Answer the following questions briefly.

How do you know Ali was a familiar figure at the post office?

Ali was a familiar figure at the post office because he was nicknamed 'Coachman Ali' by the clerk for his persistence and undying patience in waiting for a letter which had not come for the last five years. The clerk told the postmaster that Ali was a madman who used to arrive every day for the non-existent letter. Everybody used to laugh at Ali for occupying the same bench(for the last five years) to wait for the letter and the postmen began to call out his name for fun to watch him rush to the door eagerly only to come back empty-handed.