At Mecca，one day，in the season of pilgrimage，whilst the people were ****** the enjoined circuits about the Holy House and the place of compassing was crowded，a man laid hold of the covering of the Kaabeh and cried out，from the bottom of his heart，saying，I beseech Thee，O God，that she may once again be wroth with her husband and that I may lie with her！' A company of the pilgrims heard him and falling on him，loaded him with blows and carried him to the governor of the pilgrims，to whom said they，O Amir，we found this man in the Holy Places，saying thus and thus.' The governor commanded to hang him；but he said，O Amir，I conjure thee，by the virtue of the Prophet （whom God bless and preserve），hear my story and after do with me as thou wilt.' Say on，'quoth the Amir. Know then，O Amir，'said the man，that I am a scavenger，who works in the sheep-slaughterhouses and carries off the blood and the offal to the rubbish-heaps.[144]
One day，as I went along with my ass loaded，I saw the people running away and one of them said to me，'Enter this alley，lest they kill thee.' Quoth I，'What ails the folk to run away？'And he answered，'It is the eunuchs in attendance on the wife of one of the notables，who drive the people out of her way and beat them all，without distinction.' So I turned aside with the ass and stood，awaiting the dispersal of the crowd. Presently up came a number of eunuchs with staves in their hands，followed by nigh thirty women，and amongst them a lady as she were a willow-wand or a thirsty gazelle，perfect in beauty and elegance and amorous grace. When she came to the mouth of the passage where I stood，she turned right and left and calling one of the eunuchs，whispered in his ear；whereupon he came up to me and laying hold of me，bound me with a rope and haled me along after him，whilst another eunuch took my ass and made off with it. I knew not what was to do and the people followed us，crying out，'This is not allowed of God！What has this poor scavenger done that he should be bound with ropes？'and saying to the eunuchs，'Have pity on him and let him go，so God have pity on you！' And I the while said in myself，'Doubtless the eunuch seized me，because his mistress smelt the offal and it sickened her. Belike she is with child or ailing；but there is no power and no virtue save in God the Most High，the Supreme！' So I walked on behind them，till they stopped at the door of a great house and entering，brought me into a great hall，I know not how I shall describe its goodliness，furnished with magnificent furniture. The women withdrew to the harem，leaving me bound with the eunuch and saying in myself，'Doubtless they will torture me here till I die，and none know of my death.' However，after a while，they carried me into an elegant bathroom，adjoining the hall；and as I sat there，in came three damsels，who seated themselves round me and said to me，'Strip off thy rags.' So I pulled off my threadbare clothes，and one of them fell a-rubbing my feet，whilst another washed my head and the third scrubbed my body.
When they had made an end of washing me，they brought me a parcel of clothes and said to me，'Put these on.'By Allah，'answered I，'I know not how！' So they came up to me and dressed me，laughing at me the while；after which they brought casting-bottles，full of rose-water，and sprinkled me therewith. Then I went out with them into another saloon，by Allah，I know not how to set out its goodliness，for the much paintings and furniture therein；and here I found the lady seated on a couch of Indian cane with ivory feet and before her a number of damsels. When she saw me，she rose and called to me；so I went up to her and she made me sit by her side. Then she called for food，and the damsels brought all manner rich meats，such as I never saw in all my life；I do not even know the names of the dishes. So I ate my fill and when the dishes had been taken away and we had washed our hands，she called for fruits and bade me eat of them；after which she bade one of the waiting-women bring the wine-service.
