Sir, a person of quality invited me yesterday to his daughter’s wedding; I went accordingly to his house at the hour appointed, and found there a large company of doctors, ministers of justice, and others of the best quality in the city.  After the ceremony was over, we had a splendid treat; and, among other things set upon the table, there was a course with garlic sauce, which was very delicious and palatable to everybody; but we observed that one of the guests did not touch it, though it stood just before him, and thereupon we invited him to do as we did:  he conjured us, however, not to press him upon that head.  I will take care, said he, not to touch any thing that has garlic in it; I remember well what the tasting of such a thing cost me once before.  We entreated him to tell us what was the occasion of his aversion to garlic; but before he had time to make answer, Is it thus, said the master of the house, that you honour my table?  This ragoo is excellent, therefore do not you pretend to be excused from eating of it; you must do me that favour as well as the rest.  Sir, said the gentleman, who was a Bagdad merchant, I hope you do not think that I refuse to eat of it out of mistaken nicety; if you will have me eat of it, I will do so; but upon this condition, that, after eating of it, I may wash my hands, by your leave, forty times with alcali[Footnote:  This in English is called salt wort.*], forty times more with the ashes of the same plant, and forty times again with soap, I hope you will not take it ill that I stipulate so, as it is in pursuance of an oath I have made never to taste garlic without observing this rule.  The master of the house would not dispense with the merchant from eating of the ragoo with garlic, and therefore ordered his servant to get ready a bason of water together with alcali, the ashes of the same plant, and soap, that the merchant might wash as often as he pleased.  When every thing was got ready, Now, said he to the merchant, I hope you will do as we.  The merchant, displeased with the violence that was offered him, reached out his hand to take a bit, which he put to his mouth trembling, and ate with a reluctance that surprised us all.  But the greatest surprise was, that he had only four fingers and no thumb, which none of us observed before, though he had eaten of other dishes.  You have lost your thumb, said the master of the house; how came that about?  It must have been occasioned by some extraordinary accident, a relation of which will be an agreeable entertainment to the company.  Sir, replied the merchant, I have not a thumb on either the right or left hand.  He then showed us his left hand, as well as his right.  But this is not all, continued he, I have not a great toe on either of my feet!  I hope you will take my word for it.  I was maimed in this manner by an unheard-of accident, which I am willing to relate to you, if you have the patience to hear me.  The relation will equally astonish, and affect you with pity; but suffer me to wash my hands first.  Upon this he rose from the table, and, after washing his hands an hundred and twenty times, took his place again, and thus proceeded: