..A. CREATION
...B. CREATION AND THE FLOOD
...C. THE CREATION OF MAN
...D. AND E. THE FLOOD
...F. THE MANDAEAN NATION
...G. ANOTHER VERSION OF THE RED SEA STORY
#2--OF ABRAHAM AND YURBA
#3--HOW HIBIL ZIWA FETCHED RUHA FROM THE DARKNESS
#4--THE STORY OF QIQEL AND THE DEATH OF YAHYA
#5-- NEBUCHADNEZZAR`S DAUGHTER
#6--SUN STORIES
#7-- THE BRIDGE AT SHUSTER
#8-- THE FIRE-WORSHIPPER AND ADAM BUL FARAJ
#9-- HOW DANA NUK VISITED THE SEVENTH HEAVEN
#10-- THE MILLENNIUM
#11-- CONCERNING THE MOUNTAIN OF THE MADDAI AND HOW THE TURKS CAME TO TAKE IT
#12-- HOW THE MANDAI AND THEIR GANZIBRA LEFT THE MOUNTAIN FOR A BETTER COUNTRY
#13-- THE CHILD CONCEIVED ON THE 29th NIGHT OF THE MOON
#14-- THE KANSHI UZAHLA
#15-- THE HAUNTINGS
#16-- THE PLAGUE IN SHUSTER
#17-- THE STONE-THROWING
#18-- THE KAFTAR
#19-- BIBI`S SONS AND THEIR STRANGE ADVENTURE
#20-- SHAIKH ZIBID
#21-- OF BEHOLDING EVENTS IN TRANCE
#22-- HOW EVIL SPIRITS ABUSE THE DEAD, ETC.
#23-- MEN WHO HAVE RETURNED FROM DEATH, ETC.
#24-- OF THE POWER T0 SEE SPIRITS
#25-- THE SIMURGH: THE TRUE HISTORY OF RUSTAM AND HIS SON
#26-- HIRMIZ SHAH
#27--THE MAN WHO SOUGHT TO SEE SIN THE MOON
#28-- THE SIMURGH AND HIRMIZ SHAH
Now there was an old man in Shuster cailed 'Aziz 'Azun, a Subbi. He liked the company of the learned and pious and was always to be found at the houses of the Nasurai the rish 'amma, and the ganzowra. He knew the sacred writings and stories, he was possessed of the secret teachings, and he was a very wise old man. He came to Muhammerah and was the guest of the ganzowra there, Yahya bar Adam by name. Talk fell one day upon this room. They were saying, "What can be the meaning of it ! Why do those who sleep there always die?"
When' Aziz 'Aziun heard what they said, he told them, "I will go into this matter and find out the cause. I will enter the room myself and sleep there and see what it can be."
The ganzowra said "We cannot allow it! It is dangerous. We will not permit you to go there for, without doubt, you will die like the rest. It cannot be!"
'Aziz 'Aziun said, "No, no! I must go, and you will see that good will result from my visit to the room."
Now he was very skilled in the matter of exorcism. He took his bedding and went into the garden and furnishing himself with six candles, each of which would live twelve hours, and putting on his finger a skandola he entered the room two hours before sunset. The river ran round the garden, it was a beautiful place! It was the hour of prayer, and he put on his rasta, entered the river, and made his soul very pure with ablutions and prayers, so that if by chance death should overtake him, he would be purified and ready to die. A good Subbi must wear his rasta and purify himself when he approaches death
But, with all that, he was not afraid, not afraid at all. When the ganzowra remonstrated with him and would have persuaded him against staying, he replied, "I like such things! I go into such adventures gladly, and you will see that good will result from my coming here."
The ganzowra left him, and 'Azrz 'Azun remained alone in the room. He kindled a candle and waited. Till midnight he remained sitting there and saw nothing. A fresh breeze blew in and he felt tired and inclined to sleep. But, at about eight of the night, he saw eyes, like fires in the corner of the room, and a creature like an animal. He kindled a second candle. Quickly the creature moved, and as it moved, sounds like wak! Chak! came from its throat. 'Aziz 'Azun said to it, "What are you!" Th creature answered, "And what are you? Why are you sleeping in this garden! I shall kill you!"
'Aziz 'Azun rejoined, "And I shall kill you!" and he rose and stood between the two lit candles and made an incantation around himself which the creature could not cross. Then he spoke again to it, saying, "Why do you come here into the ganzowra's garden, into a place frequented by the Nasurai, tarmidi, and Mandai? Why do you come to this place of prayer and flowers and sweetness, this garden shaded by trees and surrounded by water? Why do you come here?"
The shiviahi replied, "l have been here from ancient times, and live here with my father and mother and family. I do not harm your people, for I do not touch good people; but if a thief comes in to steal, I know it and strangle him. No man would enter this garden by night for a good purpose, and so, when I find a man sleeping here at night, I strangle him!
'Aziz 'Azun laughed and said, "You seem to be an excellent guardian of the ganzowra's property! I will go to the ganzowra and tell him that you are protecting him and keeping away robbers!"
Now 'Aziz 'Azun had an exorcism, a spell against evil (My father procured it from him and engraved on silver armlets for my mother to protect her from evii spirits. This spell gladdens the heart also.) 'Aziz 'Azun had in mind to read this exorcism, but the goblin said to him, "Why are you purposing to read a spell against us! I and my fathers have been here since the earliest times! Are you going to force us to leave this place where we have dwelt so long I guard it and harm none but evil-doers. Shame! Of your favor, let my father, my brothers, and the rest of my family enter the room so that they may speak with you.
'Aziz 'Aziun replied, "I should like to see them. Let them come! We are friends now, and I will not harm them."
The shiviahi's father entered first and saluted 'Aziz 'Azon, saying to him in the Mandaean tongue, "Shloma illakh" (Peace to you!) 'Aziz 'Azan answered, "Haiyat athet!" (May life come). The old father sat and the shiviahi's two wives and his mother, their children, and all the family entered the room. They were like men, but small. Their height was about a foot from the ground. I can tell you exactly because, lady, I have seen one with my own eyes. Thus are the shiviahi but the melki are the size of men and white and shining. I have seen melki, too, for the power is in our family. My father had it, but only I amongst my father's sons have the gift.
'Aziz 'Aziun said to them, "l do not intend to read upon (i.e. exorcise) you, or in any way harm you; but, before I depart hence and leave youin peace, I have something to ask of you. If you will help me, good! but if not, I shall not suffer you or your family to remain in this place !"
The goblin's father said, "Talk with me! I am old and gray and I will tell you everything.
Said 'Aztz 'Azun, "In Shuster there is a house and garden. It is a very clean place and in the garden there are dates and banana-trees. Its owner was a darwish, but he disappeared and no one knew what became of him, so it became the property of the Government. And when any one wishes to rent it and sits in it, he perceives noises. The plates rattle, the furniture knocks, and the water splashes. So all who wish to live there flee away and no one can remain. The darwish was a good and learned man and the Government took the house because he had no relatives. Tell me, what is the cause of those noises, of that tumult, and that shaking?"
The old shiviahi replied, "That is the spirit of the darwish. His neighbors killed him and stole his clothes and money and buried him in the garden. It is his spirit that raps and wishes to speak to people."
'Azlz 'Azi~=n said, 'l am obliged to you!"
The old shiviahi said to him, "If you wish to verify this go to the place. You are a Nasurai and have the power of subduing evil influences and conversing with spirits and no harm can befall you. This darwish wishes to speak to some one by means of rapping."
'Aziz 'Azun was delighted to have a fresh piece of work!
When it was morning the ganzowra came to see if he were alive and knocked at the door. 'Aziz 'Azun answered, "Ha!"
The ganzowra said, "You are still living!\'
Replied 'Aziz 'Azun, "Aye and very happy!" and he issued and bade them all peace and told them all that had happened.
The ganzowra said, "I will give the shiviahi of my food. He is a good watchman, and he and his family shall eat of our victuals.
Then 'Aziz 'Aziun wished them farewell and went back to Shuster.
As regards the darwish's house which was a little outside Shuster in the chol whoever wished to rent it had to go to the hakim for it was Government property. So 'Aziz 'Aziun went to the hakim and said, "I should like to rent that house."
The hakim replied, "Go there! I will give it to you without rent, for no one who takes it remains there."
'Aziz 'Azun took his furniture and his wife (who also was not afraid), and they went and put their bedding and carpets and other belongings in the house. There was a pretty garden, the air was pure and there were trees: in short, it was a good garden and house. Before night came, 'Aziz 'Azun said to his wife, "For the first two hours of the night I will sleep whilst you watch, if you are not afraid>"
She said, "I am not afraid. I want to see what will happen!" for both were people of knowledge, and people of knowledge are afraid of nothing.
He slept ('Aziz 'Azun), and his wife remained sitting. At four hours of the night there had been no noise, as she was sleepy and wished to sleep, she said to her husband: "Rise, 'Aziz 'Azun! Qom yahum! (Rise, wake!) He sat up and said, "What did you see?''
She answered, "There was no noise, there was absolutely nothing at all!"
Then he sat up, and watched while she slept. He sat there till eight of the night, and then a brass basin on the table began to knock against it. 'Aziz ~Azun said, "lf you are a melek (spirit) talk to me by rapping (bi daqq) and it a shiviahi talk to me in raps, and if (the spirit) of a man, also talk to me in raps."
We have a book called the Asfar Malwasha and in it there is information of a tirkhana, a kind of alphabet: one stroke means 'aleph', two 'ba' and so on, enabling a person: to talk by means of there strokes, or knocks. 'Aziz 'Azun knew this form of counting (hasab) from the Asfar Malwasha and so was able to understand when the spirit began to talk with him in raps.
It said: "I am such-and-such a darwish, of the people of the Sunset (Moors). There who killed me were three, my neighbours So-and-So, So-and-So, and So-and-So. They buried me in the garden near the large olive-tree."
'Aziz 'Azun wrote it all down.
The spirit continued, "I wish your honor to go to the hakim and tell him that the darwish So-and-So was murdered by his neighbors So-and-So and let him give justice."
'Aziz 'Azun replied, "I will do so gladly. I will go today to the hakim and will make vengeance."
Said the ghost, "When you have caused justice to be done, whatever you desire to know, I will inform you."
Said 'Aziz 'Azun, "I am grateful. Let morning come and I will go and get justice done."
Morning came, and it was dawn and the darwish rapped, "In the keeping of God!'' and 'Azlz 'Azun bade him farewell.
His wife awoke from sleep and asked him what he had seen.
He answered, 'I saw him, and we shall profit very much by his knowledge!" She rejoiced and was very happy. 'Aziz 'Azun went to the ganzowra of Shuster and said, "I have seen a man, a darwish. Did your honor know the darwish who lived in that house !"
The ganzowra said, "Aye, he was a very good man, constantly engaged in piety, and prayed to God at every meal-time. He dressed in white."
Then 'Aziz 'Aziun told him all and the ganzowra went with him to the hakim and they went to the haqq, the law courts.
They saluted the hakim, who was pleased to see the ganzowra, whom he liked very much. The hakim said to the ganzowra, "Amr jinabak! What does your reverence command? Seldom do you come here, I see little of you."
The ganzowra said, "There is a strange matter in hand."
Said the other, "What is it? Of what shape?"
The ganzowra said, "In that old hosh which belonged to the darwish! He was killed by such and such men who buried him beneath an olive tree in the garden. No doubt, your honor will see justice done."
The hakim said, "How do you know that there men murdered him?"
He answered, " 'Aziz 'Azun, who took the house from your honor, went there last night, and conversed with the spirit of the darwish by means of raps."
And a learned man, a Seyyid, who was sitting with the hakim, said, "Without doubt, the Subba make useful researches and turn knowledge to account."
The hakim said, "I will make complete justice upon them and we will see the result." He sent for the men and said to them, "Why did you kill that darwish?"
They said, "La! Kheyr! No indeed! We did not! We did nothing!"
He said, "It will be better for you to tell the truth. If do not, I will beat you to death!" and his people seize three men and tied them up to beat the They still denied The hakim looked in the face of one of them and saw that he was afraid. He took him and said, "Beat him! Make him speak!" They brought a bundle of pomegranate twigs and began to beat him, saying, "If you won't talk, you shall die!"
He said, "Don't kill me! I and those two we murdered him!"
They said, "Where did you bury him."
He answered, "We buried him in the garden, under the olive tree."
They asked him, "What did you hide of his belongings!"
Said he, "We took one thousand laibi (gold coins)."
They said, "What else!"
He said, "We took a brass saraj (a basin for oil) with writing upon it."
Said they, 'Go and bring it!" The three went and brought back the money and the saraj. The hakim was delighted and said, "Now we will go and see where the darwish is buried, for this is a very strange thing!" All went to the garden; the hakim, the three men, the ganzowra, 'Aziz 'Azun, and some soldiers. They dug beneath the olive-tree and they found the strangled man. But there was no smell of decay about the body and it was not stiff, but flexible. They were greatly astonished at its condition and took it to the doctoriya and people of learning, who said, "There must be life in it as it does not stink."
He was dead, however, and the tabib (physician) took it to his house and put it in a coffin in his room, and all that visited it were cured. If a barren woman approached it she had a child. This marvelous occurrence was of God. One man stole an arm from the corpse and sold it for much money, and 'Aziz 'Azun cut off the other arm and kept it. The corpse of that darwish was like a doctor itself for it worked cures.
The arm that 'Aziz 'Azun took he kept in his house and received much money from people who came to visit it. One miracle was this: a woman who had seven ugly daughters came to him. The girls were so hideous that no one would marry them, but after she visited the arm within a week their mother married all seven of them.
In Muhammerah, in the garden of our ganzowra there wad a room of which it was said that if a person slept in it he would be found dead the next morning. Sometimes a marauder or thief entering the garden would go in there to sleep and the next day he would be found dead lying as if asleep with his weapons, his dagger, knife, and revolver still upon him. This happened several times and the ganzowra forbade any of his people to sleep in the room. The garden was a lovely place, with flowers, fruit, and shade: by day very beautiful and pure, but none who knew dared enter that place by night.
Now there was an old man in Shuster cailed 'Aziz 'Azun, a Subbi. He liked the company of the learned and pious and was always to be found at the houses of the Nasurai the rish 'amma, and the ganzowra. He knew the sacred writings and stories, he was possessed of the secret teachings, and he was a very wise old man. He came to Muhammerah and was the guest of the ganzowra there, Yahya bar Adam by name. Talk fell one day upon this room. They were saying, "What can be the meaning of it ! Why do those who sleep there always die?"
When' Aziz 'Aziun heard what they said, he told them, "I will go into this matter and find out the cause. I will enter the room myself and sleep there and see what it can be."
The ganzowra said "We cannot allow it! It is dangerous. We will not permit you to go there for, without doubt, you will die like the rest. It cannot be!"
'Aziz 'Aziun said, "No, no! I must go, and you will see that good will result from my visit to the room."
Now he was very skilled in the matter of exorcism. He took his bedding and went into the garden and furnishing himself with six candles, each of which would live twelve hours, and putting on his finger a skandola he entered the room two hours before sunset. The river ran round the garden, it was a beautiful place! It was the hour of prayer, and he put on his rasta, entered the river, and made his soul very pure with ablutions and prayers, so that if by chance death should overtake him, he would be purified and ready to die. A good Subbi must wear his rasta and purify himself when he approaches death
But, with all that, he was not afraid, not afraid at all. When the ganzowra remonstrated with him and would have persuaded him against staying, he replied, "I like such things! I go into such adventures gladly, and you will see that good will result from my coming here."
The ganzowra left him, and 'Azrz 'Azun remained alone in the room. He kindled a candle and waited. Till midnight he remained sitting there and saw nothing. A fresh breeze blew in and he felt tired and inclined to sleep. But, at about eight of the night, he saw eyes, like fires in the corner of the room, and a creature like an animal. He kindled a second candle. Quickly the creature moved, and as it moved, sounds like wak! Chak! came from its throat. 'Aziz 'Azun said to it, "What are you!" Th creature answered, "And what are you? Why are you sleeping in this garden! I shall kill you!"
'Aziz 'Azun rejoined, "And I shall kill you!" and he rose and stood between the two lit candles and made an incantation around himself which the creature could not cross. Then he spoke again to it, saying, "Why do you come here into the ganzowra's garden, into a place frequented by the Nasurai, tarmidi, and Mandai? Why do you come to this place of prayer and flowers and sweetness, this garden shaded by trees and surrounded by water? Why do you come here?"
The shiviahi replied, "l have been here from ancient times, and live here with my father and mother and family. I do not harm your people, for I do not touch good people; but if a thief comes in to steal, I know it and strangle him. No man would enter this garden by night for a good purpose, and so, when I find a man sleeping here at night, I strangle him!
'Aziz 'Azun laughed and said, "You seem to be an excellent guardian of the ganzowra's property! I will go to the ganzowra and tell him that you are protecting him and keeping away robbers!"
Now 'Aziz 'Azun had an exorcism, a spell against evil (My father procured it from him and engraved on silver armlets for my mother to protect her from evii spirits. This spell gladdens the heart also.) 'Aziz 'Azun had in mind to read this exorcism, but the goblin said to him, "Why are you purposing to read a spell against us! I and my fathers have been here since the earliest times! Are you going to force us to leave this place where we have dwelt so long I guard it and harm none but evil-doers. Shame! Of your favor, let my father, my brothers, and the rest of my family enter the room so that they may speak with you.
'Aziz 'Aziun replied, "I should like to see them. Let them come! We are friends now, and I will not harm them."
The shiviahi's father entered first and saluted 'Aziz 'Azon, saying to him in the Mandaean tongue, "Shloma illakh" (Peace to you!) 'Aziz 'Azan answered, "Haiyat athet!" (May life come). The old father sat and the shiviahi's two wives and his mother, their children, and all the family entered the room. They were like men, but small. Their height was about a foot from the ground. I can tell you exactly because, lady, I have seen one with my own eyes. Thus are the shiviahi but the melki are the size of men and white and shining. I have seen melki, too, for the power is in our family. My father had it, but only I amongst my father's sons have the gift.
'Aziz 'Aziun said to them, "l do not intend to read upon (i.e. exorcise) you, or in any way harm you; but, before I depart hence and leave youin peace, I have something to ask of you. If you will help me, good! but if not, I shall not suffer you or your family to remain in this place !"
The goblin's father said, "Talk with me! I am old and gray and I will tell you everything.
Said 'Aztz 'Azun, "In Shuster there is a house and garden. It is a very clean place and in the garden there are dates and banana-trees. Its owner was a darwish, but he disappeared and no one knew what became of him, so it became the property of the Government. And when any one wishes to rent it and sits in it, he perceives noises. The plates rattle, the furniture knocks, and the water splashes. So all who wish to live there flee away and no one can remain. The darwish was a good and learned man and the Government took the house because he had no relatives. Tell me, what is the cause of those noises, of that tumult, and that shaking?"
The old shiviahi replied, "That is the spirit of the darwish. His neighbors killed him and stole his clothes and money and buried him in the garden. It is his spirit that raps and wishes to speak to people."
'Azlz 'Azin said, 'l am obliged to you!"
The old shiviahi said to him, "If you wish to verify this go to the place. You are a Nasurai and have the power of subduing evil influences and conversing with spirits and no harm can befall you. This darwish wishes to speak to some one by means of rapping."
'Aziz 'Azun was delighted to have a fresh piece of work!
When it was morning the ganzowra came to see if he were alive and knocked at the door. 'Aziz 'Azun answered, "Ha!"
The ganzowra said, "You are still living!\'
Replied 'Aziz 'Azun, "Aye and very happy!" and he issued and bade them all peace and told them all that had happened.
The ganzowra said, "I will give the shiviahi of my food. He is a good watchman, and he and his family shall eat of our victuals.
Then 'Aziz 'Aziun wished them farewell and went back to Shuster.
As regards the darwish's house which was a little outside Shuster in the chol whoever wished to rent it had to go to the hakim for it was Government property. So 'Aziz 'Aziun went to the hakim and said, "I should like to rent that house."
The hakim replied, "Go there! I will give it to you without rent, for no one who takes it remains there."
'Aziz 'Azun took his furniture and his wife (who also was not afraid), and they went and put their bedding and carpets and other belongings in the house. There was a pretty garden, the air was pure and there were trees: in short, it was a good garden and house. Before night came, 'Aziz 'Azun said to his wife, "For the first two hours of the night I will sleep whilst you watch, if you are not afraid>"
She said, "I am not afraid. I want to see what will happen!" for both were people of knowledge, and people of knowledge are afraid of nothing.
He slept ('Aziz 'Azun), and his wife remained sitting. At four hours of the night there had been no noise, as she was sleepy and wished to sleep, she said to her husband: "Rise, 'Aziz 'Azun! Qom yahum! (Rise, wake!) He sat up and said, "What did you see?''
She answered, "There was no noise, there was absolutely nothing at all!"
Then he sat up, and watched while she slept. He sat there till eight of the night, and then a brass basin on the table began to knock against it. 'Aziz ~Azun said, "lf you are a melek (spirit) talk to me by rapping (bi daqq) and it a shiviahi talk to me in raps, and if (the spirit) of a man, also talk to me in raps."
We have a book called the Asfar Malwasha and in it there is information of a tirkhana, a kind of alphabet: one stroke means 'aleph', two 'ba' and so on, enabling a person: to talk by means of there strokes, or knocks. 'Aziz 'Azun knew this form of counting (hasab) from the Asfar Malwasha and so was able to understand when the spirit began to talk with him in raps.
It said: "I am such-and-such a darwish, of the people of the Sunset (Moors). There who killed me were three, my neighbours So-and-So, So-and-So, and So-and-So. They buried me in the garden near the large olive-tree."
'Aziz 'Azun wrote it all down.
The spirit continued, "I wish your honor to go to the hakim and tell him that the darwish So-and-So was murdered by his neighbors So-and-So and let him give justice."
'Aziz 'Azun replied, "I will do so gladly. I will go today to the hakim and will make vengeance."
Said the ghost, "When you have caused justice to be done, whatever you desire to know, I will inform you."
Said 'Aziz 'Azun, "I am grateful. Let morning come and I will go and get justice done."
Morning came, and it was dawn and the darwish rapped, "In the keeping of God!'' and 'Azlz 'Azun bade him farewell.
His wife awoke from sleep and asked him what he had seen.
He answered, 'I saw him, and we shall profit very much by his knowledge!" She rejoiced and was very happy. 'Aziz 'Azun went to the ganzowra of Shuster and said, "I have seen a man, a darwish. Did your honor know the darwish who lived in that house !"
The ganzowra said, "Aye, he was a very good man, constantly engaged in piety, and prayed to God at every meal-time. He dressed in white."
Then 'Aziz 'Aziun told him all and the ganzowra went with him to the hakim and they went to the haqq, the law courts.
They saluted the hakim, who was pleased to see the ganzowra, whom he liked very much. The hakim said to the ganzowra, "Amr jinabak! What does your reverence command? Seldom do you come here, I see little of you."
The ganzowra said, "There is a strange matter in hand."
Said the other, "What is it? Of what shape?"
The ganzowra said, "In that old hosh which belonged to the darwish! He was killed by such and such men who buried him beneath an olive tree in the garden. No doubt, your honor will see justice done."
The hakim said, "How do you know that there men murdered him?"
He answered, " 'Aziz 'Azun, who took the house from your honor, went there last night, and conversed with the spirit of the darwish by means of raps."
And a learned man, a Seyyid, who was sitting with the hakim, said, "Without doubt, the Subba make useful researches and turn knowledge to account."
The hakim said, "I will make complete justice upon them and we will see the result." He sent for the men and said to them, "Why did you kill that darwish?"
They said, "La! Kheyr! No indeed! We did not! We did nothing!"
He said, "It will be better for you to tell the truth. If do not, I will beat you to death!" and his people seize three men and tied them up to beat the They still denied The hakim looked in the face of one of them and saw that he was afraid. He took him and said, "Beat him! Make him speak!" They brought a bundle of pomegranate twigs and began to beat him, saying, "If you won't talk, you shall die!"
He said, "Don't kill me! I and those two we murdered him!"
They said, "Where did you bury him."
He answered, "We buried him in the garden, under the olive tree."
They asked him, "What did you hide of his belongings!"
Said he, "We took one thousand laibi (gold coins)."
They said, "What else!"
He said, "We took a brass saraj (a basin for oil) with writing upon it."
Said they, 'Go and bring it!" The three went and brought back the money and the saraj. The hakim was delighted and said, "Now we will go and see where the darwish is buried, for this is a very strange thing!" All went to the garden; the hakim, the three men, the ganzowra, 'Aziz 'Azun, and some soldiers. They dug beneath the olive-tree and they found the strangled man. But there was no smell of decay about the body and it was not stiff, but flexible. They were greatly astonished at its condition and took it to the doctoriya and people of learning, who said, "There must be life in it as it does not stink."
He was dead, however, and the tabib (physician) took it to his house and put it in a coffin in his room, and all that visited it were cured. If a barren woman approached it she had a child. This marvelous occurrence was of God. One man stole an arm from the corpse and sold it for much money, and 'Aziz 'Azun cut off the other arm and kept it. The corpse of that darwish was like a doctor itself for it worked cures.
The arm that 'Aziz 'Azun took he kept in his house and received much money from people who came to visit it. One miracle was this: a woman who had seven ugly daughters came to him. The girls were so hideous that no one would marry them, but after she visited the arm within a week their mother married all seven of them.
..A. CREATION
...B. CREATION AND THE FLOOD
...C. THE CREATION OF MAN
...D. AND E. THE FLOOD
...F. THE MANDAEAN NATION
...G. ANOTHER VERSION OF THE RED SEA STORY
#2--OF ABRAHAM AND YURBA
#3--HOW HIBIL ZIWA FETCHED RUHA FROM THE DARKNESS
#4--THE STORY OF QIQEL AND THE DEATH OF YAHYA
#5-- NEBUCHADNEZZAR`S DAUGHTER
#6--SUN STORIES
#7-- THE BRIDGE AT SHUSTER
#8-- THE FIRE-WORSHIPPER AND ADAM BUL FARAJ
#9-- HOW DANA NUK VISITED THE SEVENTH HEAVEN
#10-- THE MILLENNIUM
#11-- CONCERNING THE MOUNTAIN OF THE MADDAI AND HOW THE TURKS CAME TO TAKE IT
#12-- HOW THE MANDAI AND THEIR GANZIBRA LEFT THE MOUNTAIN FOR A BETTER COUNTRY
#13-- THE CHILD CONCEIVED ON THE 29th NIGHT OF THE MOON
#14-- THE KANSHI UZAHLA
#15-- THE HAUNTINGS
#16-- THE PLAGUE IN SHUSTER
#17-- THE STONE-THROWING
#18-- THE KAFTAR
#19-- BIBI`S SONS AND THEIR STRANGE ADVENTURE
#20-- SHAIKH ZIBID
#21-- OF BEHOLDING EVENTS IN TRANCE
#22-- HOW EVIL SPIRITS ABUSE THE DEAD, ETC.
#23-- MEN WHO HAVE RETURNED FROM DEATH, ETC.
#24-- OF THE POWER T0 SEE SPIRITS
#25-- THE SIMURGH: THE TRUE HISTORY OF RUSTAM AND HIS SON
#26-- HIRMIZ SHAH
#27--THE MAN WHO SOUGHT TO SEE SIN THE MOON
#28-- THE SIMURGH AND HIRMIZ SHAH
..A. CREATION
...B. CREATION AND THE FLOOD
...C. THE CREATION OF MAN
...D. AND E. THE FLOOD
...F. THE MANDAEAN NATION
...G. ANOTHER VERSION OF THE RED SEA STORY
#2--OF ABRAHAM AND YURBA
#3--HOW HIBIL ZIWA FETCHED RUHA FROM THE DARKNESS
#4--THE STORY OF QIQEL AND THE DEATH OF YAHYA
#5-- NEBUCHADNEZZAR`S DAUGHTER
#6--SUN STORIES
#7-- THE BRIDGE AT SHUSTER
#8-- THE FIRE-WORSHIPPER AND ADAM BUL FARAJ
#9-- HOW DANA NUK VISITED THE SEVENTH HEAVEN
#10-- THE MILLENNIUM
#11-- CONCERNING THE MOUNTAIN OF THE MADDAI AND HOW THE TURKS CAME TO TAKE IT
#12-- HOW THE MANDAI AND THEIR GANZIBRA LEFT THE MOUNTAIN FOR A BETTER COUNTRY
#13-- THE CHILD CONCEIVED ON THE 29th NIGHT OF THE MOON
#14-- THE KANSHI UZAHLA
#15-- THE HAUNTINGS
#16-- THE PLAGUE IN SHUSTER
#17-- THE STONE-THROWING
#18-- THE KAFTAR
#19-- BIBI`S SONS AND THEIR STRANGE ADVENTURE
#20-- SHAIKH ZIBID
#21-- OF BEHOLDING EVENTS IN TRANCE
#22-- HOW EVIL SPIRITS ABUSE THE DEAD, ETC.
#23-- MEN WHO HAVE RETURNED FROM DEATH, ETC.
#24-- OF THE POWER T0 SEE SPIRITS
#25-- THE SIMURGH: THE TRUE HISTORY OF RUSTAM AND HIS SON
#26-- HIRMIZ SHAH
#27--THE MAN WHO SOUGHT TO SEE SIN THE MOON
#28-- THE SIMURGH AND HIRMIZ SHAH
..A. CREATION
...B. CREATION AND THE FLOOD
...C. THE CREATION OF MAN
...D. AND E. THE FLOOD
...F. THE MANDAEAN NATION
...G. ANOTHER VERSION OF THE RED SEA STORY
#2--OF ABRAHAM AND YURBA
#3--HOW HIBIL ZIWA FETCHED RUHA FROM THE DARKNESS
#4--THE STORY OF QIQEL AND THE DEATH OF YAHYA
#5-- NEBUCHADNEZZAR`S DAUGHTER
#6--SUN STORIES
#7-- THE BRIDGE AT SHUSTER
#8-- THE FIRE-WORSHIPPER AND ADAM BUL FARAJ
#9-- HOW DANA NUK VISITED THE SEVENTH HEAVEN
#10-- THE MILLENNIUM
#11-- CONCERNING THE MOUNTAIN OF THE MADDAI AND HOW THE TURKS CAME TO TAKE IT
#12-- HOW THE MANDAI AND THEIR GANZIBRA LEFT THE MOUNTAIN FOR A BETTER COUNTRY
#13-- THE CHILD CONCEIVED ON THE 29th NIGHT OF THE MOON
#14-- THE KANSHI UZAHLA
#15-- THE HAUNTINGS
#16-- THE PLAGUE IN SHUSTER
#17-- THE STONE-THROWING
#18-- THE KAFTAR
#19-- BIBI`S SONS AND THEIR STRANGE ADVENTURE
#20-- SHAIKH ZIBID
#21-- OF BEHOLDING EVENTS IN TRANCE
#22-- HOW EVIL SPIRITS ABUSE THE DEAD, ETC.
#23-- MEN WHO HAVE RETURNED FROM DEATH, ETC.
#24-- OF THE POWER T0 SEE SPIRITS
#25-- THE SIMURGH: THE TRUE HISTORY OF RUSTAM AND HIS SON
#26-- HIRMIZ SHAH
#27--THE MAN WHO SOUGHT TO SEE SIN THE MOON
#28-- THE SIMURGH AND HIRMIZ SHAH
..A. CREATION
...B. CREATION AND THE FLOOD
...C. THE CREATION OF MAN
...D. AND E. THE FLOOD
...F. THE MANDAEAN NATION
...G. ANOTHER VERSION OF THE RED SEA STORY
#2--OF ABRAHAM AND YURBA
#3--HOW HIBIL ZIWA FETCHED RUHA FROM THE DARKNESS
#4--THE STORY OF QIQEL AND THE DEATH OF YAHYA
#5-- NEBUCHADNEZZAR`S DAUGHTER
#6--SUN STORIES
#7-- THE BRIDGE AT SHUSTER
#8-- THE FIRE-WORSHIPPER AND ADAM BUL FARAJ
#9-- HOW DANA NUK VISITED THE SEVENTH HEAVEN
#10-- THE MILLENNIUM
#11-- CONCERNING THE MOUNTAIN OF THE MADDAI AND HOW THE TURKS CAME TO TAKE IT
#12-- HOW THE MANDAI AND THEIR GANZIBRA LEFT THE MOUNTAIN FOR A BETTER COUNTRY
#13-- THE CHILD CONCEIVED ON THE 29th NIGHT OF THE MOON
#14-- THE KANSHI UZAHLA
#15-- THE HAUNTINGS
#16-- THE PLAGUE IN SHUSTER
#17-- THE STONE-THROWING
#18-- THE KAFTAR
#19-- BIBI`S SONS AND THEIR STRANGE ADVENTURE
#20-- SHAIKH ZIBID
#21-- OF BEHOLDING EVENTS IN TRANCE
#22-- HOW EVIL SPIRITS ABUSE THE DEAD, ETC.
#23-- MEN WHO HAVE RETURNED FROM DEATH, ETC.
#24-- OF THE POWER T0 SEE SPIRITS
#25-- THE SIMURGH: THE TRUE HISTORY OF RUSTAM AND HIS SON
#26-- HIRMIZ SHAH
#27--THE MAN WHO SOUGHT TO SEE SIN THE MOON
#28-- THE SIMURGH AND HIRMIZ SHAH
..A. CREATION
...B. CREATION AND THE FLOOD
...C. THE CREATION OF MAN
...D. AND E. THE FLOOD
...F. THE MANDAEAN NATION
...G. ANOTHER VERSION OF THE RED SEA STORY
#2--OF ABRAHAM AND YURBA
#3--HOW HIBIL ZIWA FETCHED RUHA FROM THE DARKNESS
#4--THE STORY OF QIQEL AND THE DEATH OF YAHYA
#5-- NEBUCHADNEZZAR`S DAUGHTER
#6--SUN STORIES
#7-- THE BRIDGE AT SHUSTER
#8-- THE FIRE-WORSHIPPER AND ADAM BUL FARAJ
#9-- HOW DANA NUK VISITED THE SEVENTH HEAVEN
#10-- THE MILLENNIUM
#11-- CONCERNING THE MOUNTAIN OF THE MADDAI AND HOW THE TURKS CAME TO TAKE IT
#12-- HOW THE MANDAI AND THEIR GANZIBRA LEFT THE MOUNTAIN FOR A BETTER COUNTRY
#13-- THE CHILD CONCEIVED ON THE 29th NIGHT OF THE MOON
#14-- THE KANSHI UZAHLA
#15-- THE HAUNTINGS
#16-- THE PLAGUE IN SHUSTER
#17-- THE STONE-THROWING
#18-- THE KAFTAR
#19-- BIBI`S SONS AND THEIR STRANGE ADVENTURE
#20-- SHAIKH ZIBID
#21-- OF BEHOLDING EVENTS IN TRANCE
#22-- HOW EVIL SPIRITS ABUSE THE DEAD, ETC.
#23-- MEN WHO HAVE RETURNED FROM DEATH, ETC.
#24-- OF THE POWER T0 SEE SPIRITS
#25-- THE SIMURGH: THE TRUE HISTORY OF RUSTAM AND HIS SON
#26-- HIRMIZ SHAH
#27--THE MAN WHO SOUGHT TO SEE SIN THE MOON
#28-- THE SIMURGH AND HIRMIZ SHAH
..A. CREATION
...B. CREATION AND THE FLOOD
...C. THE CREATION OF MAN
...D. AND E. THE FLOOD
...F. THE MANDAEAN NATION
...G. ANOTHER VERSION OF THE RED SEA STORY
#2--OF ABRAHAM AND YURBA
#3--HOW HIBIL ZIWA FETCHED RUHA FROM THE DARKNESS
#4--THE STORY OF QIQEL AND THE DEATH OF YAHYA
#5-- NEBUCHADNEZZAR`S DAUGHTER
#6--SUN STORIES
#7-- THE BRIDGE AT SHUSTER
#8-- THE FIRE-WORSHIPPER AND ADAM BUL FARAJ
#9-- HOW DANA NUK VISITED THE SEVENTH HEAVEN
#10-- THE MILLENNIUM
#11-- CONCERNING THE MOUNTAIN OF THE MADDAI AND HOW THE TURKS CAME TO TAKE IT
#12-- HOW THE MANDAI AND THEIR GANZIBRA LEFT THE MOUNTAIN FOR A BETTER COUNTRY
#13-- THE CHILD CONCEIVED ON THE 29th NIGHT OF THE MOON
#14-- THE KANSHI UZAHLA
#15-- THE HAUNTINGS
#16-- THE PLAGUE IN SHUSTER
#17-- THE STONE-THROWING
#18-- THE KAFTAR
#19-- BIBI`S SONS AND THEIR STRANGE ADVENTURE
#20-- SHAIKH ZIBID
#21-- OF BEHOLDING EVENTS IN TRANCE
#22-- HOW EVIL SPIRITS ABUSE THE DEAD, ETC.
#23-- MEN WHO HAVE RETURNED FROM DEATH, ETC.
#24-- OF THE POWER T0 SEE SPIRITS
#25-- THE SIMURGH: THE TRUE HISTORY OF RUSTAM AND HIS SON
#26-- HIRMIZ SHAH
#27--THE MAN WHO SOUGHT TO SEE SIN THE MOON
#28-- THE SIMURGH AND HIRMIZ SHAH
..A. CREATION
...B. CREATION AND THE FLOOD
...C. THE CREATION OF MAN
...D. AND E. THE FLOOD
...F. THE MANDAEAN NATION
...G. ANOTHER VERSION OF THE RED SEA STORY
#2--OF ABRAHAM AND YURBA
#3--HOW HIBIL ZIWA FETCHED RUHA FROM THE DARKNESS
#4--THE STORY OF QIQEL AND THE DEATH OF YAHYA
#5-- NEBUCHADNEZZAR`S DAUGHTER
#6--SUN STORIES
#7-- THE BRIDGE AT SHUSTER
#8-- THE FIRE-WORSHIPPER AND ADAM BUL FARAJ
#9-- HOW DANA NUK VISITED THE SEVENTH HEAVEN
#10-- THE MILLENNIUM
#11-- CONCERNING THE MOUNTAIN OF THE MADDAI AND HOW THE TURKS CAME TO TAKE IT
#12-- HOW THE MANDAI AND THEIR GANZIBRA LEFT THE MOUNTAIN FOR A BETTER COUNTRY
#13-- THE CHILD CONCEIVED ON THE 29th NIGHT OF THE MOON
#14-- THE KANSHI UZAHLA
#15-- THE HAUNTINGS
#16-- THE PLAGUE IN SHUSTER
#17-- THE STONE-THROWING
#18-- THE KAFTAR
#19-- BIBI`S SONS AND THEIR STRANGE ADVENTURE
#20-- SHAIKH ZIBID
#21-- OF BEHOLDING EVENTS IN TRANCE
#22-- HOW EVIL SPIRITS ABUSE THE DEAD, ETC.
#23-- MEN WHO HAVE RETURNED FROM DEATH, ETC.
#24-- OF THE POWER T0 SEE SPIRITS
#25-- THE SIMURGH: THE TRUE HISTORY OF RUSTAM AND HIS SON
#26-- HIRMIZ SHAH
#27--THE MAN WHO SOUGHT TO SEE SIN THE MOON
#28-- THE SIMURGH AND HIRMIZ SHAH
The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran By E.S. Drower Clarendon Press, Oxford,1937 (Reprint Leiden:E.J. Brill 1962) pages 333-341
Narrator: Hirmiz bar Anhar
