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-
172—
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.
438. 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-
172 —
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.
