Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-11-03
Ina WiIes Of the Camel Trader.

The Wiies Of the Camel Trader.
In Harpers for November, Norman
Duncan tells Of nights entertainment
In Damascus, and introduces many
strange tales showing that tho camel
trader of the East IL even moro willy than
his horse trading brother Of the West.
Here 10 one of the camel-trader's best
tales:
"In my life have roved much-from
the Lebanon hills, through the country
of the Druses, and to the southwark .
journey of ninety days into the Great
Desert, where no Christian may 60. To.
Nejd went In my youth, with my uncle,
rich m an, who dwelt there, dealing In
camels; and to him came merchant of
Damascus, with three hundred camels
for sale, the which he had driven for
thirty days over the perilous desert,
having heard that the sickness had Great
ed need OF beasts In Nejd. 4 am come
with these three hundred camels,' said
he to my uncle, and now must sell
them at Q price or lose the fortune
have invested In the enterprise. God
forgive me this undertaking, which has
been too great for my strength! I
L
to return. In Damascus said he, they
ask twelve napoleons for q camel; but /
am 80 weary of this business that de-
mand no more than ten napoleons for
each of my herd 1t 10 . reasonable
thing my uncle answered, but l must
first consider the matter
"Thereupon the merchant departed:
and presently my uncle called me from
the house.
'Abdullah,' said be, you have heard
this man, but he has not observed you.
He is q simple man, now In hard case in
deed, being able to drive his starved
beasts no farther, and God has enlight-
ened me with plan to outwit him. Do
you ride into the desert, where he may
not encounter you before the time; and
at this hour tomorrow do you return
and present me with this writing, riding
in haste and a. one come from great
distance. II all goes well, We shall pre-.
sently have much to thank God for All
this did-and, indeed, with much art.
l came hot and dusty, with the mare In
lather, galloping as with message OF
warning against sudden attack; and /
fell from the back of my horse at the
very feet of my uncle and the merchant
from Damascus, crying: God be thank
ed that I have arrived! / have sped far
and most cruelty with this letter, being
commanded to deliver 1t in haste by your
agent in Damascus.' Il am busy with
this good merchant answered my uncle,
and will read the letter anOn.' But
besought him by the Prophet to open
the message, lest some misfortune befall
him; and having INDUCED me he gave
great thanks to God for His compassion,
and spread the news which the letter
contained, whereafter he came again to
the anxious merchant.
"'God have mercy on your said he.
Il have no need of your camels.'
"The merchant demanded an explana-
ton.
"'The price of camels,' answered my
uncle, has fallen to five napoleons In the
camel market of Damascus. Here' said
he, read the letter for yourself. Igrieve
for you, friend, for 1t seems indeed that
God would castigate you for some sin.
Comet said he, 4 am an honest man,
with heart of compassion for the un-
fortunate, and though hesitate to inter
fere with the obvious purposes of God,
l will take pity and risk my souls health
by giving you four napoleons head for
your camels.' The end of 1t was" Alb
dullah concluded, "that when they had
bargained for seven days, the merchant
being hard to reduce, my uncle gave six
napoleons for each of the three hundred
camels, and profited much thereby, for
there was great need of beasts in Nejd
at that time. learned MUCH" he add
ed, "from that cunning man."