278 APPENDIX

companion on this mountain.” So I replied, “ Thou art
welcome.” And we proceeded along the mountain.
And, lo, a party of people came towards us, and I
looked at them, and among them was the man who bore
me upon his shoulders and flew with me. Therefore I
advanced to him, and excused myself to him, addressing
him courteously, and saying to him, “O my friend,
friends act not thus one to another.” The man replied,
“Thou wouldst have destroyed us by thy words of praise
upon my back.” And I rejoined, “Be not displeased
with me; for I had no knowledge of the matter; but I
will never again speak.” So he consented to take me
with him, making a condition with me that I should not
mention God, nor praise Him, upon his back. He then
took me up, and flew away with me as before, until he
conveyed me to my abode, when my wife met me and
saluted me, and congratulated me on my safety; and
she said to me, “ Beware of going forth again with these
people, and be not familiar with them; for they are the
brothers of the devils, and they know not the celebration
of God, whose name be exalted!” I said to her, “How
did thy father live with them?” And she answered
me, “My father was not of them, nor did he as they;
and it is my opinion, since my father is dead, that thou
shouldst sell all that we have, and purchase goods with
the price, and voyage back to thy country and thy
family, and I will go with thee: for I have no need of
residing here in this city after the loss of my mother
and my father.” .

.So upon. this I betook myself to selling the com-
modities of the sheykh,.one thing after another, and. to