is?” Said Rufaiel, “you will notice that between the amber and the gold of the mouth-piece a little ring is wanting.  This ring was the very gem and excellence of the pipe.  It was cut from the Black Stone of the Kaaba in Mecca, and has miraculous properties.  But when the pipe was brought from Mecca, the ring was left with Mustafa, the jeweller, who is ready to send it by the first fit opportunity.”  “Alas,” said the Pasha, “but how can we send for it now?  The Pilgrim caravan has gone, and there will be none again for a year.”  “Oh,” said Rufaiel, “this is easily arranged.  To-day is Thursday, and to-night the holy Dervish will go to Mecca and return to-morrow morning.  Your Excellency need only command him to bring the black ring, and before this time to-morrow the pipe will be complete in its beauty and excellency.”  “El Hamdu Lillah!  Praise to Allah!  It shall be done!” So when Rufaiel had gone, the Pasha summoned the Dervish, and told him of this wonderful pipe which had come to him from Mecca, and that it only needed the black ring to make it absolutely perfect, and that he was hereby commanded on pain of death to bring the ring from Mecca before Friday at the hour of noon prayer.  The Dervish bowed most obeisantly and retired black in the face with rage and despair.  But it occurred to him at once that none in Damascus but Rufaiel could have purchased such a pipe.  So he left the City Gate, called the Bab Allah, or Gate of God, at sunset, bidding his friends farewell, and walked away in the gardens until night came on.  Then, at the sixth hour of the night he returned by another gate, and crept along to the door of the mansion of Rufaiel.  The door was opened, and Rufaiel received him with great politeness.  The Dervish fell on the floor and kissed his feet and begged for his life.  Said he, “give me that black ring which belongs to the Pasha’s pipe, and we will be friends forever!  Ask what you will and it shall be done to you.  Only give me this ring.”  Said Rufaiel, “you have ruined my people with oppression, and now do you ask a favor?” “Yes,” said the Dervish, “and you shall have any favor you ask.”  So Rufaiel thought to himself a moment, and then said, “I ask one thing.  Do you obtain from the Pasha an order on all the tax collectors of Damascus, that when any Jew shall say, I am one of the Seventy, the collector shall pass him by, and no tax ever be demanded of him.”  “Done,” said the Dervish, and embracing Rufaiel, he bade him good-night.  Then in the morning he hastened in at Bab Allah, and presented the ring to the Pasha, who was so delighted that he granted his request, and orders were given that no tax should ever be collected from any Jew who should say “I am one of the Seventy.”  Then Rufaiel assembled all the Jews of Damascus, and bade them say to the tax-gatherers whenever they came, “I am one of the Seventy.”  So the Jews had rest from taxation, all the days of Rufaiel.

Saleh Bu Nusr, one of the best men in Mount Lebanon, and the father of Khalil, who brought us the list of Arab boys’ games, has already told us the story of the Goats and the Ghoul, and he says that the savory odor of the egg plant being cooked for the wedding guests, reminds him of the story of the Badinjan or Egg Plant.