The Commander of the Faithful, Harun al-Rashid, went out one day, with Abu Ya'Kúb the cup companion and Ja'afar the Barmecide and Abu Nowas, into the desert, where they fell in with an old man, propt against his ass. The Caliph bade Ja'afar learn of him from where he came; so he asked him, "from where come you?" and he answered, "From Bassorah."—

When it was the Three Hundred and Ninety fifth night

; he answered, "From Bassorah." Ja'afar said, "And where go you?" the other, said, "To Baghdad." Then Ja'afar enquired "And what will you do there?" and the old man replied, "I go to seek medicine for my eye." Said the Caliph, "O Ja'afar, make you sport with him," and answered Ja'afar, "I shall hear what I shall exceedingly mislike." But Al-Rashid rejoined, "I charge you on my authority, jest with him." Thereupon Ja'afar said to the Badawi, "If I prescribe you a medicine that shall profit you what will you give me in return?" the other, said,

Omar Bin Al-Khattab and the Young Badawi. 99

"Allah Almighty will requite the kindness with what is better for you than any requital of mine." Continued Ja'afar, "Now lend me an ear and I will give you a prescription, which I have given to none but you." "What is that?" asked the Badawi; and Ja'afar answered, "Take three ounces of wind breaths and the like of sunbeams and the same of moonshine and as much of lamp light; mix them well together and let them lie in the wind three months. Then place them three months in a mortar without a bottom and pound them to fine powder and after trituration set them in a cleft platter, and let it stand in the wind other three months; after which use of this medicine three drachms every night in your sleep, and, God willing! You will be healed and whole."

Now when the Badawi heard this, he stretched himself out to full length on the donkey's back and let fly a terrible loud fart and said to Ja'afar, "Take this fart in payment of your prescription. When I have followed it, if Allah grant me recovery, I will give you a slave girl, who shall serve you in your lifetime a service, wherewith Allah shall cut short your term; and when you diest and the Lord hurries your soul to hell fire, she shall blacken your face with her skite, of her mourning for you, and shall keen and beat her face, saying, 'O frosty beard, what a fool you were' " Thereupon Harun al-Rashid laughed till he fell backward, and ordered the Badawi three thousand silver pieces. And a tale is told of