O my lord the Caliph, I, the humblest of thy slaves, was born in Baghdad, where my father and mother, presently dying within a few days of each other, left me a fortune large enough to last me throughout my lifetime.  But I knew not its value and soon I had squandered it in luxury and loose living and I cared naught for thrift or for increasing my store.  But when little was left to me of my substance, I repented of my evil courses and toiled and laboured hard by day and night to increase my remaining stock of money.  It is truly said, “After waste cometh knowledge of worth.”  Thus little by little I got together fourscore camels, which I let on hire to merchants, and thus I made goodly gain each time I found occasion:  moreover I was wont to engage myself together with my beasts and on this wise I journeyed over all the dominions and domains of thy Highness.  Brief, I hoped ere long to reap an abundant crop of gold by the hiring out of my baggage animals.—­And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace till

         The end of the Six Hundred and Seventh Night.

Then said she:  I have heard, O auspicious King, that Baba Abdullah continued his tale in these words:  Once I had carried merchants’ stuffs to Bassorah for shipping India-wards and I was returning to Baghdad with my beasts unladen.  Now as I fared homewards I chanced pass across a plain of excellent pasturage lying fallow and far from any village, and there unsaddled the camels which I hobbled and tethered together that they might crop the luxuriant herbs and thorns and yet not fare astray.  Presently appeared a Darwaysh who was travelling afoot for Bassorah, and he took seat beside me to enjoy ease after unease; whereat I asked him whence he wayfared and whither he was wending.  He also asked me the same question and when we had told each to other our own tales, we produced our provisions and brake our fast together, talking of various matters as we ate.  Quoth the Darwaysh, “I know a spot hard by which enholdeth a hoard and its wealth is so wonder-great that shouldst thou load upon thy fourscore camels the heaviest burthens of golden coins and costly gems from that treasure there will appear no minishing thereof.”  Hearing these words I rejoiced with exceeding joy and gathering from his mien and demeanour that he did not deceive me, I arose forthright and falling upon his neck, exclaimed, “O Hallow of Allah, who caress naught for this world’s goods and hast renounced all mundane lusts and luxuries, assuredly thou hast full knowledge of this treasure, for naught remaineth hidden from holy men as thou art.  I pray thee tell me where it may be found that I may load my fourscore beasts with bales of Ashrafis and jewels:  I wot full well that thou hast no greed for the wealth of this world, but take, I pray thee, one of these my fourscore camels as recompense and reward for the favour.”  Thus spake I with my tongue but in my heart I sorely grieved to think