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81-3 - Joodar
and His Brethren:
Joodar Goes to Morocco
Thus
the Moor and Joodar rode on the mule till afternoon prayer. Joodar was
feeling hungry, but he did not see any eatables with the Moor, so he said
to him - "You have forgotten to bring us something to eat on the
way." The Moor asked - "Are you feeling hungry?"
"Yes." So both dismounted the mule and took off the saddle bags
and the Moor asked him - "What will you like to eat?"
"Anything." "No, Just tell me what do you want to
eat?" "Bread and cheese." The Moor said - "O poor
fellow, Bread and cheese are for not for you, wish for something
good." "Do you like nice fried chicken, rice and honey?"
Yes." And the Moor went on asking him till he named at least
two dozen types of meat dishes.
Joodar
thought, "He must be stupid, where from he will bring all this, there
is no kitchen, no cook." So after telling him all he cried -
"That is all for now." "OK." The Moor took out a
golden dish from his saddle bag - it contained two brown chickens; then he
put his hand again in his saddle bag and took out another golden dish
containing Kabaabs; and he continued to take out golden dishes containing
40
types of meat dishes, some of which Joodar had named for. Joodar exclaimed - "So
you keep the whole kitchen and cooks in your saddle bag?" The Moor said -
"These are magical saddle bags and have a servant who can bring us
thousands of dishes if we call for them."
On
the 613th Night
They
both ate food till they were satisfied. Then the Moor replaced the emptied
dishes into the saddle bag and took out the drinking things. Then they
drank and prayed the afternoon prayer, and set off for their journey
again. He asked Joodar - "Can you tell how far we have come from
Cairo?" "Not I, by Allaah." The Moor said - "We have
come a whole month's journey." "And how is that?"
"This mule is a Mareed of the Jinn who everyday performs a year's
journey, but for your sake she is going at an easy pace." They traveled
till nightfall and then the Moor brought out the supper for both of them.
Next morning they broke their fast and again started their journey. Thus
they traveled for four days. Whatever Joodar wanted, he could take from
the Moor.
On the
fifth day they arrived at Faiz and Maiquinaiz and entered the city and
came to a door where the Moor knocked and out came a girl to whom he said -
"O my daughter Rahamaa, Open the upper room for us." Joodar said
to himself seeing her - "Oh, She is like a King's daughter." The
Moor took off the saddle bags and thanked the mule. The than the earth
opened up, swallowed the mule and closed again. Seeing Joodar surprised at
this, the Moor said - "Don't be so surprised to see this, I told you
that this mule was an Ifrit. Come with us in the upper room."
So
they went in the upper room and Joodar was again surprised to see the
decoration of that room. The Moor asked his daughter to bring a bundle
from which he took out a dress worth 1,000 Deenaars and gave to Joodar -
"You put on this dress and look like a King of the west. Then he took
out many dishes of meat from his saddle bags and said to Joodar -
"Come and have this food. I do not know what food you like, but
you tell us without hesitation whatever you want to eat; we will set it
before you." Joodar appreciated his behavior and said - "I love
everything so you may give me anything whichever dish you have in
mind."
He
stayed there for 20 days and Moor gave him everyday new clothes and all
these days they ate food from the saddle bags. He did not buy anything
from the market even the fruits. On the 21st day he said to Joodar -
"Today is the day to open the treasure of al-Shamardal." So they
went on foot out of the city where they found two slaves each holding a
she-mule. The Moor mounted on one mule and Joodar mounted on the other one
and went forth till noon when they came to a stream of running water.
There they got down from the mules, the slaves took away the mules and
brought tents and carpets etc. They pitched the tents and prepared them
with carpets and beds etc.
Then
one of them went and brought the caskets containing the two fishes and
another one brought the saddle bags. They both ate the food from the
saddle bags. Then the Moor invoked the fishes and a voice came from within
those caskets - "Adsumus, At your service. Have mercy upon us."
He kept repeating his invocations till both the caskets flew away in
pieces and two men appeared joining their hands. They said - "O
Diviner of the World, What will you do with us?" The Moor said -
"I want to burn you both in fire if you do not open the treasure of
Al-Shamardal." They said - "We promise you to open the treasure,
you give us Joodar bin Umar, the fisherman, because only he can open
it." The Moor said - "I have brought him with me. He is
here." Then they promised to open the treasure and the Moor released
them.
Then
the Moor brought out a hollow wand and tablets of red carnelian. He kept
them on the rod. Then he took out a chaffing dish, set out charcoal on it,
blew one breath into it and it kindled. He brought some incense and said
to Joodar - "O Joodar, I am about to begin the necessary invocations
to open the treasure, and once I have begun this, I may not speak or the
charm will be spoiled, so I teach you what you have to do. Know that when
I have recited the spell, and thrown on the incense, the water will dry up
from the river's bed and will show you a golden door as big as a city
gate. It will have two rings of metal upon it. You go down the door and
knock a little knock and wait a while, then knock for a second time,
louder than the first, and wait for another while; after which give three
knocks in rapid succession.
You
will hear a voice ask "Who knocks at the door of the treasure,
unknowing how to solve the secrets?" Answer it - "I am Joodar
the fisherman, the son of Umar." And the door will open and a figure
will come forth with a sword in hand and will say to you - "If you
are that man, bring forth your neck." and fear not; for when he lifts his
hand and hits with you with the sword, he will fall down before you. And
in a little while you will see a body without soul., he will strike you,
but the stroke will not
hurt you, but if you will contradict him, he will slay you.
When
you have undone his enchantment by obedience, enter and go on till you
come to another door. Do not knock there, rather a horseman will come to
you riding a mare with a spear on his shoulder and will ask to you -
"What brings you here where none may enter, nor man nor Jinn?"
And he will shake his spear at you. Bare your chest to him, he will hit
you and will fall down immediately. You will see his body without soul. Do
not cross him otherwise he will kill you. Then you go on to the third door
where you will see a man with a bow and arrow in his hand taking aim at
you. Bare your chest to him, he will shoot at you and will fall down
before you as a body without soul. Do not oppose him otherwise he will
kill you.
On
the 614th Night
Then
you go on to the fourth door and knock and it will be opened to you. A
lion of a huge body will come to you opening his mouth, but do not fear
him, nor flee from him, rather give him your hand and he will bite at it
and fall down straightway. He will not hurt you. Then
you enter the fifth door where you will find a black slave who will ask
you - "Who are you?" Tell him "I am Joodar." He will
say, "If you are that man then open the sixth door. Then you go to
the sixth door and say, "O Isaa, Tell Moosaa to open the door."
At this the door will fly open and you will see two dragons, one on your
left and another one on your right, which will open their mouths and fly at you
both at once. Put your both hands to them and they will bite each a hand
and will fall down dead; but if you will resist them, they will kill you.
Then
go on to the seventh door and knock, there will come your mother and say -
"Welcome O my son, Come in." But you reply - "Hold off from
me and take off your dress." And she will say - "O son, I am
your mother, I have a claim upon you for suckling you how would you strip
me naked?" Then you will say - "If you will not put off your
dress I will kill you." and look to your right where you will see a
sword hanging up. Take it and draw it upon her saying, "Strip."
She will try to persuade you but you do not be angry at her, just say to
her "Go and take bath." Do not stop threatening her with death
till she takes off all that is upon her body. Then she will fall down and will be
dissolved. Thus all the charms will be undone and you will be safe for your
life.
Now
you enter the hall of treasure where you will see the gold laying in
heaps, but pay no attention to it, but look to a closet at the upper end
of the hall where you will see a curtain drawn. Draw back the curtain and
you will faintly see the enchanter - Al-Shamardal, lying upon the golden
couch with his head upon a round thing shining as a Moon, which will be
the planisphere. He will be having sword, the ring will be on his finger
and a chain will be hanging about his neck in which there will be
Kohl-phial.
Bring
me the four Talismaans and be careful, do not forget what I have told you
otherwise you will have to repent." He repeated his directions a
second, a third and a fourth time; till Joodar said - "I know them
now, but who may face these enchantments that you named against these
mighty terrors?" The Moor said - "Do not fear for they are
without life." "I put my trust in Allaah."
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