Page:Ossendowski - The Fire of Desert Folk.djvu/52

36 one came to him seeking advice, the holy man required no verbal explanations, as he saw revealed before him the inner soul of his suppliant with all its pains and doubts.

Once a rich man came to the Marabout with the intention of asking his advice as to whether he should divorce his wife or not. The saint was discoursing with his disciples, as the rich man entered the room, and, without waiting for the visitor to speak, raised his hand and recited, in a commanding voice, the well-known verse from the Koran:

"Guard your wife and remain in the fear of God."

"How do you know the purpose of my coming," the astonished visitor exclaimed, "when no one but myself knew what I wanted to ask?"

"As you entered, I saw on your bournous these words of the Holy Writ, which made everything clear to me."

Another time a young girl came to the Wali and threw herself at his feet.

"You seek to find a young and rich husband?" asked Abu Median; and, without waiting for an answer, continued:

"Listen! When you meet a man whom you would like to marry, give him the opportunity to hear your voice and to see your foot. He will know that, if these twain of your hidden charms are beautiful, the others must be beautiful as well. Go and be happy!"

This clear-visioned Wali, sage and teacher was one day summoned to Tlemsen by Sultan Yakub el-Mansur, who wished his guidance upon the important question of the transfer of his capital to Marrakesh. In response to