SOMK CURRENT PERSIAN TALES. 393 



and said nothing for fear lest you might be somewhere and overhear me and tell me 

 to go and water the sheep." The woman burst out crying and hurried off after the 

 barber, and tracked him as far as the city gate. Let us leave the woman at the gate 

 while I tell you a few words about the barber. 



The barber chap l thought to himself, "As I have carried off the things I had better 

 not remain in the district, otherwise I will be taken and imprisoned. To avoid this I'll 

 go to Tehran. I'll sell the jewellery, take a wife and start a little business for myself in 

 Tehran." He started off and walked till he arrived at a tea stall. 2 There he sat down 

 to smoke and refresh himself. The woman then came along and saw the barber chap 

 seated at the stall, smoking. She said to herself, " If I merely take back my property 

 and return, I shall exhibit no smartness or skill. I must play some trick and bring such 

 a misfortune on him that my name shall live in story books." She made a circuit and 

 went and sat down on the roadside on the far side of the stall. 



The barber finished smoking and got up and continued on his way. He saw an 

 indistinct outline far ahead of him on the road. The nearer he got to it, the more shape 

 it took, till at last he recognised it as a woman seated by the wayside. The woman 

 greeted the barber. The barber returned the greeting and said, "Sister! what are 

 you doing in this desolate spot ? " She said, " Brother ! my story is a long one." 

 The barber sat down and said, " Tell me your story." 



The woman related, " Know then and be aware that last year a soldier came 

 to Tehran and asked me in marriage from my father. My father gave me to him and 

 the soldier took me off with him to Khwabjan. For one year we were man and wife. 

 After one year he departed from this world. He had no father, no mother, no kith, no 

 kin — not a friend, not a relation in the world. Since then, alone and forlorn, I have 

 dwelt in Khwabjan. I thought I would return to my native town, Tehran, and 

 so started on foot. When I came as far as this, I felt tired and sat down to rest." 



Whilst she was talking she withdrew her veil and the eyes of the barber saw her 

 face. He fell madly in love with her. 3 He seized the girl's skirt and twisted it 

 round his hand saying, " Oh girl ! know and be aware that I have fallen in love 

 with your beauty. One of three things you must do." He then emptied out the 

 jewellery before her and said, " This belongs to my sister ; to-day I quarrelled with 

 her ; so I carried off her things to take them with me to Tehran. By trade I am a 

 barber." He also showed her the implements of his trade and said, " Either be my 

 wife and I'll give you this jewellery and a palki* for you to Tehran — this is one 

 alternative : or else repeat the formula and become my adopted sister so that up 

 to Tehran I may see your face : 5 or get up and let us go to that stage where I'll 

 engage a riding animal for you up to Tehran, and when we get to Tehran you shall 

 return all I have given to you." 



The woman out of the knavery and gullery of her nature fell to weeping. " Oh 



L Dallakii, diminutive tor contempt. ' 2 Vide page 410, note 3. 



■ Lit. The 666 veins of the kingdom of his body were wound up : vide note 10, page 410. 

 * Vide note 13, page 410. & Vide note F4, page 14c 



