The lost minaret

Whether there was that or was not, but tell, that during age-old times ширинские and вабкентские mullahs were on friendly terms and respected each other. Ширинцы каждодневно visited in Вабкент and fur-trees плов вабкентцев, and вабкентцы каждодневно went at Width and a fur-tree плов ширинцев. Vabkentsky mullahs married the sons to daughters ширинских mullahs, and ширинцы married the sons on вабкентских maidens. Also lived ширинские mullahs in the world and in a harmony with вабкентцами till that time when have taken in head вабкентские to construct mullahs at itself a minaret, have constructed, yes such to which is not present equal on height. Also have become proud вабкентские mullahs and began to look on ширинцев haughtily and to declare at meetings: "Эх, you, the bumpkin! At us a minaret, and at you that?"

Also the minaret вабкентский on the symmetry is originally similar to a cypress, and on greatness to rock. What were given to it by the master of a line of art as it is thin it has adorned walls with intricate patterns. Looked all and admired. Alas, ширинские mullahs of a minaret had also no envy has crept in their souls and became a splinter in their heart. And it is known after all, that envy and arrogance do not get on with friendship and respect. The eternal friendship between ширинскими and вабкентскими mullahs has come to an end.

But it is enough about envy and enmity, it is time to tell, that happens with вабкентским a minaret. Once ширинские mullahs have arrived on вабкентский a market to sell and buy, buy and sell. Upon termination of trade they sat on the area and played bones with the foes - вабкентскими mullahs.

Did not carry that day вабкентцам. All won ширинцы and all lost вабкентцы.

Mullahs and money, and the goods, and even have lost already вабкентские some clothes.

- No, it is time to finish, - have cried вабкентцы, - there is no to us today a luck.

Then one вабкентский the mullah in passion has exclaimed:

- Listen, you ширинцы, - stake everything, that we have lost today to you - both money, and the goods, and clothes, and we stake вабкентский a minaret. Throw bones. We will look, who of whom.

- How so? - Were surprised ширинские mullahs. Very much they wished to have вабкентский a minaret, but has painfully surprised their offer вабкентцев.

- Unless it is not necessary so fine minaret of any money, the goods and clothes which you have won just. To a minaret of the price is not present. The minaret is quite serviceable and can perfectly serve for convocation devout on a pray. The minaret will go to game with all bricks of which it is constructed, with all ornaments and with муэдзином in addition without any surcharge. Really you, ширинцы, do not want to receive a minaret so cheaply? Really you do not wish to take care of an ornament of the area of the settlement? Play, a minaret against money, the goods and some clothes! I throw bones.

Has seized greed ширинских mullahs, there was at them hot a desire to catch вабкентский a minaret, to put at itself in the middle of a kishlak and to brag then to all world of an incomparable minaret.

- But, - one of ширинцев has told, - tell you, clever men. If you win money, the goods and some clothes, you take all it and will leave to yourself back home on houses and if we win. How we will move a minaret for ten versts to themselves in a kishlak of Width? And?

- What for to you to transfer a minaret to itself. Let costs here, and will belong to you. You, proprietors and possessors, can though every day to come here, in Вабкент, and to admire a minaret how many want.

- Well is not present, - have cried ширинские mullahs, - where you will find such fools to throw the good. No, leaves nothing. We will not play.

See вабкентские mullahs business badly. Will leave now ширинцы and will take away all prize. They have hung up heads, have grieved.

By there passed Nasreddin Apandi. He has listened to conversation and has told:

- Be followed my council. There is a way with which help you, ширинцы, will take away a minaret if the happiness in game is on your party. Look, the minaret grows from the earth like a tree. See the shade which has fallen from a minaret, to that bath. See. Collect all your donkeys, put side by side on length of a shade, cut a minaret under the basis, it will fall to backs of donkeys and carry it, in glory of the Allah, to itself at Width. There will dig a hole and plant a minaret of precisely plane trees. Let grows.

Has turned Апанди and has left.

- Throw костя, about a cunning receptacle, - have cried ширинские mullahs. - we play.

Вабкентец has stirred up bones of times, has stirred up two, has stirred up three and... Has thrown on the earth.

Alas! Vabkentsky mullahs have again lost.

- Our minaret, our minaret, - have begun to yell ширинцы. They have rejoiced and, having seized, who кетмень who a breakage who an axe, have rushed to a minaret and have started to hollow its basis. Has begun to knock iron about a brick. Sparks fell down.

But the minaret, and how many is strong constructed mullahs and day, both two, and three worked ширинские, but and have not managed to tumble down it and to take away with itself.

And there was a minaret in Вабкенте.

And everyone who will doubt truthfulness told, let will go to settlement of Width.

Ширинцы will take away it in Вабкент and there to it will show the minaret won by them once and will show still deep holes in the minaret basis, hollowed there are respectable mullahs from a kishlak of Width.