have been poor, but
contented--I deserved to lose all my property for my wickedness; and I
submit with resignation to the will of Allah.

And now I trust that your highness will acknowledge that I was justified
in making use of the expression, that "Happy was the man who could at
_all times_ command a _crust of bread_!"

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

"Very true," observed the pacha; "that's not a bad story: Mustapha, give
him five pieces of gold, and allow him to depart."

The camel-driver quitted the divan, prostrating himself before the
pacha, and overjoyed at the fortunate termination of what had threatened
so much danger. The pacha was silent for a little while, during which
he puffed his pipe--when he observed:--

"Allah kebur, God is most powerful! That man has suffered much--and
what has he to show for it?--a green turban.--He is a hadjy; I never
thought that we should have heard so good a story about a `crust of
bread.' His description of the simoom parched up my entrails. What
think you, Mustapha, cannot a true believer go to Heaven without a visit
to the tomb of the Prophet?"

"The holy Koran does not say otherwise, your highness, it inculcates
that all who can, should do so, as the path will be rendered easier.
Min Allah! God forbid! Has your highness ever had the time to go to
Mecca, and is not your highness to go to Heaven?"

"Very true, Mustapha, I never had time. In my youth I was busy shaving
heads: after that, Wallah! I had enough to do, splitting them; and now
am not I fully occupied in taking them off? Is it not so, Mustapha; are
not these the words of truth?"

"Your highness is all wisdom. There is but one God, and Mahomet is his
prophet; and when the latter said, that a visit to the holy shrine would
be a passport to heaven, it was intended to employ those who were idle,
not to embarrass true believers who work hard in the name of the Most
High!"

"Min Allah! God forbid! the case is clear," replied the pacha, "why, if
every body were to go to Mecca what then, Mustapha?"

"Your highness--it is the opinion of your slave, if such were to take
place, that all the fools would have left the country."

"Very true, Mustapha; but my mouth is parched up with the sand of that
simoom--sherbet I cannot drink, rakee I must not, the hakim has forbid
it; what must it be then, Mustapha?"

"Hath the holy Prophet forbidden wine to true believers in