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And he put out his right arm from his sleeve and behold, the hand

was cut off, a wrist without a fist. I was astounded at this but

he said, "Marvel not, and think not that I ate with my left hand

for conceit and insolence, but from necessity; and the cutting

off my right hand was caused by an adventure of the strangest."

Asked I, "And what caused it?"; and he answered:-"Know that I am

of the sons of Baghdad and my father was of notables of that

city. When I came to man's estate I heard the pilgrims and

wayfarers, travellers and merchants talk of the land of Egypt and

their words sank deep into my mind till my parent died, when I

took a large sum of money and furnished myself for trade with

stuffs of Baghdad and Mosul and, packing them up in bales, set

out on my wanderings; and Allah decreed me safety till I entered

this your city. Then he wept and began repeating:-