100 
JOURNEY FROM 
state, as the cause of this misfortune, that before doing something 
(which our party could not distinctly make out) she had omitted to 
say Bismillah! (in the name of God) a form always used by good and 
pious Mahometans to draw down a blessing upon whatever they are 
about to do. This omission (he declared) had been tire cause of her 
dropping some water upon the head of the spirit’s child, who was pass- 
ing beneath her (under ground) at the time ; and the justly-enraged 
gnome had in consequence leaped into her, and was now in the act 
of tormenting her for the crime. Our party of listeners could hardly 
contain themselves at this most ingenious discovery of the Shereef ; 
but all the Arabs within the tent believed it most fully, and the poor 
girl herself began to cry bitterly and to bewail her hard fate and 
most unlucky omission. The Markbut, however, now bade her take 
comfort, and assured her that the case, though undoubtedly a serious 
one, was not altogether without a remedy. He accordingly called 
up a severe and commanding look, and, in a tone of authority, 
ordered the spirit to leave her. As the pain still continued without 
intermission, it was evident that this personage was not inchned to 
obey ; and the holy man then pronounced him a most obstinate 
Spirit, and told him that he knew of his having entered the woman 
long before she had sent for his assistance : he added, however, that 
he was determined to conquer him, and would not quit his patient 
till morning. At the same time he acknowledged that the task 
would be difficult, for he could clearly perceive that the woman 
was wicked : he knew it (he said) by the breadth of her shoulders, 
and the uncommon blackness of her large rolling eyes, which were 
