257
after which they went forth the city and the Amir let shut the gate as before.
They fared on along the sea-shore a whole month, till they came in sight of a high mountain, overlooking the sea and full of caves, wherein dwelt a tribe of blacks, speaking an unknown tongue and clad in skins, with hooded cloaks of the same on their heads. When they saw the troops, they took fright and fled into the caverns, whilst their women and children stood at the doors, looking on the strangers. ‘O Sheikh,’ said the Amir, ‘what are these folk?’ ‘They are those whom we seek,’ answered Abdussemed. So they halted and setting down their loads, pitched their tents; whereupon down came the King of the blacks from the mountain and drew near the camp.
Now he understood the Arabic tongue; so, when he came to the Amir, he saluted him and Mousa returned his greeting and entreated him with honour. Then said he to the Amir, ‘Are ye men or Jinn?’ ‘We are men,’ answered Mousa; ‘but doubtless ye are Jinn, of the vastness of your stature and your dwelling apart in this mountain, that is cut off from mankind.’ ‘Nay,’ rejoined the black; ‘we also are children of Adam, of the lineage of Ham, son of Noah, on whom be peace; and this sea is known as El Kerker.’ Quoth Mousa, ‘O king, what is your religion and what worship ye?’ And he answered, saying, ‘We worship the God of the heavens and our religion is that of Mohammed, whom God bless and keep!’ ‘And how came ye by the knowledge of this,’ asked the Amir, ‘seeing that no prophet inspired of God hath visited this country?’ ‘Know, O Amir,’ replied the King, ‘that there appeared to us [aforetime] from out the sea a man, from whom issued a light that illumined the whole horizon, and he cried out, in a voice that was heard of far and near, saying, ‘O children of Ham, bow
