Includes bibliographical references (p. [303]-312) and indexes.

Fantasy tales. The trip to 'Wag-el-Wag' -- The black crow and the white cheese -- The one sesame seed -- The magic filly -- The grateful fish -- The maghrabi's apprentice -- The royal candlestick -- Louliyya, daughter of Morgan -- The promises of the three sisters.

Realistic and philosophical tales. The liver of the wise and the liver of the foolish -- The man who put his mother over his shoulder and rode his father -- "It serves me right!" -- "I've seen [it] with my own eyes; nobody told me!" -- The noble and the vile -- Sultan Hasan -- Which Muhammad?

Tales based on religious themes. The contract with Azrael -- When Azrael laughed, cried, and felt fear -- The man who didn't perform his prayers -- The beast that took a wife -- The three robbers and el-Khidr -- The killer of ninety-nine.

Etiological belief narratives. How el-Khidr gained immortality -- Why the Turks were called "Tùrk" -- Why the Copts were called "blue bone" -- Why there is a "saint the forty" in every town -- "Blow for blow" -- Why the kite always attacks the crow.

Axes, saints, and culture heroes. The supreme saints cycle. When the arch-saints exchanged jobs ; An arch-saint's attempt to punish sinners -- "Imamu" 'Aali's narrative cycle. "Imamu" 'Aali and 'Aantar ; The twelfth month ; The betrayal -- "Mari" Girgis's belief legend cycle. Mari Girgis and the beast ; The golden signature -- Other saints and miraculous deeds. Letter to the "justice of legislation" ; Sidi 'Aabdul-Rahman ; The grave that wouldn't dig ; The mountain that moved.

Local belief legends and personal memorates. The thigh of the duck -- The possessed husband and his zar -- The only murder in Girshah -- The changeling -- El-Muzayyara -- The stone in bed -- The new car.

Animal and formula tales. Son-of-Adam and the crocodile -- Son-of-Adam and the lion -- The partnership between wolf and mouse -- The sparrow -- The Biyera well -- The little, little woman -- Once there were three.

Humorous narratives and jokes. The judge and the baker -- Stingy and Naggy -- Reason to beat your wife -- "Scissors!" -- The trickster cycle : Goha and Abu-Nawwas. "The new or the old?" ; Goha and the pair of calf legs ; Goha on the death bed ; The quick ass ; Who is the laziest? -- Jokes : an urban phenomenon. "Left or right?" ; The coerced confession ; Foreigner and citizen ; A problem of documentation ; The high bridge ; Instant virginity ; The body scrub ; How the cat died.

Description based on print version record.