O my lord the Caliph, I was born in Baghdad. My father and mother died within a few days of each other, leaving me a large fortune. But I was foolish and soon squandered it in luxury and loose living, caring nothing for thrift or increasing my wealth. When little was left, I repented and worked hard day and night to rebuild my fortune. As is said, "After waste comes knowledge of worth."

Gradually, I acquired eighty camels, which I let out for hire to merchants. I travelled with them throughout your Highness's dominions and made good profit. I hoped to gather even greater wealth before long.

The end of the Six Hundred and Seventh Night

Once I had carried merchants' goods to Bassorah for shipment to India and was returning to Baghdad with my empty camels. As I travelled homeward across a plain of excellent pasture, far from any village, I unsaddled the camels, hobbled them together, and let them crop the grass.

A wandering Dervish appeared, travelling afoot to Bassorah. He sat beside me to rest, and we asked each other our stories. We shared our provisions and talked of many things.

The Dervish said, "I know of a place that holds a great treasure. The wealth is so vast that you could load your eighty camels with the heaviest burdens of gold coins and precious gems and still it would not diminish."

I rejoiced at hearing this. Judging by his manner that he spoke truth, I embraced him and cried, "O holy man of Allah, who cares nothing for worldly goods, surely you have full knowledge of this treasure! Tell me where it is that I may load my beasts with wealth! You renounce all earthly pleasures, so take one of my eighty camels in reward for your kindness."

But inwardly, I grieved at the thought of giving up one camel's load, though I reflected that the other seventy-nine would make me wealthy beyond measure. As I wavered between consent and regret, the Dervish, noting my greed, replied, "One camel does not suffice for my reward. I will show you the hoard only on this condition: we go together, load the camels with treasure, then divide it equally—forty camel loads for you and forty for me. With forty camels of gold and gems, you can buy thousands more."

Seeing refusal was impossible, I agreed, thinking that forty camel loads of gold and gems would suffice me and many generations of my descendants, and fearing I would regret losing such a treasure.

I gathered all eighty camels and set out with the Fakir. After travelling a short distance, we came upon a narrow gorge between two craggy mountain walls in crescent form. The pass was so narrow that the animals had to walk in single file, but beyond it the gorge widened into a broad valley. No human being was anywhere to be seen or heard in this wild land, so we travelled undisturbed.

The Dervish said, "Leave the camels here and come with me."

The end of the Six Hundred and Eighth Night

I did as he commanded, and after a short walk, he produced flint and steel and lit some sticks he had gathered. He threw strong-smelling incense upon the flames and muttered words of incantation I could not understand.

At once, a cloud of smoke arose, spiraling upward and veiling the mountains. When it cleared, we saw a huge rock with a pathway leading to its perpendicular face. In the rock face appeared an open door, and through it we glimpsed a splendid palace in the mountain's heart—a palace built by the Jinn, for no mortal could create anything so magnificent.

After much toil, we entered and found endless treasure heaped with perfect order and regularity. Seeing piles of gold coins, I seized them greedily like a vulture seizing carrion. I filled the sacks with golden coins to my heart's content, proportioning them to the strength of the camels. The Dervish, too, filled sacks, but with gems and jewels only, counseling me to do the same.

I cast aside the coins and filled my bags with the most precious stones. When we had worked our best, we loaded the heavy sacks upon the camels' backs. Before we left, the Dervish went into a hidden chamber and brought out a silver casket containing a small golden box of ointment. He showed it to me, then placed it in his pocket.

He threw incense upon the fire, recited his incantations, and the door closed. The rock became as it had been before. We divided the camels—he took forty and I took forty—and passed through the narrow gorge in single file to the open plain.

Our ways parted there. He went toward Bassorah, and I toward Baghdad. Before we separated, I thanked him deeply for the wealth worth a thousand thousand gold coins, and we embraced with gratitude before going our separate ways.

But hardly had I gone a little distance from the Fakir when Satan tempted me with greed. I said to myself, "The Dervish is alone, without friends or family, and is estranged from worldly things. What use will these camel loads of money be to him? Engrossed with caring for the camels, he will neglect his prayers and worship. It is fitting that I take back some of the beasts."

With this resolve, I halted the camels, tied their front legs, and ran back after the holy man, calling his name. When he heard me, he waited, and as I approached, I said, "A thought struck me while travelling. You are a recluse, pure of heart, devoted only to prayer. The care of all these camels will burden you with toil and waste your precious time. Better that you give them back and avoid discomfort and danger."

The Dervish replied, "You speak truth. The tending of these animals will bring me only headache. Take as many as you wish. I had not thought of the burden until you reminded me. May Allah keep you in His keeping!"

I took ten camels from him and was leaving when I thought, "He gave ten camels so easily. Better I ask for more."

I returned and said, "You can hardly manage thirty camels. Give me ten more, I pray."

He said, "Take ten more if you wish. Twenty will suffice me."

I took twenty from him and added them to my forty. Then the spirit of greed possessed me, and I returned a third time, asking for the remaining ten. The Dervish gave them all, and I took all forty of his camels, leaving him with nothing.

But still my accursed greed clung to me. Though I had eighty camels laden with gold and jewels—wealth for eighty generations—Satan tempted me yet more to take the box of ointment, which I thought contained something more precious than rubies.

The end of the Six Hundred and Ninth Night

After I had embraced and farewelled the Dervish, I paused and said, "What will you do with the little box of salve? Give it to me."

The Fakir would not part with it, and the more he refused, the more I lusted for it. I resolved that if he would not give it freely, I would take it by force. Seeing my intent, he drew the box from his breast pocket and handed it to me, saying, "O my son, if you would have this box of ointment, I freely give it to you. But first you must learn its virtue."

"Since you have shown me such favour," I said, "tell me about this ointment and its properties."

He replied, "The wonders of this ointment are strange and rare. If you close your left eye and rub the smallest bit of salve upon the lid, all the treasures of the world hidden from your gaze will become visible. But if you rub it upon your right eye, you will at once become utterly blind of both eyes."

I decided to test this wondrous ointment. I placed the box in his hand and said, "Apply the ointment to my left eyelid yourself."

The Dervish closed my left eye and rubbed a little ointment upon the lid. When I opened it and looked around, I saw hidden hoards of the earth in countless quantities, just as he had promised. Then, closing my right eyelid, I bade him apply salve to that eye also.

"O my son," he said, "I have forewarned you that applying it to your right eye will make you utterly blind of both. Put away this foolish thought. Why bring this evil upon yourself?"

He spoke truth, but my accursed fate would not let me heed his words. I thought, "If the left eyelid produced such effect, surely the right eye will produce something even more wondrous. This fellow is deceiving me to keep the truth hidden so I cannot gain full advantage of the secret."

I laughed and said to the holy man, "You are deceiving me! The salve rubbed on the right eyelid must have greater virtue than what was applied to the left, and you withhold it from me. It cannot be that the same ointment has such contrary qualities."

He replied earnestly, "Allah Almighty is my witness that the ointment has no other virtue save what I have told you. O my dear friend, have faith in me, for nothing but the truth has been told."

Still I would not believe him, thinking he deceived me and kept secret the main virtue of the ointment. I pressed him hard and begged him to apply it to my right eye, but he refused, saying, "See how much favour I have shown you. Why should I now do you such dire evil? It will bring you lifelong grief and misery. I beg you by God Almighty, abandon this purpose and believe my words."

But the more he refused, the more I persisted. I made an oath by God, saying, "O Dervish, you gave me freely everything I asked. This alone remains. I beg you, do not deny me, and grant me this last boon. Whatever happens, I will not hold you responsible. Let Destiny decide for good or evil."

When the holy man saw that denial was useless and I wearied him with endless persistence, he put the smallest bit of ointment on my right eyelid. As I opened my eyes wide, both became utterly blind! Only black darkness lay before me, and from that day to this, I have been sightless and helpless as you found me.

When I knew I was blinded, I cried out, "O Dervish of ill omen! Your prediction has come true!" I fell to cursing him, saying, "Oh, would that you had never brought me to the hoard or given me such wealth! What good is all this gold and jewels now? Take back your forty camels and restore my sight!"

He replied, "What evil have I done to you? I showed you more favour than any man has ever shown another. You would not heed my counsel. You hardened your heart and lusted to obtain wealth and pry into the hidden treasures of the earth. You were not content with what you had and mistrusted my words, thinking I would deceive you. Your case is hopeless, for you will never regain your sight."

I wept and lamented, "O Fakir, take back the eighty camels laden with gold and precious stones. I absolve you from all blame. But I beg you by Almighty Allah to restore my sight if you are able."

He did not answer but departed, driving the eighty camels laden with wealth toward Bassorah. I cried aloud, begging him to lead me away from that life-destroying wilderness or put me on a caravan's path, but he ignored my cries and left me there.

The end of the Six Hundred and Tenth Night

When the Dervish departed, I nearly died from grief and rage at losing my sight and wealth, and from thirst and hunger. Fortunately, the next day a caravan from Bassorah passed that way. The merchants, seeing my grievous condition, took pity on me and brought me to Baghdad.

Unable to do anything else to survive, I became a beggar. To punish myself for my unlucky greed and cursed covetousness, I made a vow to Allah that I would require a cuff upon the ear from everyone who gave me alms. This was how yesterday I pursued you with such persistency.

When the blind man finished his story, the Caliph said, "O Baba Abdullah, your offense was grievous. May Allah have mercy on you. Go now and tell your case to devout men and anchorites that they may offer powerful prayers for you. Do not worry about your daily needs. I have determined that you will receive a dole of four dirhams a day from my royal treasury for as long as you live. But do not ask for alms in my city again."

Baba Abdullah thanked the Commander of the Faithful and said, "I will do according to your bidding."

Now when the Caliph Harun al-Rashid had heard the story of Baba Abdullah and the Dervish, he turned to the young man whom he had seen riding the mare so mercilessly.

"What is your name?" asked the Caliph.

The youth bowed and replied, "My name is Sidi Nu'uman, O Commander of the Faithful."

The Caliph said, "Listen now, O Sidi Nu'uman! I have often watched horsemen exercise their horses and have done so myself, but never have I seen anyone ride so mercilessly as you did ride that mare. You used whip and spur with cruelest fashion. All the people stood amazed, and I myself was forced to stop and ask the bystanders the reason. None could explain, but all said you ride the mare thus every day. I wish to know the cause of this ruthless savagery. Tell me everything and leave nothing unsaid."

Hearing the Caliph's command, Sidi Nu'uman became aware that the Commander of the Faithful was bent upon hearing the whole matter and would not let him leave until all was explained. He became pale with fear and stood speechless like a statue.

The Prince of True Believers said, "O Sidi Nu'uman, fear nothing. Tell me all your tale. Regard me as one of your friends and speak without reserve, explaining everything as you would to your companions. If you fear that I will be angry about anything you tell me, I grant you immunity and a full pardon."

Comforted by these kind words, Sidi Nu'uman took courage and replied with clasped hands, "I trust I have done nothing contrary to your Highness's laws and customs, and therefore I will obey your bidding and relate to you my whole tale. If I have offended in anything, I am worthy of your punishment.

"It is true that I have daily exercised the mare and ridden her at full speed around the hippodrome as you saw. I lashed and spurred her with all my might. You had compassion for the mare and thought me cruel-hearted to treat her thus. But when you have heard all my adventure, you will admit—God willing—that this is only a trifling penalty for her offense, and that I, not she, deserve your pity and pardon.

"With your permission, I will now begin my story."

The end of the Six Hundred and Eleventh Night

The Caliph Harun al-Rashid granted permission, and Sidi Nu'uman began his tale...