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the monkeys about the eatables available in the place. They eat what the
monkeys eat, as monkeys have an appearance resembling that of men and, therefore, their temperament also bears resemblance to man. The same procedure is adopted for performing transaction with the
people of the Indies who row their boats swiftly in the direction of the dhows or swim towards them. These traders show their goods, and if a bargain is struck, the traders place their goods upon something like a balance and hang them in such a way that their hands do not touch them. The sailors keep the balance under control by means of stonss. The second pan is hung towards the customers. They keep whatever they have in it. This pan is raised and the other is brought down. Each party receives its share and both jump at their respective share like beasts of prey, if they show any slackness, the people of the shore will run away with their share. They can neither be caught nor can their boats be traced. A similar story is current about a bedouin Arab. He brought a deer
to the pilgrims to sell. They bought it from him at a high price. When asked how he had caught it, he said he had run and caught it. They all called him a liar, whereat he challenged them to release it, so that he may catch it again, provided they were prepared to pay the price again. The pilgrims agreed and released the deer. The deer had not gone very iar when the Bedouin caught it having run after it and realised the price again from them. The pilgrims laid a hearth for roasting it. When the food was ready, and the venison and bread were spread out on a sheet before them, the Bedouin dragged the sheet by means of a string, folded the sheet and the food, and took them away within the sight of the pilgrims, saying, "My young friends, this deer could not escape me while it lived, so how can it escape me now that it has been sacrificed and roasted? You have been blessed with wealth. May God give you more. My children are hungry and are waiting to see what I would bring for them. You have invited them to a feast. May God accept it and reward you." Having said this, he went away slowly humming a tune the while, as if making fun of them. Among the legends that defy all understanding is that gold sprouts
out of the ground (like plants) in the form of a shell, and becomes visible only when the rays of the sun impinge upon it. The actual fact is that such tracts as well as the deserts of the Sudan are the repositories of the flood water that flows from Jibal al-Qamar and the southern mountains. These tracts were sea at first, but, as in the case of the land of Egypt, layers of soil began to be deposited upon them. These mountains contain gold and they are also quite lofty. Water, flowing rapidly and with intensity, brings with it large pieces of gold which have undergone weathering, and therefore, appear cast like shells. The appellation of the |
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