Page:Swahili tales.djvu/69

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SULTAN DARAI.
49

affairs in order, till the morning. And the next day they sent the husband word, "It is time, come and be married that you may enter the house." The messenger went, and when he arrived there at the house, he found the master sitting on the baraza waiting for those who should call him. And he said to him, "Master, you are called, the time is fully come." And he said, "I am ready, all right."

And he arose, he and his party, and they went till they reached the house of his father-in-law. And he cried, "Hodi!" And he said to him, "Hodi! Come near, Sheikh, come near, gentlemen." And they said, "We are seated." And they passed on to the baraza, and they went and called the mualim. And he came and married them. When they were going, those people had rice given them, and ate, and were treated very handsomely. And they were told, "Gentlemen, come near." And they said, "And you, bridegroom, good-bye." And they went out, and went away.

And he entered within his house, and they remained in the house of his father-in-law till the space of seven days was completed.

And he called his father-in-law, and he answered, "Here." And he said, "I have three words I want to say to you." And he said, "Master, my Sheikh, whether it is three or thirteen, think it no loss to you to tell me." And he said, "I have only these three." And he said, "All right, tell me." And he said, "The first is, I want you to give me leave, me and my wife, to go on to my house; the second is, do not be vexed at what I say to you; and the third is, give me leave to-day before to-morrow, for I find to-day is a good day for going forth for me and my wife. And do not you say we have run away, you shall see us, morning and evening, till perhaps you yourself will have had enough, you whom we shall come to."