chap, my name arn't Frank. It happens to be Bill ; 
 howsomever, it warn't a bad guess for a Turk ; and now I'm 
 , here, I'd just like to ax you a question. We had a bit of 
 , a hargument the other day, when I was in a frigate up the 
 Dardanelles, as to what your religion might be. Jack Soames 
 said that you warn't Christians, but that if you were, you could 
 only be Catholics ; but I don't know how he could know any- 
 thing about it, seeing that he had not been more than seven
 
 THE ENGLISH SAILOR. 255 
 
 weeks on board of a man-of-war. What may you be if I 
 may make so bold as to ax the question ? " 
 
 " What does he say ? " inquired the pacha, impatiently. 
 
 "He says," interrupted Mustapha, "that he was not so 
 fortunate as to be born in the country of the true believers, but 
 in an island full of fog and mist, where the sun never shines, 
 and the cold is so intense that the water from heaven is hard 
 and cold as a flint." 
 
 " That accounts for their not drinking it. Mashallah ! God 
 is great ! Let him proceed." 
 
 " The pacha desires me to say that there is but one God, 
 and Mahomet is his Prophet; and begs that you will go on with 
 your story." 
 
 " Never heard of the chap never mind here's saw wood." 
 
 TALC OP THE ENGLISH SAILOR. 
 
 I WAS born at Shields, and bred to the sea, served my time 
 out of that port, and got a berth on board a small vessel fitted 
 out from Liverpool for the slave trade. We made the coast, 
 unstowed our beads, spirits, and gunpowder, and very soon had 
 a cargo on board; but the day after we sailed for the Havannah, 
 the dysentery broke out among the niggers no wonder, seeing 
 how they were stowed, poor devils, head and tail, like pilchards 
 in a cask. We opened the hatches, and brought part of them 
 on deck, but it was of no use, they died like rotten sheep, and 
 we tossed overboard about thirty a day. Many others, who 
 were alive, jumped overboard, and we were followed by a shoal 
 of sharks, splashing, and darting, and diving, and tearing the 
 bodies, yet warm, and revelling in the hot and bloody water. 
 At last they were all gone, and we turned back to the coast to 
 get a fresh supply. We were within a day's sail of the land, 
 when we saw two boats on our weather bow : they made signals 
 to us, and we found them to be full of men ; we hove to, and 
 took them on board, and then it was that we discovered that 
 they had belonged to a French schooner, in the same trade, 
 which had started a plank, and had gone down like a shot, with 
 all the niggers in the hold.
 
 254 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 " Now give the old gentleman the small change of that, whils 
 I just wet my whistle." 
 
 Mustapha having interpreted, and the sailor having taken a 
 swig at the bottle, he proceeded. 
 
 We didn't much like having these French beggars on board, 
 and it wasn't without reason, for they were as many as ws 
 were. Tr.e very first night they were overheard by a negro 
 who belonged to us, and had learnt French, making a plan for 
 overpowering us, and taking possession of the vessel ; so when 
 we heard that, their doom was sealed. We mustered ourselves 
 on the deck, put the hatches over some o' the French, seized 
 those on deck, and in half an hour they all walked a plank. 
 
 " I do not understand what you mean," said Mustapha. 
 
 " That's 'cause you're a lubber of a landsman. The long 
 and short of walking a plank is just this. We passed a wide 
 plank over the gunnel, greasing it well at the outer end, led the 
 Frenchmen up to it blindfolded, and wished them ' bon voyage,' 
 in their own lingo, just out of politeness. They walked on 
 till they toppled into the sea, and the sharks didn't refuse 
 them, though they prefer a nigger to anything else." 
 
 "What does he say, Mustapha?" interrupted the pacha. 
 Mustapha interpreted. 
 
 " Good ; I should like to have seen that," replied the pacha. 
 
 Well, as soon as we were rid of the Frenchmen, we made our 
 port, and soon had another cargo on board, and, after a good 
 run, got safe to the Havannah, where we sold our slaves ; but 
 I didn't much like the sarvice, so I cut the schooner, and 
 sailed home in summer, and got back safe to England. There 
 I fell in with Betsey, and as she proved a regular out-and-outer, 
 I spliced her, and a famous wedding we had of it, as long as 
 the rhino lasted; but that wasn't long, the more's the pity; so I 
 went 'o sea for more. When I came back after my trip, I 
 found that Bet hadn't behaved quite so well as she might have 
 done, so I cut my stick, and went away from her altogether. 
 
 " Why didn't you put her in a sack ? " inquired the pacha, 
 when Mustapha explained.
 
 THE ENGLISH SAILOR. 255 
 
 " Put her head in a bag no, she wasn't so ugly as all that," 
 replied the sailor. " Howsomever, to coil away." 
 
 I joined a privateer brig, and after three cruises I had 
 plenty of money, and determined to have another spell on 
 shore, that I might get rid of it. Then I picked up Sue, and 
 spliced again ; but, Lord bless your heart, she turned out a re- 
 gular-built Tartar nothing but fight fight, scratch scratch, all 
 day long, till I wished her at old Scratch. I was tired of her, 
 and Sue had taken a fancy to another chap ; so says she one 
 day, " As we both be of the same mind, why don't you sell me, 
 and then we may part in a respectable manner." I agrees j 
 and I puts a halter round her neck, and leads her to the 
 market-place, the chap following to buy her. 
 
 ' Who bids for this woman ? " says I. 
 
 ' I do," says he. 
 
 ' What will you give ? " 
 
 ' Half a crown," says he. 
 
 ' Will you throw a glass of grog into the bargain ? " 
 
 ' Yes," says he. 
 
 " Then she's yours ; and I wish you much joy of your bar- 
 gain." So I hands the rope to him, and he leads her off. 
 
 " How much did you say he sold his wife for ? " said the 
 pacha to Mustapha, when this part of the story was repeated to 
 him. 
 
 "A piastre, and a drink of the fire-water," replied the 
 vizier. 
 
 " Ask him if she was handsome," said the pacha. 
 
 " Handsome," replied the sailor to Mustapha's inquiry; " yes, 
 she was as pretty a craft to look at as you may set your eyes 
 upon; fine round counter clean run swelling bows good 
 figure-head, and hair enough for a mermaid." 
 
 "What does he say?" inquired the pacha. 
 
 " The Frank declareth that her eyes were bright as those of 
 the gazeile, that her eyebrows were as one, her waist as that of 
 the cypress, her face as the full moon, and that she was fat as 
 the houris that await the true believers." 
 
 " Mashallah ! all for a piastre. Ask him, Mustapha, if there 
 are more wives to be sold in that country ? "
 
 256 THE PACHA OP MANY TALES. 
 
 " More," replied the sailor, in answer to Mustapha ; " you 
 may have a ship full in an hour. There's many a fellow in 
 England who would give a handful of coin to get rid of his wife." 
 
 " We will make further inquiry, Mustapha ; it must be looked 
 to. Say I not well ? " 
 
 " It is well said," replied Mustapha. " My heart is burnt as 
 roast meat at the recollection of the women of the country ; 
 who are, indeed, as he hath described, houris to the sight. 
 Proceed, Yaha bibi, my friend, and tell his " 
 
 " Yaw Bibby ! I told you my name was Bill, not Bibby ; 
 and I never yaws from my course, although I heaves-to some- 
 times, as I do now. to take in provisions." The sailor took 
 another swig, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and 
 continued " Now for a good lie." 
 
 I sailed in a brig for the Brazils, and a gale came on, that I 
 never seed the like of. We were obliged to have three men 
 stationed to hold the captain's hair on his head ; and a little 
 boy was blown over the moon, and slid down by two or three 
 of her beams, till he caught the mainstay, and never hurt him- 
 self." 
 
 " Good," said Mustapha, who interpreted. 
 " By the beard of the Prophet, wonderful ! " exclaimed the 
 pacha. 
 
 Well, the gale lasted for a week; and at last one night, 
 when I was at the helm, we dashed on the rocks of a desolate 
 island. I was pitched right over the mountains, and fell into 
 the sea on the other side of the island. I swam on shore, and 
 got into a cave, where I fell fast asleep. The next morning I 
 found that there was nothing to eat except rats, and they were 
 plentiful ; but they were so quick that I could not catch them. 
 I walked about, and at last discovered a great many rats to- 
 ge'-her ; they were at a spring of water, the only one, as I after- 
 wards found,, on the island. Rats can't do without water, and 
 I thought I should have them there. I filled up the spring, all 
 but a hole which I sat on the top of. When the rats came 
 again, I filled my mouth with water, and held it wide open ; 
 they ran up to drink, and I caught their heads in my teeth, and 
 thus I took as many as I wished.
 
 THE ENGLISH SAILOR. 257 
 
 " Aferin ! excellent ! " cried the pacha, as soon as this was 
 explained. 
 
 Well, at last a vessel took me o.T, and I wasn't sorry for it, 
 for raw rats are not very good eating. I went home again, and 
 I hadn't been on shore more than two hours, when who should 
 I see but my first wife, Bet, with a robin-redbreast in tow. 
 " That's he ! " says she. I gave fight, but was nabbed and put 
 into limbo, to be tried for what they call bi(rgery, or having a 
 wife too much. 
 
 " How does he mean ? desire him to explain," said the 
 pacha, after Mustapha had conveyed the intelligence. Mus- 
 tapha obeyed. 
 
 " In our country, one wife is considered a man's allowance, 
 and he is not to take more, that every Jack may have his Jill. 
 I had spliced two ; so they tried me, and sent me to Botany 
 Bay for life." 
 
 This explanation puzzled the pacha. " How ! what sort of 
 a country must it be, when a man cannot have two wives ? 
 Inshallah ! please the Lord, we may have hundreds in our 
 harem ! Does he not laugh at our beards with lies ? Is this 
 not all l>os/t, nothing ? " 
 
 " It is even so, as the Frank speaketh," replied Mustapha. 
 " The king of the country can take but one wife. Be chesm, 
 on my eyes be it, if it is not the truth." 
 
 " Well," rejoined the pacha, "what are they but infidels? 
 They deserve to have no more. Houris are for the faithful. 
 May their fathers' graves be defiled. Let the Giaour pro- 
 ceed." 
 
 Well, I was started for the other side of the water, and got 
 there safe enough, as I hope one day to get to Heaven, wind 
 and weather permitting ; but I had no idea of working without 
 pay, so one fine morning I slipt away into the woods, where I 
 remained with three or four more, for six months. ' We lived 
 upon kangaroos, and another odd little animal, and got on 
 pretty well. 
 
 "What may the dish of kangaroos be composed of?" in- 
 quired Mustapha, in obedience to the pacha.
 
 25$ THE P AC II A OF MANY TALES. 
 
 " 'Posed of! why, a dish of kangaroos be made of kangaroos, 
 to be sure." 
 
 But I'll be dished if I talked about anything but the animal, 
 which we had some trouble to kill ; for it stands on its big 
 tail, and fights with all four feet. Moreover, it be otherwise a 
 strange beast ; for its young ones pop out of its stomach, and 
 then pop in again, having a place there on purpose, just like 
 the great hole in the bow of a timber ship ; and as for the other 
 little animal, it swims in the ponds, lays eggs, and has a duck's 
 bill, yet still it be covered all over with hair like a beast. 
 
 The vizier interpreted. " By the Prophet, but he laughs at 
 our beards ! " exclaimed the pacha, angrily. " These are foolish 
 lies." 
 
 " You must not tell the pacha such foolish lies. He will be 
 angry," said Mustapha. " Tell lies, but they must be good 
 lies." 
 
 " Well, I'll be ," replied the sailor, " if the old beggar 
 
 don't doubt the only part which is true out of the whole yarn. 
 Well, I will try another good un to please him." 
 
 After I had been there about six months I was tired ; and as 
 there was only twenty thousand miles between that country 
 and my own, I determined to swim back. 
 
 " Mashallah ! swim back how many thousand miles ? " ex- 
 claimed Mustapha. 
 
 " Only twenty thousand a mere nothing." 
 
 So one fine morning I throws a young kangaroo on my 
 shoulder, and off I starts. I swam for three months, night and 
 day, and then feeling a little tired, I laid-to on my back, and 
 then I set off again ; but by this time I was so covered with 
 barnacles, that I made but little way. So I stopped at Ascen- 
 sion, scraped and cleaned myself, and then, after feeding for a 
 week on turtle, just to keep the scurvy out of my bones, I set 
 off again ; and as I passed the Gut, I thought I might just as 
 well put in here ; and here I arrived, sure enough, yesterday, 
 about three bells in the morning watch, after a voyage of five 
 months and three days.
 
 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 259 
 
 When Mustapha translated all this to the pacha, the latter 
 was lost in astonishment. " Allah wakbar ! God is everywhere ' 
 Did you ever hear of such a swimmer ? Twenty thousand miles 
 five months and three days. It is a wonderful story ! Let 
 his mouth be filled with gold." 
 
 Mustapha intimated to the sailor the unexpected compliment 
 about to be conferred on him, just as he had finished the bottle, 
 and rolled it away on one side. " Well, that be a rum way of 
 paying a man. I have heard it said that a fellow pursed up 
 his mouth, but I never afore heard of a mouth being a purse. 
 Howsomever, all's one for that ; only, d'ye see, if you are about 
 to stow it away in bulk, it may be just as well to get rid of the 
 dunnage." The . sailor put his thumb and forefinger into his 
 cheek, and pulled out his enormous quid of tobacco. " There 
 now, I'm ready, and don't be afraid of choking me." One of 
 the attendants then thrust several pieces of gold into the sailor's 
 mouth, who, spitting them all out into his hat, jumped on 
 his legs, made a jerk of his head, with a kick of the leg behind, 
 to the pacha, and declaring that he was the funniest old beggar 
 he had ever fallen in with, nodded to Mustapha, and hastened 
 out of the divan. 
 
 " Mashallah ! but he swims well," said the pacha, breaking 
 up the audience. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 THE departure of the caravan was delayed for two or three 
 days by the vizier upon various pretexts although it was his 
 duty to render it every assistance that Menouni might afford 
 further amusement to the pacha. Menouni was well content 
 to remain, as the liberality of the pacha was not to be fallen in 
 with every day, and the next evening he was again ushered 
 into the sublime presence. 
 
 " Kosh amedeid ! you are welcome," said the pacha, as 
 Menouni made his low obeisance. " Now let us have another 
 story. I don't care how long it is, only let us have no more 
 princesses to be married. That Babe-bi-bobu was enough to 
 tire the patience of a dervish."
 
 26o THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 " Your sublime highness shall be obeyed," replied Menoum. 
 " Would it please you to hear the story of Yussuf the Water- 
 carrier?" 
 
 " Yes, that sounds better. You may proceed." 
 
 THE V/ATER-CARRIER. 
 
 MAY it please your highness, it so happened that the great 
 Haroun Alraschid was one night seized with one of those fits 
 of sleepless melancholy with which it had pleased Allah to 
 temper his splendid destiny, and which fits are, indeed, the 
 common lot of those who are raised by fortune above the 
 ordinary fears and vicissitudes of life. * 
 
 " I can't say that I ever have them," observed the pacha. 
 " How is that, Mustapha ?" 
 
 " Your highness has as undoubted a right to them as the 
 great caliph," replied Mustapha, bowing ; " but if I may venture 
 to state my opinion," continued he, drawing down to the ear of 
 the pacha, " you have discovered the remedy for them in the 
 strong water of the Giaour." 
 
 " Very true," replied the pacha ; " Haroun Alraschid, if I 
 recollect right, was very strict in his observances of the pre- 
 cepts of the Koran. After all, he was but a pastek a water- 
 melon. You may proceed, Menouni." 
 
 The caliph, oppressed, as I before observed to your highness, 
 with this fit of melancholy, despatched Mesrour for his chief 
 vizier, Giaffar Bermukki, who, not unaccustomed to this noc- 
 turnal summons, speedily presented himself before the com- 
 mander of the faithful. " Father of true believers ! descendant 
 of the Prophet ! " said the minister, with a profound obeisance, 
 " thy slave waits but to hear, and hears but to obey." 
 
 " Giaffar," replied the caliph, " I am overwhelmed with dis- 
 tressing inquietude, and would fain have thee devise some 
 means fo my relief. Speak what sayest thou ? " 
 
 " Hasten, O my prince, to thy favourite garden of the 
 Tierbar, where, gazing on the bright moon, and listening to 
 the voice of the bul-bul, you will await, in pleasing contem- 
 plation, the return of the sun."
 
 THE WATER-CARRIER. 261 
 
 *' Not so," replied the caliph. 
 
 " By the beard of the Prophet ! the caliph was right, and 
 that Giaffar was a fool. I never heard that staring at the moon 
 was an amusement before," observed the pacha. 
 
 " Not so," urged the caliph. " My gardens, my palaces, and 
 my possessions are no more to me a source of pleasure." 
 
 " By the sword of the Prophet ! now the caliph appears to 
 be the fool," interrupted the pacha. 
 
 " Shall we then repair to the Hall of the Ancients, and pass 
 the night in reviving the memory of the wise, whose sayings 
 are stored therein ? " continued Giaffar. 
 
 " Counsel avails not/'' replied the caliph ; " the records of 
 the past will not suffice to banish the cares of the present." 
 
 " Then," said the vizier, " will the Light of the world seek 
 refuge from his troubles in a disguise, and go forth with 
 the humblest of his slaves to witness the condition of his 
 people ? " 
 
 " Thou hast said well," replied the caliph ; " I will go with 
 thee into the bazaar, and witness, unknown, the amusements of 
 my people after the labours of the day." 
 
 Mesrour, the chief eunuch, was at hand, and hastened for 
 the needful disguises. After having clad themselves as mer- 
 chants of Moussul, and tinged their faces of an olive hue, the 
 caliph, accompanied by Giaftar and Mesrour, the latter armed 
 with a scimitar, issued forth from the secret door of the seraglio. 
 Giaffar, who knew from experience the quarter likely to prove 
 most fertile in adventure, led the caliph past the mosque of 
 Zobeide, and crossing the Bridge of Boats over the Tigris, 
 continued his way to that part of the city on the Mesopotamian 
 side of the river which was inhabited by the wine-sellers and 
 others, who administered to the irregularities, as well as to the 
 wants, of the good people of Bagdad. For a short time they 
 Y/andered up and down without meeting anybody; but passing 
 through a narrow alley, their steps were arrested by the sound 
 of a most potent pair of lungs, carolling forth a jovial song. 
 The caliph waited awhile, in expectation of its ceasing ; but he
 
 262 THE PA C II A OF MANY TALES. 
 
 might apparently have waited until dawn of day, for verse was 
 poured forth after verse : a small interval between them filled 
 up by the musical gurgling of liquor from a bottle, and the 
 gulps of the votary of Bacchus. At length, his patience being 
 exhausted, the caliph ordered Mesrour to knock loudly at the 
 singer's dwelling. Hearing the noise, the fellow opened the 
 jalousie, and came out into the verandah above. Looking 
 down, and perceiving the three interrupters of his mirth, he 
 bawled out " What rascals are you that disturb an honest man 
 at his devotions? Begone! fly! away with you, scum of 
 the earth ! " 
 
 " Truly, charitable sir," replied Giaffar, in a humble tone, 
 " we are distressed merchants, strangers in this city, who have 
 lost our way, and fear to be seized by the watch perhaps 
 carried before the cadi. We beseech thee, therefore, to admit 
 us within thy doors, and Allah will reward thy humanity." 
 
 " Admit you within my doors ! not I, indeed. What, you 
 wish to get into my house to gormandise and swill at my ex- 
 pense. Go go !" 
 
 The caliph laughed heartily at this reply; and then called 
 out to the man, " Indeed we are merchants, and seek but for 
 shelter till the hour of prayer." 
 
 " Tell me, then," replied the man, " and mind you tell 
 me the truth. Have you eaten and drunk your fill for the 
 night?" 
 
 " Thanks and praise be to Allah, we have supped long since, 
 and heartily," returned the caliph. 
 
 " Since that is the case, you may come up ; but recollect it 
 is upon one condition, that you bind yourselves not to open 
 your lips, whatever you may see me do ; no matter whether it 
 please you or not." 
 
 " What you desire is so reasonable," called out the caliph, 
 " that we should be ignorant as Yaboys, if we did not at once 
 comply." 
 
 The man gave one more scrutinising glance at the pretended 
 merchants ; and then, as if satisfied, descended and opened his 
 door. The caliph and his attendants followed him up to his 
 room, where they found a table laid out for supper, on which 
 was a large pitcher of wine, half a roasted kid, a bottle of rakee, 
 preserves, confections, and various kinds of fruit j odoriferous
 
 THE WATER-CARRIER. 263 
 
 flowers were also on the table, and the lighting up of the room 
 was brilliant. The host, immediately on their entering, tossed 
 off a bumper of wine, as if to make up for the time he had lost, 
 and pointing to a corner, bade the intruders to sit down there, 
 and not to disturb him any more. He commenced his solitary 
 feast ; and after another bumper of wine, as if tired of his own 
 company, he gruffly demanded, " Where do you fellows come 
 from, and whither are you going ? " 
 
 " Sir," replied Giaffar, who had been whispering with the 
 caliph, "we are merchants of Moussul, who have been to 
 an entertainment at the country seat of a khan of Bagdad. 
 We feasted well, and left our friend just as the day closed in. 
 Whereupon we lost our way, and found ourselves in this street ; 
 hearing the musical accents of your voice, we exclaimed, ' Are 
 not those notes delightful ? one who has so sweet a voice must 
 be equally sweet in disposition. Let us entreat the hospitality 
 of our brother for the remainder of the night, and in the morn- 
 ing we will depart in peace.' " 
 
 " I do not believe a word that you have said, you ill-looking 
 thief. You are spies or thieves, who would profit by getting 
 into people's houses at unseasonable hours. You, barrel- 
 stomach, you with whiskers like a bear," continued he to the 
 vizier, " hang me if ever I saw such a rascally face as yours ; 
 and you, you black-faced nigger, keep the whites of your eyes 
 off my supper-table, or by Allah I'll send you all to Jehanum. 
 I see you are longing to put your fingers on the kid : but if 
 you do, I've a bone-softener, which, by the blessed Prophet, 
 shall break every bone in your three skins." So saying, the 
 man, taking a large cudgel from the corner of the room, laid it 
 by the dish of kid, into which he then plunged his fingers, and 
 commenced eating heartily. 
 
 " Giaffar," said the caliph, in an undertone, " contrive to find 
 out who this ferocious animal may be, and how he contrives to 
 live so merrily ? " 
 
 " In the name of Allah, let us leave him alone," replied 
 Giaffar, in a fright, " for should he strike us on the head with 
 that cudgel, we should be despatched without anyone being the 
 wiser." 
 
 " Pish ! fear nothing," replied the caliph. " Ask him boldly 
 his name and trade."
 
 264 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 " Oh, my commander," replied Giaffar, " to hear is but to 
 obey; yet do I quake most grievously at the threats of this 
 villainous fellow. I entreat thee that I may defer the questions 
 until wine shall have softened down his temper." 
 
 " Thou cowardly vizier. Must I then interrogate him my- 
 self ? " replied the caliph. 
 
 " Allah forbid," replied Giaffar; "I will myself encounter* 
 the wrath of this least of dogs may his grave be defiled." 
 
 During this parley, their host, who had become more good- 
 humoured in his cups, cast his eyes upon them. 
 
 " What in the name of Shitan are you chaps prating and 
 chatting about ? " inquired he. 
 
 Giaffar, perceiving him in a more favourable mood, seized 
 the occasion to speak. " Most amiable and charitable sir," 
 replied he, " we were talking of your great liberality and kind- 
 ness in thus permitting us to intrude upon your revels. We 
 only request, in the name of friendship, the name and profession 
 of so worthy a Mussulman, that we may remember him in our 
 prayers." 
 
 " Why, thou impudent old porpus ; did you not promise to 
 ask no questions ? In the name of friendship ! Truly it is of 
 long standing." 
 
 " Still, I pray Allah that it may increase. Have we not sat a 
 considerable time in your blessed presence have you not given 
 us refuge ? All we now ask is the name and profession of one 
 so amiable and so kind-hearted ? " 
 
 " Enough," replied the host, pacified with the pretended 
 humility of the vizier. " Silence, and listen. Do you see that 
 skin which hangs over my head ? " The caliph and his com- 
 panions looked up and perceived the tanned skin of a young 
 ox, which appeared to have been used for carrying water. " It 
 is that by which I gain my daily dread. I am Yussuf, son of 
 Aboo Ayoub, who, dying some five years ago, left me nothing 
 but a few dirhems and this strong carcass of mine, by which to 
 gain a livelihood. I was always fond of sports and pastimes 
 overthrew everybody who wrestled with me ; nay, the man who 
 affronts me receives a box on the ear which makes it ring for 
 a week afterwards." 
 
 "Allah preserve us from affronting him!" whispered the 
 caliph.
 
 THE WATER-CARRIER. 265 
 
 u When old Aboo died, I perceived, if I did not speedily 
 turn my strength to some account, I should starve ; so it struck 
 me that there were no people more merry than the water- 
 carriers, who supply for a few paras to the houses of this city 
 the soft water of the river. I resolved to become one, but 
 instead of going backwards and forwards with a goatskin on 
 my shoulders, I went down to the curriers, and selected the 
 soft skin of the young ox which hangs above me, fitted it to my 
 shoulders, and filling it at the river, marched up to the bazaar. 
 No sooner did I appear, than all the water-carriers called out, 
 
 * That villain, Yussuf, is about to take away our bread. May 
 Shitan seize him. Let us go to the cadi and complain.' The 
 cadi listened to their story, for they accused me of witchcraft, 
 saying that no five men could lift the skin when it was full. 
 He sent one of his beeldars to summon me before him. I 
 had just filled my skin at the river, when the officer came from 
 this distributor of bastinadoes. I followed him to the court, 
 laden as I was. The crowd opened to let me pass, and I 
 appeared before the cadi, who was much astonished at my 
 showing so little inconvenience from such an enormous burthen. 
 
 * Oh ! Yussuf,' cried he, ' hear and answer ; thou art accused ot 
 witchcraft.' ' Who accuses me, O cadi ? ' replied I, throwing 
 down my skin of water. Whereupon two hang-dogs stepped 
 forward, and cried with loud voices, ' Behold us here, O wise 
 and just one.' The cadi put one aside, and questioned the 
 other, who swore on the book that the devil had given me a 
 pig's skin, and had promised that as long as I served the 
 followers of the Prophet out of the unclean vessel, he would 
 enable me to carry as much as ten men. The second witness 
 confirmed this evidence ; and added, that he heard me talking 
 with the devil, who offered to turn himself into a yaboo, and 
 carry water for me, which I had civilly declined, for what 
 reason he knew not, as he did not hear the rest ot the conver- 
 sation. 
 
 " At this evidence, the cadi and mollahs who sat with him, 
 turned up their eyes with horror, and proceeded to discuss 
 the degree of punishment which so enormous a crime deserved, 
 quite forgetting to ask me if I had anything to offer in my 
 defence. At last they settled that, as a commencement, I 
 should receive five hundred bastinadoes on the soles of my
 
 366 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 feet ; and, if I lived, about as many more on my belly. The 
 cadi was about to pronounce his irrevocable^/^, when I took 
 the liberty of interrupting this rapid course of justice. ' O cadi,' 
 said I, ' and ye, mollahs, whose beards drop wisdom, let your 
 slave offer, at the footstool of justice, the precious proofs of 
 innocence.' 'Produce them quickly, then, thou wedded to 
 Shitan and Jehanum,' replied the cadi. Whereupon I loosened 
 the string which attached the mouth, and allowed all the water 
 to run out of the skin. I then turned the skin inside out, and 
 showing to them the horns of the young ox, which fortunately 
 I had not cut off, I demanded of the cadi and of the mollahs 
 if any of them had ever seen a pig with horns. At this they 
 every one fell a laughing, as if I had uttered a cream of a joke. 
 My innocence was declared, and my two accusers had the 
 five hundred bastinadoes shared between them. The water- 
 carriers were too much alarmed at the result of this attempt to 
 attack me any more, and the true believers, from the notoriety 
 of the charge, and my acquittal of having rendered them un- 
 clean from the use of swinish skin, all sought my custom. In 
 short, I have only to fill my skin to empty it again, and I 
 daily realise so handsome an income, that I have thrown care 
 to the dogs, and spend in jollity every night what I have 
 worked hard for every day. As soon as the muezzin calls to 
 evening prayers, I lay aside my skin, betake myself to the 
 mosque, perform my ablutions, and return thanks to Allah. 
 After which I repair to the bazaar, purchase meat with one 
 dirhem, rakee with another, others go for fruit and flowers, 
 cakes, sweetmeats, bread, oil for my lamps, and the remainder 
 I spend in wine. As soon as all is collected, I arrive at my 
 own house, put everything in order, light up my lamps, and 
 enjoy myself after my own fashion. So now you know all I 
 choose to tell you, and whether you are merchants or spies in 
 disguise, I care not. Be satisfied and depart, for the dawn is 
 here." 
 
 The caliph, who had been much amused with Yussufs 
 account <r. himself, replied, " In truth, you are a wonderful 
 man, and it must be allowed that, in separating yourself 
 from your fellows, you escape many troubles and incon- 
 veniences." 
 
 "Ay," replied Yussuf; "thus have I lived for five years.
 
 THE WATER-CARRIER. 267 
 
 Every night has my dwelling been lighted up as you see it, 
 and my fortunate stars have never suffered me to go without 
 meat and drink, such as you three now smell and long for, 
 but shall not put your fingers to." 
 
 " But, friend Yussuf," observed Giaffar, " suppose that to- 
 morrow the caliph should issue a decree, putting an end to the 
 trade of supplying with water, and declare that whoever was 
 found with a skin-full should be hanged. In such a case, what 
 would you do ? You could not light up your lamps ; you could 
 not enjoy your kabobs and pilau, neither would you be able to 
 purchase fruits, sweetmeats, or a drop of wine." 
 
 " May Shitan seize your unlucky soul, you tun-bellied beast 
 of ill-omen ! for the bare supposition of such a thing ; depart 
 depart quickly, and never let me see you again." 
 
 " My good friend, Yussuf, I did but jest; five years, as you 
 observe, have passed away without a day's intermission of your 
 enjoyment, nor is it probable that the caliph will ever issue 
 such a ridiculous and unheard-of decree. I only observed, 
 that supposing he did, what could you do, never leaving a 
 single asper for the next day's provision ? " 
 
 At the repetition of the vizier's speech, Yussuf became 
 highly exasperated. " You dare to repeat to me your unlucky 
 words and ill-omens and you ask me what I should do ! 
 Now hear me : by the beard of the Prophet, should the caliph 
 issue such a decree, with this good cudgel I will search all 
 Bagdad, until I find you all. You, and you," continued Yussuf, 
 looking fiercely at the caliph and the vizier, " I will beat until 
 you are as black as he is (pointing to Mesrour), and him I will 
 cudgel until he is as white as the flesh of the kid I have been 
 regaling on. Depart at once, you shall no longer pollute my 
 roof." 
 
 The caliph was so much diverted with the anger of Yussuf, 
 and yet in such dread of showing it, that he was obliged to 
 thrust the end of his robe into his mouth, as they walked out 
 under a shower of curses from the water-carrier. 
 
 " By the sword of the Prophet, but they were well out of 
 this scrape ! " observed the pacha. " May the grave of the 
 rascal's mother be defiled ! to offer to cudgel the vice-regent 
 of the Prophet."
 
 263 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 " The caliph was in disguise, and Yussuf knew him not,' ; 
 replied Mustapha. 
 
 " Those who threaten me in disguise will find that no ex- 
 cuse, we swear by our beard," replied the pacha. " Proceed, 
 Menouni." 
 
 It was daylight before the great Haroun re-entered the secret 
 gate of the seraglio, and retired to his couch. After a short 
 slumber he arose, performed his ablutions, and proceeded to 
 the divan, where he found the principal officers of his court, 
 the viziers, omras, and grandees, assembled to receive him ; 
 his imagination, however, still dwelt upon the events of the 
 preceding night ; and after the ordinary business of the day 
 had been transacted, and the petitioners who attended had 
 been dismissed, he called for his grand vizier, who presented 
 himself with the customary obeisances. 
 
 "Giaffar," said the caliph, "issue a decree to the governor 
 of the city, that it be proclaimed throughout the streets of 
 Bagdad that no person whatever shall, for the space of three 
 days, carry water from the river to the bazaars for sale ; and 
 that whoever trespasses shall be hanged." 
 
 The governor, Khalid ben Talid, immediately that he re- 
 ceived the fetva, took the proper measures to have it promul- 
 gated. Heralds were despatched throughout the- various 
 quarters of the city, who proclaimed the will of the caliph. 
 The people wondered, but submitted. 
 
 Yussuf, who had performed his morning devotions, had 
 reached the banks of the Tigris, and just filled, and hoisted on 
 his shoulders, his ox-skin of water, when the appearance of 
 one of the heralds attracted his attention ; he listened to the 
 legal proclamation, and let down his ox-skin with a curse upon 
 all merchants of Moussul. 
 
 " Confusion to the scoundrels who last night prophesied 
 such an unlucky event ! If I could but lay hands upon them ! " 
 exclaimed Yussuf. " They did but hint it, and behold it is 
 done." 
 
 Whilst Yussuf was thus lamenting over his empty water-skin, 
 some of the other water-carriers came up, and began to console 
 him after the fashion of Job's comforters. 
 
 " Surely," said one, " you need not be troubled at this edict;
 
 THE WATER-CARRIER. 269 
 
 you gain more than any five of us every day, and you have no- 
 wife nor child to provide for. But I, wretched man that I am r 
 will have the misery of beholding my wife and children starving 
 before the expiration of the three days." 
 
 Another said, " Be comforted, Yussuf, three days will soon 
 pass away, and then you will relish your kabobs and your 
 rakee, your sweetmeats and your wine, with greater pleasure, 
 having been so long deprived of them." 
 
 "Besides," added a third, "you must not forget, Yussuf, 
 that the prophet has declared that a man is eternally damned, 
 body and soul, who is constantly drunk as you are." 
 
 These observations kindled Yussuf s bile to that degree, that 
 he was nearly venting his spleen upon his sarcastic consolers. 
 He turned away, however, in his rage, and throwing his empty 
 skin over his shoulders, proceeded slowly towards the mosque 
 of Zobeide, cursing, as he went along, all Moussul merchants, 
 down to the fiftieth generation. Passing the great baths, he 
 was accosted by one of the attendants with whom he was inti- 
 mate, who inquired why he was so depressed in spirits. 
 
 " That cold-blooded caliph of ours, Haroun Alraschid, has 
 put an end to my earnings for three days, by threatening to 
 hang any water-carrier who shall carry his load to the bazaar. 
 You know, my friend, that I never have put by a single para, 
 and I fear that in three days my carcass will become shrivelled 
 with famine, and dried up for the want of a cup of rakee." 
 
 " Which thou hast often divided with me before now," re- 
 plied the other; "so even now will I divide my work with you, 
 Yussuf. Follow me, if you do not object to the employment, 
 which requires little more than strength, and, by Allah, you 
 have that, and to spare. Surely, upon a pinch like this, you 
 can take up a hair-bag, and a lump of soap, and scrub and rub 
 the bodies of the true believers. Those hands of yours, so 
 enormous and so fleshy, are well calculated to knead the 
 muscles and twist the joints of the faithful. Come, you shall 
 work with us during these three days at the hummaum, and 
 then you can return to your old business." 
 
 " Thy words of comfort penetrate deep into my bosom," 
 replied Yussuf, " and I follow thee." 
 
 The bath-rubber then took him in, bound an apron round 
 his waist, and lent him a bag, three razors, pumice-stone for
 
 a?o THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 scrubbing the soles of the feet, a hair bag, and a sponge. 
 Having caparisoned and furnished him with implements, he 
 led Yussuf into the apartment where was the reservoir of hot 
 water, and desired him to wait for a customer. Yussuf had 
 not long sat down on the edge of the marble bath, when he 
 was summoned to perform his duties on a hadji, who, covered 
 with dust and dirt, had evidently just returned from a tedious 
 pilgrimage. 
 
 Yussuf set to work with spirit ; seizing the applicant with 
 one hand, he stripped him with the other, and first operated 
 upon the shaven crown with his razor. The hadji was de- 
 lighted with the energy of his attendant. Having scraped his 
 head as clean as he could with an indifferent razor, Yussuf 
 then soaped and lathered, scrubbed and sponged the skin of 
 the pi'grim, until it was as smooth and glossy as the back of a 
 raven. He then wiped him dry, and taking his seat upon the 
 backbone of his customer, he pinched and squeezed all his 
 flesh, thumped his limbs, twisted every joint till they cracked 
 like fagots in a blaze, till the poor hadji was almost reduced 
 to a mummy by the vigour of the water-carrier, and had just 
 breath enough in his body to call out, " Cease, cease, for the 
 love of Allah I am dead, I am gone." Having said this, the 
 poor man fell back nearly senseless. Yussuf was very much 
 alarmed ; he lifted up the man, poured warm water over him, 
 wiped him dry, and laid him on the ottoman to repose, cover- 
 ing him up. The hadji fell into a sound slumber, and in half 
 an hour awoke so refreshed and revived, that he declared him- 
 self quite a new man. 
 
 "It is only to hadj is," observed Yussuf, "that I give this 
 great proof of my skill." 
 
 The man put his hand into his pocket, pulled out three dir- 
 hems, and presented them to Yussuf, who was astounded at 
 such liberality; and again expressing his satisfaction, the hadji 
 left the hummaum. Delighted with his success, Yussuf con- 
 tinued his occupation, and attended with alacrity every fresh 
 candidate for his joint-twisting skill. By the time that evening 
 prayers commenced, he had kneaded to mummies half a dozen 
 more true believers, and had received his six dirhems, upon 
 which he determined to leave off for that day. 
 
 Having left the bath, he dressed himself, went home, took
 
 THE WATER-CARRIER. 271 
 
 his leathern pitcher, dish, and basket, and went to the bazaar, 
 where he purchased a piece of mutton, and left it at the most 
 noted kabob-makers in the district to be cooked ; he then pur- 
 chased his wine and rakee, wax tapers, and flowers, pistachio - 
 nuts, dried fruit, bread, and oil for his lamps. When he had 
 completed his purchases, he called at the cook's shop, where 
 he found his mutton nicely kabobed, and smoking in the dish. 
 Paying the cook, and putting it into his basket, he hastened 
 home over the bridge of boats, exulting in his good fortune. 
 When he arrived, he swept out his room, dressed himself in 
 better clothes, lighted his lamps, spread out his table, and 
 then squatted himself down, with his legs twisted under him, 
 and tossing off a bumper of wine, he exclaimed, " Well, I am 
 lucky ; nevertheless, here's confusion to all Moussul merchants, 
 with their vile omens. Allah send their unlucky footsteps here 
 to-night that's all." 
 
 Here Menouni stopped, and made his salaam. " May it 
 please your highness to permit your slave to retire for the night, 
 for the tale of Yussuf, the water-carrier, cannot be imparted to 
 your highness in one evening." 
 
 The pacha, although much amused, was also a little tired. 
 " Be it so, good Menouni ; but recollect, Mustapha, that the 
 caravan must not depart until I hear the end of this story." 
 
 'Be chesm, on my eyes be it," replied Mustapha ; and they 
 all retired for the night. 
 
 " What is the cause ? " demanded the pacha, hastily, as next 
 day Mustapha listened with apparent patience to the long 
 details of one of the petitioners for justice. 
 
 " It is, O lord of wisdom, a dispute between these men, as 
 to a sum of money which they received as guides to a Frank, 
 who journeyed into the interior. The one was hired for the 
 journey, but not being well acquainted with the road, called 
 in the assistance of the other ; they now dispute about the 
 division of the money, which lies at my feet in this bag." 
 
 " It appears that the one who was hired did not know the 
 way." 
 
 " Even so," replied Mustapha. 
 
 " Then he was no guide, and doth not deserve the money. 
 And the other, it appears, was called in to assist ? "
 
 272 THE FACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 "Thy words are the words of wisdom," replied Mustapha. 
 
 " Then was he not a guide, but only an assistant ; neither 
 can he be entitled to the money as guide. By the beard of 
 the Prophet, justice must not be fooled thus, and the divan 
 held in our presence be made foolish by such complaints. Let 
 the money be distributed among the poor, and let them each 
 have fifty bastinadoes on the soles of the feet. I have said it. ; ' 
 
 " Wallah thaib it is well said," replied Mustapha, as the 
 two disputants were removed from the presence. 
 
 "Now call Menouni," said the pacha, " for I am anxious to 
 hear the story of Yussuf, and the future proceedings of the 
 caliph ; and a part of this bag of money will reward him for 
 the honey which falls from his lips." 
 
 Menouni made his appearance and his obeisance ; the pacha 
 and Mustapha received their pipes from the Greek slave, and 
 the kessehgou then proceeded with his story. 
 
 The great caliph, Haroun Alraschid, had as usual held his 
 afternoon audience ; the court was dismissed. Haroun, whose 
 whole thoughts were upon the bankrupt condition of Yussuf, 
 and who was anxious to kno.v how he had got on after the 
 fetva had been promulgated, sent for his vizier Giaffar. " I 
 wish to ascertain," said the caliph to the vizier, " if the unlucky 
 Yussuf has managed to provide for his bacchanalian revels to- 
 night?" 
 
 " There can be no doubt, O vice-regent of the Prophet," re- 
 plied GiafTar, " that the young man is seated in the dark, in a 
 most dismal mood, without either wine or kabob, or aught to 
 comfort him." 
 
 " Send for Mesrour, then ; we will again resume our dis- 
 guises, and pay him a visit." 
 
 " Let the humblest of your slaves," interposed Giaffar, in a 
 great fright, " represent at the footstool of your highness a 
 true picture of what we may anticipate. Doubtless this lion- 
 slayer of Shitan, being famished, will not forget our prophecy, 
 and ascribing its fulfilment to our bad omens, will in his mood 
 sacrifice us to his empty stomach." 
 
 " Your wisdom is great, Giaffar," replied the caliph ; " the 
 man is truly a savage, and doubtless will rage with hunger , 
 nevertheless, we will go and see in what state he may be."
 
 THE WATER-CARRIED. 273 
 
 Giaffar trembled at the idea of being subjected to the wrath 
 of such a fellow as Yussuf, but made no reply. He went for 
 Mesrour and the dresses, and having put them en, they all 
 three issued forth from the private gate of the seraglio. They 
 had nearly reached the end of the narrow lane in which 
 Yussuf s house was situated, when the strong reflection of the 
 lights from the windows told them that, at all events, he was 
 not lamenting his hard fate in darkness; and as they approached 
 the sound of his jovial voice proved also that it was neither in 
 silence that he submitted to his destiny. As they came under 
 the window, he ceased singing, and ejaculated a loud curse 
 upon all Moussul merchants, wishing that he might only see 
 them once again before the devil had them. The caliph laughed 
 at this pious wish, and taking up a handful of pebbles, threw 
 them at the jalousies of Yussuf 's windows. 
 
 " Who the devil is there ?" roared the water-carrier; " is it 
 you, ye bankrupt vagabonds, who have annoyed me ? Begone, 
 or by the sword of the Prophet, I'll impale you all three on 
 my broomstick." 
 
 " Dost thou not know us, Yussuf? " replied the caliph ; " we 
 are your friends, and once more request admission under thy 
 hospitable roof." 
 
 Yussuf came out into the verandah. " Oh ! it is you, then ; 
 now take my advice, go in peace. I am now in good 
 humour, and peaceably disposed; but had I fallen in with 
 you to-day, I would have twisted off your necks." 
 
 " Nay, good Yussuf," replied Giaffar, " we have heard of the 
 unaccountable and mad decree of the caliph, and have called 
 to know how thou hast fared, and if we can be of service to 
 one so hospitable and kind." 
 
 " You lie, I believe," replied Yussuf; "but I'm in good 
 humour, so you shall come in, and see how well I fare. I am 
 Yussuf, and my trust is in God." He then went down and 
 admitted them, and they viewed with surprise the relics of the 
 feast. " Now, then," observed Yussuf, who was more than half 
 drunk, "you know my conditions; there is my meat, there fc 
 my wine, there is my fruit ; not a drop or ;i taste shall you have. 
 Keep your confounded sharp eyes off my sweetmeats, you 
 black-bearded rascal," continued Yussuf. addressing the caliph; 
 " you have your share of them." 
 
 T
 
 274 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 " Indeed, most hospitable sir, we covet not your delicacies : 
 all we wish to know is, the reason of this unheard-of decree, 
 and how you have contrived to supply your usual merry 
 tab!e." 
 
 " You shall hear," replied the water-carrier. " My name is 
 Yussuf, and my trust is in God. When the decree of the 
 caliph came to my ears this morning, I became as one deprived 
 of sense ; but wandering near the hummaum of Giaffar Bermuki, 
 a friendly servant of the baths accosted me." Yussuf then 
 stated how he had gained his money, much to their amusement. 
 " Now," continued he, " I will no longer be a water-carrier, but 
 an attendant at the bath will I live and die. May all evil fall 
 upon the cold-blooded caliph ; but, thanks to Allah, it never 
 will enter his head to shut up the baths ? " 
 
 " But," observed Giaffar, "suppose the caliph were to-morrow 
 morning to take it into his head to shut up the baths." 
 
 " Now, may all the ghouls seize thee, when thou visitest thy 
 father's tomb/' cried Yussuf, jumping up in a fury, " thou bear- 
 whiskered rascal ! Did not I caution thee against evil predic- 
 tions ? and did you not swear that you would deal no more in 
 surmises ? The devil must attend you, and waft your supposes 
 into the ear of the caliph, upon which to frame out his stupid 
 fetvas." 
 
 " I heartily ask your forgiveness, and I am dumb," replied 
 Giaffar. 
 
 " Then you are wise for once ; prove yourself still wise, and 
 hasten away before I reach my cudgel." 
 
 Perceiving that Yussuf's eyes twinkled with anger, they 
 thought it right to follow his advice. " We shall see you again, 
 good Yussuf," said the caliph, as they descended. 
 
 " To the devil with you all three, and never let me see your 
 ugly faces again," replied the water-carrier, slamming the door 
 after they were out. The caliph went away much amused, and 
 with his attendants entered the private gate of the seraglio. 
 
 The next morning the caliph held a solemn divan, at which 
 all the mulahs, as well as the chief officers, were present, and 
 he issued a decree, that every bath throughout Bagdad should 
 be shut for three days, on pain of impalement. The inhabit- 
 ants of Bagdad were swallowed up with wonder and perplexity. 
 " How," exclaimed they, " what can this mean ? Yesterday wft
 
 THE WATER-CARRIER. 275 
 
 were ordered not to use the waters of the Tigris, to-day the 
 baths are denied us. Perhaps, to-morrow the mosques may be 
 ordered to be shut up." And they shook their heads, as if to 
 hint to each other that the caliph was not in his senses ; but 
 they exclaimed. " In Allah only safety is to be found." Never- 
 theless, the decree was enforced by the proper officers, who 
 went round to the different baths. First they closed the Hum- 
 niaum Alraschid, next that of Ziet Zobeide, then the bath of 
 Giaffar Bermuki, at which Yussuf had found employment the 
 day before. When it was closed, the master and attendants 
 looked at the dcor, and they reproached the assistant who had 
 befriended Yussuf, saying, he was a water-carrier, and the busi- 
 ness was stopped by a decree. You have brought him to the 
 baths, and now they are shut In the meantime, Yussuf was 
 perceived striding towards the bath, muttering to himself, " I 
 am Yussuf; my trust is in God. As an assistant at the hum- 
 maum will I live and die." Ignorant of the decree, he ap- 
 proached the door of the building, round which the servants 
 were clustered, and accosted them. " How now, my friends, 
 do you wait for the key ? If anything ails the lock, trust to the 
 strength of Yussuf." 
 
 " Have you not heard that the caliph has ordered the baths 
 to be shut for three days, on pain of impalement ? " 
 
 Yussuf started back with astonishment. "Now, may the 
 graves of their fathers be eternally defiled those confounded 
 Moussul merchants ! Their supposes always come to pass. 
 I will seek them out, and be revenged." So saying, Yussuf, 
 who had come prepared with his brushes, razors, and soap,, 
 turned off in a rage, and hastened through the streets for an 
 hour or two, looking at every passenger, to ascertain if he 
 could find those upon whom he would have wreaked his 
 vengeance. 
 
 After a long walk, Yussuf sat down on a large stone. 
 " Well," said he " I am still Yussuf, and my trust is in God ; 
 but it would be better, instead of looking after these rascals, if 
 I were to look out for some means of providing myself with a 
 supper to-night." So saying, he rose, went home, put on some 
 clothes of better materials, and twisting up his red cotton sash 
 for a turban, he took up his praying-carpet with a determination 
 to go to the bazaar and sell it for what it would fetch. As he
 
 276 THE P AC II A OF MANY TALES. 
 
 passed the mosque of Hosein, he observed several mollahs, 
 reading and expounding the more abstruse passages of the 
 Koran. Yussuf knelt and prayed awhile, and returning to the 
 door of the mosque he was accosted by a woman, who ap- 
 peared to be waiting for some one. " Pious sir," said she, " I 
 perceive by your goodly habit and appearance that you are 
 one of the cadi's law officers." 
 
 "I am as you please I am Yussuf, and my trust is in 
 God." 
 
 " Oh ! my hadji, then become my protector. I have an 
 unjust debtor, who refuses me my due." 
 
 " You cannot intrust a better person," replied Yussuf. " I 
 am a strong arm of the law, and my interest at court is such 
 that I have already procured two decrees." 
 
 " Those are great words, O hadji." 
 
 " Tell me, then, who is this debtor, that I may seize him and 
 carry him before the cadi. Haste to tell me, and for a few 
 dirhems I will gain your cause, right or wrong." 
 
 " My complaint is against my husband, who has divorced 
 me, and, notwithstanding, refuses me my dowry of five dinars, 
 my clothes, and my ornaments." 
 
 " What is your husband's trade ? " 
 
 " Pious sir, he is an embroiderer of papouches." 
 
 " Let us lose no time, my good woman ; show me this 
 miracle of injustice, and, by Allah, I will confound him." 
 
 Upon this the woman unbound the string of coins from her 
 head, and cutting off three dirhems, presented them to Yussuf. 
 Yussuf seized the money, and tucking up his sleeves, that he 
 might appear more like an officer, he bade her to lead to the 
 delinquent. The woman led him to the great mosque, where 
 her husband, a little shrivelled-up man, was performing his 
 duties with great devotion. Yussuf, without saying a word, 
 took him up, carpet and all, and was about to carry him off. 
 
 " In the name of the Prophet, to what class of madmen do 
 you belong ? " screamed the astonished devotee. " Release me ; 
 do not crush my poor ribs within your grasp. Set me down, 
 and I will walk with you, as soon as I have put on my 
 slippers." 
 
 The people crowded round to know what was the matter. 
 
 Ho, ho, that will presently appear," replied Yussuf. " His
 
 THE WATER-CARRIER, 277 
 
 wife is his creditor, and I am her law officer ; my demand is 
 that you restore to her fifty dinars, besides all the gold, jewels, 
 and ornaments she has had these last fifty years." 
 
 " How can that be," replied the little man, " seeing that I 
 am not forty years old ? " 
 
 " That may be the case in fact," replied Yussuf; " but law 
 is a very difficult thing, as you will find out. So come along 
 with me to the cadi." 
 
 The party then proceeded on their way to the cadi ; but 
 they had not gone many yards, when the papouche-maker 
 whispered to Yussuf, " Most valiant and powerful sir, I quar- 
 relled with my wife last night, on account of her unreasonable 
 jealousy. I did pronounce the divorce, but there was no one 
 to hear it. If we slept together once more, she would be 
 pacified. Therefore, most humane sir, I entreat you to 
 interfere." 
 
 " Was there no witness ? " inquired Yussuf. 
 
 " None, good sir," replied the man, slipping five dirhems into 
 the hand of Yussuf. 
 
 " Then I decide that there is no divorce," replied Yussuf, 
 pocketing the money, "and therefore you are no debtor. 
 Woman, come hither. It appears that there was no divorce 
 so says your husband and you have no witness to prove it. 
 You are, therefore, no creditor. Go to your husband, and 
 walk home with him ; he is not much of a husband, to be 
 sure, but still he must be cheap at the three dirhems which 
 you have paid me. God be with you. Such is my decree." 
 
 The woman, who had already repented of her divorce, was 
 glad to return, and with many compliments, they took their 
 leave of him. " By Allah ! " exclaimed Yussuf, " but this is 
 good. I will live and die an officer of the law." So saying, 
 he returned home for his basket, purchased his provisions and 
 wine, and lighting up his house, passed the evening in carousing 
 and singing as before. 
 
 W T hile Yussuf was thus employed, the caliph was desirous of 
 ascertaining the effect of the new decree relative to the baths. 
 " GiafTar," said he, " I wonder whether I have succeeded in 
 making that wine-bibber go to bed supperless ? Come, let us 
 pay him a visit." 
 
 " For the sake of Islam, O caliph," replied Giafifar, " let us
 
 273 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 forbear to trifle with that crackbrained drunkard any more. 
 Already has Allah delivered us out of his hands. What may 
 we not expect if he is hungry and desolate?" 
 
 " Vour wisdom never grows less," replied the caliph ; " those 
 are the words of truth : nevertheless, I must go and see the 
 madman once more." 
 
 Giaffar, not b2ing able to prevail, prepared the dresses ; 
 and they, accompanied by Mesrour, again sallied forth by the 
 private gate of the seraglio. Once more were they surprised 
 at witnessing the same illumination of the house, and one of 
 the jalousies having burst open with the wind, they perceived 
 the shadow of Yussuf, reflected on the wall, his beard wagging 
 over his kabobs, and a cup of wine in his hand. 
 
 " Who is there ? " cried Yussuf, when Giaffar, at the com- 
 mand of the caliph, knocked at the door. 
 
 " Your friends, dear Yussuf your friends, the Moussul mer- 
 chant?. Peace be with you." 
 
 "But it's neither peace nor welcome to you, you owls," 
 replied Yussuf, walking out into the verandah. " By Allah ! if 
 you do not walk away, and that quickly, I shall come down to 
 you with my bone-polisher." 
 
 " Indeed, friend Yussuf," replied Giaffar, " we have but two 
 words to say to you." 
 
 " Say them quickly, then, for you enter not my doors again, 
 you wretched fellows, who have ruined all the water-carriers 
 and all the bath-people in Bagdad." 
 
 " What is that you mean ? " replied the caliph ; " we are lost 
 in mystery." 
 
 " What !" replied Yussuf: " have you not heard the decree 
 of this morning ? " 
 
 " Gentle sir, we have been so busy sorting our wares, that 
 we have not stepped out this day, and are ignorant of all that 
 hath passed in Bagdad." 
 
 " Then you shall come up and learn ; but first swear by 
 Moses, Esau, and the Prophet, that you will not suppose ; for 
 all you have imagined has proved as true as if it had been 
 engraven on the ruby seal of Solomon." 
 
 These conditions were readily accepted by the caliph and his 
 companions, and they were then admitted upstairs, where they 
 found everything disposed in the usual order, and the same
 
 THE WATER-CARRIER. 279 
 
 profusion. When they had taken their seats in the corner of 
 the room, Yussuf said, " Now, my guests, as you hope for 
 pardon, tell me, do you know nothing of what has happened 
 to me this day and what the blockhead of a caliph has been 
 about?" Haroun and the vizier could with difficulty restrain 
 their laughter, as they shook their heads. " Yes," continued 
 Yussuf, " that vicegerent of a tattered beard, and more tatt.red 
 understanding, has issued a decree for closing the baths for 
 three days, by which cruel ordinance I was again cast adrift 
 upon the sea of necessity. However, Providence stood my 
 friend, and threw a few dirhems in my way, and I have made 
 my customary provision in spite of the wretch of a caliph, 
 who I fully believe is an atheist, and no true believer." 
 
 " Inshallah," said the caliph to himself, " but I'll be even 
 with you some day, at least." 
 
 Yussuf then filled his cup several times, and was in high 
 glee, as he narrated the events of the day, concluding with, 
 " I am Yussuf I put my trust in God. As an officer of the 
 law I intend to live and die, and to-morrow I shall attend the 
 hall of the cadi." 
 
 " But," said Giaffar, " suppose " 
 
 " Suppose ! by the beard of the Prophet, if you dare to sup- 
 pose again in my presence, I will pound your fat stomach into 
 a jelly," cried Yussuf, seizing his cudgel. 
 
 " No, no, my friend, I merely wish to say " 
 
 " Say nothing," roared Yussuf, " or you never speak again." 
 
 " Then we will only think, my friend." 
 
 " That I will allow, and I also think as well as you. My 
 thoughts are, that it will be wise for you to quit as fast as you 
 can, for I have the cudgel in my hand, and am not in the very 
 best of humours." The caliph and his attendants were of the 
 same opinion, and took their leave of their irritated host. 
 
 At the next morning's levee, Giaffar entered the divan at the 
 head of the chief officers of the law and viziers of the different 
 departments, and prostrating himself before the throne, he 
 called down increase of years and prosperity on the caliph. 
 " Giaffar," replied Haroun, " issue immediate orders, under the 
 imperial firmaum, that strict inquiries be made into those 
 officers of justice who attend the halls of the cadis. All those 
 who have been lawfully selected shall be retained, with a
 
 2So THZ PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 present and increase of salary, while those who have assumed 
 their name and office without warranty or permission, shall be 
 dismissed with the bastinado. 
 
 The orders of the caliph were immediately obeyed. In the 
 meantime, Yussuf, who had fallen asleep over his wine, did not 
 awake till long after the sun was up. He immediately rose, 
 dressed himself with care, and hastened to the hall of the cadi, 
 and took his station among the officers of the law, who looked 
 at him with surprise and displeasure. At this moment the 
 caliph's firmaum was delivered to the cadi, who, lifting it up to 
 his forehead, in token of respect and obedience, caused it to 
 be read to him. He then cried with a loud voice, " Bring in 
 purses of gold, and let also the fellah and rods for the bastinado 
 be brought in. Close up the gates of the cutchery, that none 
 escape ; and ye officers of justice, be ready to answer as your 
 names are called." Yussuf, whose eyes were wide open, as 
 well as his ears, said to himself, " My God ! what new event 
 is now to come to pass ? " 
 
 The orders of the cadi having been obeyed, the officers 
 were severally called forward, and having proved themselves 
 regularly appointed, received their rewards, and were dismissed. 
 Yussuf s ideas were so confused by what appeared to him such 
 an unmitigated destiny, that he did not perceive that he was 
 left standing alone. It was not until the second time that the 
 cadi called to him, that Yussuf moved towards him. 
 ' Who are you ? " inquired the cadi. 
 ' I am Yussuf, and my trust is in God," replied he. 
 ' What is your profession ? " 
 ' I am a water-carrier.'"' 
 
 'Such being the case, why did you join the officers of the 
 law?" 
 
 " I only entered upon the calling yesterday, O cadi ; but 
 nothing is difficult to me. Provided I gain but my six dirhems 
 a day, I have no objection to become a mollah." 
 
 The cadi and bystanders were unable to restrain their mirth; 
 nevertheless, his feet were secured to the pole; and when 
 hoisted up, they commenced the bastinado, taking care, how- 
 ever, to strike the pole much oftener than his toes. Having 
 finished, he was released, and turned out of the hall of justice, 
 very much mortified and melancholy, but little hurt by the
 
 THE WATER-CARRIER. *Sl 
 
 gentle infliction. "Well," thought Yussuf, "fate appears 
 determined that I shall change my mode of gaining my liveli- 
 hood every day. Had I not allowed those Moussul rascals to 
 enter my house, this never would have happened." 
 
 As he said this, he perceived one of the beeldars, or officers- 
 of the caliph's household, pass by him. " That would be a 
 nice office," thought Yussuf, " and the caliph does not count 
 his people like the cadi. It requires but an impudent swagger, 
 and you are taken upon your own representation." Accord- 
 ingly, nowise disheartened, and determined to earn his six 
 dirhems, he returned home, squeezed his waist into as narrow 
 a compass as he could, gave his turban a smart cock, washed 
 his hands, and took a peeled almond-wand in his hand. He 
 was proceeding down stairs, when he recollected that it was 
 necessary to have a sword, and he had only a scabbard, which 
 he fixed in his belt, and cutting a piece of palm-wood into the 
 shape of a sword, he fixed it in, making the handle look smart 
 with some coloured pieces of cotton and silk, which he sowed 
 with packthread. Thus marched he out, swaggering down the 
 streets, and swinging his twig of almond-tree in his hand. As- 
 he strutted along, everyone made way for him, imagining him 
 to be one of those insolent retainers of office who are supported 
 by the great khans. Thus he continued a straight course, until 
 he arrived at the market-place, where a multitude was assembled 
 round two men, who were fighting desperately. Yussuf pressed 
 forward, the crowd making way for him on both sides, either 
 taking him for an officer of the household, or dreading the 
 force of his nervous and muscular proportions. When he 
 reached the combatants, they were covered with dirt and 
 blood, and engaged so furiously tint no one dared separate 
 them. Yussuf, perceiving the dread which he inspired, and 
 that he was taken, as he wished to be, for a beeldar, first 
 clapped his hand to the handle of his pretended sword, and 
 then struck the combatants several sharp blows with his 
 almond stick, and thus induced them to leave off fighting. 
 The sheick, or head of the bazaar, then approached Yussuf, 
 and making an obeisance, presented him with six dirhems,. 
 with a prayer that he would seize the culprits, and carry then* 
 before the caliph for punishment, as disturbers of the public 
 peace.
 
 e82 THE PACHA OF MANY 7 ALES. 
 
 Yussuf, securing the money in his girdle, seized up the two 
 combatants, and carrying one under each arm, walked off with 
 them. A great crowd follower), with many prayers for the 
 release of the prisoners ; but Yussuf turned a deaf ear, until 
 another six dirhems were dropped into his vest, with a prayer 
 for mercy. Upon this Yussuf consented to release them, and 
 walked away, hardly able to contain his exultation. " I am 
 Yussuf/' cried he, "and I trust in God. As a beeldar will I 
 live and die. By Allah ! I will go to the palace, and see how 
 it fares with my brother beeldars." 
 
 Now there were thirty beeldars in the service of the caliph, 
 who attended the palace in rotation, ten each day. On reach- 
 ing the court of the palace, Yussuf took his station where the 
 ten beeldars on duty were collected together. He observed, 
 however, that they were very different from himself, very slight 
 young men, and dressed in a very superior style. He felt 
 some contempt for their effeminate appearance contrasted with 
 his own muscular frame, but could not keep his eyes off their 
 handsome and stylish dress. Meanwhile the chief of the 
 beeldars perceived him, and knowing that he did not belong 
 to the palace, imagined from his appearance and his presenting 
 himself among them, that he must be one in the service of one 
 of the great omrahs who were at Bagdad, who, having nothing 
 to do at home, had come as a visitor to the palace. He 
 remarked this to his brother beeldars, saying, " This fine-built 
 stranger ought to be considered as our guest. Let us show 
 him all courtesy, for he is of our profession, and therefore we 
 shall not do ourselves credit if we do not prove that we have 
 the power to serve him." The other beeldars agreeing with 
 him, the chief went to the secretary of the treasury and pro- 
 cured an order of notice upon a rich confectioner, to pay into 
 the treasury the sum of five thousand dirhems, due by him 
 upon several accounts therein specified. The vizier's seal 
 having been attached to it, he went With it to where Yussuf 
 was standing. " What ho ! brother beeldar," said the chief. 
 
 " I am Yussuf, and my trust is in God ; I am ready to obey 
 your commands," said the water-carrier, advancing with great 
 humility. 
 
 " May I request, brother beeldar, that you will do us of the 
 palace the very great favour to carry this paper, bearing the
 
 THE WATER-CARRIER. 283 
 
 vizier's seal, to Mallem Osman, the great confectioner, and 
 request the immediate payment of five thousand dirhems. You 
 know your profession ; of course the money is not expected, 
 but whatever he may offer you for affording him a respite, 
 put down to the friendship and good will of the beeldars 
 of the palace, and remember us whtn you feast in your own 
 dwelling." 
 
 Yussuf, highly delighted, put the order into his cap, made a 
 low salaam, and departed on his message. Deeming it beneath 
 his new-fledged dignity to walk, he mounted one of the asses 
 ready for hire at the corner of the streets, ordering the driver 
 to hasten before to clear the way, and ascertain which was the 
 dwelling of the confectioner. The house of Mallem Osman 
 was soon discovered, for he was the most celebrated of his 
 trade, and had an immense business. Yussuf rode up on the 
 beast, which was not half as large as himself, and stopped at 
 the shop where the confectioner was superintending his work- 
 people. " I am Yussuf, and my trust is in God," said Yussuf, 
 looking at the confectioner. The confectioner heeded him 
 not, when Yussuf strutted into the shop. " I merely wait upon 
 you, good Mallem Osman, to request that you will immediately 
 repair to the palace, carrying with you five bags, each contain- 
 ing one thousand dirhems, of which there appears at present 
 to be no chance of receiving an asper. This paper, sealed by 
 the vizier, contains the order ; and as you have the honour of 
 being the caliph's debtor, you will do well to rise and accom- 
 pany me forthwith to the palace, not forgetting the needful." 
 
 At this speech Mallem started up from his seat, advanced 
 most submissively to Yussuf, took the paper and raised it to 
 his head, addressing Yussuf with the most abject servility, "O 
 most excellent, most valiant, and most powerful beeldar, how 
 well doth the caliph select his officers ! How favoured am I 
 by Allah with your happy presence ! I am your slave honour 
 me by refreshing yourself in my dwelling." 
 
 Yussuf then threw the driver of the beast half a dirhem and 
 dismissed him, breathed as if fatigued with his journey, and 
 wiped his brow with his sleeve. The confectioner placed him 
 in his own seat, and sent hastily to the bazaar for a large 
 dishful of kabob, spread a napkin before Yussuf, and slicing a 
 pomegranate, strewed it over with pounded sugar, and placed
 
 23 1 TIL" r AC II A OF MANY TALES. 
 
 it before him, along with some sweet cakes and some honey. 
 " O chief of beeldars ! " said the confectioner, " it is my prayei 
 that you will deign to break your fast in the house of your 
 servant. Will you amuse yourself with these trifles while 
 something better is preparing?" Here one of the shopmen 
 brought a bowl, into which he poured sherbet of the distilled 
 juice of the lotus-flower mingled with rose-water. The master 
 placed this also before Yussuf, and entreated him to eat ; but 
 Yussuf, affecting the great man, held his head up in the air and 
 would not even look that way. " Condescend to oblige me 
 by tasting this sherbet, O chief ! " continued the confectioner : 
 " or I swear by Allah that I will divorce my youngest and most 
 favourite wife." 
 
 " Hold hold, brother !" replied Yussuf; " rather than that 
 the innocent should suffer, I will comply with your request ; 
 although, to say the truth, I have no appetite, having taken my 
 breakfast from the caliph's table'in ten dishes, each dish con- 
 taining three fowls dressed in a different fashion. I am so full 
 that I can scarce draw my breath." 
 
 " I fully comprehend that it is out of compassion to your 
 slave that you comply with my request." 
 
 " Well," said Yussuf, " to oblige you ; " and taking up the 
 bowl of sherbet, which contained some pints, to the amazement 
 of the confectioner, at one long draught he swallowed it all 
 down. The kabob now made its appearance, wrapped up in 
 thin cakes of fine wheaten flour. Yussuf swallowed this also with 
 a rapidity which was astonishing to behold, nor did he cease 
 eating till the whole table was cleared. The confectioner was 
 amazed. "This fellow," thought he, "breakfasted upon ten 
 dishes, each containing three fowls. How fortunate for me ! 
 W ? hat would he have done had he come here fasting ? Nothing 
 less than an ox stuffed with pistachio-nuts would have satisfied 
 him. Would to Heaven that I were well rid of him ! " 
 
 In the meantime Yussuf stirred not, but resumed h's con- 
 sequence. The confectioner requested to know if his highness 
 would wait till a dinner was prepared for him. " Indeed, 
 friend, that is a subject of small concern. My object here is, 
 that you hasten with me to the treasury to pay in the five 
 thousand dirhems which are due." 
 
 " Your indulgence, my aga," replied the confectioner ; " I
 
 THE WATER-CARRIER. 225 
 
 will return in one minute." Mallem Osnien then filled a large 
 bag with the choicest of his sweetmeats, "and putting thirty 
 dirhems in a paper, he approached Yussuf, saying, " My prince, 
 I humbly beg your acceptance of this trifling present of sweet- 
 meats, and these thirty dirhems for the expenses of the bath 
 after your fatiguing journey hither. Deign also to favour me 
 with your protection. Trade is scarce, and money does not 
 come in. In a short time I will pay all." 
 
 Yussuf, who was aware that the order hnd only been given 
 that he might squeeze a few dirhems out of the confectioner, 
 then spoke with much civility. " My advice to you, Mallem," 
 said he, " is, that you stir not out of your door to-day there is 
 no such hurry nor to-morrow, nay, even in a week, or a 
 month, or a year. I may say, stir not at all, for you have my 
 protection ; and therefore be under no trouble of going to the 
 palace at all." 
 
 It was near sunset when this affair was settled. Yussuf 
 walked home with his hands full of presents, exclaiming as 
 he went, " I am Yussuf, my provision is from God ! " He 
 reached his home full of pleasing anticipations, and changing 
 his dress, took out his basket and pitcher, returning loaded 
 more than usual ; for, having gained forty-two dirhems, he 
 resolved to indulge himself. " By Allah ! " cried he, " I will 
 double my allowance, to the confusion of those rascally Moussul 
 merchants, who are such birds of ill omen." He accordingly 
 expended double the money, doubling also his allowance of 
 wax tapers and oil, so that his house was in a blaze of light 
 when he sat down as usual to his feast, more happy than ever, 
 drinking more, and singing twice as loudly as he had ever 
 done before. 
 
 Leaving him to his solitary revels, we must observe that the 
 caliph had ascertained that Yussuf had received the bastinado; 
 and now making sure that he would be without provisions or 
 wine, he resolved to pay him another visit. " I think, Giaffar, 
 that I have at last sent that rascal to bed supperless in return 
 for his calling me an infidel; and I must go and enjoy his 
 wrath and indignation, increased of course by the pain of the 
 blows he has received by the order of the cadi." In vain did 
 Giaffar represent that it would be attacking an angry and 
 wounded lion in his den ; that his wrath would be such, and
 
 2S5 THE IACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 his strength was so enormous, that they could not expect less 
 than annihilation, should they venture to his door. " All that 
 may be true," replied the caliph ; " but still I will go and see 
 him at all risk." 
 
 " I have my dagger, Commander of the Faithful," observed 
 Mesrour, "and I fear him not." 
 
 " Use it not, Mesrour," replied the caliph. " Get ready the 
 dresses and let us depart." 
 
 " I venture to promise that we shall see no more lights this 
 time, except it may be a solitary lamp to enable him to bathe 
 his wounded feet." 
 
 They went forth, and on their arrival were astonished at the 
 blaze of light which proceeded from Yussuf s apartments ; his 
 singing also was most clamorous, and he appeared to be much 
 intoxicated, crying out between his staves, " I am Yussuf ! con- 
 found all Moussul merchants my trust is in God ! " 
 
 " By the sword of the Prophet ! " exclaimed the caliph, " this 
 fellow baffles me in everything. Have I not made the whole 
 city uncomfortable, and submit to decrees which appeared to 
 be promulgated by a madman, merely to chastise this wine- 
 bibber, and behold he revels as before ? I am weary of 
 attempting to baffle him; however, let us find out, if possible, 
 how he has provided for his table. What, ho ! friend Yussuf, 
 are you there ? Here are your guests come again to rejoice in 
 your good fortune," cried the caliph from the street. 
 
 " What, again ? " roared Yussuf. " Well, now, you must take 
 the consequence. Fly, or you are dead men. I have sworn 
 by Allah, not only that you should not come into my door, but 
 that I would cudgel you whenever we met again." 
 
 " Nay, thou pearl among men, thou ocean of good temper, 
 rise and receive us. It is our destiny, and who can pre- 
 vent it?" 
 
 " Well, then," replied Yussuf, coming out to the verandah 
 with his great cudgel, " if it is your destiny, it will not be my 
 fault." 
 
 " But, good Yussuf/' replied the caliph, " hear us. This is 
 the last time that we request admittance. We swear it by the 
 three. You rail at us as if we harmed you ; whereas, you must 
 acknowledge that everything, however unfortunate at first 
 appearance, has turned only to thy advantage."
 
 THE WATER-CARRIER. 287 
 
 " That is true," replied Yussuf; " but still it is through your 
 pernicious omens that I am made to change my trade every 
 day. What am I to be next?" 
 
 " Is not your trust in God ? " replied Giaffar. " Besides, we 
 promise thee faithfully that we will not say one word on the 
 subject, and that this shall be the last time that we demand 
 your hospitality." 
 
 " Well," replied Yussuf, who was very drunk, " I will open 
 the door for the last time, as I must not war with destiny." 
 So saying, he reeled down the stairs, and let them in. 
 
 The caliph found everything in extraordinary profusion. 
 Yussuf sang for some time without noticing them ; at last he 
 said, " You Moussul rascals, why do you not ask me to narrate 
 how I have had such good fortune? You are dying with envy, 
 I presume ; but now you shall hear it, and if you dare to go 
 away till I have told you all, I will shower down such a quantity 
 of blows upon your carcasses, as shall leave you worse than a 
 bastinado of five hundred." 
 
 " We are all obedience and humility, O prince of men ! " 
 replied the caliph. 
 
 Yussuf then narrated the events of the day, concluding 
 with, " I am Yussuf, my trust is in God ! A beeldar will I 
 live, a beeldar will I die, in spite of the caliph and his grand 
 vizier to boot. Here's confusion to them both ! " He then 
 drank off a cup of rakee, and rolling over in a state of stupid 
 intoxication, fell fast asleep. 
 
 The caliph and Giaffar blew out the lights, and then let 
 themselves out of the door, and, much amused with the ad- 
 ventures of Yussuf, they regained the private gate of the 
 seraglio. 
 
 The next morning Yussuf awoke, and finding it late, hastened 
 to dress himself in his best clothes, saying to himself, " I am a 
 beeldar, and I will die a beeldar." He took care to comb out 
 his beard, and twist it in a fiercer manner; and then putting on 
 his s'ham sword, lost no time in going to the palace, where he 
 took his station among the beeldars who were on duty, hoping 
 that he would be despatched by the chief on a similar message 
 as that of the day before. The caliph soon afterwards made 
 his appearance at the divan, and immediately recognized 
 Yussuf in his partial disguise. He observed to Giaffar, " Do
 
 28S THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 you see there our friend Yussuf ? I have him at last, and no 
 I will perplex him not a little before he escapes me." The 
 chief of the beeldars being called, stepped forward and made 
 his obeisance. " What is the number of your corps ? " inquired 
 the caliph. 
 
 "Thirty in all, Most High; of which ten are every day on 
 duty." 
 
 " I will review those who are present," replied the caliph, 
 *'and examine each man particularly." 
 
 The chief of the beeldars, bowing low, retired, and turning to 
 his men, with a loud voice, said, " Beeldars, it is the pleasure 
 of the Commander of the Faithful that you appear before him." 
 
 This order was instantly obeyed, and Yussuf was'compelled 
 to walk with the rest into the immediate presence of the caliph ; 
 not, however, without alarm, and saying to himself, " What can 
 all this be for? My usual luck. Yesterday I cast up my 
 reckoning with the cadi, and paid the balance with my heels. 
 If I have to account with the caliph, I am lucky if I corne off 
 clear with my head." 
 
 In the meantime the caliph asked a few questions of each 
 beeldar, until he came to Yussuf, who had taken care to stand 
 last. His manoeuvres and embarrassment afforded much 
 pleasure to the caliph and Giaffar, so much that they scarce 
 could refrain from laughing outright. The last of the beeldars 
 had now been examined, and had passed over to the right 
 after the others, and Yussuf remained standing by himself. He 
 shuffled from side to side, casting an eye now at the door, and 
 then at the caliph, considering whether he should take to his 
 heels, but he felt that it was useless. The caliph asked him 
 who he was three times before Yussuf's confusion would allow 
 him to answer ; and the chief of the beeldars gave him a push 
 \n the ribs, and looking in his face, did not recognize him ; he 
 fiowever supposed that he had been lately substituted by one 
 of the other chiefs. "Answer the caliph, you great brute," 
 said he to Yussuf, giving him another dig in the ribs with the 
 handle of his poniard; but Yussuf's tongue was glued to his 
 mouth with fear, and he stood trembling without giving any 
 answer. The caliph again repeated, "What is your name, 
 your father's name, and the amount of your salary as a beeldar ? 
 and how did you get your appointment ? "
 
 THE WATER-CARRIER. 289 
 
 " Is it to me you speak, O hadji caliph ? " at last stammered 
 out Yussuf. 
 
 " Yes," replied the caliph, gravely. 
 
 Giaffar, who stood near his master, then cried out, " Yes, you 
 cowardly shred of a beeldar, and reply quickly, or a sword will 
 be applied to your neck." 
 
 Yussuf, as if talking to himself, replied, " I hope it will be 
 my <rwn then." He then replied to the question, " Yes, yes, 
 it's all right my father was a beeldar, and my mother also 
 before him." At this extravagant answer the caliph and whole 
 court could no longer restrain their mirth, which gave Yussuf a 
 little more courage. 
 
 "So," replied Haroun, " it appears that you are a beeldar, 
 and that your allowance is ten dinars yearly, and five pounds 
 of mutton daily." 
 
 "Yes, my Umeer," replied Yussuf, " I believe that is correct. 
 My trust is in God ! " 
 
 " It is well. Now, Yussuf, take with you three other 
 beeldars to the dungeon of blood, and bring to me the four 
 robbers who were condemned to death for their manifold 
 crimes and enormities." 
 
 Here Giaffar interfered, and submitted to the caliph, whether 
 it would not be better that the head jailor should produce them, 
 which being ordered, that officer presently made his appearance 
 with the four criminals pinioned and bareheaded. The caliph 
 ordered three of the beeldars each to seize and blindfold a 
 prisoner, to open their upper garments ready, to unsheath their 
 swords, and wait for the word of command. The three 
 beeldars made their obeisance, obeyed the command, placing 
 the criminals in a kneeling position, resting on their hams, with 
 their necks bare, and their eyes covered. While the three 
 beeldars stood thus in readiness, Yussuf was in a dreadful state 
 of confusion. "To escape now is impossible," said he to 
 himself. " Confound these Moussul merchants. They did 
 well to say they would come no more, for in a few minutes I 
 shall be no more myself." 
 
 " You fellow there ! you are one of the appointed beeldars, 
 and do not know your duty," cried Giaffar. " Why do you not 
 lead out the criminal, as your companions have done?" 
 
 Yussuf, obliged to obey, now seized the fourth prisoner 
 covered his eyes, laid bare his neck, and took his stand behind 
 
 u
 
 200 'I HE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 him, but without drawing his sword. " I never shall be able 
 to get over this," thought Yussuf. " In a few seconds it will 
 prove to be but a piece of palm-wood, and I shall lose my 
 head among the jeers of the people. However, my trust is in 
 God; and to Shitan with all Moussul merchants." He took, 
 however, his sheath and sham sword from his belt, and raised 
 it in the scabbard over his shoulder. 
 
 The caliph, who watched him narrowly, was highly diverted 
 with this manreuvre. " You beeldar ! " cried he, " why do you 
 not unsheath your sword? " 
 
 "My sword," replied Yussuf, "is of that temper, that it 
 must not too long glance in the eyes of the Commander of the 
 Faithful" 
 
 The caliph appeared satisfied, and turning to the first beeldar, 
 commanded him to strike. In a moment the head of the robber 
 was lying on the ground. " Neatly and bravely done," said 
 the caliph; "let him be rewarded." He then gave command 
 to the second to execute his criminal. The sword whirled in 
 the air, and at one stroke the head of the robber flew some 
 distance from the shoulders. The third criminal was de- 
 spatched with equal dexterity. "Now," said the caliph to 
 Yussuf, "you, my beeldar, cut off the criminal's head, and 
 receive the like reward for your dexterity." 
 
 Yussuf had, by this time, to a certain degree recovered his 
 presence of mind; he had not exactly arranged his ideas, but 
 they floated indistinctly in his brain. "Will your highness 
 allow me to say a few words to the criminal?" demanded 
 Yussuf, to gain time. 
 
 " Be it so," replied the caliph, stuffing his robe in his mouth 
 to prevent laughter. 
 
 "The caliph has commanded that your head be struck off. 
 If you would pronounce the profession of the true faith, now 
 is your time, robber, for you have but one short minute to 
 live." 
 
 The criminal immediately cried out, " There is but one God, 
 and Mahomet is his Prophet ! " 
 
 Yussuf then bared his muscular arm, and fiercely rolling his 
 eyes, walked three times round his prisoner. " Declare now 
 the justice of your fate," cried he, aloud (but at the same time 
 saying to the man, in a low tone, " Swear you are innocent "). 
 " Say, is not your sentence just?"
 
 THE WATER-CARRIER. 291 
 
 "No no," replied the man, in a loud voice, "I am 
 innocent" 
 
 The caliph, who was very attentive to all that passed, was 
 much diverted by Yussufs proceedings, and wondered what he 
 would do next. Yussuf then walked up to the caliph, and 
 prostrated himself. " O caliph, vicegerent of the Prophet, deign 
 to listen to your faithful beeldar, while he narrates a strange 
 adventure which hath befallen him within these few days." 
 
 " Speak, beeldar, we are all attention ; remember that thy 
 words be those of truth." 
 
 "It was on the evening before your highness issued the 
 decree that no water should be supplied to the bazaar from the 
 Tigris, that as I was sitting in my house, performing my sacred 
 duties, and studying the Koran, which I read in a loud voice, 
 three merchants of Moussul claimed and entreated my hospi- 
 tality. The Koran has pointed out hospitality as a virtue 
 necessary to every true believer, and I hastened to open my 
 door and receive them." 
 
 "Indeed," replied the caliph, looking at Giaffar. "Tell me, 
 beeldar, what sort of looking personages might these Moussul 
 merchants be ?" 
 
 " Ill-favoured to a degree. One was a pot-bellied, rascally- 
 looking fellow, with a great beard, who looked as if he had 
 just come out of a jail. [The caliph winked at his vizier, as 
 much as to say, there is your portrait.] Another was a black- 
 bearded, beetle-browed, hang-dog looking rascal. [Giaffar 
 bowed to the caliph.] And the third was a blubber-lipped, 
 weazen-faced skeleton of a negro. [Mesrour clapped his hand 
 to his dagger with impatience.] In short, your highness, I 
 may safely say that the three criminals whose heads have just 
 been forfeited to justice were, as far as appearances went, 
 honest-looking men compared to the three Moussul merchants. 
 Nevertheless, as in duty bound, I received these three men, 
 gave them shelter, and spread a table of the best before them. 
 They indulged in kabobs, and asking for wine and rakee, which, 
 as forbidden by the law, I never taste, I went out and pur- 
 chased it for them. They did eat and drink till the dawn 
 broke, and then they departed." 
 
 "Indeed," said the caliph. 
 
 " The next night, to my great annoyance, they aroused me 
 from *uy devotions as before. Again did my substance dis-
 
 2 9 3 THE PACHA OF MANY TALEC. 
 
 appear in providing for their demands ; and, after having 
 eaten and drunk until they were intoxicated, they went away, 
 and I hoped to see them no more, as they were not sparing in 
 their observations upon the new decree of your highness, rela- 
 tive to the shutting up of the baths." 
 
 " Proceed, good Yussuf." 
 
 "The third night they again came, and having no more 
 money to spare, and finding them still making my house a 
 tavern, I hoped that they would come no more ; but they came 
 again a fourth night, and then behaved most indecorously, sing- 
 ing lewd songs, and calling out for wine and rakee until I 
 could bear it no more, and I then told them that I could 
 no longer receive them. The fat-stomached one, whom 
 I have before mentioned, then rose, and said, ' Yussuf, we have 
 proved your hospitality, and we thank you. No one would 
 have received three such ill-favoured persons, and have regaled 
 them for the love of God, as you have done. We will now 
 reward thee. Thou art a beeldar of the palace, and we will 
 now present thee with the sword of justice, which has been 
 lost since the days of the great Solomon ; take this, and judge 
 not by its outward appearance. When commanded to take off 
 the head of a criminal, if he is guilty the sword will flash like 
 fire, and never fail ; but should he be innocent, it will become 
 a harmless lath of wood.' I took the present, and was about 
 to return thanks, when the three ill-favoured Moussul merchants 
 gradually took the form of celestial beings, and vanished." 
 
 " Indeed, this is a strange story what, did the big-bellied 
 fellow look like an angel ? " 
 
 "As an angel of light, O caliph." 
 
 " What, and the weazen-faced negro ?" 
 
 " Like a houri, O caliph." 
 
 " Well, then," replied the caliph, " you shall now, Yussuf, try 
 the power of this wonderful sword. Strike off that criminal's 
 head." 
 
 Yussuf returned to the robber, who remained kneeling, and 
 walked round him, crying out with a loud voice, " O sword, if 
 this man be guilty, do thy duty ; but if he be, as he has 
 declared in his dying moments, innocent, then become thou 
 harmless." With these words Yussuf drew his sword, and ex- 
 hibited a lath of palm-wood. " He is innocent, O caliph; this 
 man, being unjustly condemned, ought to be set free."
 
 THE WATER-CARRIER. 293 
 
 "Most certainly," replied the caliph, delighted with the 
 manoeuvre of Yussuf, "let him be liberated. Chief of the 
 beeldars, we cannot part with a man who, like Yussuf, pos- 
 sesses so famous a weapon. Let there be ten more beeldars 
 appointed, and let Yussuf have the command of them as chief, 
 with the same perquisites and salary as the other chiefs." 
 
 Yussuf prostrated himself before the caliph, delighted with 
 his good fortune, and as he retired, he exclaimed, "I am 
 Yussuf; my trust is in God. Allah preserve the three Moussul 
 merchants." 
 
 It was not long before the caliph, Giaffar, and Mesrour 
 appeared again as the merchants to Yussuf, and heartily en- 
 joyed his discomfiture and confusion when they discovered 
 themselves. Still Yussuf enjoyed the favour of Haroun to the 
 end of his life, and was more fortunate than Giaffar and others, 
 who only once fell under the wrath and suspicion of the all- 
 powerful caliph. 
 
 "Such, O pacha, is the history of Yussuf, the water-carrier." 
 
 " Yes, and a very good story too. Have you not another, 
 Menouni?" 
 
 "Your highness," replied Mustapha, "the caravan will 
 depart at break of day, and Menouni has but three hours to 
 prepare. It can no longer be detained without the chief 
 making a report to the authorities, which would not be well 
 received." 
 
 " Be it so," replied the pacha ; " let Menouni be rewarded, 
 and we will try to find some other storyteller, until his return 
 from his pilgrimage." 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 " MUSTAPHA," observed the pacha, taking his pipe out of 
 his mouth, " what makes the poets talk so much about the 
 Book of Fate?" 
 
 " The Book of Fate, your highness, is where is written our 
 Talleh, or destiny. Can I say more?" 
 
 " Allah acbar ! God is great ! and it is well said But why a 
 book, when nobody can read it?" 
 
 " These are great words, and spiced with wisdom. O pacha !
 
 *94 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 doth not Hafiz say, * Every moment you enjoy, count it gain.* 
 Who can say what will be the event of anything ?" 
 
 " Wallah thaib ! well said, by Allah ! Then, why a book, if 
 the book is sealed ?" 
 
 " Yet there are wise men who can read our kismet, and 
 foretell." 
 
 "Yes, very true; but I have observed that it is not 
 until after an event has happened that they tell you of it. 
 What are these astrologers ? Bosh nothing I have said." 
 And the pacha remained some time smoking his pipe in 
 silence. 
 
 "May it please your highness," observed Mustapha, "I 
 have outside a wretch who is anxious to crawl into your 
 presence. He comes from the far-distant land of Kathay an 
 unbeliever, with two tails." 
 
 "Two tails ! was he a pacha in his own country?" 
 
 " A pacha ! Staffir Allah ! God forgive me ! A dog a 
 most miserable dog on my eyes be it ; but still he hath two 
 tails." 
 
 " Let the dog with two tails be admitted," replied the pacha. 
 " We have said it." 
 
 A yellow-skinned, meagre, and wrinkled old Chinaman was 
 brought in between two of the guards. His eyes were very 
 small and bleared, his cheek-bones prominent ; all that could be 
 discovered of his nose were two expanded nostrils at its base ; 
 his mouth of an enormous width, with teeth as black as ink. 
 As soon as the guards stopped, he slipped down from between 
 them on his knees, and throwing forward his body, kow-tow-ed. 
 with his head in the dust nine times-, and then remained with 
 his face down on the floor. 
 
 "Let the dog with two tails rise," said the pacha. 
 
 This order not being immediately obeyed by the servile 
 Chinaman, each of the two guards who stood by him seized 
 one of the plaited tails of hair, which was nearly an ell in 
 length, and pulled up his head from the floor. The Chinaman 
 then remained cross-legged, with his eyes humbly fixed upon 
 the ground. 
 
 " Who art thou, dog ?" said the pacha, pleased with the 
 man's humility. 
 
 "I am of Kathay, and- your vilest slave," replied the man, 
 in good Turkish. " In my own country I was a poet. Destiny
 
 " Let the dog with two tails rise " 
 
 PACHA OF MANY TALES.
 
 THE WONDROUS TALE OF HAN. 295 
 
 hath brought me here, and I now work in the gardens of the 
 palace." 
 
 " If you are a poet you can tell me many a story." 
 
 " Your slave has told thousands in his lifetime ; such hatn 
 been my fate." 
 
 "Talking about fate," said Mustapha, "can you tell his 
 highness a story, in which destiny has been foretold and hath 
 been accomplished? If so, begin." 
 
 " There is a story of my own country, O vizier ! in which 
 destiny was foretold, and was most unhappily accomplished." 
 
 " You may proceed," said Mustapha, at a sign from the 
 pacha. 
 
 The Chinaman thrust his hand into the breast of his blue 
 cotton shirt, and pulled out a sort of instrument made from the 
 shell of a tortoise, with three or four strings stretched across, 
 and in a low monotonous tone, something between a chant and 
 a whine, not altogether unmusical, he commenced his story. 
 But first he struck his instrument, and ran over a short prelude, 
 which may be imagined by a series of false notes, running as 
 follows : 
 
 Ti-tum, titum, tilly-lilly, tilly-lilly, ti-tum, titum, tilly-lilly, 
 tilly-lilly, ti-tum, ti. 
 
 As he proceeded in his story, whenever he was out of breath, 
 he stopped, and struck a few notes of his barbarous music. 
 
 THE WONDROUS TALE OF HAN. 
 
 WHO was more impassioned in his nature, who was more formed 
 for love, than the great Han Koong Shew, known in the 
 celestial archives as the sublime Youantee, brother of the sun 
 and moon ? whose court was so superb whose armies were so 
 innumerable whose territories were so vast bounded as they 
 were by the four seas, which bounded the whole universe ; yet 
 was he bound by destiny to be unhappy, and thus do I com- 
 mence the wondrous tale of Han the sorrows of the magnifi- 
 cent Youantee. 
 
 Ti-tum, tilly-lilly 
 
 Yes, he felt that some one thing was wanting. All his 
 power, his wealth, his dignity, filled not his soul with pleasure. 
 He turned from the writings of the great Fo he closed the 
 book. Alas ! he sighed for a second self to whom he might
 
 296 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 point out "All this is mine." His heart yearned fora fair 
 damsel a maid of beauty to whose beauty he might bow. 
 He, to whom the world was prostrate, the universe were slaves, 
 longed for an amorous captivity, and sighed for chains. But 
 where was the maiden to be found worthy to place fetters upoa 
 the brother of the sun and moon the magnificent master of 
 the universe ? Where was she to be found ? 
 
 Ti-tum, tilly-lilly, ti-tum, ti. 
 
 Yes, there was one, and but one, worthy to be his mate, 
 worthy to be the queen of a land of eternal spring, filled with 
 trees whose stems were of gold, branches of silver, leaves of 
 emerald, and whose fruits were the fragrant apples of immor- 
 tality. And where was this moon, fit bride unto the sun ? Was 
 she not plunged in grief hidden in a well of her own tears 
 even in the gardens of joy? Those eyes, which should have 
 sunned a court of princes, were dimmed with eternal sorrow. 
 And who was the cause of this eclipse but the miscreant, 
 gold-loving minister, Suchong Pollyhong Ka-te-tow. 
 
 Ti-tum, tilly-lilly. 
 
 The mandarins were summoned by the great Youantee, the 
 court in its splendour bowed down their heads into the dust of 
 delight as they listened to the miracle of his eloquence. " Hear 
 me, ye first chop mandarins, peers, lords, and princes of the 
 empire. Listen to the words of Youantee. Hath not each bird 
 that skims the air its partner in the nest ? Hath not each beast 
 its mate ? Have not you all eyes which beam but upon you 
 alone ? Am I then so unfortunately great, or so greatly unfortu- 
 nate, that I may not be permitted to descend to love ? Even 
 the brother of the sun and moon cannot, during his career on 
 earth, exist alone. Seek, then, through the universe, a maiden 
 for thy lord, that like my brother the sun, who sinks each night 
 into the bosom of the ocean, I too may repose upon the bosom 
 of my mate. Seek, I say, search each corner of the world, 
 that its treasures may be poured forth at our golden feet, and 
 one gem be selected for our especial wear. But first, O wise 
 men and astrologers, summon ye the planets and stars of 
 destiny, that they may ascertain whether, by this conjunction, 
 aught of evil be threatened to our celestial person, or to our 
 boundless empire." 
 
 Ti-tum, tilly-lilly, ti-tum, ti. 
 
 Where is the star which leaps not in his course with delight
 
 THE WONDROUS TALE OF HAN. 297 
 
 to obey the wishes of the brother of the sun and moon ? 
 Where was the planet that rejoiced not to assist so near a 
 relative? Yes, they all hearkened, bowing down to the 
 astrolabes of the astrologers, like generous steeds who knelt 
 to receive their riders ; yet when they all did meet to throw 
 light upon the required page of destiny, was not their bright- 
 ness dimmed when they perceived, as they read it, that it was 
 full of tears, and that joy floated but as a bubble? The wise 
 men sighed as the decree of fate was handed down to them, 
 and with their faces to the earth, thus did they impart the con- 
 tents of the revealed page to the magnificent Youante'e. 
 
 "The brother of the sun and moon would wed. Beauty 
 shall be laid at the golden feet, but the pearl beyond price 
 will be found and lost. There will be joy and there will be 
 sorrow. Joy in life, sorrow both in life and death ; for a black 
 dragon, foe to the celestial empire, threatens like an overhang- 
 ing cloud. More the stars dare not reveal." 
 
 Ti-tum, tilly-lilly, ti-tum, ti. 
 
 Here the pacha looked at Mustapha and nodded his head 
 in approbation, as much as to say, " Now we are coming to 
 the point." Mustapha bowed, and the Chinese poet con- 
 tinued. 
 
 The golden eyes of the great Youante'e were filled with silver 
 tears when the page of destiny was made known ; but the sun 
 of hope rose and bore away the sacred dew to heaven. Then 
 called he the minister ever to be disgraced in story, Suchong 
 Pollyhong Ka-te-tow, and the emperor desired him to make 
 a progress through the universe, his dominions, to find out the 
 most beautiful maidens, to be brought to the celestial feet at 
 the coming feast of Lanterns. But before they could be per- 
 mitted to shoot up the rays of love through the mist of glory 
 which surrounded the imperial throne before their charms 
 were to make the attempt upon the heart of magnanimity, it 
 was necessary that all their portraits should be submitted to 
 the great Youantee, in the Hall of Delight. That is to say, 
 out of the twenty thousand virgins whose images were to be 
 impresrsd upon the ivory, one hundred only, selected by a 
 committee of taste, composed of the first class mandarins and 
 princes, were to be honoured by the beam of the celestial eye.
 
 29? 77/5 PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 The avaricious, gold-seeking Suchong Pollyhong Ka te-tow 
 had performed his task ; wealth poured into his coffers from 
 the ambitious parents who longed to boast of an alliance with 
 the brother of the sun and moon, and many were the ill- 
 favoured whose portraits were dismissed by the committee of 
 taste, with surprise at the minister's ideas of beauty. 
 
 Now there was a certain mandarin, whose daughter had long 
 been extolled through the province of Kartou as a miracle of 
 beauty, and her father, Whanghang, brought her in a litter to 
 the minister Suchong Pollyhong Ka-te-tow. He felt that her 
 charms were piercing as an arrow, and that he had found a fit 
 mate for the brother of the sun and moon ; but his avarice de- 
 manded a sum which the father would not pay. Refuse to 
 send her portrait he dare not ; it was therefore ordered to be 
 taken as well as the others, and Whanghang considered him- 
 self as the father-in-law of the celestial Youantee. The young 
 painter who was employed finished his task, then laid down 
 his pencil, and died with grief and love of such perfection 
 which he never could hope to obtain. The picture was sent to 
 the vile minister, who reserved it for himself, and wrote the 
 name of this pearl beyond price under that of another, un- 
 worthy to unloose her zone as her handmaiden. The com- 
 mittee of taste did, however, select that picture among the 
 hundred to be placed in the Hall of Delight, not because the 
 picture was beautiful, but because the fame of her beauty had 
 reached the court, and they thought it right that the emperor 
 should see the picture. The virgins whose pictures were thus 
 selected, were all ordered to repair to the imperial palace, and 
 the magnificent Youante'e entered the Hall of Delight, which 
 was illumined with ten thousand lanterns, and cast his eyes 
 over the portraits of the hundred beauties, but not one feature 
 touched his heart ; he turned away in disgust at the degenerate 
 countenances of the age. " Is this all," exclaimed he, " that 
 the world can lay at the feet of its lord ? And the committee 
 of taste prostrated themselves when they beheld his indigna- 
 tion. "And this," exclaimed he, pointing to the supposed 
 portrait of the daughter of Whanghang, " who is this presump- 
 tuous one who hath dared to disgrace with her features the 
 Hall of Delight?" 
 
 " That, O emperor," said the wily Suchong Pollyhong Ka-te- 
 tow, "is the far-famed beauty Chaoukeun, whose insolent father
 
 THE WONDROUS TALE OF HAN. 2yg 
 
 dared to say, that if it was not sent, he would lay his complaint 
 at the celestial feet. In her province the fame of her beauty 
 was great, and I did not like to be accused of partiality, so it 
 has been placed before the imperial eye." 
 
 " First, then," exclaimed the emperor, " let it be proclaimed 
 that the whole province of Kartou is peopled by fools, and levy 
 upon it a fine of one hundred thousand ounces of gold, for its 
 want of taste ; and next, let this vain one be committed to 
 perpetual seclusion in the eastern tower of the imperial palace. 
 Let the other maidens be sent to their parents, for as yet there 
 is not found a fit bride for the brother of the sun and moon." 
 
 The imperial mandates were obeyed ; and thus was the first 
 part of the prophecy fulfilled, that u the pearl beyond price 
 would be found and lost." 
 
 Ti-tum, till-lilly, ti-tum, tilly-lilly, ti-tum, ti. 
 
 Yes, she was lost, for the resplendent Chaoukeun was shut 
 up to waste away her peerless beauty in sorrow and in solitude. 
 One small terrace-walk was the only spot permitted her on 
 which to enjoy the breezes of heaven. Night was looking 
 down in loveliness, with her countless eyes, upon the injustice 
 and cruelty of men, when the magnificent Youantee, who had 
 little imagined that the brother of the sun and moon would be 
 doomed to swallow the bitter pillau of disappointment, as had 
 been latterly his custom, quitted the palace to walk in the 
 gardens and commune with his own thoughts unattended. And 
 it pleased destiny that the pearl beyond price, the neglected 
 Chaoukeun, also was induced, by the beauty and stillness of the 
 night, to press the shell sand which covered the terrace-walk 
 with her diminutive feet, so diminutive that she almost tottered 
 in her gait. The tear trembled in her eye as she thought of 
 her own happy home, and bitterly did she bewail that beauty 
 which, instead of raising her to a throne, had by malice and 
 avarice condemned her to perpetual solitude. She looked 
 upwards at the starry heaven, but felt no communion with its 
 loveliness. She surveyed the garden of sweets from the ter- 
 race, but all appeared to be desolate. Of late, her only com- 
 panions had been her tears and her lute, whose notes were as 
 plaintive as her own. 
 
 "O my mother!" exclaimed she; "beloved, but too am- 
 bitious mother ! but for one little hour to lay this head upon 
 your bosom ! Fatal hath been the dream you rejoiced in at
 
 300 1 HE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 my nativity, in which the moon shone out so brilliantly, and 
 then descended into the earth at your feet. I have shone but a 
 little, little time, and now am I buried, as it were, in the earth, 
 at my joyous age. Immured in this solitary tower, my hopes 
 destroyed my portrait cannot have been seen and now I 
 am lost for ever. Thou lute, sole companion of my woes, let 
 us join our voices of complaint ; let us fancy that the flowers 
 are listening to our grief, and that the dews upon the half- 
 closed petals are tears of pity for my misfortunes." And Chaou- 
 keun struck her lute, and thus poured out her lament : 
 
 " O tell me, thou all-glorious sun, 
 
 Were there no earth to drink thy light, 
 Would not, in vain, thy course be run, 
 Thy reign be o'er a realm of night ? 
 
 Thus charms were born to be enthroned 
 
 In hearts, and youth to be caress'd ; 
 And beauty is not, if not own'd, 
 
 At least by one adoring breast." 
 
 Ti-tum, tilly-lilly, ti-tum, ti. 
 
 The musical notes of the peerless Chaoukeun were not 
 thrown away only upon flowers deaf and dumb, they vibrated 
 in the ears of the magnificent Youantee, who had sat down on 
 the back of an enormous metal dragon, which had been placed 
 in the walk under the terrace. The emperor listened with sur- 
 prise at her soliloquy, with admiration at her enchanting song. 
 For some minutes he remained in a profound reverie, and then 
 rising from the dragon, he walked towards the gate of the tower, 
 and clapped his hands. The eunuch made his appearance. 
 " Keeper of the Yellow Tower," said the emperor, "but now I 
 heard the sounds of a lute." 
 
 " Even so, O sustenance of the world," responded the slave. 
 
 " Was it not rather an angel than a mortal, whose mellifluous 
 notes accompanied the instrument?" said the magnificent 
 Youantee. 
 
 " Certainly is she blessed beyond mortality, since her melody 
 has found favour in the celestial ears," replied the black keeper 
 of the Yellow Tower. 
 
 " Go, then, and quickly summon all our highest officers of 
 state, to lay their robes upon the ground, that she may pass 
 over them to our presence at the dragon below the terrace." 
 
 The magnificent Youantee, brother of the sun and moon,
 
 THE WONDROUS TALE OF HAtf. 301 
 
 returned to his former seat, filled with pleasing anticipations, 
 while the eunuch hastened to obey the celestial commands. 
 The mandarins of the first class hastened to obey the orders of 
 Youantee; their furred and velvet cloaks, rich in gold and 
 silver ornaments, were spread from the tower to the dragon at 
 the terrace, forming a path rich and beautiful as the milky way 
 in the heavens. The pearl beyond price, the peerless Chaou- 
 keun, like the moon in her splendour, passed over it into the 
 presence of the great Youantee. 
 
 " Immortal Fo," exclaimed the emperor, as the attendants 
 raised their lanterns, so as to throw light upon her countenance, 
 " by what black mischance have such charms been hidden from 
 our sight ? " 
 
 Then did the peerless Chaoukeun narrate, in few words, the 
 treachery and avarice of Suchong Pollyhong Ka-te-tow. 
 
 " Hasten, O mandarins, let the scissors of disgrace cut oft 
 the two tails of this wretch, and then let the sword of justice 
 sever off his head." 
 
 But the rumour of his sentence flew on the wind to Suchong 
 Pollyhong Ka-te-tow ; and before the executioner could arrive, 
 he had mounted a horse fleeter than the wind, and with the 
 portrait of the peerless Chaoukeun in his vest, had left even 
 rumour far behind. 
 
 Ti-tum, tilly-tilly, ti-tum, tilly-tilly, ti-tum, ti. 
 
 And to whom did the miscreant minister fly, to hide his 
 devoted head ? He flew to the wild nations of the north, the 
 riders of wild horses, with sharp scimitars and long lances. For 
 three days and three nights did the hoofs of his fiery steed 
 strike fire upon the flints, which he spurned in his impetuous 
 course, and then, as an immortal poet hath already sung, " he 
 bowed his head and died." With the portrait of the peerless 
 Chaoukeun in his bosom, and his mandarin garments raised up 
 under each arm, the miscreant Suchong Pollyhong Ka-te-tow 
 reached the presence of the Great Khan. " O khan of Tar- 
 tary," said he, "may thy sword be ever keen, thy lance unerring, 
 and thy courser swift. I am thy slave. O thou who com- 
 mandest a hundred thousand warriors, hath thy slave permis- 
 sion to address thee ? " 
 
 " Speak, and be d d," replied the warrior chief, of few 
 
 words, whose teeth were busy with some pounds of horse-flesh. 
 
 " Thou knowest, O khan, that it hath been the custom for
 
 30 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 ages, that the celestial empire should provide for thce a fair 
 damsel for thy nuptial bed, and that this hath been the price 
 paid by the celestial court to prevent the ravages of thy in- 
 satiate warriors. O khan, there is a maid, whose lovely features 
 I now have with me, most worthy to be raised up to thy nuptial 
 couch." And the miscreant laid at the feet of the great khan 
 the portrait of the peerless Chaoukeun. 
 
 The chief finished his repast, and then with his lance turned 
 over the image of the pearl beyond all price. He looked at it, 
 then passed it to those around him. The savage warriors 
 stared at the lovely portrait, and admired it not yet did they 
 long for war. "Tell me, O chiefs," said the great khan, "is 
 that baby-face you look at worth contending for ? " 
 
 And, with one voice, the chiefs replied that she was worthy 
 to share the nuptial couch of the great khan. 
 
 " Be it so," replied he, " I am no judge of beauty. Let the 
 encampment be broken up this evening we move southwards." 
 And the Tartar chief entered the northern provinces of the 
 celestial empire, with his hundred thousand warriors, destroying 
 all with fire and sword, proving his sincere wish to unite him- 
 self to the Chinese nation by the indiscriminate slaughter of 
 man, woman, and child ; and his ardent love for the peerless 
 Chaoukeun, by making a nuptial torch of every town and 
 village. 
 
 Ti-tum, tilly-lilly, ti-tum, ti. 
 
 But we must return to the celestial court, and astonish the 
 world with the wonderful events which there took place. The 
 astrologers and wise men had consulted the heavens, and had 
 ascertained that on the thirty-third minute after the thirteenth 
 hour, the marriage procession must set out, or the consumma- 
 tion would not be prosperous. Who can describe the pomp 
 and glory of the spectacle, or give an adequate idea of its 
 splendour ? Alas ! it would not be possible, even if it were 
 attempted by ten thousand poets, each with ten thousand 
 tongues of silver, singing for ten thousand years. Such, how- 
 ever, was the order of the procession. 
 
 First walked ten thousand officers of justice, with long 
 bamboos, striking right and left to clear the way, to the cadence 
 of soft music, blending with the plaintive cries of those who 
 limped away and rubbed their shins. 
 
 Then marching, ten abreast, one hundred thousand lanterns
 
 THE WONDROUS TALE OF J/AM 30} 
 
 to assist the sun, partially eclipsed by the splendour of the pro- 
 cession. 
 
 Next appeared, slowly keeping time to a dead march, five 
 thousand decapitated criminals, each carrying his own head by 
 its long tail of hair. 
 
 " Staffir Allah ! What is that but a lie ? " exclaimed the 
 pacha. " Did you hear what the dog has dared to breathe into 
 our ears, Mustapha ? " 
 
 " Mighty pacha," replied the Chinaman, with humility, " if 
 your wisdom pronounces it to be a lie, a lie it most certainly 
 must be ; still it is not the lie of your slave, who but repeats 
 the story as handed down by the immortal eastern poet." 
 
 " Nevertheless, there appears to be a trifling mistake," 
 observed Mustapha. " Is the procession to proceed, O 
 pacha ? " 
 
 " Yes, yes ; but by the Prophet, let the dog tremble if again 
 he presumes to laugh at our beards." 
 
 After the decapitated criminals, which your highness objects 
 to, came in procession those criminals with their heads on, 
 who were to suffer for their offences on this day of universal 
 happiness. 
 
 First came two thousand robbers, sentenced to be hung up 
 by their heels, emblematic of their wish to turn everything up- 
 side down so to remain until they were pecked to death by 
 the crows, or torn to pieces by the vultures. 
 
 The banner of Innovation. 
 
 One of the robber chiefs, ordered to be choked with an 
 abacus, which was suspended round his neck. 
 
 Another of the robber chiefs. This man, although a follower 
 of the court, and sunned in the celestial presence, had dared to 
 utter vile falsehoods against the celestial dynasty. He was 
 sentenced to have his skin peeled off, and to eat his own word?, 
 until he died from the virulent poison which they contained. 
 
 The most important of all the criminals next appeared, who 
 being great in favour at court, and appointed to the high office 
 of physician to the celestial conscience, had been discovered 
 in the base attempt of drugging it with opium ; he had also 
 committed several other enormities, such as being intoxicated 
 in his mandarin robes, and throwing mud at the first chief
 
 304 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 mandarin ; also of throwing aside his robes, mingling with the 
 lower classes, and associating with mountebanks, jugglers, and 
 tight-rope dancers. His enormities were written on a long 
 scroll suspended round his neck. His sentence was the torture 
 of disappointment and envy, previous to a condign political 
 death. 
 
 After him came a disgraced yellow mandarin, who had been 
 a great enemy of the criminal who preceded him. He was 
 seated upon a throne of jet, and his arms supported in derision 
 by two prize-fighters. His crime was playing at pitch and toss 
 with the lower classes. His punishment was merely exposure. 
 
 Such were the criminals who were to suffer upon this day of 
 universal happiness and delight. 
 
 Then came fifty thousand archers of the blue dragon bat- 
 talion, carrying in their hands chowries of horses' tails to clear 
 away the blue-bottle flies. 
 
 Next appeared ten thousand virgins, all modest, lovely, and 
 in light drapery, singing hymns in praise of Ganesa on the Rat, 
 the god of pure Love ; 
 
 Attended by ten thousand youths, who tickled the said ten 
 thousand virgins, singing hymns in praise of the upright Fo. 
 
 Fifty thousand archers of the green dragon battalion, each 
 carrying a long peacock's feather in his right hand, to ascertain 
 how the wind blew. 
 
 Five hundred physicians attending the celestial court, each 
 carrying a silver box with golden pills. 
 
 The head physician to the celestial wits, and always in 
 attendance upon a crisis. He carried in his right hand a 
 bladder-full of peas at the end of a wand, to recall his majesty's 
 wits when they wandered; and was followed by 
 
 Fifty thousand fools marching five abreast in union. 
 
 And fifty thousand rogues, marching off with everything they 
 could lay their hands upon. 
 
 Then came a notorious faquir and mendicant, who was 
 leader of a celebrated sect. He wore but one tail instead of 
 the two usually worn by our nation, but that tail was of forty 
 feet. He was followed by numerous devotees, who threw their 
 worldly goods at his feet, and in return he presented them with 
 writings and harangues, which he declared were infallible in all 
 diseases. 
 
 Ten thousand young married women, each hushing an infant
 
 THE WONDROUS TALE OF HAN. 305 
 
 to repose upon the left breast to the sound of clarions and 
 trumpets, emblematical of the peaceful and quiet state of 
 matrimony. 
 
 The banner of Impudence. 
 
 Five thousand political mountebanks, contradicting each 
 other, and exerting themselves for the amusement of the people, 
 who, however, suffered rather severely from their mad tricks. 
 
 The second in command, explaining their system in an un- 
 known tongue. 
 
 The emperor's juggler, who astonished the whole empire by 
 his extraordinary feats,, and the rapidity with which he relieved 
 them of all the money in their pockets. 
 
 The banner of Love. 
 
 The celestial secretary, with goose-wings on his shoulders, 
 goose-quills in each hand, looking very much like a goose, 
 mounted on a mule, gaily caparisoned in colours quadripartite, 
 and covered with jingling brass bells. 
 
 Five thousand old women, singing the praises of the said 
 secretary and taking snuff to the flourish of hautboys. 
 
 The prosperity of the celestial empire, carried by the court 
 fool, in a basket beautifully carved out of a wild cherry-stone ; 
 and guarded by 
 
 Fifty thousand archers of the red dragon battalion, picking 
 their teeth to soft music. 
 
 Ten thousand poets, each singing at the same time, and to a 
 different tune, his ode upon this joyful occasion. 
 
 The immortal poet of the age, attired in velvet to his feet, 
 and superbly ornamented with rings and chains of gold and 
 precious stones. He carried his silver harp in his hand, and 
 was mounted on a beautiful white jackass with his face towards 
 the tail, that he might behold and be inspired by the charms of 
 the peerless Chaoukeun, the pearl beyond all price. 
 
 Then came the magnificent Youante'e and the peerless 
 Chaoukeun, seated in the massive car of gossamer richly 
 studded with the eyes of living humming birds, drawn by 
 twelve beautiful blue loadstars, presented by the heavenly 
 bodies to the brother of the sun and moon. 
 
 Twenty thousand young men, beautiful as angels, clad in the 
 skins of the black fox, and playing upon ivory jews'-harps, all 
 mounted upon coal-black steeds. 
 
 Twenty thousand niggers, ugly as devils, clad in the skins of 
 
 x
 
 jo6 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 the white polar bear, and sounding mellifluous cat-calls, afl 
 mounted upon pure white Arabian horses. 
 
 All the first-class mandarins of the celestial empire, turning 
 up their eyes to heaven, and wishing that the procession was 
 over. 
 
 All the second-class mandarins of the celestial empire, choked 
 with dust, and wishing the procession at the devil. 
 
 Twenty millions of the people, extolling the liberality of the 
 great emperor, and crying out for bread. 
 
 Ten millions of women, who had lost their children in the 
 crowd and were crying out bitterly in their search. 
 
 Ten millions of children who had lost their mothers in the 
 crowd and were crying out bitterly till they found them. 
 
 The remainder of the inhabitants of the celestial empire. 
 
 Such was the grand and pompous marriage procession, which 
 employed the whole population, so that there were no spec- 
 tators except three blind old women, who were so overcome 
 with delight, that when it had passed, they bowed their heads 
 and died. 
 
 Ti-tum, tilly-lilly, ti-tum, tilly-lilly, ti-tum, ti. 
 
 The procession arrived at the palace, and the pearl beyond 
 all price was now his bride, and the heart of Youante'e was 
 oppressed with love. Upon a jewelled throne they sat, side by 
 side ; but what was the blaze of the diamonds, compared to 
 one glance from her lightning eye ? What were the bright red 
 rubies, compared to her parted coral lips or the whiteness of 
 the pearls when she smiled, and displayed her teeth? Her 
 arched eyebrows were more beautifully pencilled than the rain- 
 bow ; the blush upon her cheek turned pale with envy every 
 rose in the celestial gardens ; and in compassion to the court, 
 many of whom v/ere already blind, by rashly lifting up their 
 eyes to behold her charms, an edict had been promulgated, by 
 which it was permitted to the mandarins and princes attending 
 the court, to wear green spectacles to save their eyes. The 
 magnificent Youantee was consumed with love as with a raging 
 fever, and the physicians of the emperor were alarmed for his 
 celestial health ; by their advice Chaoukeun consented only to 
 receive him in a darkened chamber. All was joy. The empire 
 rang with the praises of the pearl beyond all price. The gaols 
 *ere ordered to be levelled to the ground criminals to be par- 
 doned the sword of justice to remain in its scabbard the
 
 THE. WONDROUS TALE OF HAtf. 307 
 
 bastinado to be discontinued. Even the odious lantern-tax 
 was taken off, in honour of the peerless Chaoukeun, whose 
 praises were celebrated by all the poets of the country, until 
 they were too hoarse to sing, and the people too tired to listen 
 to them. 
 
 Ti-tum, tilly-lilly, ti-tum, tilly-lilly, ti-tum, ti. 
 
 " I'm sure I don't wonder at their being tired," observed the 
 pacha, yawning, " if they were like you." 
 
 "God is great," replied Mustapha, with another yawn. 
 " Shall he proceed ? " 
 
 " Yes, let him go on ; wake me when the story is ended," 
 replied the pacha, laying down his pipe. 
 
 Alas ! how soon was all this delirium of happiness to be 
 overthrown : how soon was the prophecy to be fulfilled, that 
 there should be not only joy in life, but also sorrow ! The mag- 
 nificent Youante'e was roused from his dream of delight by 
 courier after courier coming in, and laying at the celestial feet 
 tidings of the advance of the hundred thousand warriors. A 
 solemn council was summoned, and the imperial edict was 
 passed, that the barbarians of the north should be driven back 
 to their lands of eternal frost and snow. The imperial armies 
 departed from the capital, each individual composing its hun- 
 dreds of thousands vowing by his two tails that he would eat 
 all that he killed. This bloody vow was accomplished, for 
 they killed none ; they returned discomfited, without their bows, 
 or arrows, or their swords, fleeing before the rage of the Tartar 
 chief. Then rose the great Youantee in wrath, and issued 
 another edict that the barbarians should be driven even into the 
 sea which bounds the empire of the world. And the armies 
 were again sent forth, but again they returned discomfited, say- 
 ing, " How can we, who eat rice with chopsticks, combat with 
 barbarians, who not only ride on horses, but eat them too ? " 
 The celestial edict was not attended to by the Tartars, for 
 they were barbarians, and knew no better; and they continued 
 to advance until within one day's progress of the celestial 
 capital; and the brother of the sun and moon, the magnificent 
 Youante'e, was forced to submit to the disgrace of receiving 
 an envoy from the barbarians, who thus spoke, in sugared 
 words : 
 
 " The great khan of Tartary greets the magnificent Youante'e;
 
 308 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 he has slaughtered some millions of his subjects, because they 
 were traitors, and would not defend the celestial throne. He 
 has burnt some thousands of his towns, that the great Youante'e 
 may order them to be rebuilt in greater beauty. All this has 
 he done with much trouble and fatigue, to prove his regard to 
 the magnificent Youantee. All that he asks in return is, that 
 he may receive as his bride the peerless Chaoukeun, the pearl 
 beyond all price." 
 
 The great Youantee spoke from his celestial throne " Re- 
 turn my thanks to the great khan your master, for his consi- 
 derate conduct, and tell him that he well deserves a bride from 
 our celestial empire, but the pearl beyond all price is wedded 
 to the brother of the sun and moon. Any other maiden in 
 our empire shall be sent to him with gifts worthy to be offered 
 by the great Youantee, and worthy to be accepted by the great 
 khan of Tartary. Let it be an edict." 
 
 But the Tartar replied, " O great monarch, the great khan 
 my master does not require an edict, but the peerless 
 Chaoukeun. If I return without her, he enters the celestial 
 city, and spares not man, woman, or child. 3 ' Then fell at the 
 celestial feet all the princes and mandarins of every class, per- 
 forming solemnly the great kow tow, and the chief minister of 
 state spoke thus : " Lord of the universe, brother of the sun 
 and moon, who governs the world with thine edicts, whose 
 armies are invincible, and numerous as the sands upon the 
 shores of the four seas, listen to thy faithful slaves. Surrender 
 up to this barbarian the pearl beyond ail price, so shall we all 
 live to humble ourselves before thee." And all the princes 
 and mandarins cried out with one voice, " Surrender up the 
 pearl beyond all price." And all the brave generals drew their 
 swords, and waved them in the air, crying out, " Surrender up 
 to this barbarian the pearl beyond all price." And all the 
 army and all the people joined in the request. 
 
 Then rose up Youantee in great wrath, and ordered that the 
 prime minister, and all the mandarins, and the princes, and all 
 the generals, and all the army, and all the people, should be 
 disgraced and decapitated forthwith. "Let it be an edict." 
 But as there was no one left to put the great Youantee's edict 
 into force, it was not obeyed. And the brother of the sun 
 and moon perceived that he was in the minority; concealing 
 therefore his bile, he graciously ordered refreshments for the
 
 THE WONDROUS TALE OF HAN. 300 
 
 envoy, saying, " Let the dog be fed," and retired to the apart- 
 ment of the peerless Chaoukeun. 
 
 Ti-tum, tilly-lilly, ti-tum, tilly-lilly, ti-tum, ti. 
 
 Now the beauteous empress had listened to all that had 
 taken place in the great hall of audience, and she threw her- 
 self at the celestial feet, saying, " Let me be sacrificed it is 
 my destiny. Send your slave to the great khan to do '.vith me 
 as he pleases I am all submission. They say he is a hand- 
 some man, and of great size and strength. It is J ny destiny." 
 
 Then did the great Youantee shed bitter tears at his bitter 
 fate ; but he knew it was his destiny and O destiny, who can 
 resist thee ? He wiped his celestial eyes, and leading forth the 
 peerless Chaoukeun, put her in the hands of the barbarian 
 envoy, saying, " I send your master the pearl beyond all price. 
 I have worn her for some time, but still she is as good as new. 
 And now let your master the great khan return, with his hun- 
 dred thousand warriors, to the confines of our territories, as it 
 was agreed. Thou nearest. It is an edict" 
 
 " It is enough that my great master hath given his word, and 
 the great Youantee hath given the pearl beyond all price. 
 There needs not an edict," replied the envoy, departing with 
 the peerless Chaoukeun. Thus was the magnificent Youantee 
 left without a bride. 
 
 Now when the envoy had brought the peerless Chaoukeun 
 in a close litter to the tent of the great khan, he forthwith 
 commanded his army to return. Much to the mortification of 
 the peerless damsel, he did not express any curiosity to behold 
 her, but commenced a rapid retreat, and, in a few days, arrived 
 at the confines of the celestial territory, which was separated 
 from the Tartar dominions by an impetuous river. As soon as 
 he had forded the river, he encamped on the other side, and 
 sat down with his generals to a sumptuous feast of horseflesh 
 and quass. When the liquor had mounted into his brain, h 
 desired that the litter of the pearl beyond all price should be 
 brought nigh to his tent, that he might send for her, if so in- 
 clined. And the peerless Chaoukeun peeped out of the litter, 
 and beheld the great khan as he caroused ; and when she beheld 
 his hairy form, his gleaming eyes, his pug-nose, and his tremen- 
 dously wide mouth when she perceived that he hadthe form and 
 features of a ghoul, or evil spirit, she wrung her hands and wept 
 bitterly, and all her love returned for the magnificent Youantee.
 
 3io THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 Now the great khan was drunk with quass, and he ordered 
 ihe pearl beyond price to be brought to him, and she replied 
 trembling, saying, " Tell your lord that I am not fit to appear 
 in his sublime presence until I have washed myself in the 
 river." And those who had charge of her took the message 
 to the great khan, who replied, "Let her wash, since she 
 is so dirty." 
 
 Then was the litter of the peerless Chaoukeun taken down 
 to the banks of the river, and she stood upon a rock 
 which overhung the black waters. " How callest thou this 
 liver ? " said she to her attendants. 
 
 And they replied, "This river, O princess, divides the 
 territory of Tartary from China, and it is called the river 
 of the Black Dragon." 
 
 "Then is the prophecy fulfilled," cried the pearl beyond 
 price. " It is my destiny ; and destiny who shall resist?" 
 
 She raised up her arms to heaven, and uttering a loud shriek 
 at her unhappy fate, she plunged headlong into the boiling 
 waters and disappeared for ever. 
 
 Thus was the prophecy fulfilled. The brother of the sun 
 and moon had wed beauty had been laid at the golden feet 
 the pearl beyond price had been found and lost There had 
 been joy and there had been sorrow in life and sorrow in 
 death. The Black Dragon had proved the foe to the celestial 
 empire, for it had swallowed up the pearl beyond all price. 
 
 Ti-tum, ti-tum, tilly-lilly, tilly-lilly, ti-tum, ti. 
 
 The twang of the rude instrument awoke the pacha, who had 
 been fast asleep for some time. 
 
 " Is it finished, Mustapha ? " said he, rubbing his eyes. 
 
 " Yes, your highness ; and the destiny foretold was truly 
 accomplished." 
 
 " Bismillah ! but I'm glad of it. Before he had whined ten 
 minutes, I foretold that I should go to sleep. My destiny has 
 also been accomplished." 
 
 '' Will your highness foretell the destiny of this dog with two 
 tails?" 
 
 "Two tails! that reminds me that we have only had one 
 out of him as yet. Let's have him again to-morrow, and have 
 another. At all events, we shall have a good nap. God is 
 great."
 
 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 311 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 " MUSTAPHA," said the pacha, " I feel as the caliph Haroun 
 Alraschid, in the tale of Yussuf, related by Menouni, full of 
 care ; my soul is weary my heart is burnt as roast meat" 
 
 Mustapha, who had wit enough to perceive that he was to 
 act the part of Giaffar, the vizier, immediately replied, " O 
 pacha ! great and manifold are the cares of state. If thy 
 humble slave may be permitted to advise, thou wilt call in the 
 Chinese dog with two tails, who hath as yet repeated but one 
 of his tales." 
 
 " Not so," replied the pacha ; " I am weary of his eternal 
 ti-tum, tilly-lilly, which yet ringeth in mine ears. What else 
 canst thou propose?" 
 
 " Alem penah ! refuge of the world, wilt thou be pleased to 
 order out thy troops, and witness the exercise of djireed? 
 The moon is high in the heavens, and it is light as day." 
 
 " Not so," replied the pacha ; " I am tired of war and all 
 that appertains to it Let the troops sleep in peace." 
 
 " Then, O pacha ! will you permit your slave to send for 
 some bottles of the fire-water of the Giaour, that we may drink 
 and smoke until we are elevated to the seven heavens ? " 
 
 " Nay, good vizier, that is as a last resource, for it is for- 
 bidden by the laws of the Prophet Think once more, and 
 thou must have no more brains than a water-melon if this time 
 thou proposest not that which will give me ease." 
 
 " Thy slave lives but to hear, and hears but to obey," replied 
 Mustapha. " Then will it please my lord to disguise himself, 
 and walk through the streets of Cairo ; the moon is bright, and 
 the hyena prowls not now, but mingles his howlings with those 
 of t'ie jackal afar off." 
 
 '' Your face is whitened, Mustapha, and it pleaseth us. Let 
 the disguises be prepared, and we will sally forth." 
 
 In a short time the disguises were ready, the vizier taking 
 care that they should be those of Armenian merchants, know- 
 ing that the pacha would be pleased with the similarity to 
 those worn by the great Alraschid ; two black slaves, with 
 their swords, followed the pacha and his vizier at a short dis- 
 tance. The streets were quite empty, and they met with 
 nothing living except here and there a dog preying on the 
 garbage and offal, who snapped and snarled as they passed by.
 
 312 THE PACHA OF MANY TALBS, 
 
 The night promised nothing of adventure, and the pacha was 
 in no very good humour, when Mustapha perceived a light 
 through the chinks of a closed window in a small hovel, and 
 heard the sound of a voice. He peeped through, the pacha 
 standing by his side. After a few seconds the vizier made 
 signs to the pacha to look in. The pacha was obliged to 
 strain his fat body to its utmost altitude, standing on the tips 
 of his toes to enable his eyes to reach the cranny. The in- 
 terior of the hovel was without furniture, a chest in the centre 
 of the mud floor appeared to serve as table and repository of 
 everything in it, for the walls were bare. At the fireplace, in 
 which were a few embers, crouched an old woman, a personi- 
 fication of age, poverty, and starvation. She was warming her 
 shrivelled hands over the embers, and occasionally passed one 
 of her hands along her bony arm, saying, " Yes, the time has 
 been the time has been." 
 
 " What can she mean," said the pacha to Mustapha, " by 
 'the time has been'?" 
 
 " It requires explanation," replied the vizier ; " this is certain, 
 that it must mean something." 
 
 " Thou hast said well, Mustapha ; let us knock, and obtain 
 admittance." Mustapha knocked at the door of the hovel. 
 
 " There's nothing to steal, so you may as well go," screamed 
 the old woman ; " but," continued she, talking to herself, " the 
 time has been the time has been." 
 
 The pacha desired Mustapha to knock louder. Mustapha 
 applied the hilt of his dagger, and thumped against the door. 
 
 "Ay ay you may venture to knock now, the sultan's 
 slippers are not at the door," said the old woman : " but," 
 continued she, as before, "the time has been the time has 
 been." 
 
 " Sultan's slippers ! and time has been!" cried the pacha. 
 " What does the old hag mean ? Knock again, Mustapha." 
 
 Mustapha reiterated his blows." 
 
 " Ay knock knock my door is like my mouth ; I open 
 it when I choose, and I keep it shut when I choose, as once 
 was well known. The time has been the time has been." 
 
 " We have been a long time standing here, and I am tired 
 of waiting ; so, Mustapha, I think the time is come to kick the 
 door open. Let it be done." 
 
 Whereupon Mustapha put his foot to the door, but it resisted
 
 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 313 
 
 his efforts. " Let me assist," said the pacha, and retreated a 
 few paces ; he and Mustapha backed against the door with all 
 their force. It flew open, and they rolled together on the 
 floor of the hovel. The old woman screamed, and then, 
 jumping on the body of the pacha, caught him by the throat, 
 crying, "Thieves! murder!" Mustapha hastened to the 
 assistance of his master, as did the two black slaves, when 
 they heard the cries, and with some difficulty the talons of the 
 old Jezebel were disengaged from the throat of the pacha, 
 who, in his wrath, would have immediately sacrificed her. 
 "Lahnet be Shitan ! Curses on the devil!" exclaimed the 
 pacha ; " but this is pretty treatment for a pacha." 
 
 " Knowest thou, vile wretch, that thou hast taken by the 
 throat, and nearly strangled, the Lord of Life the pacha 
 himself," said Mustapha. 
 
 " Well," replied the old woman, coolly, " the time has been 
 the time has been." 
 
 "What meanest thou, cursed hag, that 'the time has been'?" 
 
 " I mean that the time has been when I have had more than 
 one pacha strangled. Yes," continued she, squatting down 
 on the floor, and muttering, " the time has been." 
 
 The pacha's rage was now a little appeased. " Mustapha," 
 said the pacha, " let this old woman be carefully guarded ; to- 
 morrow afternoon we will understand the meaning of those 
 strange words, 'the time has been.' Depend upon it, thereby 
 hangs a good story; we will have that first and then," 
 whispered the pacha, " her head off afterwards." 
 
 The old woman, hearing the order to take her into custody, 
 again repeated, "Ah, very well the time has been." The 
 slaves laid hold of her ; but she defended herself so vigorously 
 with her teeth and nails, that they were under the necessity of 
 gagging her, and tying her hand and foot. They then hoisted 
 her on their shoulders, and marched off with her to the palace, 
 followed by Mustapha and the pacha, the latter quite de- 
 lighted with his adventure. When the divan of the ensuing 
 day had closed, the old woman was ordered to be brought 
 into the presence of the pacha; and as she refused to walk, 
 she was brought on the shoulders of four of the guards, and 
 laid on the floor of the council-chamber. " How dare you 
 rebel against the sublime commands?" inquired Mustapha, 
 with severity.
 
 1 314 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 " How dare I rebel ! " cried the old woman, with a shrill 
 voice. " Why, what right has the pacha to drag me from my 
 poor hovel ; and what can he want with an old woman like 
 me ? It's not for his harem, I presume." 
 
 At this remark the pacha and Mustapha could not help 
 laughing; having recovered his gravity, Mustapha observed, 
 " One would imagine, old carrion that thou art, that the idea 
 of such a punishment as the bastinado had never entered your 
 mind." 
 
 " There you are mistaken, Mr. Vizier, for I have suffered 
 both the bastinado and the bowstring." 
 
 " The bowstring ! Holy Prophet ! what a lying old hag," 
 exclaimed the pacha. 
 
 " No lie, pacha, no lie ! " screamed the old woman, in her 
 wrath. " I have said it and the bowstring. Yes, the time 
 has been when I was young and beautiful ; and do you know 
 why I suffered ? I'll tell you because I would not hold my 
 tongue and do you think that I will now that I'm an old 
 piece of carrion ? Yes yes the time has been." 
 
 " Fortunately, then," replied Mustapha, " you are not re- 
 quired by the pacha to hold your tongue. You are required 
 to do the very contrary, which is, to speak." 
 
 "And do you know why I received the bowstring?" 
 screamed the old hag. " I'll tell you because I would not 
 speak ; and I do not intend so to do now, since I find that you 
 wish that I should." 
 
 " Then it appears," said the pacha, taking the pipe out of 
 his mouth, " that the bastinado was as ill-managed as the bow- 
 string. We do these things better at Cairo. Hear me, old 
 mother of Shitan ! I wish to know what you mean by that ex- 
 pression which is ever in your mouth ' time has been.'" 
 
 "It means a great deal, pacha, for it refers to my life you 
 want the story." 
 
 " Exactly," rep' ; ed Mustapha, " so begin." 
 
 " You must pa/ me for it it is worth twenty pieces of 
 gold." 
 
 " Do you presume to make conditions with his sublime high- 
 ness the pacha? " exclaimed Mustapha. " Why, thou mother 
 of afrits and ghouls, if thou commencest not immediately, thy 
 carcass shall be thrown over the walls for the wild dogs to smell 
 at, and turn away from in disgust,"
 
 THE PACITA OF MANY TALES. 315 
 
 " Vizier, I have lived long enough to trust nobody. My 
 price is twenty pieces of gold counted out in this shrivelled 
 hand before I begin ; and without they are paid down not 
 one word." And the old beldam folded her arms, and looked 
 the pacha boldly in the face. 
 
 " God is great ! " exclaimed the pacha. " We shall see." 
 At his well-known signal the executioner made his appearance, 
 and holding up the few scattered gray hairs which still remained 
 upon her head, he raised his scimitar, awaiting the nod which 
 was to be succeeded by the fatal blow. 
 
 " Strike, pacha, strike ! " cried the old woman, scornfully. 
 " I shall only lose a life of which I have long been weary; but 
 you will lose a story of wonder, which you are so anxious to 
 obtain. Strike for the last time, I say, ' Time has been ' 
 before time shall be no more ! " 
 
 " That is true, Mustapha," observed the pacha. " I forgot 
 the story. What an obstinate old devil ; but I must hear the 
 story." 
 
 " If it appears good to your absolute wisdom," said Mustapha, 
 in a low voice, " would it not be better to count down to this 
 avaricious old hag the twenty pieces of gold which she de- 
 mands? When her story is ended, it will be easy to take them 
 from her, and her head from her shoulders. Thus will be 
 satisfied the demands of the old woman, and the demands of 
 justice." 
 
 " Wallah thaib ! it is well said, by Allah ! Your words are 
 as pearls. Count out the money, Mustapha." 
 
 "His highness the pacha has been pleased, in consideration 
 of the fear and trembling with which you have entered his 
 presence, to order that the sum which you require shall be paid 
 down," said Mustapha, pulling out his purse from his girdle. 
 " Murakkas, you are dismissed," continued the vizier to the 
 executioner, who let go the old woman, and disappeared. 
 Mustapha counted out the twenty pieces of gold, and shoved 
 them towards the old woman, who, after some demur, as if 
 imagining that th ^y ought to have been brought to her, got up 
 and took possessaon of them. She counted them over, and 
 returned one piece as being of light weight. Mustapha, with 
 a grimace, but without speaking, exchanged it for another. 
 
 " By the beard of the Prophet ! " muttered the pacha" but 
 never mind."
 
 316 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 The old woman took out a piece of dirty rag, wrapped up 
 the gold pieces, and placing them in her vest, smoothed down 
 her sordid garments, and then commenced as folk ws : 
 
 " Pacha, I have not always lived in a hovel. These eyes 
 were not always bleared and dim, nor this skin wrinkled and 
 discoloured. I have not always been covered with these filthy 
 rags nor have I always wanted or coveted the gold which you 
 have just now bestowed on me. I have lived in palaces I 
 have commanded there. I have been robed in gold I have 
 been covered with jewels. I have dispensed life and death 
 I have given away provinces. Pachas have trembled at my 
 frown have received by my orders the bowstring for at 
 one time I was the favourite of the grand sultan. Time has 
 been." 
 
 " It must have been a long time ago, then," observed the 
 pacha. 
 
 " That is true," replied the old woman ; " but I will now 
 narrate my adventures." 
 
 STORY OF THE OLD WOMAN. 
 
 I WAS born in Georgia, where, as your highness knows, the 
 women are reckoned to be more beautiful than in any other 
 country, except indeed Circassia ; but, in my opinion, the Cir- 
 cassian women are much too tall, and on too large a scale, to 
 compete with us ; and I may safely venture my opinion, as I 
 have had an opportunity of comparing many hundreds of the 
 finest specimens of both countries. My father and mother, 
 although not rich, were in easy circumstances ; my father had 
 been a janissary in the sultan's immediate employ, and after he 
 had collected some property, he returned to his own country, 
 where he purchased some land, and married. I had but one 
 brother, who was three years older than myself, and one of 
 the handsomest youths in the country. He was disfigured a 
 little by a scarlet stain on his neck, somewhat in shape resem- 
 bling a bunch of grapes, and which our national dress would 
 not permit him to conceal. My father, intending that he 
 should serve the sultan, brought him up to a perfect knowledge 
 of every martial exercise. Even at fourteen years old, few 
 could compete with him in the use of the bow, and throwing 
 the dj : reed, and as a horseman he was perfect. As for me, I
 
 THE OLD WOMAN. 317 
 
 was, I am certain, intended for the sultan's seraglio, for as a 
 child I was beautiful as a houri. My father was a man who 
 would not scruple to part with his children for gold, provided 
 he obtained his price. I was considered, and I believe that I 
 was, the most beautiful girl in the country, and every care was 
 taken that I should not injure my appearance or hurt my com- 
 plexion by domestic labour or exposure. I was not permitted 
 to assist my mother, who, induced by my father's orders, waited 
 upon me. I was indulged in every whim, and I grew up as 
 selfish and capricious as I was beautiful. Smile not, pacha 
 time has been. 
 
 One day, when I was about fourteen years old, I was sitting 
 at the porch, when a large body of Turkish cavalry suddenly 
 made their appearance from a wood close to the house, and 
 surrounded it. They evidently came for me, for they demanded 
 me by name, threatening to burn the house down to the ground 
 if I was not immediately delivered up. Our house, which was 
 situated near the confines of the country, had been constructed 
 for defence ; and my father expecting assistance from his neigh- 
 bours, refused to acquiesce in their terms. The assault was 
 made, my father and mother, with all their household, were 
 murdered, my brother severely wounded, the house plundered 
 and burnt to the outside walls. I was, of course, a prisoner as 
 well as my brother. He was tied, wounded as he was, upon 
 one horse, and I upon another, and in a few hours the party 
 had regained the frontiers. A young man, handsome as an 
 angel, was the leader of the band, and I soon perceived that 
 all his thoughts and attentions were directed to me. He 
 watched me with the greatest solicitude when we halted, pro- 
 cured me every comfort, and was always hovering about my 
 presence. From the discourse of the soldiers I discovered 
 that he was the only son of the grand vizier at Stamboul. He 
 had heard of my beauty, had seen me, and offered a large sum 
 to my father, who had refused, as his ambition was that I 
 should belong to the sultan in consequence I had been 
 carried off by force. I could have loved the beautiful youth, 
 although he had murdered my father and mother, but it was 
 the taking me by force which steeled my heart, and I vowed 
 that I never would listen to his addresses, although I was so 
 completely in his power. During the time that I had been in 
 his possession I had never spoken one word, and it came into
 
 3i3 7/75 PIC11A OF MANY TALES. 
 
 my head that I would pretend to be dumb. In three weets 
 we arrived at Constantinople. Since I quitted the country [ 
 never had seen my brother ; his wound was too severe to allow 
 him to travel with the same rapidity, and it was not until years 
 afterwards that I knew what had become of him. I was taken 
 to Osman Air's house, and allowed a few days' repose from the 
 fatigue of the journey; after which, as I was still but a child, I 
 was ordered to be instructed in music, dancing, singing, and 
 every other accomplishment considered necessary for the ladies 
 of a harem. But I adhered to my resolution ; every method 
 to induce me to speak was tried in vain ; even blows, torture 
 from pinching, and other means were resorted to, but would 
 not induce me to swerve from my resolution ; at last they con- 
 cluded that I was either born dumb, or had become so from 
 fright at the time that the attack and slaughter of my family 
 took place. I was eighteen months in the harem of Osman 
 Ali, and never spoke one word. 
 
 " Mashal'ah ! but this is wonderful ! " exclaimed the pacha 
 " a woman hold her tongue for eighteen months ! Who is to 
 believe this ? " 
 
 "Not at all wonderful," replied the old woman, "when you 
 recollect that she was required to speak." 
 
 Once, and once only, did I nearly break through my resolu- 
 tion. Two of the principal favourites were conversing in my 
 presence. 
 
 " I cannot imagine," said one, " what Ali can see in this 
 little minx to be so infatuated with her. v She is very ugly 
 her mouth is large her teeth are yellow and her eyes not 
 only have no expression, but look different ways. She has one 
 shoulder higher than the other, and worse than all, being dumb, 
 cannot be taught anything but dancing, which only shows her 
 ugly broad feet. 
 
 " That is all true," replied the other. " If I was Ali, I 
 should employ her as a common slave ; she is fit for nothing 
 but to roll up and beat carpets, boil rice, and prepare our 
 coffee. A little of the slipper on her mouth would soon bring 
 her to her senses." 
 
 I must own that I was near breaking through my resolution, 
 that I might have indulged ray revenge, and had not the door
 
 THE OLD WO M APT. 315 
 
 suddenly opened, I should have proved to them that I could 
 have spoken to some purpose, for never would I have ceased 
 until they had both been sewn up in sacks, and cast into the 
 Bosphorus. But I restrained myself, although my cheeks 
 burned with rage, and I more than once put my hand to my 
 jewelled dagger. 
 
 I was often visited by Osman Ali, who in vain attempted to 
 make me speak ; a harsh guttural sound was all which I would 
 utter to express pain or pleasure. At last, being convinced 
 that I was dumb, he exchanged me with a slave-merchant for a 
 beautiful Circassian girl. He did not state my supposed 
 infirmity, but gave it as a reason for parting with me, that I was 
 too young, and required to be taught. As soon as the bargain 
 was struck, and the merchant had received the money which 
 had been given by Ali to effect the exchange, I was despoiled 
 of my dress and ornaments, and put in a litter, to be conveyed 
 to the house of the slave-merchant. As your highness may 
 imagine, not a little tired of holding my tongue for a year and a 
 half " 
 
 " By the beard of the Prophet, we can believe you on that 
 point, good woman. You may proceed." 
 
 " Yes, yes, I may proceed. You think women have no reso- 
 lution and no souls be it so and what you dignify with the 
 name of perseverance in your own sex, you call obstinacy in 
 ours. Be it so time has been." 
 
 I was no sooner in the litter than I let loose my tongue, and 
 called out to the women who were appointed to conduct me to 
 the door of the harem, " Tell Osman Ali, that now that I am 
 no longer his slave, I have found my tongue." Then closing 
 the curtains, I was carried away. As soon as I arrived, I told 
 the merchant all that had passed, and the reason why Ali 
 had parted with me. The merchant, who was astonished at 
 having made so good a bargain, laughed heartily at my naira- 
 tive. He told me that he intended me for the seraglio of the 
 sultan flattered me by declaring that I should be certainly the 
 favourite, and advised me to profit all I could by the masters, 
 he would provide. In the meantime, Osman Ali having heard 
 from the women the message I had sent, was very wroth, and 
 came to the slave-merchant to procure me again ; but the 
 slave-merchant informed him that the kislar aga of the sultan
 
 320 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 had seen me, and ordered me to be reserved for the imperial 
 seraglio ; by this falsehood screening himself not only from 
 Ali's importunities, but also from his vengeance. I took the 
 advice of my master, and in a little more than a year became 
 a proficient in music and most other accomplishments ; I also 
 learnt to write and read, and to repeat most of the verses of 
 Hafiz, and other celebrated poets. At seventeen I was offered 
 to the kislar aga as a prodigy of beauty and talent. The 
 kislar aga came to see me, and was astonished ; he saw at once 
 that I should immediately become first favourite ; and having 
 heard me sing and play, he demanded my price, which was 
 enormous. He reported me to the sultan, stating that he had 
 never beheld such perfection, and at the same time informing 
 him of the exorbitant demand of the slave-merchant. The 
 sultan, who had felt little interest in the inmates of his harem, 
 and was anxious for novelty, ordered the sum to be paid, and 
 I was conducted to the seraglio in a royal litter. 
 
 That I was anxious to be purchased by the sultan I confess : 
 my pride rebelled at the idea of being a slave, and if I was to 
 be so, at least I wished to be the slave of the sultan. I 
 indulged the idea that I should soon bring him to subjection, 
 and that the slave would lord it over her master, and that 
 master the dispenser of life and death, honour and disgrace, to 
 millions. I had made up my mind how to behave ; the poets 
 I had read had taught me but too well. Convinced that a 
 little wilfulness would, from its novelty, be most likely to capti- 
 vate one who had been accustomed to dull and passive 
 obedience, I allowed my natural temper to be unchecked. The 
 second day after my arrival, the kislar aga informed me that 
 the sultan intended to honour me with a visit, and that the 
 baths and dresses were prepared. I replied that I had bathed 
 that morning, and did not intend to bathe again ; as for the 
 dresses and jewels, I did not require them, and that I was 
 ready to receive my lord the sultan, if he pleased to come. 
 The kislar aga opened his eyes with astonishment at my pre- 
 sumption ; but not venturing to use force to one who, in his 
 opinion, would become the favourite, he returned to the sultan, 
 reporting to him what had passed. The sultan, as I expected, 
 was more amused at the novelty than affronted at the want of 
 respect. "Be it so," replied he; "this Georgian must have a 
 good opinion of her own charms."
 
 THE OLD WOMAX. 311 
 
 In the evening the sultan made his appearance, and I pros- 
 trated myself at his feet, for I did not wish to proceed too far 
 at once. He raised me up, and appeared delighted. 
 
 "You are right, Zara," said he; "no jewels or dress could 
 add to the splendour of your beauty." 
 
 " Pardon me, O gracious lord," replied I, " but if thy slave 
 is to please thee, may it be by her natural charms alone. If I 
 have the honour to continue in thy favour, let me adorn 
 myself with those jewels which ought to decorate the chosen 
 of her master ; but as a candidate I have rejected them, for 
 who knows but in a few days I may be deserted for one more 
 worthy of your preference ?" 
 
 The sultan was delighted at my apology, and I certainly W as 
 pleased with him. He was then about forty years of age, very 
 handsome and well made ; but I was still more gratified to 
 find that my conversation amused him so . much that he re- 
 mained with me for many hours after his usual time for retiring. 
 This gave promise of an ascendancy which might survive 
 personal charms. But not to detain your highness, I will at 
 once state, the sultan soon thought of but me. Not only my 
 personal attractions, but my infinite variety, which appeared 
 natural, but was generally planned and sketched out previous, 
 to his visits, won so entirely upon him, that so far from being 
 tired, his passion, I may say his love, for me was every day 
 increased. 
 
 " Well, it may be all true," observed the pacha, looking at 
 the wrinkled and hideous object before him. " What do you 
 say, Mustapha?" 
 
 " O pacha ! we know not yet her history. The mother of your 
 slave, as 1 have heard from my father, was once most beautiful. 
 She is still in our harem ; and, pooh," said Mustapha, spitting, 
 as if in abhorrence. 
 
 "Right, good vizier, right; recollect, pacha, what I have 
 said : time has been." The pacha nodded, and the old woman 
 proceeded. 
 
 Once sure of the sultan's affections, I indulged myself in 
 greater liberties not with him, but with others ; for I knew 
 that he would laugh at the tricks I might play upon his depen- 
 dents, but not be equally pleased with a want of respect
 
 3 72 THE PACHA OF MA MY TALES. 
 
 towards himself; and other people of the harem were the 
 objects of my caprice and amusement. So far from prevent- 
 ing him from noticing the other women in the harem, I would 
 recommend them, and often have them in my apartments when 
 he would visit me, and wish to be alone. I generally con- 
 trived to manage a little quarrel about once a month, as it 
 renewed his passion. In short, the sultan became, as I 
 intended, so infatuated, that he was my slave, and afthe same 
 time I felt an ardent attachment to him. My power was well 
 known. The presents which I received from those who 
 jcquired my good offices were innumerable, and I never re- 
 ained them, but sent them as presents to the sultan, in 
 /eturn for those which he repeatedly sent to me. This 
 indifference on my part to what women are usually too fond 
 of, increased his regard. 
 
 " By the holy Prophet, but you seemed fond enough of gold 
 just now," observed the pacha. 
 
 "Time has been," replied the old woman. "I speak not 
 of the present." 
 
 For two years I passed a happy life ; but anxious as the 
 sultan was, as well as myself, that I should present him with 
 an heir, that happiness was denied me, and was eventually the 
 cause of my ruin. The queen mother and the kislar aga, both 
 of whom I had affronted, were indefatigable in their attempts 
 to undermine my power. The whole universe, I may say, 
 was ransacked for a new introduction into the seraglio, whose 
 novelty and beauty might seduce the sultan from my arms. 
 Instead of counterplotting, as I might have done, I was 
 pleased at their frustrated efforts. Had I demanded the 
 -woolly head of the one, and poisoned the other, I had done 
 wisely. I only wish I had them now ; but I was a fool it 
 cannot be helped ; but time has been. 
 
 Like most of the sex, the ruling passion of the sultan was 
 vanity, a disease which shows itself in a thousand different 
 shapes. He was peculiarly proud of his person, and with 
 reason, for it was faultless, with one little exception, which I 
 had discovered, a wen, about the size of a pigeon's egg, 
 under the left arm. I had never mentioned to him that I was 
 aware of it ; but a circumstance occurred which annoyed me, 
 and I forgot my discretion.
 
 THE OLD WOMAN. 323 
 
 The kislar aga had at last discovered a Circassian slave, 
 who, he thought, would effect the purpose. She was beautiful, 
 and'I had already engrossed the sultan's attentions for more than 
 two years. Men will be fickle, and I expected no otherwise. 
 What I required was the dominion over the mind ; I cared 
 little about the sultan's attentions to other women. Like the 
 tamed bird which flies from its cage, and after windering 
 a short time, is glad to return to its home and reassume its 
 perch, so did I consider it would be the case with the sul f an. 
 I never, therefore, wearied him with tears or reproaches, but 
 won him back with smiles and good humour. I expected 
 that this new face would detach him for a short time, and for 
 a fortnight he never came into my apartment. He had never 
 been away so long before, and I was rather uneasy. He 
 visited me one morning, and I asked him to sup with me. He 
 consented ; and I invited three or four of the most beautiful 
 women of the seraglio, as well as the lady of his new attach- 
 ment, to meet him. I thought it wise so to do, to prove to 
 him that I was not displeased, and trusting that the Circassian 
 might suffer when in company with others of equal charms, 
 who from neglect might reassume their novelty. The Circas- 
 sian was undeniably most beautiful ; but, without vanity, she 
 was by no means to be compared to me ; she had the advan- 
 tage of novelty, and, I hoped, no more, for I felt what a danger- 
 ous rival she might prove if her wit and talents were equal to 
 her personal charms. The sultan came, and I exerted myself 
 to please, but, to my mortification, I was neglected ; all his 
 attentions and thoughts were only for my rival, who played her 
 part to admiration, yielded to him that profound respect and 
 abject adulation which, on my part, had been denied him, and 
 which he probably, as a novelty from a favourite, set a higher 
 price upon. At last, I was treated with such marked insult, 
 that I lost my temper, and I determined that the sultan should 
 do the same. I handed him a small apple. Will my lord 
 accept this apple from the hand of his slave ? Is it not curious 
 in shape? It reminds me of the wen under your Majesty's 
 left arm." 
 
 The sultan coloured with rage. 
 
 "Yes," replied I, laughing, "you have one of them, you 
 know very well." 
 
 " Silence, Zara," cried the sultan, in a firm tone.
 
 324 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 "And why should I be silent, my lord? Have not I spoken 
 the truth?" 
 
 " False woman ! deny what you have falsely uttered." 
 
 " Sultan, I will not deny the truth. I will, if you command 
 me, hold my tongue." 
 
 "Your slave has been honoured with my lord's attentions, 
 and denies the assertion as a calumny," observed my rival. 
 
 " Peace, wretch ! thou hast proved thyself unworthy of the 
 honour, by thy lying tongue." 
 
 " I tell thee, Zara, silence ! or you shall feel my indignation." 
 
 But I was now too angry, and I replied, " My lord, you well 
 know that I once held my tongue for eighteen months, I there- 
 fore can be silent when I choose ; but I can also speak when 
 I choose, and now I do choose to speak. I have said it, and 
 I will not retract my words." 
 
 The sultan was white with rage ; my life hung upon a thread : 
 when the Circassian maliciously observed, "The bastinado 
 might induce her to retract." 
 
 " And shall/' exclaimed the sultan, clapping his hands. 
 
 The kislar aga appeared ; in obedience to the sultan's orders, 
 the executioner of the harem and two slaves stretched me on 
 the floor, I made no resistance or complaint ; my jewelled 
 slippers were taken off, and all was ready for the disgraceful 
 punishment. 
 
 " Now, Zara, will you retract ? " said the sultan, solemnly. 
 
 " No, my lord, I will not. I repeat that you have a wen 
 under your left arm." 
 
 " Strike ! " cried the sultan, in a paroxysm of rage. The 
 bamboos fell, and I received a dozen blows. I bore them 
 without a cry, I was too much choked by my feelings. 
 
 " Now, Zara, will you retract ? " exclaimed the sultan, in a 
 subdued tone. 
 
 " Never, sultan ; T will prove to you that a woman has more 
 courage than you imagine ; if I die under the punishment, my 
 rival shall not have even the pleasure of a groan. You ask 
 me to retract. I will not swerve from the truth. You have, 
 and you know you have, and so does that vile parasite by 
 your side know, that you have a wen under your left arm.' 
 
 I was faint with the pain, and my voice was weak and treui- 
 
 II Ing. 
 
 " TiocecJ," said the sultjin.
 
 THE OLD WOMAN. 3:5 
 
 When I had received thirty blows, I fainted with the agon}-, 
 and the sultan ordered them to desist. " I trust, Zara, you are 
 now sufficiently punished for your disobedience." But I heard 
 him not ; and when the sultan, perceiving that I did not reply, 
 looked at me, his heart melted. He felt how arbitrary, how 
 cruel he had been. The Circassian went to him ; he ordered 
 her in a voice of thunder to be gone, me to be unbound by 
 the other ladies, laid on the sofa, and restoratives to be pro- 
 cured. When I came to my senses, 1 found myself alone with 
 the sultan. " Oh ! Zara," said he, as the tears stood in his 
 eyes, "why did you tempt me thus why were you so obsti- 
 nate?" 
 
 " My lord," answered I, in a feeble voice, " leave your slave, 
 and go to those who can teach their tongues to lie. I have 
 never deceived you, although I may have displeased you. I 
 have loved you with fidelity and truth. Now that you have 
 witnessed what I can suffer rather than be guilty of falsehood, 
 you ought to believe me. Take my life, my lord, and I will 
 bless you ; for I have lost you, and with you I have lost more 
 than life." 
 
 " Not so, Zara," replied the sultan ; " I love you more than 
 ever." 
 
 " I am glad to hear you say so, my lord, although it is now 
 of no avail. I am no longer yours, and never will be. I am 
 unfit to be yours ; my person lias been contaminated by the 
 touch of Ethiopian slaves ; it has been polluted by the hand 
 of the executioner ; it has been degraded by a chastisement 
 due only to felons. Oblige me, as a last proof of your kind- 
 ness, by taking a life which is a burthen to me." 
 
 Despot as he was, the sultan was much moved ; he was mor- 
 tified at having yielded to his temper, and his passionate 
 affection for me had returned. He entreated my pardon, and 
 shed tears over me, kissed my swelled feet, and humiliated 
 himself so much, that my heart relented for I loved him 
 dearly still. 
 
 " Zara," exclaimed he, at last, " will you not forgive me ? " 
 
 "When, my lord, have I ever shown myself jealous? True 
 love is above jealousy. This evening, to please you, although 
 J have lately been neglected, did I not request your new favour- 
 ite to meet you ? In return, I was grossly insulted by neglect, 
 and studied attentions to her. I was piqued, and revenged
 
 326 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 myself for I am but a woman. I was wrong in so doing, 
 but having told the truth, I was right in not retracting what 
 I had said. Now that you have degraded me now that you 
 have rendered me unworthy of you, you ask me to forgive you." 
 
 " And again I implore it, my dearest Zara ! " 
 
 " There are my jewels, my lord. I have no other property 
 but what I have received, and cherished as presents from you ; 
 your treasurer well knows that. Take my jewels, my lord, and 
 present them to her ; they will make her more beautiful in 
 your sight to me they are now worthless. Go to her, and in 
 a few days you will forget that ever there was such a person 
 as the unhappy, the neglected, the disgraced and polluted 
 Zara." And I burst into tears ; for even with all his ill-usage, 
 I was miserable at the idea of parting with him ; for what will 
 not a woman forgive a man who has obtained her favour and 
 her love ? 
 
 " What can I do to prove that I repent? " cried the sultan. 
 " Tell me, Zara. I have supplicated for pardon, what more 
 can I do?" 
 
 " Let my lord efface all traces and memory of my degrada- 
 tion. Was not I struck by two vile slaves, who will babble 
 through the city? Was not I held down by an executioner? 
 These arms, which have wound round the master of the world 
 and no other, polluted by his gripe." 
 
 The sultan clapped his hands, and the kislar aga appeared. 
 " Quick," exclaimed he, " the heads of the slaves and execu- 
 tioner who inflicted the punishment." In a minute the kislar 
 aga appeared ; he perceived how matters stood, and trembled 
 for his own. He held up the three heads, one after another, 
 and then returned them to the sack of sawdust in which they 
 had been brought. 
 
 " Are you satisfied now, Zara ? " 
 
 " For myself, yes but not for you. Who was it that per- 
 suaded you to descend from your dignity, and lower yourself, 
 by yielding to the instigations of malice ? Who was it that 
 advised the bastinado ? As a woman, I am too proud to be 
 jealous of her; but as one who values your honour, and your 
 reputation, I cannot permit you to have so dangerous a coun- 
 sellor. Your virgins, your omras, your princes, will all be at her 
 mercy; your throne may be overturned by her taking advantage 
 of her power."
 
 THE OLD WOMAN. 3:7 
 
 The sultan hesitated. 
 
 " Sultan, you have but to choose between two things ; if she 
 be alive to-morrow morning, I am dead by my own hand. 
 You know I never lie." 
 
 The sultan clapped his hands, the kislar aga again appeared. 
 ' Her head," said he, hesitatingly. The kislar aga waited a 
 little to ascertain if there was no reprieve, for too hasty a com- 
 pliance with despots is almost as dangerous as delay. He 
 caught my eye he saw at once that if not her head, it would 
 be his own, and he quitted the room. In a few minutes he 
 held up by its fair tresses the head of my beautiful rival ; I 
 looked at the distorted features, and was satisfied. I motioned 
 with my hand, and the kislar aga withdrew. 
 
 " Now, Zara, do you forgive me ? Now do you believe that 
 I sincerely love you, and have I obtained my pardon ? " 
 
 " Yes," replied I, " I do, sultan ; I forgive you all ; and 
 now 1 will permit you to sit by me and bathe my feet." 
 
 From that day I resumed my empire with more despotic 
 power than ever. I insisted that I should refuse his visits when 
 I felt so inclined, and when I imagined that there was the 
 slightest degree of satiety on his part, he was certain to be re- 
 fused admittance for a fortnight. I became the depositary of 
 his secrets and the mpver of his counsels. My sway was un- 
 limited, and I never abused it. I loved him, and his honour 
 and his welfare were the only guides to my conduct. 
 
 " But your highness will probably be tired ; and as I have 
 now told how it was that I suffered the bastinado, you will 
 perhaps wait till to-morrow for the history of the bow- 
 string." 
 
 " I believe that the old woman is right," said Mustapha, 
 yawning; "it is late. Is it your highness's pleasure that she 
 shall return to-morrow evening ? " 
 
 " Be it so ; but let her be in close custody you remem- 
 ber." 
 
 " Be chesm on my eyes be it. Guards, remove this woman 
 from the sublime presence." 
 
 " It appears to me," said the pacha to Mustapha, " that 
 this old woman's story may be true. The description of the 
 harem is so correct commanding one day, bastinadoed the 
 next"
 
 328 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 " Who can doubt the fact, your sublime highness ? The 
 lord of life dispenses as he thinks fit." 
 
 "Very true; he might send me the bowstring to-morrow." 
 
 "Allah forbid!" 
 
 " I pray with you ; but life is uncertain, and \ is our fate. 
 You are my vizier to-day, for instance what im.y you be to- 
 morrow ? " 
 
 " Whatever your highness may decide," replied Mustapha, 
 not much liking the turn of the conversation. " Am not I 
 your slave, and as the dirt under your feet and shall I not 
 bow to your sovereign pleasure and my destiny ? " 
 
 " It is well said, and so must I if the caliph sends me a 
 Capitan Badji, which Allah forbid. There is but one God, and 
 Mahomet is his Prophet." 
 
 " Amen," replied Mustapha. " Will your highness drink of 
 the water of the Giaour ? " 
 
 " Yes, truly ; for what says the poet ? ' We are merry to- 
 day and to-morrow we die.' " 
 
 "Min Allah ; God forbid ! That old woman has lived a 
 long while, why shouldn't we ? " 
 
 " I don't know ; but she has had the bowstring and is not 
 yet dead. We may not be so fortunate." 
 
 " May we never have it at all ; then shall we escape, O 
 pacha." 
 
 " True, Mustapha ; so give me the bottle." 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 THE next evening the old woman made her appearance, with- 
 out raising any difficulty as on the previous day, and took her 
 seat before the pacha, and thus continued : 
 
 As I stated to your highness last evening when I broke off 
 my narrative, I was in the highest favour with the sultan, who 
 made me his confidante. He had often mentioned to me the 
 distinguished services of a young seraskier, whom he had lately 
 appointed capitan pacha, to combat in the north against a bar- 
 barous nation called Sclavonians, or Russians. My curiosity 
 was raised to see this Rustam of a warrior, for his exploits and
 
 TI. r E OLD WOMAN. 3:9 
 
 unvaried success were constantly the theme of the sultan's 
 encomiums. A Georgian slave who had been the favourite 
 previous to my arrival, and who had never forgiven my sup- 
 planting her, had been sent to him by the sultan as a compli- 
 ment ; and this rare distinction had been conferred upon him 
 on the day when I requested leave to remain behind the screen 
 in the hall of the divan, that I might behold this celebrated 
 and distinguished person. He was indeed a splendid figure, 
 and his face was equally perfect. He formed, in outward ap- 
 pearance, all that I could imagine of a hero. As I looked at 
 him from behind the screen, he turned his head from me, and 
 1 beheld, to my surprise, the red stain on his neck, which told 
 me at once that I had found my long-lost brother. Delighted r.t 
 the rencontre, I retired as soon as the audience was over, and 
 when the sultan came to my apartment, I told him the dis- 
 covery which I had made. The sultan appeared pleased at the 
 information : and the next day sending for my brother, he 
 asked him a tew questions relative to his lineage and former 
 life, which corroborated my story ; and loading him with fresh 
 honours, he dismissed him. I was delighted that in finding 
 my brother I had found one who was not unworthy of the 
 sultan's regard, and I considered it a most fortunate circum- 
 stance. But how blind are mortals ! My brother was the 
 cause of my disgrace and eternal separation from the sultan. 
 I mentioned to your highness that the Georgian slave who had 
 preceded me in the sultan's favour had been sent as a present 
 to my brother. This woman, although she had always ap- 
 peared fond of me, was in fact my most bitter enemy. She 
 was very beautiful and clever, and soon obtained the most 
 unlimited influence over my brother. Yet she loved him not ; 
 she had but one feeling to gratify, which was revenge on me. 
 My brother had so often led the troops to victory, that he had 
 acquired an unbounded sway over them. Stimulated by their 
 suggestions and his own ambition, which like mine was bound- 
 less, he was at last induced to plot against his master, with the 
 intention of dethroning him and reigning in his stead. To his 
 new wife, the Georgian, he had intrusted his plans, and she 
 resolved to regain the favour of the sultan and accomplish my 
 ruin by making me a party, and then communicating to him 
 the treason which was in agitation. She proposed to my 
 brother that he should inform me of his intentions, alleging
 
 330 THE PACHA OF MAXY TALES. 
 
 that in all probability I would assist him, as I cared little for 
 the sultan; and at all events, if I did not join, my interest 
 might save him from his wrath. For some time he refused to 
 accede to her suggestions ; but as she pointed out that if the 
 plot were discovered, I, as his sister, would certainly share his 
 fate, and that she well knew that I had never forgiven the 
 punishment of the bastinado which I had received, and only 
 waited for an opportunity to revenge myself, he at last con- 
 sented to make me a party to his intentions. My brother had 
 been allowed to visit me, and he took this opportunity of stating 
 to me his schemes. I started from him with horror, pointed 
 out to him his ingratitude and folly, and entreated him to 
 abandon his purpose. Convinced that I was firmly attached 
 to the sultan, he appeared to acquiesce in the justice of my 
 remarks, confessed that he was wrong, and promised me 
 faithfully to think no more of his treacherous designs. I 
 believed him to be sincere, and I shed tears of joy as I thanked 
 him for having yielded to my entreaties. We separated ; and 
 in a short time I thought no more of the subject. 
 
 But he had no idea of abandoning his purpose ; in fact, he 
 was already too deeply involved to be able to do so. His 
 arrangements went on rapidly; and when all was ripe the 
 Georgian gave information to the sultan, denouncing me as a 
 party as well as my brother. 
 
 One morning as I was sitting in my apartment, arranging on 
 a tray a present for my lord and master, I was surprised by the 
 abrupt entrance of the kislar aga, accompanied by guards, who 
 without explanation seized me, and led me into the presence- 
 chamber, where the sultan and all the officers of state were 
 assembled. It immediately rushed into my mind that my 
 brother had deceived me. Pale with anxiety, but at the same 
 time with a feeling of delight that the plot had been discovered, 
 I entered the divan, where I beheld my brother in the custody 
 of the palace-guard. He had been seized in the divan, as his 
 popularity was so great that a few minutes' notice would have 
 enabled him not only to escape, but to have put his treasonable 
 plans into execution ; but he bore himself with such a haughty 
 air, with his arms folded across his breast, that I thought he 
 might be innocent ; and that he had, as he promised me, aban- 
 doned all thoughts of rebellion. 
 
 I turned towards the sultan, who fixed his eyes upon me ;
 
 THE OLD WOMA.V. 331 
 
 his brows were knit with anger, and he commenced, " Zara, 
 your brother is accused of treason, which he denies. You, also, 
 are charged with being privy to his designs. Answer me, do 
 you know nothing of these plots ? " 
 
 I did not know how to answer this question, and I would 
 not tell a lie. I did know something about his intentions; but 
 as he had denied the charge, it was not to be expected that he 
 should be condemned by the mouth of his only sisU-r. Per- 
 haps he had, as he had promised me, abandoned his ideas ; 
 perhaps it could not be proved againot him. My answer would 
 have been the signal for his death. I could not give the 
 answer required ; and I replied, " If my brother be found 
 guilty of rebelling against his sovereign, let him suffer." 
 
 " Answer my question, Zara. Do you know anything about 
 this plot? Yes or no. Say no, and I shall believe you." 
 
 " Your slave has never plotted against her lord," replied I. 
 " Further I cannot answer your question." 
 
 " Then it is true ; and Zara even Zara is false ! " cried the 
 sultan, clasping his hands in agony. " O ! where can a person 
 in my situation find one who is faithful and true, when Zara, 
 even Zara is false ? " 
 
 " No no, my lord," cried I, bursting into tears ; " Zara is 
 true; always has been, always will be true. That I can 
 boldly answer but do not press the other question." 
 
 The sultan looked at me for a short time, and then consulted 
 with the viziers and others, who stood by the throne with their 
 arms folded. The chief vizier replied, " Those who know of 
 treason, and conceal it, are participators in the crime." 
 
 " True most true. Zara, for the last time I ask you, what 
 do you know of this intended insurrection ? I must be trifled 
 with no longer. A plain answer, or " 
 
 " I cannot answer that question, my lord." 
 
 " Zara, as you value your life, answer me immediately," cried 
 the sultan, with violence .; but I answered not. 
 
 Twice more did the forbearance and love of the sultan induce 
 him to repeat the question ; but I remained silent. 
 
 He waved his hands, I was seized by the mutes, and the 
 bowstring encircled my neck. All was ready, they awaited but 
 the last signal to tighten the fatal cord. 
 
 " Once more, Zara, will you answer ; or brave me to your 
 destruction ? "
 
 532 THE r AC II A OF MANY TALES. 
 
 "Sultan, I will at least speak to you before I die. I only 
 wish to declare my fidelity and my love to you in my last 
 moments, to tell you that I forgive you for that which, when 
 the truth is known, you will never forgive yourself. One 
 moment more. Let me remove this jewelled chain from my 
 neck, now superseded by the bowstring. You presented it to 
 me when convinced of my attachment and my love. Take it, 
 sultan, and when you find one as faithful and as true, present 
 "t to her ; but until you do so, wear it in memory of Zara. 
 And now let me throw my veil over those features which have 
 always beamed with love and delight on you, that when I am 
 dead, and you call them to your recollection, they may be as 
 you have been used to see them, and not black with convul- 
 sions and distorted with agony. My lord, my dear and 
 honoured lord, farewell ! " 
 
 The sultan was deeply moved ; he turned away his head, 
 and covered his face with one hand, while the other dropped 
 at his side, from the intensity of his feelings. 
 
 Although it never was so intended, this dropping of his hand 
 was considered as the signal for my death. The string was 
 tightened, and buried itself, cutting deeply into the flesh of a 
 neck once as fair and smooth as the polished marble of Patras. 
 For the first moments my torture was excruciating my eyes 
 were forcing out of their sockets my tongue protruded from 
 my mouth my brain appeared to be on fire but all recollec- 
 tion soon departed. 
 
 " Staffir Allah ! God forgive me ! but are you not laugh- 
 ing at our beards, old scarecrow ? What think you, Mustapha ? " 
 continued the pacha, turning to him. " What is all this but 
 tiaf" 
 
 " Lies ! " screamed the old woman. " Lies ! you tell me 
 they are lies ! Well, well the time has been. Pacha, after 
 what I have suffered by telling the truth all my life, it is hard, 
 in my old age, to be told that I lie ; but you shall be con- 
 vinced," and the old woman put her hands up to the shrivelled, 
 pendent skin of her neck, and stretching it out smooth, showed 
 a deep blue mark, which encircled it like a necklace. " Now 
 are you satisfied ? " 
 
 The pacha nodded his head to Mustapha, as if convinced ; 
 and then said, " You may proceed,"
 
 THE OLD WOMAN. 353, 
 
 " Yes, I may proceed ; but I tell you, pacha, that if you 
 doubt what I say once more, I will return your twenty pieces of 
 gold, and hold my tongue. I proved that I could do it 
 as a young woman, and we become more obstinate as we get 
 old." 
 
 "That is no lie," observed Mustapha. "Continue, old 
 woman, and we will not interrupt you with doubts again." 
 
 My brother, who had watched every motion of the sultan's, 
 and who had determined to reveal all rather than that I should 
 suffer, when he perceived the fatal mistake, which he did not 
 till some moments afterwards, uttered a loud cry, and attempted 
 to burst from his guards. Roused by the cry, the sultan looked 
 up, and perceived what had taken place. In a moment he 
 darted from his throne, and was kneeling by me with frantic 
 exclamations. The mutes hastily tore away the bowstring, but 
 I was, to all appearance, dead. 
 
 " Yes, sultan, well you may rave," exclaimed my brother ; 
 " for you have good cause. You have destroyed one who, as 
 she declared with her last breath, was most faithful and most 
 true. I acknowledge the conspiracy. I told her my intentions, 
 and she thought that she had succeeded in preventing me ; for 
 I promised by the three to abandon my design. She lias been 
 faithful both to you and to me, for she believed that, although 
 accused, I had atoned for my fault by repentance." 
 
 The sultan looked earnestly at my brother, but made no 
 answer. He embraced me, at one moment bursting into tears, 
 in the next calling for assistance. I was removed to my apart- 
 ments, and after some time, the physicians succeeded in 
 restoring me to life; but I was for many days confused and 
 dizzy in the brain, during which every attention and care was 
 lavished on me. One evening I felt sufficiently recovered to 
 speak, and I demanded of my attendants what had taken place. 
 They informed me that the mutes, who had mistaken the 
 signal, had been impaled, and that the janissaries had risen 
 and demanded my brother, whose execution had been deferred 
 by the sultan; but that on the commotion taking place, by order 
 of the grand vizier my brother had been executed, and his 
 head thrown out to the rebellious troops, who had been dis- 
 persed, and had since been brought to subjection, and some 
 hundreds of their ringleaders had been executed. I turned
 
 334 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 away at this intelligence, for I loved my noble but misguided 
 brother. The movement occasioned excruciating pain, which 
 arose from the deep wound made by the bowstring in my neck. 
 
 The next morning I rose, that I might contemplate my 
 person in the mirror, and I at once perceived the alteration 
 which had taken place. There was a certain degree of dis- 
 tortion of features which I thought would never be removed. 
 I felt that although the sultan might respect me, I could not 
 expect the same influence and undivided attention as before. 
 With a heavy heart I threw myself on the couch, and planned 
 for the future. I reflected upon the uncertain tenure by which 
 the affections of a despot are held and I resolved to part. 
 Still I loved him, loved him in spite of all his cruelty; but my 
 resolution was made. For six weeks I refused to see the 
 sultan, although he inquired every day, and sent me magni- 
 ficent presents. At the end of that period I had recovered, 
 and all that remained from the effects of the bowstring was a 
 slight wrinkling of the skin from distension, and the deep blue 
 mark round my neck which I have just shown to your 
 highness. 
 
 When I first admitted the sultan, he was much affected. 
 "Zara," said he, mournfully, "I swear by the holy Prophet that 
 I meant not to give the signal." 
 
 " I believe you, my lord," replied I, calmly. 
 
 "Neither did I intend that your brother should suffer. I 
 meant to have gained your favour by his pardon." 
 
 " He was a traitor, my lord, an ungrateful traitor, and 
 deserved his death. So may all like him perish." 
 
 "And now, Zara, may I hope for your forgiveness?" 
 
 " On one condition, sultan ; and swear that you will grant 
 what I require." 
 
 "I do, by Allah!" 
 
 " It is, that you send me back to my own country." 
 
 Not to detain your highness by dwelling too long upon what 
 passed, it will suffice to say, that notwithstanding the entreaties 
 of the sult&n, and the pleadings of my own heart, my resolution 
 was immovable. Every arrangement was made for my de- 
 parture, and during the preparations the sultan was continually 
 with me, persuading me to abandon the idea. The magni- 
 ficence and liberality which he showed in the costly presents 
 bestowed upon me, that I might return with honour and wealth
 
 THE OLD WOMAN. 335 
 
 to my own country, more than once made me waver in my 
 resolution. The evening before my departure he made a last 
 attempt, but in vain. My refusal was at least so r tened by the 
 tears which I shed ; for now that the time of dej. arture was so 
 near, I felt how truly, how devotedly I was attached to him. 
 We parted; I threw myself on the couch, and wept till the 
 dawn of day, when I was summoned to commence my 
 journey. 
 
 As your highness may be aware is the custom, when my 
 brother was executed, all his property was seized by the sultan, 
 and distributed among the favourites. The new capitan pacha 
 who succeeded my brother was called Abdallah, and was >aid 
 to be an excellent soldier. Part of my brother's property was 
 made over to him, and among the rest the Georgian slave who 
 had been the ruin of my brother, and had so fatally destroyed 
 my happiness. To show me every attention and respect, the 
 sultan had ordered Abdallah in person to escort me to my 
 own country, with a picked body of cavalry. The cavalcade 
 was magnificent; treasure had been heaped on treasure, present 
 upon present; twenty women of my own country, and numerous 
 slaves, had been permitted to attend upon me, and the proces- 
 sion wore the appearance of a pageant. I ascended my litter 
 with an aching heart; and, journeying by easy stages, arrived 
 at the land of my nativity. The borders were passed, and 
 Abdallah requested me to write an acknowledgment that he 
 had done his duty, which the sultan would require of him upon 
 his return. I gave him the paper, and, professing many wishes 
 for my future happiness, he assembled his troops, and the 
 escort turned the heads of their neighing steeds towards the 
 city where my heart had truly been left behind. 
 
 It will now be necessary to revert to the Georgian slave who 
 had been presented to my brother by the sultan, and had after- 
 wards been made over to Abdallah. When she heard that I 
 was about to depart for my own country, loaded with presents, 
 her rage was without bounds. Already had her beauty and 
 talents made great impression upon Abdallah, and she soon 
 won him over to a plot which would be advantageous to him, 
 at the same time that it would throw me, whom he distrusted, 
 into her power. She proposed to Abdallah that, after having 
 escorted me to the frontiers, and received from me the acknow 
 ledgment required by the sultan, he should follow my sir. all
 
 336 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 escort of slaves, cut them to pieces, take possession of me and 
 all my treasure, and return with it to Constantinople, where I 
 might be immured in his harem. The avarice of Abdallah was 
 not able to withstand the temptation ; and, aware that there 
 was no chance of the nefarious transaction being discovered by 
 the sultan, he agreed to the proposal. On the second night 
 after we had parted with Abdallah, a body of horsemen 
 galloped down upon us, and all my attendants, male and 
 female, were massacred. I was seized, put into a sack, and 
 thrown across a horse ; and as soon as the treasure could be 
 collected, they set off at a rapid pace. I was nearly dead when 
 they halted, and when I was removed from my painful situation, 
 I fainted away. 
 
 Abdallah had never seen my face ; the soldiers reported me 
 dead, and he was glad when he heard of it, for it was only to 
 please his wife that he had promised to bring me back. He 
 walked up to where I lay, and was, even in my miserable 
 situation, enamoured with my beauty. His heart acknow- 
 ledged that I was the most valuable of all his plunder. Every 
 care and attention was bestowed upon me ; and after several 
 hours' halt, to allow me to refresh myself, I was placed in a 
 small litter, and our journey recommenced. He was studious 
 to obtain my favour: at first I spurned him; but when he told 
 me that the Georgian slave had instigated him to the deed, and 
 had insisted that he should bring me back, I well knew for 
 what purpose, and thought only ol revenge. I teigned to be 
 less averse to him, and before our journey was over, had used 
 all my powers ot fascination with triumphant success. At last 
 our wearied horses arrived at Stamboul, and after waiting in the 
 suburbs till the evening closed in, that the cavalcade might not 
 attract attention, it proceeded to the house of Abdallah, and 
 I was once more in the precincts of a harem. The Georgian 
 slave hastened to meet me when she was informed of our 
 arrival, and taking off her slipper, she struck me contemptuously 
 on the mouth, with such force as to cause the blood to flow. 
 "Now, sultana," cried she, "the day is mine; again shall you 
 receive the bastinado; ay, and again shall the bowstring 
 be applied to your proud neck, and more effectually than 
 before." She then ordered her slaves to strip me, and put on 
 the meanest attire. When that was done, she spat in my face, 
 and left me without speaking; but the flashing of her eyes
 
 THE OLD WOMAN. ,_., 
 
 gav evidence of the fiery passions which were ragin"- in her 
 bosom. 
 
 In the meantime Abdallah had proceeded to the palace, to 
 present to the sultan the document proving my safe arrival ; 
 and having so done, he hastened back to his own house. As' 
 soon as he entered the harem, instead of visiting the Georgian 
 slave, who had arrayed herself for his reception, he inquired of 
 the astonished women in which chamber I had been accommo- 
 dated. They hesitatingly replied, pointing it out to him. He 
 entered, and found me clothed in a slave's dress, with my face 
 covered with blood. When I stated the treatment I had re- 
 ceived, and the further threat of the bastinado and the bow- 
 string, his rage was beyond all bounds. Ordering all the 
 women to attend me, he quitted me, that I might resume my 
 own dress, intimating that he hoped that I would allow him to 
 sup with me that evening. My desire for revenge induced me 
 to grant his request, and he quitted the harem to look after the 
 treasure of which I had been robbed. 
 
 In the meantime the other women had communicated 
 to the Georgian slave all that had occurred, and she was frantic 
 at the information. Fearful of her, I kept my door fast until 
 the arrival of Abdallah, who sent to inquire whether I would 
 receive him. He was admitted, and again expressed his indig- 
 nation at the conduct of my rival, offering, as a proof of his 
 attachment, to abandon her to my resentment. I had no time 
 for reply before the door was burst open, the Georgian flew in 
 and aimed her dagger at my heart. Abdallah had sufficient 
 time to ward the blow, and as the weapon passed through his 
 left arm, with his right hand he dashed her on the floor. Pale 
 with rage and pain, he called his people. "She threatened 
 you, Zara, with the bastinado and the bowstring. She has 
 sealed her own doom." 
 
 By his orders her slippers were torn oft", she received fifty 
 blows of the bastinado ; then, as she screamed with pain and 
 held up her hands for mercy, the mutes were summoned, and 
 the bowstring was applied. My revenge was more than satiated, 
 and I covered up my eyes that I might not be a witness to the 
 dreadful spectacle. When I removed my hands, I found 
 Abdallah only in the apartment, and my rival lying a blackened 
 corpse upon the floor. 
 For three years I remained in the harem of Abdallah ; and, 
 
 7.
 
 333 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 if not happy, was resigned to my fate. He was devoiediy 
 attached to me, and, if I could not return his love, I was not 
 deficient in gratitude. At last a second war broke out between 
 the Turks and Russians, and Abdallah was ordered to put him- 
 self at the head of his troops, and drive the invaders back to 
 their regions of frost and snow. As was the custom with 
 Turkish commanders, all his harem accompanied him, and 
 after travelling about from one territory to another, sometimes 
 in pursuit of, and at others retreating before the enemy's forces, 
 we were shut up in the fortress of Ismael, with orders to defend 
 it to the last. 
 
 I shall not weary your highness with a detail of what 
 occurred. I shall only say, that after the town had been 
 nearly reduced to ashes by the shells and shot, which had set 
 fire to it at least one hundred times, it was taken by storm, 
 with immense slaughter. We sat in our apartments, listening 
 with terror to the alternate shouting and shrieking, the noise of 
 the bursting of the shells, the whizzing of the balls, the cries of 
 the wounded, and the terrific roaring of the flames, which were 
 now consuming the whole town in their fury. At last our doors 
 were burst open, and the enemy entered. We screamed, and 
 would have fled, but in vain. What became of the rest I know 
 not, but I was dragged over the dead and the dying, through 
 smoke and through flame, until I fainted away with terror and 
 exhaustion. When I recovered, I found myself in a hut, lying 
 on a small bed, and attended by two bearded monsters, whom 
 I afterwards discovered were Cossacks. They were chafing my 
 limbs with their rough hands, without the least regard for 
 decorum. As soon as I opened my eyes, one of them poured 
 a little spirits down my throat, and wrapping me up in a horse- 
 cloth, they left me to meditate upon my misfortunes. 
 
 I discovered that evening that I had, by the fortune of war, 
 become the property of a Russian general, who had no time 
 for making love. With him it was all ready made, as a matter 
 of course. Still, he was a handsome man, and when not tipsy, 
 was good-humoured and generous ; but the bivouacs, even of 
 a general, were very different from the luxuries to which I had 
 been accustomed. I lived badly, and was housed worse. It 
 so unfortunately happened that my protector was a great 
 gambler, as indeed are all Russians ; and one morning, to my 
 surprise, a handsome young officer came into the tent, and the
 
 THE OLD WOMAV. 335 
 
 general very unceremoniously handed me over to him. My 
 beauty had been made known in the camp, and the Russian 
 general, having the night before lost all his money, had staked 
 me for one thousand sequins, and had lost. My new master 
 was a careless, handsome youth, a colonel in the army; I 
 could have loved him, but I had not time ; for I had not beer 
 in his tent more than three weeks, before I was again gambled 
 away, and lost to a major. I had hardly time to make myself 
 comfortable in my new abode, when I was staked and lost 
 again. In short, your highness, in that campaign I was the 
 property of between forty and fifty Russian officers ; and what 
 with the fatigue of marching, the badness of provisions, and 
 my constant unsettled state of mind and body, I lost much of 
 my good looks so much, indeed, that I found out that 
 instead of being taken as a stake of one thousand sequins, I 
 was not valued at more than two hundred. I can assure your 
 highness that it is no joke to go through a Russian camp in 
 that way to be handed about like a purse of money out, of 
 one man's pocket into another's. I assure you, that before 
 the campaign was over, I had had quite enough of the Russians, 
 and only wished that the Turkish army might rout them, and 
 I could find myself once more in a harem. It was then that 
 I first lamented over my hard fate, and that of the sultan. It 
 was then that I first used the expression, when I thought of 
 my condition, and that I said to myself, " The time has 
 been." 
 
 At last the army was ordered to march back, and being 
 then the property of a Cossack, he put me on a pony, and 
 made me keep up with the squadron, driving me before him 
 with his long spear, sometimes sticking the point into the rear 
 of the pony, and sometimes into me, by way of a joke. But 
 I had not been more than ten days on the retreat, before he 
 sold me, pony, bridle, saddle, altogether, as a bargain, to an 
 infantry officer, who as soon as he had taken possession, made 
 me dismount, while he got in the saddle, desiring me to lay 
 hold of the pony's tail and follow him. When they halted ha 
 made me wait upon him, and do everything which he required. 
 In the morning he mounted again, and I had to walk after 
 him as before. This was hard service for one who had been 
 the favourite of the sultan. For a week I contrived to hobble 
 after him, but it was impossible to go on any longer. We
 
 340 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 passed through a town, and as soon as we were clear of the 
 gates, and he did not watch me, I let go the tail of the pony, 
 and escaped without his perceiving it. I regained the town, 
 and, faint with hunger and fatigue, sat at the steps of a large 
 house. A lady, dressed in rich furs and sables, came out, and 
 perceiving that my dress was foreign, stopped, and inquired of 
 me who I was. I told her in a few words : she ordered me to 
 be received and taken care of. A few days afterwards she 
 sent for me, and I then narrated to her my history. She was 
 kind and generous, and I became her head attendant ; I was 
 contented and happy, and hoped to die in her service. But 
 my misfortunes were not half over. My mistress was a lady 
 of rank, and much esteemed. Her house was always full of 
 company : she was rich, and gave most splendid entertain- 
 ments. Her husband had been dead about two years, but 
 she was still very young, and exceedingly beautiful. One 
 evening, when there was a large party assembled in her rooms, 
 the door was opened, and an officer came up to her and 
 whispered in her ear. She coloured, trembled, and said that 
 she would be ready in an hour. I was near her at the time ; 
 she beckoned to me, hastened to her room, and burst into a 
 flood of tears. 
 
 " I am ordered to Petersburg immediately, on a charge of 
 -treason. My conscience tells me that I have done nothing ; 
 but, alas ! for me, the emperor has no mercy. Ekaterina," 
 for that was the name I went by, " will you accompany me ? 
 it will be a long and a melancholy journey. God knows how 
 it may end." 
 
 I immediately consented, packed up what we required, and 
 without disturbing those who were enjoying themselves, we 
 gained the courtyard, and took our seats in a brttska, in com- 
 pany with the officer. In four days we arrived at Petersburg, 
 and my mistress was separated from me and thrown into 
 prison. She never saw her accusers nor her judges; her 
 memorial to the emperor was disregarded, and she was 
 condemned; but her punishment was not immediately de- 
 cided upon. 
 
 Jor three weeks my mistress remained in prison. I was, by 
 the humanity of the officer who had the charge of her, allowed 
 to visit her for a few minutes every day ; but it was always in 
 the presence of a third person. One morning when I came,
 
 THE OLD WOMAN. 341 
 
 the poor lady fell upon my neck and sobbed a long while 
 without speaking; the countenance of the officer was also 
 melancholy to a degree, and I perceived that a tear occa- 
 sionally trickled down his manly cheek. 
 
 " Ekaterina," said she at last, " I have heard my sentence, 
 and am to be punished to-morrow. O God ! forgive them 
 their cruelty and injustice," and she sank from my arms upon 
 the floor of the dungeon. 
 
 We raised her, and she recovered a little. " Yes, Ekaterina, 
 I am to be punished to-morrow for a crime of which I am 
 innocent a punishment God have mercy ! worse than 
 death. The knout the knout and that attended with public 
 exposure in the market-place. May God forgive the emperor 
 his cruelty !" 
 
 I had heard of this dreadful punishment, but little thought 
 that women suffered by it. It was too barbarous. 
 
 " I have not heard of it," said the pacha. " Tell me, old 
 woman, is it worse than the bastinado ? " 
 
 " Yes, your highness. It is a whip of enormous power, so 
 that if the executioner has a private order, he can kill the 
 party on whom it is inflicted by two or three blows ; but your 
 highness will better comprehend the nature of the punishment 
 when I describe what I witnessed." 
 
 My dear mistress begged me, as a favour, that I would 1 
 attend her to the place of execution, and I consented. Poor 
 creature ! she, as well as I, had but an imperfect idea of what 
 she had to endure The punishment was to be inflicted in 
 the great square, and the troops were out, and a large con- 
 course of people were assembled. She appeared on the raised 
 platform upon which she was to suffer, in a genteel undress, 
 which contributed still more to heighten her extreme beauty. 
 The sweetness of her countenance obtained for her the com- 
 miseration of those who were ordered and accustomed to 
 execute the will of the despotic and cruel emperor. Young, 
 lively, and admired, sought for and caressed by everybody, 
 high in rank, and rich in worldly wealth, she stood, no longer 
 surrounded by the attentions and homage due to her talents, 
 her beauty, and her wit, but surrounded only by stern execu- 
 tioners. She looked at them with astonishment, seeming to
 
 342 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 doubt if such preparations could be intended for her. One o( 
 the executioners then pulled off a kind of furred tippet which 
 covered her bosom ; her modesty taking the alarm made her 
 start back a few steps, she turned pale, and burst into tears. 
 Her clothes were soon afterwards all stripped off, and in a 
 few moments she was all naked to the waist, exposed to the 
 looks of a vast multitude, who were all profoundly silent. One 
 of the executioners then seized her by both hands, and turning 
 half round, threw her on his back, bending forwards, so as to 
 raise her feet a few inches from the ground, and the other 
 executioner, with his rough hands, and without symptoms of 
 remorse, adjusted her on the back of his companion in a 
 posture most convenient for her to receive her punishment. 
 Sometimes he pressed his large hands brutally upon her head, 
 in order to make her keep it down : at others, like a butcher 
 handling a lamb, he appeared to soothe her until he had fixed 
 her in a favourable attitude. He then took the knout, a whip 
 made of a long strip of leather, prepared for the purpose ; he 
 retreated a few steps, measuring the requisite distance with a 
 steady eye, and looking backwards, gave a stroke with the end 
 of the whip, so as to carry away a slip of skin from the neck 
 to the bottom of the back ; then striking his feet against the 
 ground, he took his aim for a second blow, parallel to the 
 former, so that in a few moments all the skin of her back was 
 cut away in small slips, most of which remained hanging to 
 her shift and dress below. I fainted with horror long before 
 the punishment was over. "Good heavens!" thought I, "I 
 have suffered the bastinado and the bowstring, but both were 
 merciful compared to this. Is there no God in heaven to 
 punish such despotic cruelty ? " My mistress was not dead, 
 and the surgeons were ordered to pay her every attention, 
 that she might recover ; and I thought this attention on the 
 part of the emperor in some measure made amends for his 
 barbarity. But, God in heaven ! she was restored to life that 
 she might be more cruelly punished ; for no sooner was she 
 able to bear this infliction, than they cut out her tongue, and 
 then banished her to Siberia. 
 
 Thus, O pacha ! was my beautiful mistress treated upon 
 mere suspicion, for guilty she never was. I had been per- 
 mitted to see her previous to her latter punishment, and she 
 fancied, \ oor thing, that the emperor's wrath had been
 
 THE OLD WOMAK. 343 
 
 appeased, and that she would have been permitted to return 
 home ; but her tongue was cut out without her receiving any 
 warning of the second punishment which awaited her, and 
 after that I was refused admittance, and I never saw my 
 beautiful and ill-treated mistress any more. It was from the 
 officer who had the charge of her that I learnt this cruel in- 
 telligence, and I went back to my lodgings with a heart burst- 
 ing with grief and indignation. 
 
 I was resolved that, if possible, I would escape from a 
 country where women's tongues were cut out; but how to 
 manage it I knew not I had still some money and valuables, 
 which had been left in my possession by my unfortunate 
 mistress, and I made inquiry about the means of proceeding 
 to Constantinople, where at least I should be in a civilized 
 country. At last a Jew, who heard that I wished to go to the 
 southward, offered to take me with him as soon as the snow 
 was on the ground, for which I bargained to pay five hundred 
 roubles. In a fortnight the winter had set in, and we got into 
 a drotski, and went away. We arrived at Moscow, and from 
 thence we at last gained Constantinople. On my arrival I 
 selected my luggage, that I might pay the sum agreed ; but it 
 was snatched from me by the old rascal, who saluted me with 
 a kick in the body which half-killed me. I was locked up in 
 a room, and in half an hour a slave-merchant came, and 
 I was sold for a low sum and taken away, remonstrating 
 in vain against the injustice. My beauty was now gone, 
 I was more than thirty years old, and hardship had done the 
 rest. 
 
 My subsequent life has been nothing but a series of changes 
 and disasters. I was sold to a pastrycook, and broiled by 
 standing over the oven. I grew obstinate and was punished by 
 blows, but for those I cared not. The pastry was burnt, and I 
 was resold to a barber, whose wife was a shrew, and half-killeu 
 me; fortunately the barber was accused of shaving a criminal 
 who had escaped from prison, and one morning was stretched 
 out before his own door, with his head under his arm. His 
 wife and I were both sold again as slaves. 
 
 Th is did I go down-hill each year, fetching less and less, 
 and receiving worse treatment, until I was e:nbarked with 
 several others by an Armenian, who was bound to Smyrna. 
 The vessel was captured by an Algerine pira'.e, and for % long
 
 344 THE F AC II A OF MANY TALES. 
 
 while I was 'kept on board to cook their victuals. At last she 
 was wrecked on this coast ; how I escaped I know not, for I 
 was weary of life. But I was thrown up, and made my way to 
 ibis place, where I have for many years lived in company with 
 an old wretch like myself, supplicating aln. . He died about 
 a year ago, and left me in the hovel by myself. I still beg for 
 iny subsistence; and now, pacha, you have my story, and I 
 think you will acknowledge that I may well say that "Time 
 has been." 
 
 " It is your kismet, your destiny, good woman. There is but 
 one God, and Mahomet is his Prophet," observed the pacha. 
 " You are dismissed." 
 
 " And the gold, your highness," whispered Mustapha. 
 
 " Let her retain it. Has she not been a sultana?" observed 
 the pacha, with some appearance of feeling. 
 
 The old woman's ears were keen ; she had heard the question 
 of Mustapha, and she easily imagined the rest ; and she had 
 heard the reply of the pacha. 
 
 " And now, pacha, before I quit your presence, as I have 
 enjoyed your bounty, I will, with your permission, offer you a 
 piece of advice, which, from my knowledge of the world and of 
 people's countenances, may be of no small service to you. Is 
 it permitted, O pacha ? " 
 
 " Speak," replied the pacha. 
 
 "Then, pacha, beware of that man who sits beside you; 
 for there is that in his face which tells me that he will raise 
 himself upon your fall. Pacha, beware ! " 
 
 " Hag of Jehanum!" exclaimed ^Mustapha, rising from his 
 seat. 
 
 The old woman held up her finger, and walked out of the 
 divan. 
 
 The pacha looked suspiciously at Mustapha, for he was of a 
 suspicious nature; and Mustapha looked anything but innocent. 
 
 " Doth my lord give ear to a lying tongue of an old woman?" 
 said Mustapha, prostrating himself. " Hath not your slave 
 proved himself faithful ? Am not I as dust in thy presence ? 
 Take my life, O pacha! but doubt not the fidelity of thy slave." 
 
 The pacha seemed pacified. " What is all this but bosh 
 nothing? " said he, rising and quitting the apartment. 
 
 " Bosh ! ; ' muttered Mustapha. " The cursed old hag ! I
 
 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 345 
 
 know better there is no time to lose I must be quick. When 
 will that renegade return from Stamboul ? It is time." And 
 Mustapha, with a gloomy countenance, quitted the divan. 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 ALTHOUGH the pacha, with the usual diplomacy of a Turk, had, 
 so far from expressing his displeasure against Mustapha, treated 
 him with more than usual urbanity, he had not forgotten the 
 advice of the old woman. Suspicion, once raised, was not to 
 be allayed, and he had consulted with his favourite wife, Fatima. 
 A woman is a good adviser in cases of this description. The 
 only danger which could threaten the pacha was from the 
 imperial court at Stamboul, for the troops were devoted to him, 
 and the people of the country had no very serious cause of 
 complaint. By the advice of the favourite, the pacha sent as a 
 present to Mustapha a young and handsome Greek girl ; but 
 she was a spy in the service of the favourite, and had been in- 
 formed that the vizier had been doomed. She was to discover, 
 if she could, whether there was any intercourse between the 
 renegade, who commanded the fleet, and the vizier, as from that 
 quarter alone danger could be anticipated. The Greek had 
 not been a week in the harem of Mustapha, before she ascer- 
 tained more than was sufficient. The fleet had been sent to 
 Constantinople, with presents to the sultan from the pacha, and 
 its return was hourly expected. 
 
 It was on the afternoon of this eventful day that the fleet 
 hove in sight, and lay becalmed a few miles in the offing. 
 Mustapha hastened to report it to the pacha, as he sat in his 
 divan, hearing complaints, and giving judgment, although not 
 justice. Now when the pacha heard that the fleet had returned, 
 his heart misgave him, and the more so, as Mustapha was more 
 obsequious and fawning than ever. He retired for a short time 
 from the divan, and hastened to his favourite, Fatima. 
 
 " Pacha," said she, " the fleet has arrived, and Mustapha has 
 already communicated with the renegade. Depend upon it 
 you are lost, if you do not forestall them. Lose no time. But 
 stop," said she, " do not alarm the renegade by violence to 
 Mustapha. To-morrow the fleet will anchor, and if there is
 
 346 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 mischief, it will not arrive until to-morrow ; but this evening 
 you will as usual send for coffee, while you smoke and listen to 
 the tales which you delight in. Drink not your coffee, for there 
 shall be death in it. Be all smiles and good-humour, and leave 
 me to manage the rest." 
 
 The pacha smoothed his brow and returned to the divan. 
 Business proceeded as usual, and at length the audience was 
 closed. The pacha appeared to be in high good-humour, and 
 so was the vizier. 
 
 " Surely," said Mustapha, when the pipes were brought, 
 " his imperial highness, the sultan, will have sent you some 
 mark of his distinguished favour." 
 
 " God is great, and the sultan is wise," replied the pacha. " I 
 have been thinking so too, Mustapha. Who knows but that he 
 may add to the territory under my sway by another pachalik ? " 
 
 " I dreamt as much," replied Mustapha, " and I am anxious 
 that the renegade should come on shore ; but it is now dark, 
 and he will not leave his vessel." 
 
 " We must drive away the mists of suspense by the sun- 
 beams of hope," replied the pacha. "What am I but the 
 sultan's slave ? Shall we not indulge this evening in the water 
 of the Giaour?" 
 
 " What saith Hafiz? It is for wine to exalt men, and raise 
 them beyond uncertainty and doubt. It overfloweth us with 
 courage, and imparts visions of bliss." 
 
 "Wallah thaib ! it is well said, Mustapha," said the pacha, 
 taking a cup of coffee presented by the Greek slave. Mustapha 
 also received his cup. "My heart is light this evening," said 
 the pacha, laying down his pipe, "let us drink deep of the 
 forbidden juice. Where is it, Mustapha ? " 
 
 " It is here," replied the vizier, drinking off his coffee, while 
 the pacha watched him from the corner of his small grey eye. 
 And Mustapha produced the spirits, which were behind the 
 low ottoman upon which he was seated. 
 
 The pacha put aside his coffee, and drank a large draught 
 " God is great ! drink, Mustapha," said he, handing him the 
 bottle. 
 
 Mustapha followed the example of the pacha. " May it 
 please your highness," said Mustapha, " I have without a man, 
 who they say hath stories to recount more delightful than 
 those of Menouni. Hearing that he passed through this city,
 
 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 347 
 
 I have detained him, that he might afford amusement to your 
 highness, whose slave I am. Is it your pleasure that he be 
 admitted ? " 
 
 " Let it be so," replied the pacha. 
 
 Mustapha gave the sign, and to the surprise sf the pacha, in 
 came the renegade, commander of the fleet, accompanied by 
 guards and the well-known officer of the caliph, the capidji 
 bachi, who held up a firman to his forehead. 
 
 The pacha turned pale, for he knew that his hour was come. 
 " Bismillah ! In the name of the Most High God, O officer, 
 whom seekest thou ? " exclaimed the pacha, with emotion. 
 
 "The sultan, the Lord of Life, has sent this to you, O 
 pacha ! as a proof of his indulgence and great mercy." And 
 the capidji bachi produced a silken bowstring, and at the same 
 time he handed the fatal scroll to the pacha. 
 
 " Mustapha," whispered the pacha, " while I read this, collect 
 my guards ; I will resist. I fear not the sultan at this distance, 
 and I can soften him with presents." 
 
 But Mustapha had no such fellow-feeling. " O pacha ! " 
 replied he, "who can dispute the will of heaven's vicegerent? 
 There is but one God, and Mahomet is his Prophet.'' 
 
 " I will dispute it," exclaimed the pacha. " Go out and call 
 my trustiest guards." 
 
 Mustapha left the divan, and returned with the mutes and 
 some of the guards who had been suborned by himself. 
 
 " Traitor ! " exclaimed the pacha. 
 
 " La Allah, il Allah ! there is but one God," said Mustapha. 
 
 The pacha saw that he was sacrificed. He read the firman, 
 pressed it to his forehead, in token of obedience, and pre- 
 pared for death. The capidji bachi produced another firman, 
 and presented it to Mustapha. It was to raise him to the 
 pachalik. 
 
 " Barik Allah ! praise be to God for all things,'' humbly 
 observed Mustapha. " What am I but the sultan's slave, and 
 to execute his orders ? On my head be it ! " 
 
 Mustapha gave the sign, and the mutes seized the unfortu- 
 nate pacha. 
 
 " There is but one God, and Mahomet is his Prophet/' said 
 the pacha. " Mustapha," continued he, turning round to him 
 with a sardonic smile, " may your shadow never be less but 
 you have swallowed the coffee."
 
 348 THE PACHA OF MANY TALES. 
 
 The mutes tightened the string. In a minute a. cloak was 
 thrown over the body of the pacha. 
 
 "The coffee," muttered Mustapha, as he heaid the pacha's 
 last words. " I thought it had a taste. Now he's sent to 
 Jehanum for his treachery." And all the visions of power and 
 grandeur, which had filled the mind of the ne\v pacha, were 
 absorbed by fear and dismay. 
 
 The capidji bachi, having performed his duty, withdrew. 
 " And now," exclaimed the renegade, " let me have my 
 promised reward." 
 
 " Your reward true. I had forgotten," replied Mustapha, 
 as the pain occasioned by the working of the poison distorted 
 his face. " Yes, I had forgotten," continued Mustapha, who, 
 certain that his own end was approaching, was furious as a 
 wild beast, with pain and baffled ambition. "Yes, I had 
 forgotten. Guards, seize the renegade." 
 
 '* They must be quicker than you think for," replied Hucka- 
 back, darting from the guards and drawing his scimitar, while, 
 with his fingers in his mouth, he gave a shrill whistle. In 
 rushed a large body of soldiers and sailors of the fleet, and the 
 guards were disarmed. " Now, pacha of one hour old, what 
 sayest thou ? " 
 
 " It is my destiny," replied Mustapha, rolling on the floor 
 in agony. "There is but one God, and Mahomet is his 
 Prophet." And Mustapha expired. 
 
 " The old fool has saved me some trouble," observed the 
 renegade. " Take away these carcasses, and proclaim Ali as 
 the new pacha." 
 
 Thus perished the two barbers, and thus did Huckaback, 
 under the name of Ali, reign in their stead. But his reign, and 
 how long it lasted, is one of the many tales not handed down 
 to posterity. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 J. OGDEN AND CO., PRINTERS, 179, ST. JOHN STREKT, H.O