A man once said that if he wanted to lose his property nobody could stop him. Another replied that no one could fight against God's providence. The man, however, said he would try. He took a shipload of dates and carried them to the place of their origin, where he said he would sell them at a loss. He sold at random and put the money in a box. When he opened it he found that he had got double the price which he had paid. Again he took a shipload of dates to the place of their origin, determined to obtain things which were dear there but cheap in his own country. So he took in exchange for his dates sacks of peppercorn. On opening the first sack he found a pearl, probably dropped in by one of the merchants when filling the sacks. It was worth twice the value of all his dates. Again he took a ship-
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load of dates to the place of origin, and decided this time to buy corn which was dearer there than in his own country. This he was going to pour openly into the hold. But when he wished to set sail war had broken out between his country and the neighbouring one and he had to wait six months before peace was signed and he could return home. Meanwhile plague and locusts had destroyed the harvest and again he realised a large fortune. This time he gave up the attempt to fight against Providence.