this Jew says that the pelisse which you see on my back, and the mule on which I am mounted, are also his.’ ‘Yes, assuredly, my Lord,’ said the Jew, ‘for mine they are both.’ No sooner had he said these words than every one cried out, ‘Upon you, you Jew rascal,’ and, rushing upon him, they broke his head and kicked him out of the tribunal, and the Cogia was sent home to his house in triumph, not only with the altoons but the pelisse and the mule beside.

   One day Cogia Efendi went to a bridal festival. The master of the feast observing his old and wretched garments, paid him no consideration whatever. The Cogia saw that he had no chance of notice; so going out he hurried to his house, and putting on a splendid pelisse, returned to the place of festival. No sooner did he enter the door than the master advanced to meet him, and saying, ‘Welcome, Cogia Efendi,’ with all imaginable honour and reverence placed him at the head of the table, and said, ‘Please to eat, Lord

   Cogia.’ Forthwith the Cogia taking hold of one of the furs of his pelisse, said, ‘Welcome, my pelisse, please to eat, my lord.’ The master looking at the Cogia with great surprise, said, ‘What are you about?’ Whereupon the Cogia replied, ‘It is quite evident that all the honour paid is paid to my pelisse, so let it have some food too.’

   Nasr Eddin Efendi going one day into a city, found the doctors of the law eating and drinking; no sooner did they see the Cogia than they showed him great honour, and brought him food. It happened that that year was a year of famine, and the Cogia whilst eating and drinking, said to himself, ‘No doubt this city must be one in which provisions are very cheap,’ and asked a man who was by him whether it were not so. The man replied, ‘Are you mad? this day is Beiram, every one according to his means cooks meat in his house and brings it forth, and on that account the food is plentiful.’ ‘Ah, my good man,’ said the Cogia, ‘I wish that every day was Beiram.’

   One day Cogia Efendi led a cow to the market for sale; backwards and forwards he led it, but was unable to sell it; presently a man advancing to the Cogia, said, ‘Why do you hold this cow in your hand without selling it?’ Said the Cogia, ‘I have led it about since the morning, and notwithstanding all the fine things that I

   have said about it I have been unable to sell it.’ The individual taking the cow from the Cogia’s hand, began to walk it about, exclaiming, ‘Who will buy a young girl six months gone with child?’ Forthwith buyers followed at his heels, and a 

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