AND ANECDOTES. 80?

of the Emperor came into his keyma ' at night, and took liberties with his wife. The Arab suspected that he was {sliereef) a prince, and therefore did not dare to kill him, but preferred a complaint to the Emperor. The Emperor was vexed to hear of such a gross breach of hospitaUty, and asked what time he made his visits? " At one hour after midnight," the Arab replied. Then, said the Emperor, " when he comes, do you let me know by giving the watch-word to this man, and he will then know what to do ; and depend thou on my seeing justice done to thee for the aggression." The marauder came ; the Arab repaired to the guard of the imperial tent, and gave the word ; the guard apprised the emperor, as he was directed, who personally repaired to the tent of the Amb, and, being convinced of the fact, ran the man through with his lance : this was done without a light. The body was brought before the tent, and it was discovered to be an officer of the imperial guard. The Emperor, on seeing that it was not a shereef (a prince) prostrated himself in fervent prayer for a considerable time. The courtiers who were all assembled by this time to witness this extraordinary occurrence, wondered what could induce the Emperor to be so fervent in prayer ; which his majesty observing, told them, " that he went alone to the tent, thinking that nobody * Keyma is the name for aa Arab's teat ; they are made of goats* hair, and are black.

X 2