r a year, that caravan returned, but I heard no tidings of my
brothers; at last, putting a friend on his oath, I asked him [what
had become of them]. He replied, 'When they went to _Bukhara_, one
of them lost all his property at the gambling house, and is now a
sweeper at the same house, and keeps clean and plastered the place
of gambling, and waits on the gamblers who assemble there; they,
by way of charity, give him something, and he remains there as a
scullion. The other brother became enamoured of a _boza-vendor's_
[292] daughter, and squandered all his property [on her], and now he
is one of the waiters at the _boze-khana_. [293] The people of the
_kafila_ do not mention these circumstances to you for this reason,
that you would become ashamed [at hearing them].

"On hearing these circumstances from that person, I was in a strange
state; hunger and sleep vanished through anxiety; taking some money for
[the expenses of] the road, I set out instantly for _Bukhara_. When
I arrived there, I searched for them both, and I brought them to the
house [I had taken]. I had them bathed and clothed in new dresses,
and, from fear of their being abashed with shame, I said not a word
to them [of what had happened]. I again purchased some goods for
merchandise for them, and returned with them home. When we arrived
near _Naishapur_, I left them in a village with all the goods and
chattels, and came [secretly] to my house, for this reason, that
no one might be informed of my return. After two days, I gave out
publicly that my brothers were returned from their journey, and that
I would go out tomorrow to meet them. In the morning, as I wished to
set out, a peasant of that village came to me, and began to make loud
complaints; on hearing his voice I came out, and seeing him crying,
I asked, why dost thou make a lamentation? He answered, 'Our houses
have been plundered, owing to your brothers; would to God that you
had not left them there!'

"I asked, what misfortune has occurred? He replied, 'A gang of robbers
came at night and plundered their property and goods, and they at
the same time robbed our houses.' I pitied him, and asked, where are
these two now? He answered, 'They are sitting without the city, stark
naked and utterly distressed.' I instantly took two suits of clothes
with me and went [to them], and having clothed them, brought them to
my house. The people [of the city], hearing [the circumstances of the
robbery], continue