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threats were useless, and that the only answer he could get was the spluttering and stammering, ending with the meaningless expletive “shûrûlûb,” the injured youth went and complained to the Kadi.

’Iweyz, on being summoned, appeared promptly and in silence; but the only answer he gave to all questions and cross-questionings, even when they were emphasised by a severe flogging, which he bore without flinching, was “pth, tth, th, sh, th, shûrûlûb.”

So absurd did the case become that at last the Kadi and his court were in fits of laughter, and dismissed the accused, after severely blaming the plaintiff for having neglected the simple precaution of depositing the money in the presence of witnesses, if, as he confessed he had done, he insisted on leaving it with a man who refused all responsibility.

’Iweyz went home and was chuckling over his success, when Karakoz came and asked for his share of the booty.

“Pth, tth, th, sh, th, shûrûlûb,” said ’Iweyz.

“Now, ’Iweyz,” pleaded Karakoz in surprise, “don’t play the fool with me after I have shown you the way to secure this great fortune. You surely are not going to cheat an old friend and comrade!”

“Pth, tth, th, sh, th, shûrûlûb,” replied ’Iweyz with a mocking gesture.

The common expression “to swallow trust-money shûrûlûb” is said to be derived from this incident.