144

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palace but did not tell them who he was. After a time theboat with the wife came to the town. He had become kingand used to invite all the people to dine. He also invitedthe captain of that ship but the latter declined, not wishingto leave his wife alone. The king said he would send twotrustworthy servants to keep watch. On the boat the twoyoung boys wept, saying that this boat was like the one inwhich their mother had been carried away. The mother,who overheard them, also wept all the night. In the morningthe captain saw her full of tears, and she complained ofthe two men having abused her. The captain went tothe king. He called the two lads and asked them whetherit were true. They at once denied it violently and said," Let the woman come and testify." When she came sheasked the lads to tell their story. Then she recognised themas her sons. The king then recognised her as his wifeand asked the captain to tell the truth of what had actuallyhappened. Then he told how he had carried her away butthat he had never touched her. The king let him go freeand then all lived happily ever after.

III. 3. Story of the man who hid his money in one place.Stolen by the neighbour. Money recovered by a clever trick.See No. 324.

379. IV. I. Some children fell into a well on the Sabbathand were found safe in the evening although believed dead.Parents not grieving on the Sabbath. The woman, tellingthe news to her husband, uses the simile of pledges beingrecalled. See No. 147.

IV. 2. Story of the tailor and high price for fish on Kippur.See. No. 118.

380. IV. 4. A man called Joseph Mokir Shabba(" honourerof the Sabbath") lived next to a rich Parsee. The latter wastold that all his property would go to Joseph. He, there-fore, sold all his property and bought a large pearlwhich he fastened into his headgear. One day, crossing abridge, the wind blew his headgear into the water and afish swallowed the pearl. This fish was caught by a fisher-