A TRANSLATION OF THE KEDDA ANNALS. 473 
his clothes with him. He here hoped to meet Iblis, and 
learn from him all his stratagems and wiles practised towards 
mankind. Before setting out he took his meal and dressed 
himself in his turban with the corner falling down, and a 
snba coat of three folds, and a kittang or vest with four 
folds, and a sash, and he performed his ablutions with holy 
water. When the disciple had set forth, then his guru 
took holy water and offered up a prayer to God that the 
devil might encounter his disciple. The disciple being 
thus seated during the still of the day below the tree, he 
began to read the koran softly, when all of a sudden he 
heard a noise as if some one was approaching, and before 
he could collect himself he received a very smart slap on his 
right cheek, from an invisible hand, and on turning round 
to that side, he got a still smarter slap on his left cheek, 
although all this while he had not ceased reading the koran. 
So growing afraid he ran home, and reported the matter to 
the guru. The latter told him that of course he could not 
expect to see Iblis if he kept reading the koran, since this 
chief of the devils hated to hear it read. Sheikh Abdulla 
the younger went the next day in the same way, and sat 
below the tree; but did not read the koran. It was not 
long before he observed a venerable Sheikh approaching 
him, who was dressed in green, whose beard descended 
below his breast, and who held a staff in his hand. His 
appearance was cpaite astonishing, for his stature was pro¬ 
digious. On reaching the pupil he made a sal am, saying— 
salam aleikum oh Sheikh Abdulla. The latter quickly re¬ 
turned the salutation, asking who the other was, and Hs 
business. Why, said the chief of the devils, did not you 
wish to see me ? So you are indeed the chief of the 
shaitans ? Yes, I am their chief, and now what would you 
desire of me ? Why, replied Sheikh Abdulla, I have been 
exceedingly anxious to meet with you as I desire to have 
you for a guru, or teacher. Iblis replied, how can I become 
your spiritual guide, since all my actions and thoughts are 
the reverse of yours. How can I bear your chidings or 
admonitions. The disciple should put implicit confidence 
in his teacher. All my disciples must be like myself. 
Sheikh Abdulla rejoined — My lord pray instruct me, for I. 
will obey you, and follow what you say, else how can you 
be my guru. Iblis consented, and putting his staff into 
Sheikh Abdulla’s hands, bade him follow his new guru. 
This staff rendered its holder, when he pleased, invisible. 
It would be wandering from the subject of the Kedda 
