He saw the village priest and all his family engaged in stuffing a fat sheep with mulberry leaves.

The sheep was tethered half-way up the steps which led on to the housetop.

The priest and his wife, together with their eldest girl, sat on the ground below, amid a heap of mulberry boughs; and all the other children sat, one on every step, passing up the leaves, when ready, to the second daughter, whose business was to force the sheep to go on eating.

This they would do until the sheep, too full to stand, fell over on its side, when they would slaughter it for their supply of fat throughout the coming year.
'So busy were they in this occupation that they did not see the stranger in the doorway until he shouted: "Peace upon this house," and asked them for a drink of water kindly.

Even then the priest did not disturb himself, but, saying "Itfaddal!" pointed to a pitcher standing by the wall.