The emperor Akbar went out one night into the outskirts of the city, disguised as a fakir, and Birbal, his minister, meeting and recognizing him, the two went on together, till a one-eyed man came up to them and said to Akbar, " You have taken out my eye. Either pay me 1200 rupees or restore my other eye." Akbar was taken aback by such a demand, but Birbal was equal to the occasion. " Yes," said he, " it is quite true. We have your eye, and if you will come tomorrow we will return it to you."The man agreed, and left. Bir Bal sent to the butcher's for some sheep's eyes, and put each one separately in a wooden box by itself. When the man came in the morning, Birbal told him that the king had several eyes, but it was impossible to say which was his eye : he must therefore submit an eye to have his other eye.
