OCR Text |
Show Trading in Damascus. ' The oriental mind is disposed to mingle all the dealings of life with an amount of "sentiment" which would be scorned by the more literal business man of the west. A visitor at Damascus gives in Murray's Magazine the following description of a horse trade in that city; A long dispute took place between the intending purchaser and the owner as the former attempted to beat down the price by a few piasters. The owner, however, seemed very sure of making a favorable sale, even if the present customer should withdraw. So he remained silent, with an occasional inconsequent remark, such as, "It matters not," "Wallah, whom am I to argue with thee?' "Wallah, my horse is as dust; take it without money." All these expressions are equivalent to cold negatives, and might naturally have exasperated the other man, who had been wasting oceans of rhetorio in persuasion. per-suasion. Finally, he, in this turn, exclaimed, ex-claimed, with heart warming show of generosity and philanthropy; "Wallah, are wo not brothers? Wherefore Where-fore all this noise? Is it for money? Allah, Al-lah, why bidl Yon want 1,600 piasters? Here is the money. Takoitl" Then he pressed tho bulk of treasure into the other's hand and turned away. "Never mind about your horse. I care not for it. Shall we part enemies because of monoy?" At this point the other, who now had his money secure, ran after his customer, fell on his neck, and, kissing him on both cheeks, assured him that the horse would henceforth bo worthless to him; that, since his brother wished for it, he must take it as a present. And eo the bargain was concluded. |