Page:Folklore1919.djvu/569

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Cairene and Upper Egyptian Folk-Lore.
203

from birth to death and survives after death. Here we have the North Egyptian equivalent of the South Egyptian garina, the ka of ancient Egypt.

Mr. Hornblower also informed me that he was told by a native that ‘Ali possessed a sword called Zul-fiqar (“Of the neck-bone”) which, when he was dying, he ordered one of his captains to throw into the sea. Thrice did the man return, saying he had done so, but when ‘Ali asked his what had followed he had nothing to relate. Then ‘Ali upbraiding him bade him fling it before it was too late. On this occasion he did so, and as it fell into the sea a voice cried: “All is well.” How did the story of Excalibar migrate to an Egyptian village? I should surmise that it has been introduced by some English tourist who travelled in the country after the publication of Tennyson’s Morte d’Arthur.

8 Chalmers Crescent, Edinburgh.