observe the people but the people observe him.  The young man, who was named Attaf, said, O my lord, be it as thou wishest and desirest; be not away long on my account for thine absence gives me pain.  Then he gave to Ja’afar a grain of red musk saying, Take this and keep it in thy hand and if thou go into any place where there is a bad odour thou wilt take a smell of the musk.  Ja’afar the Barmeky (Allah be merciful to him!) said, After that I left him and set out to walk in the streets and quarters of Damascus and went on until I came to the Most of the ’Omeyyades where I saw a fountain casting the water from its upper part and falling like serpents in their flight.  I sat down under the pulpit; and as it was a Friday I heard the preacher and made my Friday prayer and remained until I made the afternoon prayer when I went to distribute the money I had, after which I recited these verses:—­

I see the beauties united in the mosk of Jullag, and around her the meaning of
     beauty is explained;
If people converse in the mosks tell them their entrance door is open.

Then I left the mosk and began to promenade the quarters and the streets until I came before a splendid house, broad in its richness and strong in its build, having a border of gold astonishing the mind by the beauty of the work, showing curtains of silk embroidered with gold and in front of the door were two carpeted steps.  I sat down upon one of them and began to think of myself and of the events that had happened to me and of my ignorance of what had taken place after my departure.  In the midst of my sadness at the contemplation of my troubles (and the wind blowing upon me) I fell asleep and I awaked not until a sprinkling of water came down upon me.  On opening my eyes I saw a young woman behind the curtain dressed in a morning gown and a Sa’udi fillet upon her forehead.  Her look and eyelids were full of art and her eyebrows were like the fronts of the wings of light.  The Rawi says she resembled a full moon.  When my eyes fell upon her (continued Ja’afar) and looked at her, that look brought with it a thousand sighs and I arose and my disposition was changed.  The young woman cried at me and I said, I am your servant, O my lady, and here at thy command, but said she, No labbayka and no favour for thee!  Is this house thine?  Said I, No my lady, and she replied, O dog of the streets, this house is not thine, why art thou sitting here?  When Ja’afar heard this he was greatly mortified, but he took courage and dissimulated, answering, O my lady, I am resting here only to recite some verses which I have composed for thee, then she asked, And what hast thou said about me?  He continued:—­

She appeared in a whitish robe with eyelids and glances of wonder,
I said she came out without greeting, with her I’m content to my heart’s
     content. 
Blessed be He that clothed thy cheeks with roses, He can create what He wills
     without hindrance. 
Thy dress like thy lot is as my hand, white, and they are white upon white upon
     my white.