Whilst Yussuf was thus lamenting over his empty water-skin, some of the other water-carriers came up, and began to console him after the fashion of Job’s comforters.

“Surely,” said one, “you need not be troubled at this edict, you gain more than any five of us every day, and you have no wife nor child to provide for.  But I, wretched man that I am, will have the misery of beholding my wife and children starving before the expiration of the three days.”

Another said, “Be comforted, Yussuf, three days will soon pass away, and then you will relish your kabobs and your rakee, your sweetmeats and your wine, with greater pleasure, having been so long deprived of them.”

“Besides,” added a third, “you must not forget, Yussuf, that the prophet has declared that a man is eternally damned, body and soul, who is constantly drunk as you are.”

These observations kindled Yussuf’s bile to that degree, that he was nearly venting his spleen upon his sarcastic consolers.  He turned away, however, in his rage, and throwing his empty skin over his shoulders, proceeded slowly towards the mosque of Zobeide, cursing as he went along, all Moussul merchants down to the fiftieth generation.  Passing the great baths, he was accosted by one of the attendants with whom he was intimate, who inquired, why he was so depressed in spirits.

“That cold-blooded caliph of ours, Haroun Alraschid, has put an end to my earnings for three days, by threatening to hang any water-carrier who shall carry his load to the bazaar.  You know, my friend, that I never have put by a single para, and I fear that in three days my carcase will become shrivelled with famine, and dried up for the want of a cup of rakee.”

“Which thou hast often divided with me before now,” replied the other; “so even now will I divide my work with you, Yussuf.  Follow me, if you do not object to the employment, which requires little more than strength, and, by Allah, you have that, and to spare.  Surely, upon a pinch like this, you can take up a hair-bag, and a lump of soap, and scrub and rub the bodies of the true believers.  Those hands of yours, so enormous and so fleshy, are well calculated to knead the muscles and twist the joints of the faithful.  Come, you shall work with us during these three days at the hummaum, and then you can return to your old business.”

“Thy words of comfort penetrate deep into my bosom,” replied Yussuf, “and I follow thee.”

The bath-rubber then took him in, bound an apron round his waist, and lent him a bag, three razors, pumice-stone for scrubbing the soles of the feet, a hair bag, and a sponge.  Having caparisoned and furnished him with implements, he led Yussuf into the apartment where was the reservoir of hot water, and desired him to wait for a customer.  Yussuf had not long sat down on the edge of the marble bath, when he was summoned to perform his duties on a hadji who, covered with dust and dirt, had evidently just returned from a tedious pilgrimage.