it," rejoined
the pacha.

"Allah forbid," replied the renegade, "that I should expose my person to
your highness. I know my duty better."

"Yes, but I must see it, yaha bibi, my friend!" continued the pacha,
impatiently; "never mind your person. Come--obey my orders."

The renegade was a little at a nonplus, as he never had undergone the
operation which he had described. Fortunately for the support of his
veracity, it happened that during one of his piratical excursions, in an
idle fit, he had permitted one of his companions to tattoo a small
mermaid on his arm.

"Min Allah! God forbid," rejoined the renegade; "my life is at the
disposal of your highness, and I had sooner that you should take it,
than I would affront your august eyes with the exposure in question;
fortunately I can gratify your highness's curiosity without offending
decency--as, after they had finished the operation I was describing,
they made the figure of their most respected deity upon my arm." The
renegade then pulled up his sleeve, and showed the figure of a mermaid,
with a curling tail, a looking-glass in one hand and a comb in the
other. "Here your highness will perceive a specimen of their art. This
is a representation of their goddess, Bo-gee. In one hand she holds an
iron rake, with which she tattoos those who are good, and the mark
serves as a passport when they apply for admittance into the regions of
bliss. In the other, she brandishes a hot iron plate, with which she
brands those who are sentenced to be punished for their sins."

"Allah karim--God is merciful! And why has she a fish's tail?" inquired
the pacha.

"The people I am describing, inhabit a cluster of islands, and it is to
enable her to swim from one to the other, as her presence may be
required."

"Very true," observed the pacha--"now you may go on with your story."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

As I mentioned to your highness, they tattooed me without mercy; the
operation lasted an hour, when they put me on my feet again. Another
speech was made, which I understood as little of as the former; they
left me with my wife, and the ceremony was at an end.

I must say I wished that I had not been naturalised and married both on
the same day. I was so swelled and so stiff with the tattooing, that it
was with difficulty I could, with the assistance of my wife, walk back
to my hut. However, by the remedies which she c