530 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [July, 1907. 



Story V.^ 



Jt is said that a man of the family of Al-Muhallab * bought 

 a black slave-boy, whom he reared and adopted. Now when his 

 arm became strong and he developed, he fell in love with his 

 mistress and sought her favours, and she consented. One day 

 his master entered suddenly and behold he was embracing her ; 

 so he went to him and cut off ^ his member and left him wallow- 

 ing * in his blood. After that, pity came to him and he feared ^ 

 his act ; so he treated him until he was cured * and his sickness 

 left him. Then the slave remaioed a long time planning against 

 his master, in order to appease "^ his vengeful heart. Now hia 

 master had two sons, one of them an infant,^ the other a stripling.' 

 One day the father left his home on business. Then the slave 

 took the two boys and went up with them to the summit of the 

 roof and began to amuse ^^ them, at one time with sweets, and 

 at another with play, until his master came in. Then )»is master 

 raised his eyes and beheld his two sons on a pinnacle.^^ He 

 cried out, " Oh my boy,** think of all my care in bringing you 

 up 1" The slave replied, " Don't talk of that,*^ my life is nothing 

 to me." ^* The father said, "Well, what do you want? " He 

 said, " Dismember yourself as you have dismembered me, or else 

 I will cast these two down, and after them I will give my life 

 away as easily as bestowing a cup of water." The father be- 



* This story is told to illustrate the vindictivenesa and treachery of the 

 negro character. 



^ 2 X princely Arab family of Basrah, deBceadauts of Al-Muhallab^ 'bn» 

 All Sufrah, who died in 83 A.H. (703 A.D.J 



^ V*^ ^^ i^s primary sense is " to cat off," 



5*^ 



« 



* as^mJ ^ " To flounder, wallow (in blood). 



S O^^ (with ^ ) = ^\L. , *' was terriBed at." 



^ lLu is applied to a child until he discriihinates. 

 * ^^ '* grown up ; adult " 



10 JIp *<To divert, amuse, occupy with." 

 *^ I^Ut " The highest point in a building," 



12 ,*Uj^ lit, " Woe to thee." 13 tit, '* leave that alone.'* 



1* Lxi.^ " By God, it ig nothing but a life, and I'll willinsrly cast it away. 



»r 



