ly does by
telling a story to illustrate his opinion. Some of the stories told on
these occasions are adaptations of those already known in Arabic and
Persian literature, but the Turkish mind gives them a new setting and
a peculiar philosophy. They are characteristic of the habits, customs,
and methods of thought of the people, and for this reason seem worthy
of preservation.

Two of these tales have been taken from the Armenian, and were
received from Dr. K. Ohannassian of Constantinople. For one, _The
Merciful Khan_, I am indebted to Mr. George Kennan. None of them has
been translated from any book or manuscript, and all are, as nearly as
practicable, in the form in which they are usually narrated. Most of
the stories have been collected by Mr. Allan Ramsay, who, by a long
residence in Constantinople, has had special opportunities for
learning to know the modern Turk. It is due to him, however, to say
that for the style and editing he is in no wise responsible, and that
all sins of omission and commission must be laid at my door.

CYRUS ADLER.
COSMOS CLUB, WASHINGTON,
February 1, 1898.

CONTENTS

PAGE
HOW THE HODJA SAVED ALLAH 1
BETTER IS THE FOLLY OF WOMAN THAN THE WISDOM OF MAN 13
THE HANOUM AND THE UNJUST CADI 23
WHAT HAPPENED TO HADJI, A MERCHANT OF THE BEZESTAN 29
HOW THE JUNKMAN TRAVELLED TO FIND TREASURE IN HIS OWN YARD 35
HOW CHAPKIN HALID BECAME CHIEF DETECTIVE 43
HOW COBBLER AHMET BECAME THE CHIEF ASTROLOGER 52
THE WISE SON OF ALI PASHA 65
THE MERCIFUL KHAN 73
KING KARA-KUSH OF BITHYNIA 77
THE PRAYER RUG AND THE DISHONEST STEWARD 80
THE GOOSE, THE EYE, THE DAUGHTER, AND THE ARM 84
THE FORTY WISE MEN 89
HOW THE PRIEST KNEW THAT IT WOULD SNOW 103
WHO WAS THE THIRTEENTH SON? 107
PARADISE SOLD BY THE YARD 120
JEW TURNED TURK 126