Page 248 of 1116

There she rapped, and presently came out to her an old man, a

Nazarene, to whom she gave a gold piece, receiving from him in

return what she required of strained wine clear as olive oil; and

she set it safely in the hamper, saying "Lift and follow." Quoth

the Porter, "This, by Allah, is indeed an auspicious day, a day

propitious for the granting of all a man wisheth." He again

hoisted up the crate and followed her; till she stopped at a

fruiterer's shop and bought from him Shami[FN#140] apples and

Osmani quinces and Omani[FN#141] peaches, and cucumbers of Nile

growth, and Egyptian limes and Sultani oranges and citrons;

besides Aleppine jasmine, scented myrtle berries, Damascene

nenuphars, flower of privet[FN#142] and camomile, blood red

anemones, violets, and pomegranate bloom, eglantine and

narcissus, and set the whole in the Porter's crate, saying, "Up

with it." So he lifted and followed her till she stopped at a

butcher's booth and said, "Cut me off ten pounds of mutton." She

paid him his price and he wrapped it in a banana leaf, whereupon

she laid it in the crate and said "Hoist, O Porter." He hoisted

accordingly, and followed her as she walked on till she stopped

at a grocer's, where she bought dry fruits and pistachio kernels,

Tihamah raisins, shelled almonds and all wanted for dessert, and

said to the Porter, "Lift and follow me." So he up with his

hamper and after her till she stayed at the confectioner's, and

she bought an earthen platter, and piled it with all kinds of

sweetmeats in his shop, open worked tarts and fritters scented

with musk and "soap cakes," and lemon loaves and melon

preserves,[FN#143] and "Zaynab's combs," and "ladies' fingers,"

and "Kazi's tit-bits" and goodies of every description; and

placed the platter in the Porter's crate.