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ed。'
When the man came again at the appointed time； he would put him off with some other tale； it mattered little what； and would swear to him； nor would he cease to promise and swear to him； as often as he came； till the customer lost patience and said； 'How often wilt thou say to me； 〃Tomorrow？〃 Give me my stuff： I will not have it dyed。' Whereupon the dyer would make answer； 'By Allah； O my brother； I am abashed at thee； but I will tell the truth and may God harm all who do folk hurt in their goods！' The other would say； 'Tell me what hath happened；' and Aboukir would answer； 'Indeed I dyed thy stuff on matchless wise and hung it on the rope ＇to dry；＇ but it was stolen and I know not who took it。' If the owner of the stuff were a goodnatured man； he would say； 'God will recoup me；' and if he were illconditioned； he would pursue him with exposure and insult； but would get nothing of him； though he plained of him to the judge。
He ceased not to do thus till his report was noised abroad among the folk and they used to warn one another against him and he became a byword amongst them。 So they all held aloof from him and none had to do with him save those who knew not his character； but； for all this； he failed not daily to suffer insult and disgrace from God's creatures。 By reason of this his trade became slack and he used to go to the shop of his neighbour the barber and sit there； with his eyes on the door of the dyery。 Whenever he espied any one who knew him not standing at the dyerydoor； with a piece of stuff in his hand； he would go up to him and say； 'What seekest thou； O man？' And the man would answer； 'Take and dye me this thing。' So the dyer would say； 'What colour wilt thou have it？' For； with all his knavery； he could dye all manner of colours； but he never kept faith with any one； so poverty had gotten the better of him。 Then he would take the stuff and say； 'Give me my hire in advance and e tomorrow and take the stuff。' So the stranger would give him the money and go his way； whereupon Aboukir would carry the stuff to the market and sell it and buy meat and vegetables and tobacco and fruit and what not else he needed with the price； but； whenever he saw any one who had given him stuff to dye standing at the door of his shop； he would not show himself to him。
On this wise he abode years and years； till it chanced one day that he received stuff to dye from a masterful man and sold it and spent the price。 The owner came to him every day； but found him not in his shop； for； whenever he espied any one who had a claim against him； he would flee from him into the shop of the barber Abousir。 At last； the angry man； finding that he was not to be seen and growing weary of ing； repaired to the Cadi and bringing one of the latter's serjeants to the shop； nailed up the door； in presence of a number of Muslims； and sealed it； for that he found therein nothing but some broken pans； to stand him instead of his stuff； after which the serjeant took the key； saying to the neighbours； 'Tell him to bring back this man's goods and take the key of his shop；' and went his way； he and the man。
Then said Abousir to Aboukir； 'What aileth thee？ Whoever brings thee aught； thou losest it for him。 What is gone of this angry man's stuff？' 'O my neighbour；' answered the dyer； 'it was stolen from me。' 'Wonderful！' exclaimed the barber。 'Whenever any one gives thee aught； a thief steals it from thee！ Art thou then the resort of the whole college of thieves？ But I doubt me thou liest： so tell me the truth。' 'O my neighbour；' replied Aboukir； 'none hath stolen aught from me。' 'What then dost thou with the people's goods？' asked Abousir。 And the dyer said； 'Whenever any one giveth me aught to dye； I sell it and spend the price。' Quoth Abousir； 'is this permitted thee of God？' 'I only do this out of poverty；' answered Aboukir； 'because trade is dull with me and I am poor and have nothing。' And he went on to plain to him of the slackness of his trade and his lack of means。
Abousir in like manner lamented the slackness of his own trade； saying； 'I am a master of my craft and have not my equal in this city； but no one is shaved at my shop； because I am a poor man； and I loathe this craft； O my brother。' 'And I also；' answered Aboukir； 'loathe my own craft； by reason of its slackness； but； O my brother； what call is there for our abiding in this city？ Let us depart from it and divert ourselves with foreign travel； carrying our crafts in our hands； the which are in demand in all countries； so shall we breathe the air and be rid of this grievous trouble。' And he ceased not to mend travel to Abousir； till the latter became wishful to set out； whereat Aboukir rejoiced and recited the following verses：
Forsake thy native land； it thou advancement seek； and hie Abroad for five advantages in foreign travel lie。
The putting off of care； the gain of livelihood and lore And manners and the pany of noble folk and high。
If it be said； 'Distress and woe and severance of loves And hardships still in travel be beneath a foreign sky；'
I trow 'twere better for a man that he should die than live Still in humiliation's house； 'twixt envier and spy。
Then they agreed to travel together and Aboukir said to Abousir； 'O my neighbour； we are bee brethren and there is no difference between us； so it behoves us to recite the first chapter of the Koran ＇in token of agreement＇ that he of us who gets work shall of his profit feed him who is out of work； and whatever is left； we will lay in a chest； and when we e back to Alexandria we will divide it fairly and equally。' 'So be it；' answered Abousir； and they repeated the first chapter of the Koran on this understanding。 Then Ahousir locked up his shop and gave the keys to the landlord； whilst Aboukir left his shop locked and sealed and let the key lie with the Cadi's serjeant； after which they took their gear and embarked on the morrow in a galleon upon the salt sea。 They set sail the same day and fortune attended them； for； of Abousir's great good luck； of all that were in the ship （and there were therein an hundred and twenty men； besides the captain and the crew；） there was not a single barber。 So； when they spread the sails； the barber said to the dyer； 'O my brother； this is the sea and we shall need meat and drink； and we have but little victual with us and it may be the voyage will be long upon us； wherefore methinks I will shoulder my gear and pass among the passengers； and belike some one will say to me； 〃e hither； O barber； and shave me；〃 and I will shave him for a cake of bread or a para or a draught of water： so shall we both profit by this。'
'There is no harm in that；' replied the dyer and laid down his head and slept； whilst the barber took his razor and shavingtackle and throwing over his shoulder a rag； to serve as napkin （for that he was poor）； passed among the passengers。 Quoth one of them； 'Ho； master； e and shave me。' So he shaved him； and the man gave him a para。 'O my brother；' said Ahousir； 'I have no use for this para； hadst thou given me a cake of bread； it were more blessed to me in this sea； for I have a shipmate and we are short of victual。' So he gave him a cake of bread and a piec