ORIGINAL. AHMET.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 2, 26 March 1920, Page 6

ORIGINAL. AHMET.

(By 11/1275.)

A Trae Story of Life with the N.Z. Division in Egypt,

HE SELLS THINGS.

CHAPTER 2. Abu Sulieman, in addition to his reputation for sanctity, was a shrewd man oi business. He noted the popularity of Ahmet with the new arrivals, who were delighted with his proficiency, so rapidly acquired in Australian slang. Ahmet seized on each new word of the, to him, wonderful language with avidity, repeating the most bloodcurdling remarks with a gusto that could hardly have been equalled had he understood their meaning. Abn Sulieman therefore called Ahmet to him, and, sympathising with him on the treatment meted out to him ^ by Zeinab, offered him the shelter of his own roof. Said he, "My heart is sore for thee my son Ahmet, for that thou hast been turned from thy father's house. Now therefore I will take thee to my house and thou ehalt be my son, and if Allah shall send thy father Mahmoud hither in a short while then shall he judge between thee and Zienab and between thee and me, and as he shall decide so shalt thou do, for it is writien that the children shall not be ungrateful and the son shall obey the father in all things." Now the crafty old man knew that in Ahmet he would have a valuable asset, for, reasoned he, "This lad can come and go between these strangers and myself, and he can sell them such things as fruit and eggs, and as he is shrewd beyond his years he will soon learn their language, thus he may also bring me valuable information." So Ahmet was sent to the camp with eggs, and he soon was well known as he followed the troops for many miles when they were out training, then, when the midday halt was called, he would go round calling, "Eggs are cook; eggs are cook; two for one," meaning that he had cooked eggs at the price of two for one piastre. Then the Aussies would teach him more words and langh at his attempts to prononnce them, and would give him many a piastre as bucksheesh, all of which he would hand over to Abu Sulieman on his return, thus Ahmet proved a profitable investment to the crafty old villain. Now it was not long before Zeinab heard of the money that Ahmet was getting daily from tbe Anssies, and she began to wish that she had not driven him away, for she feared the wrath of her husband Mahmoud. So she went to the Omdar and asked for justice against Abu Sulieman, saying that he had" stolen the child of Mahmoud the moghassil, whilst Mahmoud was away from his house. Also that he had possessed himself of the earnings of Ahmet which, as everybody knew, should have been given to Mahmoud, or in Mahmoud's absence, to Mahmoud's wife, who, though Ahmet was no kin to her had ever treated him as her own son. The Omdar was known for his partiality to women, especiaHy if they were said to be beautiful, and Zeinab was wearing her thinnest veil, so that whilst she complied to the law, that women must appear veiled in the preesnce of all men except their husbands, she still contrived to make the most of her charms, and to win the Omdar, who well knew the falseness of her charge, to her side.

"By Allah," said he to himself, "What does a mere moghassil with such beauties in his hireme?" Then he called to Hassan, the ghafiir, and ordered that Abu Sulieman and Ahmet be brongbt before him tbe next day to answer the charge brongbt by the wife of Mahmoud. Hassan, having gone on his errand, the Omdar turned to Zeinab, "How is it that Mahmoud goeth away and leaves not thee in the charge of his mother ? It is not the custom to leave one's wife alone while one is absent on a journey. " Then Zeinab made reply, "My husband hath taken with him his mother saying th'at he had nothing worth guarding in me, who have not born him a son. Thus am I left alone," There are others who do not think as doth Mahmond, and perchance there is one not far from thee who would console thy loneliness," answered the Omdar. To which Zeinab replied, "Get back the money that Abu Sulieman has taken from my husband5 s son Ahmet, and restore it to me, and I may then look for oue who

shall console me for the absence of my husband." Then with a final glance, which said more than her words, Zeinab left him. The next day Abn Sulieman was bronght before tbe Omdar and ordered to return Ahmet to the care of Zeinab,. and to pay all that Ahmet had handed over as the proceeds of the buchsheesh given him by the troops, and in addition to pay the sum of five hundred piastres for the illegal detention and employmenti of Ahmet. In vain Abn Sulieman pleaded that he j had acted out of charity and that he was a poor man; the Omdar was obdurate and threatened to seize his goods if payment was not forthcoming. So "with many^ lamentations the fine was paid and the sum handed to Zeinab. Abu Sulieman wept and wailed, and called on Allah for help and revenge. He resolved to get Ahmet back if possible, and the same night he went to Mahmoud's house in the hope of seeing Ahmet. Arriving near the house, he hid himself till Ahmet should come ont, but instead of Ahmet, he saw a man leave by tha door in a stealthy manner, and on following him, he saw this man enter the house of the Omdar. At once be saw his chance of revenge, and going to the Omdar he taxed him with visiting Zeinab in secret, threatening to let Mahmoud know of what was tak* ng place in his absence. The Omdar, well knowing that Mahmoud would exact a revenge if he should get to know of the intrigue, promised mnch bucksheesh to Abu Sulieman if he should keep his knowledge to himself. When sorrie time later Abu Sulieman took his departure, he had received in bucksheesh a sum equal to that which h© ha d that day paid to Zeinab, and the old rascal chuckled to himself at the thonght that he held the Omdar in his power. He went the next day to Zeinab, and accused her of being unfaithful to Mahmoud during the latter's absence. He I used the same threat of telling Mahmoud, with the result that Zeinab also gave him bucksheesh, to the extent of returning to Abu Sulieman the money which she had got from him the previous day, also she gave him the charge of Ahmet till such time as her husband should return, telling her neighbours that the company of a holy man like Abu would be the best of upbringings for Ahmet. Thus was Ahmet soon back again amongst the troops, this time he was selb ing papers, for Abu had invested his recently acquired wealth in an agency to sell the "Egyptian Mail," and had used his influence as an interpreter to get the sole rights to sell newspapers in the camps* Ahmet soon learned to call out "Gypshuil Mail to-morrow, very good anews!" as hu went his way round the camps. He soon was again learning new words, and at last there come a day when he found that his little knowledge was a dangerous thing, for he was accustomed to call out the chief items of interest in his papers, such as "Latest anews irom thee western front, enenee retiring"; "All thee winners Cairo races," etc., etc. He usually was told by Abu what he should call out. Occasionally he would gather from the remarks of the soldiers that the paper contained something of more than ordinary interest, ' when he would at once make use of the knowledge thus gained without in the least understanding the meaning of the news he was shouting. One day as he entered the camp with his paper.s under his arm, the sergeant in charge of the main guard having inspected his pass, bought a paper, and suddenty exciaimed as he opened it, "Here's go° news, boys. Old General X is bally nnt." Now General X was the G.O.C. of the Division that was encampe at Helmieh. Five minutes afterwards a small CdpP10 boy was running along the Aussxe calling out, "Gipshun Mail to'mor^y very good anews. General X off his nut. Veree good anews." . , y Ten minutes later a small Gippie

•sj-fta in the clmk, and Ahn Sulieman was ©tsde avourmg to appease the WT&th of jjicadry staff officers. After a deal of explunation Ahmet tf^SM turned over to Abu Sulieman ar jWcen away, on condition that ko rwa.3 not allowed to sell papers in £ka camp again; and his pass that had given bfm such a feeling of importan.ce was taken away. (That night Abu Sulieman sent hnn back |o Zeinab, considering him an unprofitable iuyestment. Next Cbapter — ; HE JQINS THE FORCES. . , ' "