190 JOURNEY TO CENTRAL AFRICA.

of the Kenoos, to beguile the way, recited in a chanting tone copious passages from the Koran. Among other things, he related the history of Joseph, which Achmet translated to me.

The whole story would he too long to repeat, but portions of it are interesting.

" After Joseph had been thrown into the well," continued the Kenoos, " a caravan of Arabs came along, and began to draw water for the camels, when one of the men said : ' 0 Shekh, there is something in the well.' 'Well,' said the Shekh, ' if it be a man, he belongs to me, but if it be goods, you may have them.' So they drew it up, and it was Joseph, and the Shekh took him to Cairo and sold him to Azeez (Potiphar).'

[I omit his account of Potiphar's wife, which could not well be repeated.] When Joseph was in prison, he told what was the meaning of the dreams of Sultan Faraoon's baker and butler who were imprisoned with him. The Sultan himself soon afterwards had a dream about seven fat cows eating seven lean ones, which nobody could explain. Then the jailer went to Faraoon, and said : ' Here is Joseph, in jail — he can tell you all about it.' Faraoon said : 'Bring him here, then.' So they put Joseph in a bath, washed him, shaved his head, gave him a new white turban, and took him to the Sultan, who said to him : ' Can you explain my dream ? ' ' To be sure I can,' said Joseph, ' but if I tell you, you must make me keeper of your magazines.' ' Very well : ' said Faraoon. Then Joseph told how the seven fat cows meant seven years wheh the Nile would have two inundations a year, and the seven lean cows, seven years afterwards when it would have no inundation at all ; and he said to Faraoon that since he was now magazine-keeper, he should take from all the country as far as Assouan, during the