Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-19

ancient language OF India, developed Tor
many marvelously fascinating old tales)
One Of the caliphs of the Abassides.
named MutaaSid Billah Yansur bi nour
Ullah, was q sovereign Of great good
Judgment and careful justice. One
day, in company with his attendants,
he visited a palace situated on the
banks of the Tigris. where he observed
an expert fisherman throwing his net
into the river, and. after hauling 1t
out. finding only three or four fsh
In it.
The caliph noticed this. and COM
manded the fisherman to throw his net
into the water again for his sake.
And let us see," said the caliph,
what my luck will be-"
The man did as the caliph ordered,
and soon after hauling his net out, felt
something very heavy among its meshes.
In consequence of the increased weight,
the attendants of the caliph had to
lend their aid. and when the net was
finally dragged ashore, they found in
1t leather bag, tightly tied around
the mouth or opening.
All that the bag appeared to con-
tain at first was q number Of tiles; but
at last, at the very bottom, they found
the hand of q tender young girl, q
hand bent and shriveled as It'll age.
The caliph, when he saw lie hand,
exclaimed:
Poor creature, what work Is this,
that the servants of God, called Mus
sulmans, should thus be cut to pieces
and thrown into the river without our
knowledge? We must flnd the COM
mitter Of this wicked deed"
Now, one Of the caliph's cadis, or
judges, was with him on this day. So
the judge spoke and said:
"Oh, Ameer of the Faithful. give your
dear self no trouble or anxiety about
this matter, for, by your leave, we will
thoroughly investigate and with proper
care and circumspection we will solve
the problem"
The caliph called the governor Of the
city Of Bagdad and gave him the bag,
go to the bazaar. Show this bag to
the bagmakers. Inquire whose handii-
work it is, for they all know each
others craftsmanship. II you find the
man who made this bag, bring him
straightway to me-"
The Judge therefore had the bag
shown to all the bagmakers. One old,
serious looking man, when he saw the
II recently sold it," the old man
added, land two others like it to one
Yahiya 1lha, q native Of Damascus, Of
the family Of the Mahides."
When the judge heard this he said:
Come with me to the caliph. But
fear nothing, for he is only going to
ask you some questions"
So the old man went with the Judge
to the caliph, and the caliph demanded
to know to whom the bag had been
sold. The old man answered as he had
told the Judge and added:
"Oh, Prince Of the Faithful, the man
high rank, but he is also very wicked
ard a tyrant. He continually Injuries and
vexeS true believers. Every one fears
him and none dare complain against
him to the caliph.
IT know that recently lady, named
imam Magennee, purchased a female
slave for 1000 dinars. This female
slave was very fair, truly beautiful
girl. Besides, she was poetess. This
man to whom I sold the bag supposed
that the owner Of this beautiful slave
would sell her to him. But the lady
replied that she had already given the
girl her freedom. So the man said then
that there was to be wedding In his
loaned to him for the occasion.
1.-THE lady, under these circumstances,
sent the girl, as loan, for three days.
After four or five days had gone by the
lady sent and demanded her return.
She received for an answer that the
girl had already left this mans house
two or three days ago. Though the lady
complained and even wept tears, she
could not get her slave back, and never
did she receive any more news Of her
whatever.
Fearing the violence of this man, the
lady did not tell any one Of what had
happened. But she left the region in
which she had been living, for it is said
that this man has frequently arranged
the death of several of his neighbors."
So ended the old mans tale. when
he had finished speaking the "caliph
seemed very happy. and he commanded
that the man, Yahiya Ilha, should
forthwith be brought into his presence.
The man came, and when he was shown
the withered hand which had been
found in the leather bag he changed
color and seemed confused. Indeed, he
falsely tried to excuse himself from any
blame. Said he:
II did not do It,"
So the lady who had owned the slave
was brought. So soon as she saw the
hand she began to weep and exclaimed:
Eyes, that is the hand Of my poor,
murdered slavel'
Speak" commanded the caliph of
the man who had bought the bag.
'For, by my head. swear that I shall
BAs -, ~