one of the furs of his pelisse, said, 'Welcome, my pelisse, please to
eat, my lord.' The master looking at the Cogia with great surprise,
said, 'What are you about?' Whereupon the Cogia replied, 'It is quite
evident that all the honour paid is paid to my pelisse, so let it have
some food too.'

Nasr Eddin Efendi going one day into a city, found the doctors of the law
eating and drinking; no sooner did they see the Cogia than they showed
him great honour, and brought him food. It happened that that year was a
year of famine, and the Cogia whilst eating and drinking, said to
himself, 'No doubt this city must be one in which provisions are very
cheap,' and asked a man who was by him whether it were not so. The man
replied, 'Are you mad? this day is Beiram, every one according to his
means cooks meat in his house and brings it forth, and on that account
the food is plentiful.' 'Ah, my good man,' said the Cogia, 'I wish that
every day was Beiram.'

One day Cogia Efendi led a cow to the market for sale; backwards and
forwards he led it, but was unable to sell it; presently a man advancing
to the Cogia, said, 'Why do you hold this cow in your hand without
selling it?' Said the Cogia, 'I have led it about since the morning, and
notwithstanding all the fine things that I have said about it I have been
unable to sell it.' The individual taking the cow from the Cogia's hand,
began to walk it about, exclaiming, 'Who will buy a young girl six months
gone with child?' Forthwith buyers followed at his heels, and a very
considerable sum was offered. The Cogia, very much surprised, took the
money for the cow, and went running to his house. The inspectors,
however, coming, took away the Cogia's daughter, whereupon his wife said,
'O Cogia, do you stay a little. The inspecting matrons have been for the
girl. I will now go to them, and will give the necessary character, so