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if you would prove the truth of my words, enter this man's shop."

The folk rushed in and found that the ram was become a dead

man[FN#657] hung up for sale. So they set upon my brother crying

out, "O Infidel! O villain!"; and his best friends fell to

cuffing and kicking him and kept saying, "Dost thou make us eat

flesh of the sons of Adam?" Furthermore, the old man struck him

on the eye and put it out. Then they carried the carcass, with

the throat cut, before the Chief of the city watch, to whom the

old man said, "O Emir, this fellow butchers men and sells their

flesh for mutton and we have brought him to thee; so arise and

execute the judgments of Allah (to whom be honour and glory!)."

My brother would have defended himself, but the Chief refused to

hear him and sentenced him to receive five hundred sticks and to

forfeit the whole of his property. And, indeed, had it not been

for that same property which he expended in bribes, they would

have surely slain him.