had made the round of the whole forty； but they would not accept of him either to master or journeyman。 Then he repaired to the Syndic of the Dyers and told him what had passed； and he said； 'We admit no stranger into our craft。'
With this Aboukir became exceeding wroth and going up to the king of the city； made plaint to him； saying； 'O king of the age； I am a stranger and a dyer by trade；' and he told him what had passed between himself and the dyers of the town； adding； 'I can dye various kinds of red； such as rosecolour and carnation； （189） and various kinds of green； such as grassgreen and pistachiogreen and olive and parrot's wing； and various kinds of black； such as coalblack and blueblack； and various shades of yellow； such as orange and lemoncolour；' and went on to name to him the rest of the colours。 Then said he； 'O king of the age； there is not a dyer in thy city who can avail to any one of these colours； for they know not how to dye aught but blue； yet will they not admit me amongst them； either as master or journeyman。' 'Thou sayst sooth for that matter；' answered the king； 'but I will open thee a dyery and give thee capital and have thou no care for them； for whoso offereth to do thee hindrance； I will hang him over the door of his shop。
Then he sent for builders and said to them； 'Go round about the city with this master； and whatsoever place pleases him； be it shop or khan or what not； turn out its occupier and build him a dyery after his wish。 Whatsoever he bids you； that do ye and gainsay him not in aught。' And he clad him in a handsome suit and gave him two white slaves； to serve him； and a horse with housings of brocade and a thousand dinars； saying； 'Provide thyself with this； against the building be pleted。' So Aboukir donned the dress and mounting the horse； became as he were an amir。 Moreover the king assigned him a house and bade furnish it； so they furnished it for him and he took up his abode therein。
On the morrow he mounted and rode through the city； looking about him； whilst the architects went before him； till he saw a place that pleased him and said； 'This place is good；' whereupon they turned out the owner thereof and carried him to the king； who gave him； to the price of his holding； what more than contented him。 Then the builders fell to work； whilst Aboukir said to them； 'Build thus and thus and do this and that；' till they built him a dyery that had not its like； whereupon he presented himself before the king and informed him that they had made an end of building the dyery and that there needed but the price of the dyestuffs and gear to set it awork。 Quoth the king； 'Take these four thousand dinars to thy capital and let me see the oute of thy dyery。' So he took the money and went to the market； where； finding dyestuffs （190） plentiful and ＇wellnigh＇ valueless； he bought all that he needed of materials for dyeing； and the king sent him five hundred pieces of stuff； which he proceeded to dye of all colours and spread them before the door of his dyery。
When the folk passed by the shop； they saw this wonderful sight； whose like they had never in their lives seen； so they crowded about the door； staring and questioning the dyer and saying； 'O master； what are tne names of these colours？' Quoth he； 'This is red and that yellow and the other green；' and so on with the rest of the colours。 And they fell to bringing him stuffs and saying to him； 'Dye this for us like this and that and take what thou seekest ＇to thy hire＇。' When he had made an end of dyeing the king's stuffs； he took them and went up with them to the divan； and when the king saw them he rejoiced in them and bestowed abundant largesse on the dyer。 Moreover； all the troops brought him stuffs； saying； 'Dye for us thus and thus；' and he dyed for them to their wish； and they threw him gold and silver。 On this wise his fame spread abroad and his shop was called the Sultan's dyery。 Good came in to him at every door and he became the owner of slaves； male and female； and amassed store of wealth。 None of the other dyers dared say a word to him； but they used to e to him； kissing his hands and excusing themselves to him for the affronts they had done him aforetime and offering themselves to him as journeymen； but he would none of them。
Meanwhile Abousir abode three days； prostrate and unconscious； in the chamber where Aboukir had left him； at the end of which time the doorkeeper of the khan； chancing to look at the chamberdoor； observed that it was shut and bethought himself that he had seen and heard nothing of the two panions ＇for some time＇。 So he said to himself； 'Belike they have made oft； without paying the rent of the chamber； or perhaps they are dead； or what is to do with them？' And he waited till sunset； when he went up to the chamberdoor and heard the barber groaning within。 He saw the key in the lock； so he opened the door and entering； found Abousir lying； groaning； and said to him； 'No harm to thee： where is thy friend？' 'By Allah；' answered Abousir； 'I only came to my senses this day and called out； but none answered me。 God on thee； O my brother； look for the purse under my head and take five paras from it and buy me something to eat； for I am sore anhungred。'
The porter put out his hand and taking the purse； found it empty and said to the barber； 'The purse is empty； there is nothing in it。' Whereupon Abousir knew that the dyer had taken that which was therein and fled and said to the porter； 'Hast thou not seen my friend？' 'I have not seen him these three days；' answered the porter； 'and indeed methought you had departed； thou and he。' 'Not no；' said Ahousir； 'but he coveted my money and seeing me sick； took it and fled。' Then he fell aweeping and lamenting； but the porter said to him； 'No harm shall e to thee； and God his deed。' So saying； he went away and cooked him a mess of broth； whereof he ladled out a platterful and brought it to him； nor did he cease to tend him and maintain him with his own monies for two months' space； at the end of which time he sweated and God made him whole of his sickness。 Then he stood up and said to the porter； 'So God the Most High enable me； I will surely requite thee thy kindness to me； but none requiteth save God of His bounty！' Praised be He for thy recovery！' answered the porter。 'I dealt not thus with thee but of desire for the favour of God the Bountiful。'
Then the barber went forth of the khan and walked about the markets of the town； till chance brought him to that wherein was Aboukir's dyery； and he saw the varicoloured stuffs spread before the shop and the people crowding to look upon them。 So he questioned one of the townsmen and said to him； 'What place is this and how es it that I see the folk crowding together？' And the man answered； saying； 'This is the Sultan's dyery； which he set up for a foreigner； by name Aboukir； and whenever he dyes a ＇new＇ piece of stuff we all flock to him and divert ourselves by gazing upon his handiwork； for that we have no dyers in our land who know how to dye these colours； and indeed there befell him with the dyers who are in the city thus and thus。' And he went on to tell him all that had passed between Aboukir and the dyers and how he had plained of them to the sultan and he had taken him by the hand and built him that dyery and given him this and that； brief； he told him all that had passed。
At this the barber rejoiced and said to himself； 'Praised be God who hath prospered him； so that he is bee a master of his craft！ Indeed； the man is excusable； for of a surety he hath been diverted from thee by his work and hath fotten thee； but thou didst him kindness and entreatedst him generously； what time he was out of work； so； when he seeth thee； he will rejoice in thee and entreat thee generously； even as thou entreatedst him。' So he made for the door of the dyery and saw Aboukir seated on a high divan in the doorway； clad in royal apparel and attended by four black and four white slaves all dressed in the richest of clothes。 Moreover； he saw the workmen； ten black slaves； standing at work； for； when Aboukir bought them； he taught them the craft of dyeing； and he himself sat amongst his cushions； as he were a grand vizier or a most mighty king； putting his hand to nought； but only saying to the men； 'Do this and do that。'
The barber went up to him and stood before him； doubting not but that； when he saw him； he would rejoice in him and salute him and entreat him with honour and make much of him； but； when eye met eye； the dyer said to him； 'O rascal； how many a time have I bidden thee stand not at the door of this workshop？ Hast thou a mind to disgrace me with the folk； knave that thou art？' ＇And he cried out； saying＇； 'Seize him！' So the slave。 ran at him and laid hold of him； and the dyer said； 'Throw him down。' So they threw him down and Aboukfr rose and taking a stick； dealt him a hundred blows on the back； after which they turned him over and he dealt him other hundred on his belly。 Then he said to him； 'Hark ye； scurril knave that thou art！ If ever again I see thee standing at the door of this dyery； I will forthwith send thee to the king； and he will mit thee to the master of police； that he may strike off thy head。 Begone； may God not bless thee！'
So Abousir ＇arose and＇ departed from him； brokenhearted by reason of the beating and humiliation that had betided him； whilst the bystanders said to Aboukir； 'What hath this man done？' Quoth he； 'He is a thief； who steals the people's goods： he hath robbed me of stuffs； how many a time！ and I still said in myself； 〃God five him！ He is a poor man；〃 and cared not to deal harshly with him； so I used to give the folk the worth of their goods and forbid him gently； but he would not be forbidden； and if he e again； I will send him to the king； who will put him to death and rid the folk of his mischief。' And the bystanders fell to reviling the barber in his absence。
Meanwhile； the latter returned to the khan； where he sat pondering that which Aboukir had done with him； till the pain of the beating subsided； when he went out and walked about the markets of the city。 Presently； he bethought him to go to the bath； so he said to one of the townsfolk； 'O my brother； which is the way to the