SHEYKHAN, A WELL-KNOWN COACHMAN IN BAGHDADI CIRCLES, FAMOUS FOR HIS LONG AND POINTED COSSACK'S MOUSTACHE AND HIS VOLLEY OF RASPBERRIES WHICH ECHOED IN AL-RASHID STREET AND THAT NO OTHER MAN COULD RIVAL. (From the unpublished book " The Immigrant by Dr. Maurice Sawdayee " ) .
THE FOLLOWING WAS TOLD TO ME BY " EDWARD COHEN " A FRIEND OF MINE :-
A COUSIN OF HIS FOUND HIMSELF ONE SUNDAY IN THE CHRISTIANS' LANE JUST WHEN PEOPLE CAME OUT OF THE CHURCH. ALL THE CARRIAGES WERE ALREADY TAKEN EXCEPT THAT OF SHEYKHAN. THE COUSIN WITH NO OTHER CHOICE APPROACHED SHEYKHAN AND ASKED HIM HOW MUCH WILL HE CHARGE TO " BAB-EL MUADHAM " . SHEIKHAN SAID 30 FILS. THE COUSIN TOLD HIM I WILL GIVE YOU 50 FILS (ALMOST DOUBLE THE PRICE) IF YOU BEHAVE. SHEYKHAN ACCEPTED.
MANY PASSERS-BY TRIED TO INCITE SHEYKHAN TO RESPOND TO THEIR RASPBERRIES TO NO AVAIL UNTIL THEY REACHED " THE MIDAN " WHERE MOST OF THE RASPBERRY CHAMPIONS WERE.
SHEYKHAN COULDN'T HOLD HIMSELF ANY LONGER SO HE TURNED TO THE COUSIN AND SAID " O MASTER WE GO BACK TO THE 30 FILS " AND WITHOUT WAITING FOR AN ANSWER HE PRODUCED ONE OF HIS LOUDEST RASPBERRIES WHICH LEFT ALL THE RIVALS DUMBFOUNDED.