t-place, the chap following to buy
her.

"Who bids for this woman?" says I.

"I do," say 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 bargain." 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 gazelle,
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?"

"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 sometimes, 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 himself."

* * * * *

"Good," said Mustapha, who interpreted.

"By the beard of the Prophet, wonderful!" exclaimed the pacha.

*