One day a man coming from the country brought the Cogia a hare. The Cogia, with much politeness and civility, gave him some broth to eat. At the end of a week he came again; but the Cogia appearing to have forgot him, said, ‘Who may you be?’ ‘I am the person who brought the hare,’ said the man; whereupon the Cogia again entertained him. After some days a number of men made their appearance and wanted to be entertained. ‘Who may you be?’ said the Cogia. ‘We are the neighbours of the man who brought you the hare,’ said they. A few days after a whole troop of men arriving, the Cogia asked them who they were? ‘We are the neighbours of the neighbours of the man who brought the hare,’ said they. ‘You are quite welcome,’ said the Cogia, and placed before them a large jar of pure water; on seeing which they said, ‘What is this?’ ‘The water of the water of the hare is what it is,’ said the Cogia.
One day the Cogia, whilst labouring in the field, found a tortoise, and, seizing hold of it, tied a string round its neck and hung it to his spade. The tortoise beginning to cry and squeal, ‘It is of no use crying,’ said the Cogia, ‘you must now learn to work.’
One day the Cogia, being on the point of death, called his neighbours about him. The neighbours coming, began to eat and make merry, without saying to the Cogia, ‘Come and partake.’ The Cogia incensed, got up and went out. After a little time they sought for the Cogia, and could not find him; so dispersing themselves about, they went after him, and at last found him. ‘Ho, Cogia,’ said they, ‘come, where have you got to?’ Said the Cogia, ‘He who this day supplies the bridal meats has, surely, a right to go into the bridal chamber.’
One day the Cogia, being out on a journey, encamped along with a caravan, and tied up his horse along with the others. When it was morning the Cogia could not find his horse amongst the rest, not knowing how to distinguish it; forthwith taking a bow and arrow in his hand, he said, ‘Men, men, I have lost my horse.’ Every one laughing, took his own horse; and the Cogia looking, saw a horse which he instantly knew to be his own. Forthwith placing his right foot in the stirrup, he mounted the horse, so that his face looked to the horse’s tail. ‘O Cogia,’
said they, ‘why do you mount the horse the wrong way?’ ‘It is not my fault,’ said he, ‘but the horse’s, for the horse is left-handed.’
The Cogia had a disciple, who was an Abyssinian, black, of the name of Hamet. One day Hamet having inadvertently broken a bottle of ink over the Cogia, ‘What is this, Cogia?’ said the others. ‘Don’t you think a few good kicks would be a useful lesson to our Hamet?’ ‘Let him be. He got into a sweat by running,’ said the Cogia, ‘and melted over me.’
One day the Cogia having mounted up into the pulpit, said, ‘O Mussulmen, I have a piece of advice to give you. If you have sons, take care that you do not give them the name of Eiïoub (Job).’ ‘Why, O Cogia?’ cried the people. ‘Lest the quality should accompany the name,’ he replied, ‘and they should all become ips (ropes).’
One day as the Cogia was performing ablution, he found he had not sufficient water. When the hour of prayer came on, he stood like a goose on one foot. ‘O Cogia Efendi,’ said the people, ‘why do you do so?’ ‘Because,’ said the Cogia, ‘this foot has not performed ablution.’
One day a man arriving, became the guest of the Cogia. It happened at night, some time after they had lain down, that the light went out.
‘O Cogia Efendi,’ said the guest, ‘the taper is gone out. But there is a taper on your right side; pray bring it, and let us light it.’ ‘Surely you must be a fool,’ said the Cogia. ‘How should I know my right side in the dark?’