oman, to the hakim, "but God is great."

"I do not want your money, good woman," replied he; "I will cure your
daughter." Then he went to the bedside and spoke comfort to the sick
girl, telling her to be of good courage, and all would be well.

The girl answered in a voice sweeter than a nightingale's, that she had
but thanks to offer in return, and prayers to the Most High. "Yes,"
said the old woman, raising her voice, "a scoundrel of a howling dervish
robbed me at Scutari of all I had for my subsistence, and of my
daughter's portion, seven hundred sequins, in a goat's-skin bag!" and
then she began to curse. May the dogs of the city howl at her ugliness!
How she did curse! She cursed my father and mother--she cursed their
graves--flung dirt upon my brother and sisters, and filth upon the whole
generation. She gave me up to Jehanum, and to every species of
defilement. It was a dreadful thing to hear that old woman curse. I
pulled my turban over my eyes, that she might not recognise me, and
lifted up my garment to cover my face, that I might not be defiled with
the shower of curses which were thrown at me like mud, and sat there
watching till the storm was over. Unfortunately, in lifting up my
garment, I exposed to the view of the old hag the cursed goat's-skin
bag, which hung at my girdle, and contained, not only her money, but the
remainder of my own. "Mashallah--how wonderful is God!" screamed the
old beldame, flying at me like a tigress, and clutching the bag from my
girdle. Having secured that, she darted at me with her ten nails, and
scored down my face, which I had so unfortunately covered in the first
instance, and so unfortunately uncovered in the second. What shall I
say more? The neighbours came in--I was hurried before the cadi, in
company with the old woman and the Frank physician. The money and bag
were taken from me--I was dismissed by the hakim, and after receiving
one hundred blows from the ferashes, I was dismissed by the cadi. It
was my fate--and I have told my story. Is your slave dismissed?

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

"No," replied the pacha; "by our beard, we must see to this, Mustapha;
say, Hudusi, what was the decision of the cadi? Our ears are open."

"The cadi decided as follows:--That I had stolen the money, and
therefore I was punished with the bastinado; but, as the old woman
stated that the bag contained seven hundred sequins,