'In sh'Allah we shall cut down these three olive trees and put the house instead of them.' At that his smile gave place to grave concern.
He said: 'That may not be.' 'Why not ?' I asked.
'Because we have no right to touch these trees.' 'But the Sheykh Ali told me that this terrace was his property.' 'That is so, as to the land.

The trees are different.' 'To whom, then, do these trees belong ?' 'To different people.' 'How can I know which trees are ours, which theirs ?' 'Your Honour need not trouble.

They are able to distinguish.' 'But they must walk upon our land to reach their trees!' 'Without a doubt.' 'But it is unheard of!' 'Perhaps; but it has been the way since Noah's flood.' 'If your Honour condescends to read the Bible he will notice that, in the bargain which our lord Abraham made for the cave of Machpelah, the trees upon the land are mentioned separately,' put in Suleyman, who had a well-stored mind.
I took no notice, but continued my alarmed inquiries.
'How many people own these trees ?' 'Twenty or thirty.' 'And they trample on our land ?' 'The case is so.' 'Who is their chief ?' 'I know not; but the largest share, they say, is vested in Muhammad abu Hasan.

His share of all the trees is twelve kirats, as much as all the others put together.

They say so.