Page:The Celebrated Romance of the Stealing of the Mare.djvu/135



The Emir Abu Zeyd the Helali Salame.—Salame Abu Zeyd, the hero of this as of the other romances of the cycle, was the eldest son of the Emir Risk, Sheykh of the Helalat, of Hejaz, in central Arabia. By an accident connected with his birth Salame was born black-faced and so was cast out of the tribe by his father. Later, however, by his deeds of valour, he proved his legitimacy and his right to his father's succession, and was recognized as their prince by the Helalat, whom he led to many victories. His darkness of face is in the romance a constant source of mystification, for, though a clear dark skin is not otherwise than a sign of pure blood with the Arabs, Abu Zeyd's colour would seem to have suggested negro affinities which the true Arabs resent and despise. Abu Zeyd is the family patronymic, Salame the personal appellation, Mukheymer a nickname.

"Beni Helal," literally the children of the Helal or Full Moon, a tribal name of Pre-Islamic origin, connected perhaps with ancient Totem worships (compare Professor Robertson Smith). All the more ancient tribes were called by the names of such Totems, as the '" Sebaa" (of the lion), " Muteyr" (of the rain), " Anazeh" (of the goat). Helali is the form used for the individual, Helalat in the plural, Helal for the tribe generally. So, too, Agheyl, Agheyli, Agheylat.

"Abul Komsan," literally "Father of Shirts," a nickname of one well clothed.

"There is the best of news for thee.'—The best, because of the