The vizier, vexed at her obstinacy, now commanded the infant to be cut in two; when she, whom he had said was the mother, fell into agonies, and besought its life; but the other was unmoved, and assented to the death of the child.  He then ordered her to be severely punished, and committed the boy to its afflicted mother.  On being asked on what proofs he had grounded his decision, he replied, “On two:  the first, because the milk of a woman having produced a male child is always heavier than that of the mother of a female infant:  the second, because the pretended mother consented to the boy’s death; and I supposed it impossible for a woman to agree to the destruction of her offspring, which is a part of herself.”

The sultan and the traveller Mhamood al
Hyjemmee.

There was a sultan, who one evening being somewhat low-spirited, sent for his vizier, and said, “I know not the cause, but my mind is uneasy, and I want something to divert it.”  “If so,” replied the vizier, “I have a friend, named Mhamood al Hyjemmee, a celebrated traveller, who has witnessed many wonderful occurrences, and can relate a variety of astonishing narratives.  Shall I send for him to the presence?” “By all means,” answered the sultan, “that I may hear his relations.”  The minister departed, and informed his friend that the sultan desired to see him.  “To hear is to obey,” replied Mhamood, and hastened with the vizier to the palace.

When they had entered the palace, Mhamood made the obeisance usual to the caliphs, and uttered a poetical invocation for the prosperity of the sultan, who returned his salute; and after desiring him to be seated, said, “Mhamood, my mind is uneasy, and as I hear you are acquainted with many curious events, I wish you to relate some of them to amuse me.”  Mhamood replied, “To hear is to obey;” and thus began an adventure of his own.

The Koord Robber.

Some years ago I took a journey from my own country to the land of Yemen, accompanied by a slave, who was a lad of much ready wit, and who carried a wallet containing a few necessaries.  As we were entering a town, a rascally koord snatched the wallet from his hands, and asserted that it was his own, which we had stolen from him:  upon which, I called out to some passengers to assist me in the recovery of my property, and they helped me to carry the sharper before the cauzee, to whom I complained of his assault.  The magistrate asked the koord what he had to allege in his defence; to which he replied, “My lord, I lost this wallet some days since, and found it in possession of the complainant, who pretends that it is his own, and will not resign it.”  “If it be thine,” rejoined the cauzee, “describe to me what it contains, when I shall be satisfied that thou speakest the truth.”