ORIGINAL. AHMET.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 4, 9 April 1920, Page 6

ORIGINAL. AHMET.

A True Story of Life with the N.Z. Division in Egypt (By 11/1275.) MAHMOUD RETURNS.

CHAPTER FOUR. Mahmoud the moghassil was ill at ease at Tanta, his mother was with him and he had been obliged to leave his wives unguarded, a thing that no t-rue moslem likes doing. Moreover he knew that his favourite, Zeiiiab. was by no means discreet as he would have her be. His brother was very sick indeed, and yet to Mahmoud's disgust would neither die or get well. As Mahmoud observed, "It is hot that my brother is a bad man that he dreads the approach of AZRAEL (the angel of death), his life has been well nigh as blameless as my own. Now therefore, let me consider if there be not ways to assist him, to join the Houris in Paradise, then may I go home to Helmeih, with my brothers wealth." Later that day he consulted a Hakim who was of a like kidney to himself, for it is not well known that Hakins of illfame and the mog'nassils are of t-he one brotherhood, in as the one conceals the viflinies of the other. This Hakim whose name was Mustapha, ordered and administered a sleeping draught to the sick man. Now if the object- of this draught was to cause the sick man t-o sleep, then was its object achieved, for Mahmoud's brother fell at once into a deep sleep, so deep indeed that he never again woke 011 this earth. Mahmoud having buried his brother, and carried out the custc-mary acts of mourning, packed up his brother's goods and after disposing of the bulk of them to best advantage, loaded his mother with the rest, for what man would demean himself by carrying burdens when women were created by Allah the Farseeing (to whose name be praised) for this very purpose. He also took all his brother's wealth which was considerable. As for his brother's widows. Two, he returned to their parents and the third who was young and passably goodlooking, he sold to a ne.ighbouring Pasha, who was seeking reinforcements for his harem. Having thus disposed of his brother's belongings, he took the train for Helmeih f ealing the satisfaetion that a man feels when he has done a good deed. Now six weeks had passed since Mahmoud had been away at Tanta, so that he had much to learn on his return. 11 is wife Zeinab met him, full of complaints against- tho small Ahmet who had been absent with the soldiers for some three weeks, and for whom she pretended the most loving solicit-ude. She also told Mahmoud that Abu Sulieman had spoken words of love to her in his absence, as well as trying to entice Ahmet from her, and that she had been obliged to appeal to the Omdar. Mahmoud was very angry at what he heard, supposing that Zeinab spoke t-lie truth, and he vowed to be even with J. b u Sulieman even though he was a holy man. In this frame of mind he after giviug his mother strict injunctions to look after his wife, went to the cafe in the bazaar. It was not long before Hassan tlie Ghaffir came in and sat beside him, "Saida," said he. "Naharak saideed," returned Malunoud. The usual enquiries followed as to when Mahmoud returned from Tanta, with remarks on the length of his stay there. Mahmoud however smoked his hooka in silence, whilst Hassan glad of his cha-nce to show his importance and to air his latest bits of gossip rambled on. "See brothers," said he, " Mahmoud the Moghassil has returned, now our dead will go decently to their graves, a.nd our holy rnen aviII not he plagucd with tho cave of an other man's children." Ihen said the thatcher whose name was Said, "Thou hast not mentioned the thing that counts most O! Hassan, for now that Mahmoud the Moghassil hath returned he will be able to guard his wife, and the lovely Zeinab will not have to call on the Omdar for protection." There was a roar of laughter, almost as instantly stilled, as each man realisedthat Said had broken the law, and made m*.ntion of another'g wife, all eyes were turned to Mahmoud, who had risen to his feet and who was regarding Said with cold passion. Hassan the Ghaffir grasped his a.bout (a stout stick about six feet long and as thick as a man's wrist) inore firmly and interposing himself be-

tween the two men, called on them in the name of Allah, the Prophet, and the Sultan to keep the peace. "Let the dog and the son of a pig depart," said Mahmoud, "He hath not long to live, let him bid farewell to his family for ere amother sun has set he will go on a long journey on men's shoulders, and by the full of the moon the worms will have grown fat on his carcass, for I Mahoud the Moghassil, have cast upon him the evil eye, and his body is already festering." At this Said the thatcher shrieked aloud and dragged him /rlf on his knees toward Mahmoud imploring him for mercy ; Mahmoud grasping the kneeling man's beard turned his face up and deliberately spitting into it said, "Would that I had the venom of the sergent that I could spit- it upon thee thus," and turning on his heel he left the cafe. That night Said the thatcher died in convulsions, saving that all the devils in Eklis were tearing at his vitals. Thus was Mahmoud revenged, and all men in Helmieh held their breath and wondexed who would be the next victiixx. The next day Mahmoud callcd on the Omdar, what took place betweeen the two was known to no man. They were seen to part on the doorstep of the Omdar's house with apparent friendliness, but the next morxxing the Omdar found a naked knife on his doorstep. No one knew, though most of them guessed who waa responsible for this. The Omdar at once sent and appri.sed t-he Mudir (Ihe governor of the province) who di smissed t.he incident as trivial. No one in ihe village was at all surprised, when the next day the Omdar was found dead, with his throat cut frora ear to ear, but everyone was prepared to swear that the knife found by the body was the same that Omdar had found oix his doorstep the day previous. Truly the evil eye of Mahmoud the Moghassil was a thing to he feared. Now Abu Sulieman, had been a witness of all that had taken place, and knowing what had led up to these events, f elt, that even his saintliness was not proof against- Mahmoud's vengeance, and he well knew that if he was not the next victim, then at all eA*ents his turn was not far off. So he announced that his increasing years made it incuinbent on him if he were to again visit the kebla at Mecca, before he died to make an early start. And to make certain tlxat his start really was an early one he went without waiting to say the funeral oration over the dead Omdar. j Next Chapter, Mahmoud st-ax't-s for Meccs. I