The sharper desired the groom to mount the colt and pace him before him, which he did backwards and forwards, the fiery animal all the while plunging and rearing.  At length the genealogist said, “It is enough:”  and turning to the sultan exclaimed, “My lord, this colt is singularly beautiful, of true blood by his sire, his paces exquisite and proportions just; but in him there is one blemish; could that be done away, he would be all perfection; nor would there be upon the face of the earth his equal among all the various breeds of horses.”  “What can that blemish be?” said the sultan.  “His sire,” rejoined the genealogist, “was of true blood, but his dam of another species of animal; and, if commanded, I will inform you.”  “Speak,” said the sultan.  “The dam of this beautiful colt,” continued the genealogist, “was a buffalo.”

When the sultan heard this he flew into a rage, and commanded an executioner to strike off the head of the sharper; exclaiming, “Thou accursed dog! how could a buffalo bring forth a colt?” “My lord,” replied the sharper, “the executioner is in attendance; but send for the person who presented the colt, and inquire of him the truth.  If my words prove just, my skill will be ascertained; but if what I have said be false, then let my head pay the forfeit for my tongue.”  Upon this the sultan sent for the master of the colt to attend his presence.

When the master of the colt appeared before him, the sultan inquired whether it was purchased of another person, or had been bred by himself?  To which the man replied, “My lord, I will relate nothing but the truth.  The production of this colt is surprising.  His sire belonged to me, and was of the true breed of sea-horses:  he was always kept in an enclosure by himself, as I was fearful of his being injured; but it happened one day in the spring, that the groom took him for air into the country, and picqueted him in the plain.  By chance a cow-buffalo coming near the spot, the stallion became outrageous, broke his heel-ropes, joined the buffalo, which after the usual period of gestation, produced this colt, to our great astonishment.”

The sultan was surprised at this relation.  He commanded the genealogist to be sent for, and upon his arrival said, “Thy words have proved true, and thy wonderful skill in the breed of horses is ascertained; but by what mark couldst thou know that the dam of this colt was a buffalo?” The man replied, “My lord, the mark is visible in the colt itself.  It is not unknown to any person of observation, that the hoof of a horse is nearly round, but the hoof of a buffalo thick and longish, like this colt’s:  hence I judged that the dam must certainly have been a buffalo.”  The sultan now dismissed him graciously, and commanded that he should be allowed daily a mess of pottage, and two cakes of bread.