Page:Ossendowski - The Fire of Desert Folk.djvu/174

158 they be disturbed by anything that may happen round them. In such wise does the follower of the Prophet pray in the mosque, near the kubba of a saint or out on the desert at the hours of sunrise and sunset. At such times one feels that the Moslem does not despise the unbeliever, but is only proud, because he, a mortal and sinful man, has received from Allah the right to speak directly with him at these daily hours of prayer, when Allah comes so near to him and has such confidence in the mumen that it stirs his pride and inspires in him the fires of faith.

As we passed out of the Medina, the muezzin, having finished his call to evening prayer, was descending from the minaret of Mulay Idris, and twilight had already begun to soften and blend the heat and brilliance of the day.

Later in the evening, as I was out again with Hafid, he suddenly stopped abruptly in the midst of an explanation, put his finger to his lips, pressed me back into the shadow of a wall and motioned me to watch what was happening down the street we were crossing. I looked and beheld a strange scene. There at the next corner some merchants in white bournouses stood within the circle of light from a large lamp and partially surrounded an unusual group. Three entirely naked natives with Negro features were alternately turning round, and bending over, and lifting a heavy stone and stretching out their arms. Near them and within the circle of the merchants another man held their bournouses, slapped the natives on their necks and shoulders and spoke with evident excitement and persuasion to the group of observers. Then