Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 18, 1907.djvu/91

 The Powers of Evil in Jerusalem. 63

young man missed his horse. After seeking the animal in all directions and finding no trace, he resolved to go further afield, into a district full of caves, in which flocks and cattle were herded at night, and where he might hear news of his missing property. When night came he entered a cave towards which a light had attracted him, and found, to his horror, that it was full oi jinn (the genii of the Arabian Nights), that is of evil, or at least sub- human, spirits, somewhat corresponding to the brownies of Scotland. They persuaded him to take his seat among them, and offered him hospitality. He tried to escape on the plea that he was seeking a lost horse, and was at once gratified and alarmed to hear that it was already there, and would be returned to him on leaving. Meanwhile orders were given that it should be well cared for, while an excellent supper of his favourite dish of rice and lentils mndshaddara was set before him. According to custom, while taking the first handful (the Arab peasant eats direct from the dish, without the intervention of spoons or plate) he stood up and uttered the words, " God increase your wealth," allah yekattir cherkom, equivalent to thanks for hospitality. Upon which the chief of the elfin tribe remarked, " My friend, you have nothing to thank us for ; the rice and lentils, as well as the fodder for your horse, and much else which you see, is your own property." When he returned home with his horse, his wife received him with joy, and assured him that she had prepared his favourite supper of rice and lentils. When she went to the saucepan, however, it was half-empty, and she could only suppose that although she had carefully covered it up, the cats had somehow got a share. " No," said her husband, " the one who has eaten it is I, myself My horse was among the jinn, by whom I have been enter- tained, and I now fully understand their saying that I was enjoying my own possessions, and that the horse was handsomely fed upon his own fodder — which, when they