THE YOUNG BÉDAWY WHO FULFILLED

HIS PROMISE.

HÁRAF-ED-DÎN-HUSEIN, the son of Riyân,

SHÁ

relates: "Marvellous are the anecdotes which I collected, and wonderful are my reminiscences of the excellent things which I noted down from one who was present at the Council and heard the words of 'Omar-ibn-el-Khattâb, the Khalifah of elIslám."

He stated that one day whilst the Imâm was sitting in council with some of the chief of the Associates, and others to whom he referred for judgment and advice, and whilst he was giving his decisions in causes, and issuing his commands among his subjects, a young man of comely appearance and in clean. attire, appeared, in the grasp of two other young men, also well-favoured and well-dressed, who dragged and pulled him until they brought him in, and placed him

before the Amîr-el-Mumanîn. And when they thus stood in his presence the Amîr looked at the two young men and at the other, and then commanded them to take their hands off him. Upon this they drew near and said: "O Commander of the Faithful! we are brethren, sons of the same mother and father, and are accustomed to speak strictly the truth. Our father was a sheikh advanced in years, excellent in administration, respected among his tribes, free from vice, known by his virtues. When we were children he educated us; when we grew older he treated us with consideration, and amassed for us a large inheritance. As it is said:

Had there lived amongst men one other father like our
father,

The world would have grown rich in virtues.

This morning he went out into his garden to enjoy himself amongst the trees, and while he there gathered the ripe fruits this youth killed him and turned from the way of righteousness. And we ask from you the retaliatory retribution for his crime,* and the decree

* Wilful murder, though one of the most enormous crimes that can be committed, is yet allowed to be compounded for, on

for the same according to that which God has revealed to you." (ie., in the Kurân.)

The historian then relates that 'Omar looked upon the young man and said to him: "Verily you have heard. What is your answer?"

And at this the youth's heart was calm and void of apprehension. Truly he flung off the garment of fear, and cast aside the mantle of trepidation. Then he smiled like a pearl,* and speaking with a most eloquent tongue, saluted the Prince in beautiful language. Then he went on, saying: "O Commander of the

payment of a fine to the family of the deceased, and freeing a Muslim from captivity. The next of kin, however—or, in the language of the Bible, "the revenger of blood"-has the option of accepting or refusing such satisfaction, and may insist on having the murderer delivered into his hands to be put to death. Manslaughter must be redeemed by fine, and the freeing of a captive; which atonement if a man be unable to make, he must fast two months together by way of penance. The fine for a man's blood is set down in the Súnnah, or Traditions of the Prophet, at a hundred camels, to be distributed amongst the relations of the deceased. If the person slain be a Muslim of a nation or party at enmity or not in confederacy with those of the slayer, the redemption of a captive is declared a sufficient penalty.

* That is, he opened his mouth slightly to laugh, and exposed white teeth like pearls. I may mention here that the people of the East have always been intense admirers of the

Faithful! by Allâh! they have well recollected in making their plaint; and have spoken truly in what they have said; and have made known that which took place; and have described that which occurred. And I will now recount my story before you, and judgment thereupon rests

with you.

"Know, O Commander of the Faithful! that I am an Arab of the Arabs.* I was reared in the dwellings of the desert, and years of misfortune darkened my life. So I came to the outskirts of this city with my household, and my goods, and my children. I followed one of its roads which led me between gardens, having with me she-camels, beloved by me, dear to me; and amongst them a he-camel of noble race, the sire of a large progeny, of beautiful form, an excellent breeder, who walked in their midst like a

beauty of youth-and which is in truth the kind of beauty that most appeals to a pure heart. Even in the streets of Cairo one may see a mother or other relative take up a little child, and exclaim, "O thy youth! O thy youth!" (Yâ shabâbak! yâ shababak!)

* That is, an Arab of Arab descent, and not must'aráb— that is, made an Arab by lapse of time, and birth in Arabia, though the original progenitor was not of Arabia. (See Note*, p. 79.)

crowned monarch. One of the she-camels approached a garden over the wall of which trees were visible that she could reach with her lips. So I drove her away from that garden, when lo! an old man appeared, panting with rage. And mounting on the wall he presented himself, carrying in his right hand a stone, and raving like a furious lion. Then he struck the he-camel with the stone, and killed him-it fell on a fatal spot. But when I saw the camel fall on his side and roll over, live coals of rage were kindled within me. I seized the very same stone and struck the sheikh with it, and that was the cause of his end. He met evil in his turn, and the man was slain by that with which he slew. After that he had cried a great cry, and had screamed a terrible scream for help, I hastened from the spot. But haste was of no avail against these two young men. They laid hold of me and brought me here as you see me."

Then said 'Omar: "Behold! you have confessed the crime you have committed, and your acquittal is impossible, and retaliation is imperative, and there is now no refuge."

Then said the young man: "I obey that which