The Richest Man in Babylon

A young man named Tarkad is starving and, after stealing two figs from a garden, goes to the marketplace and resists stealing more food from sellers’ baskets. He goes to the inn, hoping to see someone who might lend him money for food. Unfortunately, he encounters the camel trader Dabasir, to whom Tarkad owes money. Dabasir demands the two coppers and one silver coin he lent Tarkad, who admits that he cannot repay him. Tarkad complains that he has bad luck, but Dabasir urges him to repay his debts. He invites Tarkad into the inn’s restaurant and begins to tell him a story.

Dabasir shares that as a youth, he had a good job as a saddle-maker and was married, but regularly overspent his money on “needless self-indulgence” (69). Over time he became more indebted, and his wife left him. Fearing his creditors, he decided to leave Babylon. He worked for caravan traders for two years but then began collaborating with roaming thieves who stole valuables from passing caravan merchants. One day, desert people caught Dabasir and enslaved him, selling him to a “Syrian desert chief” for two pieces of silver (69).

Dabasir is forced to tend his owners’ camels and explains to one of the chief’s wives, Sira, that he is supposed to be a free man in Babylon. He describes his life story to Sira and how he came to be captured. Sira chastises him for his poor decision making and tells him that his “weakness” meant he may have the “soul of a slave” since he did not behave in a dignified way (70). Later, she confesses that she feels like a slave as well: Her husband does not value her because she is infertile. After a year, Dabasir asks Sira if she still thinks he is weak, and she confirms that she does since he ran away from his debts with no plan to repay them. Dabasir tells Sira that he wants to start again but feels hopeless. Days later, Sira rides with Dabasir to her mother’s house where she gives him a chance to escape his slavery by running away at night. Dabasir takes two camels and journeys for days without food or water, hoping to find Babylon again. Hungry and thirsty, he wonders if he might die alone in the desert. In his pain, Dabasir has a revelation and sees “the true values of life” (72). He feels renewed motivation to repay his debts, make a home for his wife, and become a good son to his parents. Once he gets back to Babylon, Dabasir gets a job tending camels, gradually repays his debts, and becomes respected in his community.

Speaking with Tarkad, Dabasir credits his change of heart to his realization about how to have “the soul of a free man”: by working to solve problems instead of complaining about them (73). Tarkad agrees that he wants to take initiative in his life and have the soul of a free man, too. Dabasir buys Tarkad a meal. Clason concludes this chapter by commending people who rise from failure to success through determination.