Page:Swahili tales.djvu/229

Rh said, "Ah! these dates, my father shall eat them to-morrow, I will stay, though that fool came lying down asleep for nothing, and now his father hates him. Well, I will stay and look at this bird that comes eating these dates, that I may see it this day." And he sat down and read much [in his Koran]. And he heard the cocks crowing, and he looked at the date-tree, and he saw the dates were there. And he said, "Oh! to-morrow my father shall eat dates, he thinks me like that fool." And it began to dawn a little, and drowsiness came upon him. And he said, "Ah! let me lean a little here against the trunk of the tree;" and sleep took him, and as sleep took him the bird came down upon the date-tree, and ate till there was not one left; and he was there under the tree, sleeping with his Koran under his arm.

So when it was light the head-man came and looked at the date-tree, and there were no dates. And when he cast his eyes below, he saw his master asleep under the date-tree. And he said, "Master! Master!" And he answered, "Yes." And he said, "You have been asleep, and all the dates have been eaten by the bird." "Is it true?" And he said, "Cast your eyes up and look." And he cast his eyes up, and saw there were no dates. And he stared, and his wits forsook him, and his ears were stopped, and his legs trembled, and his tongue was heavy, and he was all bewildered.

And his slave went and said to him, "Hullo! Master, what is the matter with you?" And he said, "I am a very sick man to-day." And he said, "I am nearer dying than getting well."

And he said, "What is your complaint, master?" And he said, "I have no pain in my head, and no pain in my stomach, and no pain in my side, and no pain in my back, and no pain in my loins, and no pain in my legs, and no