MOORISH STOEIES AND FABLES. 473 



do so ; however, as there was no use in lamenting, they returned 

 to Marocco, and the informer had to tell Seedna that there 

 was nothing in the box but rubbish ; upon which the Sultan 

 ordered the Kai'd to be brought before him and demanded the 

 meaning of such a thing. The Kai'd answered, ' True, our lord, 

 it is that I did not oppress your people, and the money hidden 

 in that box was made by lawful means, and I reposed confidence 

 in my friend here, and left the money for my son ; and so I 

 told your majesty truly that I had nothing, because it then 

 became by my gift my son's money, and this, my false friend, 

 has broken his trust, robbed my son and Seedna, and then to 

 cover his knavery, sought my life by trying to turn our lord 

 against me. I therefore beg that our lord will make him con- 

 fess what he has done with Seedna's money.' The Sultan 

 thought the informer simply wanted to make him a fool to 

 cover his knavery, and at once, in a passion, ordered him to be 

 flogged until he confessed. But as he could not confess that he 

 had taken the money and had none of his own to replace it, the 

 lash was continued until the wretch died under it. The Kai'd 

 was set free and restored to Mogador, and the informer's son is 

 now assistant weigher at the Custom House, Mogador. 



SIX MOORISH FABLES. 

 1. Fahle of a Hedgehog mid a Fox. 



Once upon a time a fox accidentally meeting a hedgehog 

 addressed him as follows, ' I am much oppressed with thirst ; ' 

 to which the hedgehog replied, ' So am I, and I know a well 

 where we can drink.' The fox then said, ' Come along.' They 

 travelled on till they reached the well where they found two 

 buckets worked by a pulley, one ascending whilst the other de- 

 scended. ' Now,' said the hedgehog, ' I wiU go in first, and 

 when I tell you, jump into the other bucket.' The hedgehog 

 went down and had his drink, and then shouted to the fox, 

 ' Now you jump in.' He did as he was told, and as he went 

 down met the hedgehog coming up in the ascending bucket ; 

 upon seeing which he said, ' "What does this mean ? ' The 

 hedgehog answered thus, ' It is the world goes round : ' and 

 when he was safely at the top, and the fox had reached the 



