ght, I am not surprised; but I trust
you will acknowledge, when I have finished my narrative, that I was
fully justified in the expressions which I made use of. I am by birth
(as my dress denotes) a fellah of this country, but I was not always so
poor as I am now. My father was the possessor of many camels, which he
let out for hire to the merchants of the different caravans which
annually leave this city. When he died, I came into possession of his
property, and the good-will of those whom he had most faithfully served.
The consequence was, that I had full employ, my camels were always
engaged; and, as I invariably accompanied them that they might not be
ill-treated, I have several times been to Mecca, as this ragged green
turban will testify. My life was one of alternate difficulty and
enjoyment. I returned to my wife and children with delight after my
journeys of suffering and privation, and fully appreciated the value of
my home from the short time that my occupation would permit me to remain
there. I worked hard, and became rich.

It was during a painful march through the desert with one of the
caravans, that a favourite she-camel foaled. At first it was my
intention to leave the young one to its fate, as my camels had already
suffered much; but, on examination, the creature showed such strength
and symmetry that I resolved to bring it up. I therefore divided half
of one of the loads between the other camels, and tied the foal upon the
one which I had partly relieved for the purpose. We arrived safely at
Cairo; and, as the little animal grew up, I had more than ever reason to
be satisfied that I had saved its life. All good judges considered it a
prodigy of beauty and strength; and prophesied that it would some day be
selected as the holy camel to carry the Koran in the pilgrimage to
Mecca. And so it did happen about five years afterwards, during which
interval I accompanied the caravans as before; and each year added to my
wealth.

My camel had by this time arrived to his full perfection; he stood
nearly three feet higher than any other; and, when the caravan was
preparing, I led him to the sheiks, and offered him as a candidate for
the honour. They would have accepted him immediately, had it not been
for a maribout, who, for some reason or another, desired them not to
employ him, asserting that the caravan would be unlucky if my camel was
the bearer of the holy Koran.

As this man was considered to