284 



DISCOVERY 



with line-drawings in red and blue, representing the 

 pilgrimages to Mecca (see Fig. 2). The surrounding 

 desert is covered with the graves of more ordinary folk. 

 These are marked by heaps of sand into which are 

 stuck branches of palm-trees, for palm-branches, like 



Fig. I.— a SHEIKH'S TOMB. 



the aloe-plants, are believed to be the means of con- 

 veying happiness to the dead who lie beneath. 



The Sheikh Hasan 'AH was only eighteen years old 

 when he died, but from his earliest years he was noted 

 for his piety. He was educated at a small school in 

 his native village, and, as soon as he had learned to 

 read, he spent all his leisure moments studying the 

 Kuran. When he died he was buried in an ordinary 

 grave in the lower desert among his dead fellow- 

 villagers. However, one day, when old 'Ali (his father) 

 was squatting on a bench [mastaleh], with his head 

 resting on his hand, his dead son appeared before him 

 andjcaught hold of him by the wrist, saying. " I am 

 very angry." His father said : " Why are you angry, 

 my son ? " The boy replied : " Because you have 

 not built me a large tomb, and if you do not do so now, 

 I will go away to another village." " Oh, my beloved 

 son," said his father, " to-morrow morning I will 

 begin to build a fine tomb for you." Young 'Ali 

 held a paper in his hand, and he now presented this to 

 his father, telling him that on it were written full 

 directions for the building of the tomb, together with 

 a specification of the exact spot where it was to be 



built, and also as to where would be found a well of 

 water, the locality of which was hitherto unknown. 



The tomb was built with all speed, the workmen 

 following the instructions written on the paper 

 presented to old 'Ali by his son. The well was sunk 

 on the spot indicated, and the water from it is excellent. 

 The father states most emphatically that he was wide 

 awake when his son appeared to him. \Mien I 

 questioned old 'Ali as to what he had done with the 

 paper, he told me that it had been lost by the workmen. 



A small model of a boat is hung up in the Sheikh 

 Hasan '.-Vli's tomb, as in the tombs of most sheikhs. 

 This is an ancient custom still adhered to, the boat 

 being called " the ferry-boat." 



A certain Sheikh Seyd was buried in a dome -shaped 

 tomb near a large town in Middle Egypt. Thougli 

 his burial-place was not far from the capital of the 

 province, the locality was somewhat inaccessible. 

 Moreover, he was displeased with the people who 

 lived in the village adjacent to his tomb. The sheikh 

 therefore appeared one night to a man who lived 

 near to the capital of. a neighbouring province and 

 led him to a site in the cultivation, where he in- 

 structed him to build him a tomb, pointing out at 

 the same time a spot where he would find a spring 

 of water. Here he commanded the man to sink a 

 well. The tomb was duly built, and it has become a 

 popular resort for all those who seek the sheikh's aid, 

 people flocking here in large crowds every Thursday. 

 Though the newer building can boast the larger 

 number of devotees, many still visit the original tomb. 



Trying a Thief in a Saint's Well 



The Sheikh Seyd's well, situated close to the newer 

 building, serves another purpose besides that of supply- 

 ing the faithful with water. If a man thinks that 

 another has stolen money or anything else from him, 

 he first takes the suspected thief, and washes him in a 

 stream of water, probably in the Bahr el-Yusif. He 

 then conducts him to the Sheikh Seyd's well, where he 

 will seek the assistance of the " servant of the sheikh," 

 who knows at once what is required in such a case and 

 produces a thick rope, such as is used for water-wheels. 

 He firmly knots it round the supposed thief, passing it 

 under his armpits, and the wretched man is then lowered 

 into the well. If he is guilty he simply disappears in the 

 well, and when the servant pulls up the rope, no one is 

 there ! If, on the other hand, he is innocent, the servant 

 pulls him up by the rope, which has remained fastened 

 round his body, and releases him. No one would dream 

 of suspecting him after this infallible proof of his 

 innocence. In the event of his guilt being proved, 

 his dead body will probably be found two or three 

 days later in a stagnant pond of dirty water a long 

 distance away from the well into which he had been 



