The San Francisco call., 1895-12-01
THE ADVENTURES OF MAARooF.

Aod-er-Rahman Es-Saftee Esh-sharkamee.
Allhough one of the most delightful of all
these narratives, the story of Maaroof is
usuaiIy omitted from popular collections CT
lAese 'aIes' possibly for the reason of its great
length, as 1t contains in the original form
something over $4,000 words. The story
IS Oh Egyptian origin and shows ad-
mlFaply many of the amusing foibles
OF Orlental character. The openiue al
ventures OF the unfortunate cobbler are de-
hghttul satire upon the peculiar legal customs
that prevail in Oriental lands to the present
DAY lth view to stimulating new inter-
est in Oriental classics THE CALL will print from
time TO time number of these ancient tales
gatnered from various sources and retold with
the oeslre TO retain 10 the furthest possible
degree the literary flavor and local eoloring
that make them valuable but bearing in mind
the fact that life is short and that the bound
less leisure of the Oriental narrator does not
obtain in the Occident.l
There was, in the guarded city of ro,IBo
a man named Maaroof, and his business
was that OF a mender of old shoes. And
he had a wife whose name was Fatimeh,
and the people of that city had nicknamed
her El-Orrah by reason of the wickedness
of her evil and misunderstanding DISPOSE
ton, and she had dog teeth.
Now, among the events that happen ed
to this man through the malice of his wife,
it chanced that she one day said to him:
80 Maaroof, I desire that you bring me
this day some kunafeh "a kind of cake
fried in butter) with bees honeyrand if
thou come not with it l will make thy
night unfortunate for thee" Sohe replied,
God is bountifull" and he went forth
with grief displaying itself in his person,
for he had not i'll his possession the price
of the kunafeh. And when he had per-
formed the morning prayers he opened his
shop and sat therein until midday, but no
work befell him. Therefore he feared his
wife, meditating upon his lot if he returned
without that kunafeh.
And he closed his shop and became per-
picked concerning his case, and he passed
by the shop OF the seller of kunafeh with
his eyes filed with tears. Then the seller.
of kunafeh said to him, so master
Maaroof, why weepest thou?' And he
said, MY wife is a virago, and hath de-
manded of me kunafeh with bees honey,
but not even the price of bread hath be-
tided me, and l am in fear of her" Upon
this the seller of kunafeh laughed and
said, mo harm shall befall thee. How
much dost thou desire ?'' And he said, give
pounds" So he weighed him five pounds
and said to him. 81 have the clarified but
ter, but I have not bees honey. / have,
however, drip honey (syrup made from
cane sugar., and what will be the harm if
I give it to thee with drip honey?" And
Maaroof was abashed because the dealer
was to wait for his paying the price. He
therefore said to him, Give it to me with
drip honey"
And he took the kunafeh and departed,
praying for him and praising God for his
goodness.
Then he went to his wife, and she said
to him, Hast thou brought the kunafeh?''
And he set it before her. So she looked at
it and saw it to be with drip honey and she
became in terrible rage and said: "Did 1
not say bring it to me with bees honey?
How is it that though bringest it to me
with honey of the sugar-cane?" And he
apologized to her, saying, 81 bought 1t
not save on credit but she threw it in his
face and ordered him to bring her other kun
afeh. She then struck him, knocking out
one of his teeth, the blood flowing down
his bosom, until by reason of his rage
he struck her one slight blow, Whereat
she seized his beard, crying out, so Mus
Inns" The neighbors therefore, entered
and rescued him and reproached her, say
ing: 1--WE all like to eat kunafeh that is
with drip honey. What is this oppressive |
conduct toward this poor man? Verify, this /
is disgraceful!' And they effected recon-
cilIation between them and departed. But |
she swore she would eat naught of the kuna-
feb and ceased not to reyile him until morn |
ing, when she tucked up the sleeve from /
her arm to beat him, SO he said to her: !
"Grant me a delay and l will bring thee !
some other kunafeh."
After he had said his prayers he opened |
his shop and sat, when two officers came |
and said, Answer the summons of the |
Kadee (Judge), for thy wife hath COM |
planned of thee" And he said, MAY God |
send trouble upon her!" Then he arose |
weeping, and with her arm bound. So |
the Kadee said TO h1m: 20 man, dost |
thou not fear God, whose name be exalted? !
How is itthat thou beatest this wife and |
breakest her arm and dost these deeds |
unto herr" And he said, Verify, the |
case is so and SO, and the neighbors made |
peace between me and her.. And he |
stated the case, and the Kadee gave him |
quarter of piece of gold, and desired him |
10 purchase for her other kunafeh, but |
Maaroof said, "Give it to her" And he |
did so. And the Kadee made peace be-
tween them, and they went forth recon
eiled. and he went to his shop and sat |
l..
manded their fee, and dragged him through |
the market to take it by force. So he sold |
his tools and gave them half a piece of
gold, and sat sorrowfuI because he
had no tools with which to work.
Then came two other sergeants to |
him and said, Arise! Answer the sum.
mons of the Kadee, for thy wife hath |
complained against thee," and this was
another Kadee before whom they took
him. And when he saw his wife he said,
80 disingenuous womani Have we not |
made peace?" And she said, "There re.
maineth no peace between thee and me"
Then he related to the Kadee his story
and the Kadee said TO her, 80 impudent
woman. Wherefore has thou come com
planning to me?" and she said, 'He beat
me after that" and the Kadee said, Make
peace with eath other" Then he charged
them that they treat each other kindly,
and said, "Give the sergeants their fee.
Accordingly Maaroof gave them their fee
and returned to his shop.
And while he sat man came and sald
80 Maaroof arise hide thyself; for thy
wife hath complained OF thee to the Sub
lime Court and Aboo-Tabak is coming
down upon thee" So ne rose, closed his
opJ nad nd ba had rpnaainlu.r |