"
THE SOUFI AND THE TARGUI
Two Souafa were brothers. Separating one day one said to the other: "O my
brother, let us marry thy son with my daughter." So the young cousins were
married, and the young man's father gave them a separate house. It happened
that a man among the Touareg heard tell of her as a remarkable woman. He
mounted his swiftest camel, ten years old, and went to her house. Arrived
near her residence, he found some shepherds.
"Who are you?" he said.
"We are Souafa."
He confided in one of them, and said to him: "By the face of the Master of
the worlds, O favorite of fair women, man of remarkable appearance, tell me
if the lady so and so, daughter of so and so, is here."
"She is here."
"Well, if you have the sentiments of most men, I desire you to bring her
here, I want to see her."
"I will do what you ask. If she'll come, I'll bring her. If not, I will
return and tell you."
He set out, and, arriving at the house of the lady, he saw some people, and
said "Good-evening" to them.
"Come dine with us," they said to him.
"I have but just now eaten and am not hungry.
Pages:
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290