Page:Swahili tales.djvu/205

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MOHAMMED THE LANGUID.
185

at a place where there was a mountain, and a river passing under it. So we dismounted there on the mountain. When I had dismounted I looked for him, but saw him no more.

"So I returned to just my first plight, and waited so a little while. And I heard some one salute me, and I replied to him. And he asked me, 'Do you know me?' And I said, 'I do not.' And he said to me, 'I am the white snake's brother; there are three of us, each one has done what he could for you, and so I have come to do what I can for you.' And he said to me, 'We are near the city of Nuhás, we have reached it, that is it which you see there.'

"And I said, 'I see it; how shall I get in there?' And he took out a sword and gave it me, and said to me, 'Carry this sword.' And the sword was all written over with charms. And I took hold of the sword, and I asked him, 'Where is the path to enter in by?'—As for that city of Nuhás, no one man could open the gate, nor two, nor three, and the gate is fastened.—'Where shall I pass in?' And he said, 'Follow the stream of water, the stream goes into the city of Nuhás.'

"And I followed the stream and carried my sword in my hand. And I followed the stream until I entered into the city. And as I entered I saw marvellous things—every species of things; I saw those that I knew, and those I knew not. And I went with my sword in my hand, and entered into the city, and walked about in the city. And I saw them, but they did not see me, because of my sword which was inscribed with charms.

"And I wandered round till I saw a woman, my wife. When I saw her, immediately I recognized her, and she recognized me, and I came near to her, and we met and asked the news of one another. And I asked her, 'Who