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377. III. I. A man once left a dinar in custody with awoman who put it in a jar of flour. She baked it in a loafand gave it to a poor man. Asked for it, she swore by theLord that she had not used it. In consequence one of thechildren died. People must not take the name of the Lordin vain in an oath.

378. III. 2. A rich man on his death bed, ordered hisson never to take an oath. Swindlers came and robbedhim of all his property, claiming debts from his father, herefusing to swear. When quite poor, another came andclaimed a dinar. He refused to swear and was put in prison.His wife washed linen to earn sufficient to keep her hus-band and two sons. One day a ship came; the captain sawthe beautiful woman, fell in love with her and gave herone dinar to wash his linen. She gave the dinar to her eldestson and when she brought the linen back the captain setsail with her. The son brought the dinar to the father whowas set free. He decided to go to another place. Travellingthey came to a river. He took off his clothes and with hisyoungest boy on his back tried to swim across. In themiddle, the waves swept the boy off and carried him away.A plank of wood came within the son's reach and he swamacross. The two boys remained there weeping, each on aseparate bank of the river. A boat came along and tookthem captive. The man meantime came to a town, naked.People took pity; he was told they wanted no scholar buthe could look after the sheep. He led them along the river-side. One day, remembering his troubles, he decided todrown himself. He cast himself into the river but snakesand scorpions drove him back. Suddenly he heard a voicecall him by his name and saw an eagle who told him thathis time had come to rise again; there was a big treasurewaiting for him on that very spot." Go to the ruler of thecountry and buy this river and build a town." He wentand bought it and built up a large town. Merchants camethere to trade and the boat with the two boys came also.He recognised them, took them off and kept them at the