Part 38 (1/2)
As a first step towards preserving ed my dusty and weather-beaten sheep?s-skin cap for a head-dress of the country, na, which fell down in a flap behind, and fastened to ht a second-hand beniche, or cloak, usually worn by the Turks, which, going over eneral appearance of an Osht cri done this, it caht accrue if I a, for through theht make acquaintance in the city, and proly sallied forth, and took h the principal bazaars and bezestens, in order to make inquiries, and particularly stopped where lambskins were sold, for I well recollected that they were his favourite article of trade I also recollected dad, which he used to take pleasure in relating during our journeys, and I fancied that I could almost find my way to his very door without inquiry
However,my head into the shop of one of the principal Bokhara dad of one Osa, I heard a well-known voice, in answer, say, ?Who wants me? In the name of the Prophet, I am he!?
Guess at my joy and surprise--it was the old dad, as I had before been to meet him at Tehran, and his surprise was equal to ht it necessary for him to know, and he told me his in return, which in tords was as follows
He had left Tehran in the deter to Constantinople, there to dispose of hisrobbed existed on the road between Erivan and Arz Roudad; and here he was, restored to his native city after an absence of rown up to h all the cere for his loss, had duly taken possession of his patri to the law, he had shared in the prescribed portions between his mother and sister But as soon as his father was restored to hiood Mussulman, put into practice that precept of the Koran which ordaineth man to show kindness to his parents--but not to say unto them ?Fie upon you!? The old hter was old enough to bethus disburthened himself of this short history of his adventures, he turned round upon me in a sharper manner than he had even done before, and said, ?But Hajji, my friend, in the name of the blessed Mohammed, what could have possessed you to joinreeably? By the salt which we have so often eat together, the few days that I passed in her company were filled withthe Turcoht to treat an old friend thus??
I assured hi it for granted that she, who had been the favourite of the monarch of Persia, h for one who had passed some of the best years of his life with camels
?Caels compared to this fury Would to Heaven that you had married me to a camel instead, for it, at least, poor aniravity, and let on, she, the viper, she passed her whole ti taken to wife one who had led the Shah by the beard, and enforced each ith either a slap or a scratch _A his hand on his cheek, ?I think I feel theth ceded to my assurances that I had no other object in view than his happiness, and then very kindly asked dad, to which, of course, I acceded with all manner of pleasure
This conversation had taken place in the back roo which the old ht fro coffee-house; and when it was over, he proposed going to his son?s shop, situated in the same bazaar, so set hi absence, he had acquired an easy livelihood, and passed the greatest part of the day (except when necessary to go to his prayers) seated in the little platform in the front of his shop, surrounded by his ed on shelves fixed in the wall He was a fat, squat little man, very like his father; and when he was informed that I was Hajji Baba, he said that I elco from his own mouth, he immediately transferred it toestablished, I enjoyed the prospect of an easy and quiet sojourn at Bagdad, in the coood people; but in order to show that I did not intend wholly to be a dependant upon them, I made it known that I was possessed of ninety-five to theave thes of an adventurer?s life, it wasan independence by s reed: and, as we anticipated the fortune that I was to ravely let off the only bit of Persian poetry which he had picked up during his travels--?Drop by drop water distilleth froth it becometh a sea?
Upon this conclusion we, that is, the father and I, proceeded to his house, which was situated at a convenient distance fro of Hajji Baba 35jpg]
CHAPTER LXV
He purchases pipe-sticks, and inspires a hopeless passion in the breast of his old a?s house was situated in a narrow lane, leading out of the street which leads into one of the principal bazaars Immediately in front of the door was a heap of rubbish, upon which a litter of kittens had just been thrown,voices as we passed; and a little farther, on a siuarded by ato desire in the way of discord Between these was situated the gate of Osa?s house, into which we entered It was a s of some crazy rooms, which neither indicated riches nor cleanliness As I had no baggage belonging to me, except a small carpet, my removal here from the caravanserai was soon accomplished, and I took up my future abode in a corner of mine host?s principal room, where he also spread his bed and slept
By way of celebrating my arrival, he treated me with roasted lamb, and an abundant dish of rice, to which were added dates, cheese, and onions
The dishes were cooked in the harehter, aided by a female slave, the only domestic in the establishment Neither of these had I yet seen, for it was dusk e reached the house; nor, froood manners, did I ask more about them than Osman was inclined to tell me
Besides myself and his son, the old man had invited a brother dealer in lambskins to the entertain his travels in Bokhara The conversation turned exclusively upon conorant, that I took very little share in it, although, considering that it was my intention to enter it myself, I was very happy to open my ears to all that was said
They entered deeply into the subject and discussed the relative ht have inferred that the end of the world was at hand, because it was rumoured that the price of their favourite commodity had fallen at Constantinople They dissuadedmy capital in that article, but recommended in preference that I should invest it in pipe-sticks, which, they remarked, were subject to no decay, and for which there was a constant demand in theover, and the guests having parted, I ruminated deeply upon what I had heard, and forthwith turned the whole weight of hts to pipe-sticks There, in a corner, I sat all day calculating what nuht acquire for my tomauns, and ould be ination was heated by the hopes of the ultiave ant expectations The plan of the merchant, who when compared to the one which I formed ?With the produce of s at Sreat profit by them there, my money shall then he invested in skull-caps, which I will carry to Grand Cairo; these being sold in detail, for ready cash, I will carefully pack my money in sacks, and proceed to Ethiopia, where I will purchase slaves, each of whoreat profit at Moccha, and thence I will e to the tomb of the Prophet From Moccha I will transport coffee to Persia, which will fetch an a price; and then I will repose in h situation at court, whichof Kings
Having thus disposed of the future ininto the ain with a wood-cutter, as to proceed to the mountains of Lour and Bakhtiari, where he would find forests of the wild cherry-tree, fro to the sizes hich I should furnish hidad, where the sticks would be bored, and made up into appropriate parcels for the markets of Turkey
All this was duly executed; but during the ti for the return of the wood-cutter, I was attacked by a disorder, frodad are exee pimple, as it dries up, leaves an indelible reat ht cheek, immediately upon the confines of the beard, and there left its baleful print, destroying so that appear a broken and irregular waste, which before hly cultivated slope
I bore this calah I could not help frequently quarrelling with fate, for having chosen so conspicuous a spot to place that which ht have been so conveniently settled anywhere else
?So be it,? said I, heaving a sigh at the same time; ?the wise man said true when he remarked, ?if every stone was left to choose what it would be, ht choose whereabouts he would have his pidad?