The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c26.55

v3.c26.55

Another rogue brought to the king the hoof of an ass, which he asserted to be a hoof of the ass on which our Lord had entered Jerusalem. He received 50,000 *tangas* and was, of course, followed by three other rogues, each bearing the hoof of an ass, of which he told the same story and for which he received the same reward. As though this were not enough, a fifth appeared, with a fifth hoof, and the king commanded that he likewise should receive 50,000 *tangas*. The courtiers protested against this folly, and asked their master whether he believed that the Messiah’s ass had five legs. ‘Let him have the reward,’ replied the crowned fool, ‘perhaps he is telling the truth and one of the others made a mistake.’