Story Summary
In The Tale of Ali Cogia from the Arabian Nights, a merchant's hidden gold is stolen by a trusted friend, only to be recovered through a child's cleverness.
Ali Cogia, a merchant of Baghdad, prepared for a pilgrimage to Mecca. He placed his savings—a thousand pieces of gold—at the bottom of a jar and covered them with olives. He entrusted the sealed jar to a fellow merchant for safekeeping. Years passed before Ali Cogia returned. During his absence, the merchant, craving olives, opened the jar and discovered the gold. He stole the coins and refilled the jar with fresh olives. When Ali Cogia returned and found his gold missing, the merchant swore he had never touched the jar’s contents. The case was brought before the Caliph Harun al-Rashid, who found no evidence until he observed a group of children playing. One boy, acting as a judge, summoned olive merchants to examine the jar. The experts noted that olives would rot after seven years; the fresh olives in the jar proved they had been recently replaced. Inspired by the child’s wisdom, the Caliph had the merchant re-tried, the gold returned, and justice served.
The Moral
Honesty is a fundamental virtue, and even the most clever deception can be uncovered through simple logic and the wisdom of the innocent.
“The wisdom of a child may sometimes show the way when the minds of men are clouded.”
Fun Fact
This story is categorized as an 'orphan tale' because no original Arabic manuscript existed for it before Antoine Galland added it to his French translation in the 1700s.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the moral of The Tale of Ali Cogia?
The story teaches that truth eventually surfaces and that justice can come from unexpected sources. It emphasizes that those who betray trust for greed will eventually be exposed by logic.
Who is Ali Cogia in the Arabian Nights?
Ali Cogia is a merchant from Baghdad who travels to Mecca and later Cairo. He is known for his honesty and for the legal challenge he faces regarding his stolen gold.
How did the boy prove the merchant stole the gold?
The boy called for olive experts who testified that olives could not stay fresh for seven years. Since the olives in the jar were fresh, it proved the merchant had opened the jar and replaced the contents recently.
What role does Caliph Harun al-Rashid play?
The Caliph acts as the ultimate authority who observes the children's game. He recognizes the boy's wisdom and brings the child to court to help solve the real case of the stolen gold.
Is The Tale of Ali Cogia part of the original Arabian Nights?
It is considered one of the 'orphan tales,' added to the collection by Antoine Galland in the 18th century. It shares the same cultural themes as the original Persian and Arabic stories.
Why did Ali Cogia hide his gold in a jar of olives?
He hid the gold to keep it safe and secret while he was away on a long pilgrimage. By covering the coins with olives, he hoped no one would suspect the jar contained anything of great value.