Caliph marvelling at this and saying to Ja'afar, "Sawest thou
Khalif, with his mule and dress, his white slaves and his
dignity? But yesterday I knew him for a buffoon and a jester."
And they marvelled at this much. Then they mounted and rode, till
they drew near Khalif's house, when the Fisherman alighted and,
taking a bundle from one of his attendants, opened it and pulled
out therefrom a piece of tabby silk[FN#297] and spread it under
the hoofs of the Caliph's she-mule; then he brought out a piece
of velvet-Kimcob[FN#298] and a third of fine satin and did with
them likewise; and thus he spread well nigh twenty pieces of rich
stuffs, till Al-Rashid and his suite had reached the house; when
he came forward and said, "Bismillah,[FN#299] O Commander of the
Faithful!" Quoth Al-Rashid to Ja'afar, "I wonder to whom this
house may belong," and quoth he, "It belongeth to a man hight Ibn
al-Ukab, Syndic of the jewellers." So the Caliph dismounted and
entering, with his courtiers, saw a high-builded saloon, spacious
and boon, with couches on dais and carpets and divans strown in
place. So he went up to the couch that was set for himself on
four legs of ivory, plated with glittering gold and covered with
seven carpets. This pleased him and behold, up came Khalif, with
eunuchs and little white slaves, bearing all manner sherbets,
compounded with sugar and lemon and perfumed with rose and
willow-water and the purest musk. The Fisherman advanced and
drank and gave the Caliph to drink, and the cup-bearers came
forward and served the rest of the company with the sherbets.
Then Khalif brought a table spread with meats of various colours
and geese and fowls and other birds, saying, "In the name of
Allah!" So they ate their fill; after which he bade remove the
tables and kissing the ground three times before the Caliph
craved his royal leave to bring wine and music.[FN#300] He