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 unclean, 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 Yussuf’s account of 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 inconveniences.”

“Ay,” replied Yussuf; “thus have I lived for five years.  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 pillau, 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?”