Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 4.djvu/36

ro, I was moved by their Diſcourſe, and took up a longing Deſire to travel thither. But my Father was then alive and had not given me leave. In fine, he died, and thereupon being Maſter of my ſelf, I reſolved to take a Journey to Cairo. I laid out a large Sum of Money upon ſeveral ſorts of fine Stuffs of Bagdad and Mauſſoul, and ſo undertook my Journey.

Arriving at Cairo I went to the Khan, call’d the Khan of Meſrour; and there took Lodgings with a Warehouſe for my Bales, which I brought along upon Camels. This done, I retired to my Chamber, to reſt my ſelf after the Fatigue of my Journey, and ordered my Servants to go and buy ſome Proviſions; and dreſs them. After I had eat, I went and ſaw the Caſtle, ſome Moſques, Publick Places, and the other Things that were curious.

Next Day I dreſſed my ſelf pretty handſomely, and ordered ſome of the fineſt and richeſt of my Bales to be picked out, and carried by my Slaves to the Circaſſran Bezeſtein,^[1] whither I went my ſelf. I no ſooner got thither than I was ſurrounded with Brokers and Criers, that had heard of my Arrival. I gave Patterns of my Stuffs to ſeveral of the Criers, who went and carried them, and ſhewed them all over the Bezeſtein; but none of the Merchants offered near ſo much as they had coſt me in prime Coſt and Carriage. This vexed me, and the Criers obſerving I was diſſatisfied; If you will take our Advice, ſaid they, we will put you in a Way to ſell your Stufts without lofing by them.

Here Scheherazade ftopp’d upon the Approach of Day, but the next Night went on as follows.

THE Brokers and the Criers, aid the young Man to the Chriſtian Merchant, having thus promiſed to put me in a way of lofing nothing by my Goods. I asked them what Courſe they would have me take, Divide your Goods, ſaid they, among ſeveral Merchants, and they’ll ſell them by Retail and twice a Week, that is, on Mondays and Thurſdays, you may receive what Money they take. By