<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
(This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Form 10-Q  
 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements).   
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                     Aug-31-1998                           
<PERIOD-END>                          Feb-28-1998               
<CASH>                                 64,027,544                         
<SECURITIES>                           27,649,651                    
<RECEIVABLES>                          48,057,618<F1>               
<ALLOWANCES>                                    0                    
<INVENTORY>                            73,136,329                    
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                      226,137,431                    
<PP&E>                                 49,946,387<F2>               
<DEPRECIATION>                                  0                    
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                        289,763,547                    
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                  51,615,502                    
<BONDS>                                         0<F3>               
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           0                    
<PREFERRED>                                     0                    
<COMMON>                                  713,219                    
<OTHER-SE>                            236,955,124                    
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>          289,763,547                    
<SALES>                               226,209,562                    
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                      226,209,562                    
<CGS>                                  92,355,087                    
<TOTAL-COSTS>                          92,355,087                                 
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                       89,567,571                  
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                0                  
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        215,642                  
<INCOME-PRETAX>                        46,362,807                  
<INCOME-TAX>                           16,190,280                  
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                    30,172,527                  
<DISCONTINUED>                                  0                  
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                 0                  
<CHANGES>                                       0                          
<NET-INCOME>                           30,172,527         
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                0.43         
<EPS-DILUTED>                                0.41         
                                                   
<FN>
 F1 - Net of allowance.                 
 F2 - Net of depreciation.              
 F3 - Includes Long-term obligations.   
</FN>