produced, notwithstanding certain significant winks and blinks with
which the ked khoda ever and anon kept me in play.

'Where is it?' said I to him at last, quite out of patience. 'What is
it? how much?'

'It is coming,' said he; 'have a little patience; it is not yet quite
prepared.'

At length, after some waiting, with great parade, the pair of trowsers,
which had been rejected by Shir Ali, were placed before me on a tray,
and offered for my acceptance, accompanied by a profusion of fine words.

'What news is this?' exclaimed I: 'do you know, ye men without
shame!' addressing myself to those who stood before me, 'that I am an
executioner,--one who can burn your fathers, and can give you more grief
to devour than you have ever yet experienced? What mean ye by bringing
me this pair of frouzy shalwars? That which has passed through many
generations of your ignoble ancestors, do ye now pretend to put off
upon me? Fools indeed you must be, to suppose that I will espouse your
interests, and set forth your grievances, merely for the sake of this
dirty rag! Away with it, or you will see what a nasakchi can do!'

Upon this they were about complying with my orders, when Shir Ali Beg
stopped them, and said, 'Let me look at the trousers. Ah,' said he,
holding them up at the same time between his eyes and the sun, and
examining them with all the care of an old clothes broker, 'they will
do; they have no defect: be it so, they are my property, and many thanks
for them. May your family prosper!'

Every one looked astonished; no one dared make an objection; and thus I,
who had been anticipating such great advantages, lost even the miserable
perquisite which I might have had, and only gained sufficient experience
to know another time how to deal with my countrymen, and, moreover, how
to trust one who called himself my friend.

CHAPTER XXXV

Fortune, which pretended to frown, in fact smiles upon Hajji Baba, and
promotes him to be sub-lieutenant to the chief executioner.

Two fat lambs, which were tied on our baggage mule, were the only
present we brought with us for our chief. As soon as we reached the
camp, we immediately presented ourselves to the naib, who forthwith
carried us before the executioner, who was seated in his tent, in
conversation with one or two of his friends.

'Well,' said he to Shir Ali, 'what have you done? Have you brought the
corn, or the ked khoda, which?'

'I beg leave to state for your ser