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 defiled!" responded 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, travelling everywhere, but seldom
remaining long in one place; he followed disease instead of flying from
it, and I had my 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 a houri. The Frank
physician was desired by the old woman to feel her pulse through the
curtain, but he la