13 - 19 September 2001
Issue No.551
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 13 - 19 September 2001 Issue No.551 |
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Stories for entertainment
The Garden of Joys: An Anthology of Oriental Anecdotes, Fables and Proverbs, translated by Henry Cattan, London: Saqi Books, 2000. pp194
Now in paperback, this small collection of stories has been translated mainly from such well- known Arabic sources as Kalila wa Dimna, Majani Al-Adab, Al-Mustratraf and Al- 'Iqd Al- Farid. Thus, most of the anecdotes that make up the bulk of the book will be known to readers who have received a traditional education. However, for those who do not know Arabic, or do not have the time and patience to read through the large tomes of classical literature from which these stories have been culled, the late Henry Cattan has provided an entertaining selection well rendered into English.
Among the stories I particularly liked was the story of the locked chest, taken during a military campaign in Persia. It was brought to Al-Hajjaj, the governor of Iraq. He ordered the lock on the chest to be broken open. When this was done, a smaller chest, also locked, was found inside. Al-Hajjaj then ordered that this chest be put up for auction. Having been bought for a large sum, it was opened, revealing a single piece of paper on which was written, "Whoever wants to have a long beard should brush it upwards."
I also liked the story about the Sultan of Turkey who visited Acre at the turn of the last century. While everyone of note was there to greet him, no guns were fired to salute his arrival. Furious at this lack of respect, the sultan ordered that the governor be immediately beheaded. The governor, grovelling in fear before the sultan, protested that there were a hundred reasons why guns had not been fired. On enquiring what these reasons were, the wretched man answered, "The first reason, Your Majesty, is that we have no guns, while the second reason is..." The sultan interrupted him and said: "Your first reason is sufficient, so never mind about the other ninety-nine. You are pardoned!"
The second section is devoted to a subject dear to my heart -- anecdotes about that wise fool Goha (or Juha as the present author calls him). The collection contains many of my favourites, including the one where Goha is asked his opinion, as a man of religion, about where it is proper for a man to walk when in a funeral procession, in front or behind the coffin. "Walk as you please," Goha answered " -- just so long as you're not in the coffin."
The only Goha story included that I do not recollect having heard previously is that when Goha is asked about the proper times for taking meals. "It depends," he replied. "For the man who has something to eat the most convenient time for eating is when he feels hungry. But for the man who has nothing to eat, he does not have a choice: he eats when he finds food."
Reviewed by Denys Johnson-Davies
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