ARABIAN HUMOUR.
A story is told of El Mehdi, another of the Abba&ides, that being out hunting one a day he came upon the hut of an Arab, who i' set some simple fare before him, but supple- <? ment it with a bottle of wine. The Caliph t drank a glass, and said, *■ ' O brother of the Arabs! do you know who I am ?' ' No, by Allah !' was the reply. ' I am one of the personal attendants of the Commander of the Faithful.' ' I congratulate you on your post,' said the other. Tossing off another glass Al Mehdi re- c ' peated the question, and the Arab reminded him that he had just told him he was one of the Caliph's suite. ' Nay,' said El Mehdi, ' but I am one of his principal officers.' ' I wish you joy !' said the Arab. After a third glass the Caliph again began, ' O brother of the Arabs ! do you know who I am ?' ' You say that you aro one of the Commander of the Faithful's chief officers,' answered the Arab. * Not so,' said El Mehdi, 'I am the Commander of the Faithful himself !' The Arab on hearing this quietly took the bottle of wine from the table, and put it away, with the sententious remark. 'If you were to drink another glass you would declare that you were the Prophet himself !'—Temple Bar.
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Bibliographic details
Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3217, 21 October 1881, Page 3
Word Count
229ARABIAN HUMOUR. Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3217, 21 October 1881, Page 3
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