THE HISTORY OF GANEM, SON OF ABOU AYOUB. 489

 

When the criers had performed what the king had enjoined them,
that prince ordered the mother and daughter to be turned out of the
palace, and left to their choice to go where they thought fit. As soon
as they appeared all persons fled from them, so great an impression
had the late proclamation made upon all. They easily perceived that
everybody shunned them; but not knowing the reason, were much
surprised ; and their amazement was the greater when, coming into any
street, or among any persons whom they recollected as their best
friends, they immediately retreated with as much haste as the rest.

‘What is the meaning of this?’ said Ganem’s mother; ‘do we
carry the plague about us? Must the unjust and barbarous usage
we have received render us odious to our fellow-citizens? Come, my
child,’ added she, ‘let us depart from Damascus with all speed; let
us not stay any longer in a city where we are become hateful to our
yery friends.’

The two wretched ladies, discoursing in this manner, came to one of
the extremities of the city, and retired to a ruined house to pass the
night. Thither some Mussulmans, out of charity and compassion,
resorted to them after the day was shut in. They carried them pro-
visions, but durst not stay to comfort them for fear of being discovered,
and punished for disobeying the caliph’s orders.

On the next day they came to a small village. The peasants’ wives
flocked about them, and asked them what was the occasion of their
travelling in such a miserable plight, and in a habit that did not seem
to belong to them. Instead of answering the question, they fell to
weeping, which only served to heighten the curiosity of the peasants,
and to move their compassion. Ganem’s mother told them what she and
her daughter had endured; at which the good countrywomen were sensibly
affected, and endeavoured to comfort them. They treated them as well
as their poverty would permit, took off their coarse garments, and put
on them others which they gave them, with shoes, and something to
cover their heads and protect their hair.

Having expressed their gratitude to those charitable women,
Alcolom and her mother departed from that village, taking short
journeys towards Aleppo. They used at dusk to retire near or into
the mosques, where they passed the night, and sometimes rested in
the public places appointed for the use of travellers. As for suste-
nance, they did not want, for they often came to places where bread,
boiled rice, and other provisions are distributed to all travellers who
desire it.

At length they came to Aleppo, but would not stay there, and con-
tinuing their journey towards the Euphrates, crossed the river, and
entered Mesopotamia, which they traversed as faras Moussul. Thence,
notwithstanding all they had endured, they proceeded to Bagdad. That
was the place they had fixed their thoughts upon, hoping there to find
Ganem. Their conversation was generally about him, and they inquired
for him of all they met.