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Page 54
"O my children!" said the Khoja dryly, "it is good to be provided
against everything. I may come upon a road further up."
_Tale_ 4.--The Khoja and the Three Wise Men.
In the days of Effendi Nasr-ed-Deen Khoja there appeared in the world
three Sages, who excelled in every science and in all wisdom.
Now it came to pass that in their journeys these wise men passed through
the country of the Sultan Ala-ed-Deen, who desired to see them, and to
make them partake of his hospitality.
And when the Sultan had seen and heard them, he said: "O Sages, there is
indeed nothing wanting to you but that you should embrace the faith and
become Turks, and remain in my kingdom. Wherefore I beseech of you to do
this without further delay."
Then the wise men replied to the Padisha: "We will, if it please you,
ask three questions of your learned men. One question shall be asked by
each of us, and if they are able to answer these questions, we will
embrace your faith, and remain with you as you desire. And if not, we
will depart in peace, and prolong our journeys as heretofore."
Then the Padisha replied: "So be it." And he assembled the learned men
and counsellors of his kingdom, and the Sages put questions to them,
which they could not answer.
Then the Sultan Ala-ed-Deen was full of wrath, and he said, "Is this my
kingdom, and am I the ruler of it; and is there not indeed one man of my
subjects wise enough to answer the questions of these unbelieving
Sages?"
And his servants replied: "There is indeed no one who could answer these
questions, except it be Khoja Nasr-ed-Deen Effendi."
Then the Sultan commanded, and they despatched a Tatar in all haste to
summon Nasr-ed-Deen Effendi to the presence of the Padisha.
When the messenger arrived, he told his errand to the Khoja, who at once
rose up, saddled his donkey, took a stick in his hand, and mounted,
saying to the Tatar, "Go before me!"
Thus they came to the palace, and the Khoja entered the presence of the
Sultan, and gave the salaam and received it in return. Then he was shown
where to sit, and being seated, and having made a prayer for the
Padisha, "O most noble Sultan," said he, "wherefore have you brought me
hither, and what is your will with me?"
Then the Sultan explained the circumstances of the case, and the Khoja
cried, "What are the questions? Let me hear them."
Then the first wise man came forward and said: "_My_ question, most
worshipful Effendi, is this: Where is the middle of the world?"
The Khoja, without an instant's hesitation, pointed with his stick to a
fore-hoof of his donkey.
"There," said he, "exactly where my donkey's foot is placed--there is
the centre of the earth."
"How do you know that?" asked the Sage.
"If you do not believe me," replied the Khoja, "measure for yourself. If
you find it wrong one way or the other, I will acknowledge my error."
The second Sage now came forward and said: "O Khoja Effendi, how many
stars are there on the face of this sky?"
"The same number," replied the Khoja, "as there are hairs on my donkey."
"How do you know that?" asked the wise man.
"If you do not believe me," replied the Khoja, "count for yourself. If
there is a hair too few or too many, I will acknowledge my error."
"O most learned Khoja!" said the wise man, "have you indeed counted the
hairs on your donkey?"
"O most venerable Sage!" replied the Khoja, "have you indeed numbered
the stars of the sky?"
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