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and Kanunat. It used to be thrown into fire when it became dirty and
the fire used to eat away its dirt.
The person who saw this garment says that, as a matter of experiment, fire was set to it. It continued for a moment, and, when it was extinguished, the shustukafi came out clean and white. Wazir Ahmad bin
'Abd al-Samad has also testified to this practice and he saw this practice
employed in these regions. He used to say that these stones occurred
plentifully in Kanunat. They were broken by something that was downy
and threads were made from it. Whatever has been described was made
from it.
Abu al-Hasan Turunji says:
I saw the goblet of a monarch studded with gems. There was something amazing about the goblet. A person who had been stung by a
hornet was administered hot milk in the goblet, and a poultice was
applied to the site of the bite. He vomited, and a nettle-rash erupted
over his body for the whole day, after which he was tranquillized.
It has been said about a gilder that he brought a stone to Washmgir
and told him it was a bezoar. He thought that Washmgir, being an
'Ajami, would be easily deceived and he could pass off the stone as
bezoar. Washmgir, however, said: "If this stone is an antidote, I shall
give thee both these things to drink. If thy claim comes true. I shall give
thee ample reward." The person agreed, and expressed the desire to have
a private parley with Washmgir. When they were both alone, he said to
Washmgir: "Be it known to you I was inveigled by Satan and I thought
of deceiving you. Please listen to a piece of advice from me to which,
mayhap, you may agree."' Washmgir allowed him to proceed. The person replied: "The lives of rulers are in danger from their enemies who
seduce their close relatives by bribing them with wealth and make them
poison kings. When it becomes known that you have something that acts
as an antidote, such people will give up the idea of poisoning you. You
will thus be relieved from your enemies and be rid of the deception of
your friends as well. What you, then should do is to send for a poison
and also something that resembles that poison. Make me drink this
spurious drink, followed by the stone. Then give me ample reward to
show that I was true to my claim. I shall then in secret return all that
you will give me. Please allow me to go without any injury and consign
me to the Curse of God." Washmgir, having heard this advice, told him:
"The deception which thou had intendest to practise upon me through
gilding, made thee worthy of punishment, but because of the advice thou
hast given me, thou art deserving of reward, not of being stoned."
Washmgir did what he had been told, and, rewarding him generously,
bade him farewell. He thus was snatched in the nick of time from the
jaws of death, and virtually had a second life.
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