s
the truth.

"Not so fast," replied the pretended cadi; "before we come to swearing
I should like to see the jar of olives. Ali Cogia," said he,
addressing the boy who acted this part, "have you brought the jar
with you?" As the latter replied that he had not, he desired him to go
and fetch it.

Ali Cogia disappeared for a few minutes, and then returning, pretended
to bring a jar to the cadi, which he said was the same that had been
deposited with the merchant, and was now returned to him. Not to omit
any of the usual forms, the cadi asked the merchant if he owned it to
be the same jar, and the merchant proving by his silence that he could
not deny it, he ordered it to be opened. The feigned Ali Cogia then
made a motion as if he were taking off the cover, and the cadi that of
looking into the jar. "These are fine olives; let me taste," said he.
Then, pretending to take one to taste, he added: "They are excellent.
But," continued he, "I think that olives which have been kept seven
years would not be so good. Order some olive merchants to be called,
and let them give their opinion." Two boys were then presented to
him. "Are you olive merchants?" he inquired; to which they having
replied in the affirmative, he added: "Tell me, then, if you know how
long olives, that are prepared by people who make it their business,
can be preserved good to eat?"

"Sir," replied the feigned merchants, "whatever care may be taken to
preserve them, they are worth nothing after the third year; they lose
both their flavor and color, and are only fit to be thrown away." "If
that be the case," resumed the young cadi, "look at this jar, and tell
me how long the olives have been kept that are in it."

The feigned merchants then pretended to examine and taste the olives,
and told the cadi that they were fresh and good. "You are mistaken,"
replied the cadi; "here is Ali Cogia, who says that he put them into
the jar seven years ago." "Sir," said the merchants, "we can assure
you that these olives are of this year's growth, and we will maintain
that there is not a single merchant in Bagdad who will not be of the
same way of thinking." The accused merchant was going to protest
against this testimony of the others, but the cadi did not allow him
time. "Silence!" said he; "thou art a thief, and shalt be hanged." The
children then clapped their hands, showed great marks of joy, and
finished their game by seizing the supposed criminal, and carrying h