turban from his head and his cloak from
his back; pluck the beard from his chin; tie his hands behind him, place
him on an ass with his face to the tail, parade him through the streets,
and then thrust him neck and shoulders out of the city, and let his
hopeful disciple (pointing to me) accompany him.'

Happy was I not to have been recognized for the lover of the unfortunate
Zeenab. My fate was paradise compared to that of my master; for never
was order more completely executed than that which had passed the Shah's
lips.

Nadan's beard was ripped from his chin with as much ease by the ferashes
as if they were plucking a fowl; and then, with abundance of blows to
hasten our steps, they seized upon the first ass which they met, and
mounted the priest, the once proud and ambitious priest, upon it, and
paced him slowly through the streets. I walked mournfully behind, having
had my mollah's shawl torn from my head, and my _hirkeh_ (cloak) from my
back.

When we had reached one of the gates Nadan was dismounted, and with
scarcely a rag to our backs, we were turned out into the open country;
and it is worthy of remark, that no sooner had we left the city than
rain began to pour in torrents, as if the heavens had been waiting to
witness the disgrace of two of Persia's greatest rogues, and to give
the mollah Nadan the lie in favour of the poor, injured, and ruined
Armenians.

[Illustration: Drowning of the mollah bashi. 31.jpg]

CHAPTER LVII

Hajji Baba meets with an extraordinary adventure in the bath, which
miraculously saves him from the horrors of despair.

'So,' said I to my companion, as soon as we were left to ourselves, 'so
I am indebted to you for this piece of happiness. If I had thought
that this adventure was to have been the result of the mushtehed's
recommendation, you would never have seen Hajji Baba in this trim.
What could it signify to you whether rain fell or no, or whether the
Armenians got drunk or remained sober? This is what we have got by your
officiousness.'

The mollah was in too pitiable a condition for me to continue upbraiding
him any longer. We walked in silence by the side of each other in the
saddest manner possible, until we reached the first village on our road.
Here we made a halt, in order to deliberate upon what we should do. My
unfortunate companion was expelled the city, therefore it was impossible
for him to show himself in it until the storm had blown over; but as
we we