Page:Ossendowski - The Fire of Desert Folk.djvu/192

176 woods, we found ourselves approaching a group of native buildings, near one of the doors of which a seriouslooking old Arab with a long black beard falling over his snow-white bournous was seated in the midst of a crowd counting old men of the village, rich and poor, women shrouded in bournouses and haiks, thplba, village youths and even meskins. The whole group stood almost motionless and silent, listening to what this traveling bard was recounting. Undisturbed by our approach, he continued his recitation in a well-trained, attractive voice that knew its power. Halid translated for us the tale, just as it came from the lips of the old Arab.

"Great is Allah, and Mahomet, his Prophet, is also great. But there have been other prophets chosen by the Lord, and powers have been given unto them equal to that of Allah himself. Such an one was Joshua, the son of Nun, a giant so tall that he could not have entered the mosque. It was he who set the mountains where they were needed. Such an one also was Mulay Abd el-Selam, who helped Allah construct the world and who was the originator of faith in the One God. Another was Ali Amhauch, as powerful as the Prophet. And also there was the 'hidden Imam,' Abd Allah, bone of the bone and blood of the blood of the Prophet Mahomet. Such chosen ones exist in every age to announce the will of Allah and to point to the coming of the hour. Their eyes search the souls of men, their words reach the innermost chambers of the heart and their thoughts compel action. They appear suddenly, unannounced, and unknown before the moment of their manifestation to the people. They pass through the years of mortal life, bringing and