YALIYOMO.
Kamba na jiwe ... ... ... ... *.. /
Kisa cha mwana wa Sultani ... ... ... ... /
Kisa cha mtu na nduguye ... ... ... ... j
Mjakazi vttao^a ... ... ... ... ... 5
Mwivi na kiatu... ... ... ..» ... ... 6
Kisa cha wasiri na Sultani wake ... ... ... 6
Kisa cha mtu na mwanawe ... ... ... ... 8
Paka aliye mtaowa ... ... ... ... ... S
Kisa cha Beni Hamdan ... ... ... ... p
Vita y a ngamia ... ... ... ... ... 13
Hadithi ya mwizi na tajiri ... ... ... ... ig
Hikaya ya Mtume ... ... ... ... ... ig
Hadithi y a Abunuwas ... ... ... ... ... 21
Zamani 0a nabii Baud ... ... ... ... 26
Kisa cha mtoto na babaye ... ... ... ... 28
Sadaka ndizo mali ... r.. ... ... ... jo
jni^rano ... ... ... ... «.• ... ••• 34
Vitendawili ... ... ... ... ... ... 25
The rope and the stone,., ... ... ... ... /
The story of a man and his brother ..• ... ... 4
The devout slave womafi ... ... ... ... 6
The thief and the sandal ... ... ... ... 7
Story of the Vizir and his Sultan ... ... ... 7
The story of the man and his son ... ... ... g
The cat that was a devotee ... ... ... ... 10
The story of the sons of Hamdan ... ... ... 10
The war of the camel ... ... ... ... ... 75
The tale of the thief and the merchant ... ... 21
An anecdote of a prophet ... ... ... ... 22
The tale of Abunuwas .. . ... ... ... ... 23
The times of the prophet David ... ... ... 2g
The story of the son and his father ... ... ... ji
Alms are true wealth ... ... ... ... ... 33
Proverbs ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 38
'*t*0 »•* ••• ■•• ••• •*• «*« «J^J
HADITHI ZA KIAEABTT.
KAMBA NA J J WE.
•
FALIKUWA na mtu akaeuda, akasoma ilmu
siku nyisgi, asijue kabisa. Akafanya basira,
akaenda batta akafika kati ya ujia, akaoaa kisima,
akaenda kutazama kaaa pana maji an we, akaona
jiwe la manga, limekatwa na katnba, kwa sababu
killa siku bupita katika lile jiwe. Akasema, bii
kamba, imekata jiwe sababu ya killa siku kamba
kupita juu yake, na mimi 'ntarudi nikasome, mimi
nikiwa moyo.,wangu na uwe kama jiwe, na ilmu
iwe kama kamba, ikate moyo wangu. Akarudi
akasoma, akawa Sbekb mkuu.
KISA CHA MWANA WA SULTANI.
PALIKUWA na mwana wa Sultani akadthi
mail mengi, naye alikuwa karimu sana, yakampotea
mali yake pia, kwa sababu ya ukarimu wake, aka-
ona fetheha, akafanya shauri ya kutoka mji. Aka-
toka akaenda batta akafika mji wa pili, akaona ki-
sima akacbungulia ndani ya kisima, akaona simba.
na nyoka, na mwana adamu. Wakamwambia,
'* Tufae, nasi tuje tukufae." Akamtoa nyoka an
2 MWANA WA SULTANI.
simba, wakamvvanibia, " Ewe bin adamu, twakupa
wasio wetu, mwana adamu hatendewi mema, uki-
mtenda yeye hukulipa maovu." Akanitoa nayule
bin adamu. Yulo simba ukamwambia, '* Ningoje,
ewe mwana adamu." Akaenda yule simba hatta
karibu na mji, akamwona mwana wa Sultani mwa-
namke binti wake, akamkamata, watumwa wakaki-
mbia, akamletea yule kijana ua tuiiza zake, ukniinva-
mbia, " Twaa hivi vyote, mimi nipe huyu kijana
nimle.'* Akamwariibi.i, " Kama utanipa, nipe na
huyu kijana pia." Akampa. Akamjeugea kibanda
aka'mweka. Na yule nyoka akMmtolca mono yake
mawili, akamwambia, *' Ukipatikanana shaka, twaa
jiwe uyagongc insha'allah lakutokea marra." Mle
mjini watu wanamtafuta mwana wa Sultan i, hatta
siku moja yule kijana amekwenda kupiga ndege,
akaja yule mtu aliyetolewa kisimani hatta panapo
nyumbayayale, akamwona mtoto wa Sultaiii, aka-
piga mbio akaenda kuwaita watu mjini, wakaja,
wakamwona mwana wa Sultani na yule kijana.
Wakamtwaa wakamfunga, wakaenda nayc hatta
kwa Sultani, akatwaliwa akafungwa pasipo mtu,
wakampa chakuia. Hatta watumwa wangine wa-
kimwibia vipande vya mkate wakimpa akila. Ilatta
siku moja akanena, " Tajaribu nikatwae jiwe nigo-
nge."
MrU NA NDUGUYE. ^3
Akagonga yale meno nn. jiwo, marra akatokea
nyoka akamwambia, " Mimi leo Sultani akienda
koga, nilamuma. Hatapona ela kwa meno yangu."
Akaenda kuUaa jiiu yabirika. Alipokuja Sultani,
akaiiipiga mdono, akaanguka Sult«ni chini. Wa-
kaja watu wakarachukua, wakaisha watu kutanya
dawa asipone kabi-aa. Akanena, " Mtu atakaye-
^ weza kunifanyia dawa nikapona, nitamwoza rawa-
. nangu nitaropa upande wa mji." Akaja kizee aka-
mwambia, " Mimi nimetazamia bapana mtu ataka-
yeweza kufanya dawa ukapone, ela yule mtu aliye-
fungwa, kamtoeni aje." Wakaeuda wakamleta.
Akamwambia, '* Mimi sijui dawa." Akazunguka
akayasaga yale meno, akampa ynle Sultani, akapa-
ka. Siku i!c marra alipat-.i usingizi. Akamwuza
habari ile. Akampa habari toka mwanzo hatta
mwisho. Akatwaliwa mwana adamu yule akasho-
newa fumba, akatoswa baharini. Tulekijaila aka-
pata daraja ])ora, akaozwa mwana wa Sultani, aka-
kaa kwa raha mustarelie.
KISA CHA MTU NA NDUGUYE.
PALIKUWA na Sultani na nduguye, na yule
nduguye alikuwa raasikini, wakitafuta chakula,
ehakula hawakipati yeye na rakewo. Hatta siku
moja akafanya shauri na mkewe, kutoka mji saba-
bu ya umasikini. Wakatok«k \r»y, ^e^^ ^^^ \ssNfje^'5>
4 AirU 2JA KDDODYE.
na waanawe pia, vrakaenda hatta mji wa pili. VVa-
kafika mahali chini ya mti, wakakaa, wakapumzika.
Na juu ya ule mti pana jini.' Akawauliza, " Enyi
waana adarau mwatenderti hapo ?"
Wakamjibu, " Sisi twakutafuta wewe, mwaka
WA tano huU) na leoimetimia ajaliyuko. ' 8isi tuna
njaa, tutakupika." Akawatuma watoto wake, mrao-
ja akaenda akaleta kamba, na mmoja akaenda aka-
leta moto. Akamwambia mkewe, " Teleka sufu -
ria." Akateleka sufuria, wakamwambia, "Leo
utaona yule shetani." Akawaambia, " Msiniue,
ball twaeni hii sufuria, kwa killa kitu mkitakacho
itawa'pa hii sufuria." Akawapa sufuria.
Wakaenda zao hatta njjini mwao, killa wakitaka
kitu hupata katika ile sufuria. Wakaonekana
nyumba yao haifuki moshi. Hatta yule mkewe
siku moja akaenda kule kwa nduguye mumewe.
Yule mkewe akamuza, "Enyi kwanza mlikuwa
mkiomba, sasa kwani ham worn bi ?" Akamweleza
habari toka mwanzo hatta mwisho. Na yule aka-
mwambia mumewe, " Bwana, nasi twende tuka-
tafute." Wakatoka wakaenda hatta wakafika
palepale. Akawaona akawauza, "Mwatakani?"
Wakamwambia, "Tunakutafuta wewe." Yule
sultani akawaambia waanawe. Wakamwambia,
"Tumeckoka, hatuwezi kwenda kutafuta kuni na
MJAKAZl M'I'AUWA. .)
kamba." Akamwambia mkewe, *Teleka sufuria
mekoni." Akamwambia, "Nimechoka." Yule
sbetaiii akawaambia, "Ha*mwezi nyie, mwataka
kufa burre, liatta shauri yciiu si moja, rudini
inchini mwenu, na killa samli muayofanya mpe-
lekeeni yeye." Wakarudi mbio hatta mjini niwao,
hasara ikawajilia ya killa wakifanya samli, bnpele-
kea nduguye, kwa sababu ya tamaa yao.
MJAKAZI MTAOWA.
PALIKUWA NA mtu, akaranunua mjak;i7.i kwa
asharat alnf dinar, akakaa akamtezamamjnknzi wa-
ke, akalia sana. Yule mjakazi akamwuliza, 'U-
nalilia nini bwana wangu ?" Akamwambia, "Ma-
cho yako mawili, killa nikiyatazama hunishughuli-
sha, hatta katika ibada ya Mola wangu siwezi ku-
abudu kwa uzuri wa macho yako."
Akatoka yule bwana, yule mjakazi akayatoa
macho yake yote mawili kwa kidole, akayatupa.
Alipokuja bwana wake akamwoua hali ile na macho
hana, akamwambia, "Kwa nini ukafanya hivi?" A-
kamwambia, "Mimi sipendinenoambalolitakushu-
ghulisha hatta katika ibada ya Mola wako."
Akamwambia, **Nimekynunua kwa asharat alaf
dinar, sasa ukiwa hali hii sitapata fetha yangu,
imetoka thamani yako." Akalia sana yule bvkaxs^'^
RIWIVl NA KIATU.
wake, jikafj.nya liuzuni. Hatta iikawa us^ku aka-
lala, akamjia lint'f nkaniwambia, **Sasa huyu nmei-
vunja tlia.nani yake kwako, bassi sisi tujb|iiM"u1iua,
iitaiona thamani yako cliini ya irto wako." .■ Hatta
«lipoamka assubui, akafunua mto akaona fetha za-
ke, akamtazama nijakazi, amekufa.
MWIVI NA KIATU.
PALIKUWA iianitu amechukua kondoo wake,
akacnda, hatta njiaui akaona kiatu cha mguu m-
moja kizuri Sana. Akasema, "Kiatu hichi kizuri,
wallakini kimoja tu, hakifai." Akaenda zake.
Hatta akifika mwendo wa nussu saa akaona kiatu
cha pili, namna moja na kile, akasema, "Nitufu-
iiga kondoo wangu hapa, nikatwae kiatu kilenili-
chokiona kwanza na hichi, nije bapa, nicbukue na
kondoo wangu niende zangu/' Akamfunga ko-
ndoo wake pale, akarudi, kwenda kutwaa kile ki-
atu kule. Akaona kiatu hapana, akarejea mbio
kunako kondoo wake akaona kondoo hapana, wa-
la kiatu hapana. Aliyekitia kiatu njiani ndiye
mwivi, akachukua kiatu na kondoo.
KISA CHA WAZmi NA SULTANI
WAKE.
H APO kale palikuwa na Sultani na waziri wake.
KISA CHA WAZJRl NA SULTANl WAKE. /
Wakapendana sana, liatta yule waziri akafanya paa^
ya thahabu akampelekea Sultani wake. Yule Sul-
tani akamtwaa yule paa aka'mwekamiguuni mwa-
ke. wakakaa veye iia waziri wake. Marra akatokea
Shekh alim, yule Sultani alipomwona yule Sbekh
akafathaika, akamsahau yule paa akaondoka. Aka-
anguka yule paa akavunjika. Yule waziri akafa-
nya hasira sana, akanena, "Mimi waziri, tena tajiri,
amekuja liuyu masikiiii, nami niuiefanya liedaya,
liuyu paa, Sultani amefathaika, ameaiiguka paa
wangu ainevunjika. Si liii ilmu kitu bora aaua?
Nitamngojea akioudoka iiimfuate liasome ilmu."
Alipotoka yule Shekh akamfuata. Akamwambia,
"Hutawezakusoina." Akamwambia, "Euenda ma-
hali fullani pana tope, twaa upake ndevuni mwa-
ko." Akamwambia, "Vema." Akatoka akaenda,
nayule Shekh akamwambia mtu wake, "Enendamfu-
ate,ukimwoiia atakakupaka mkataze, mlote huku."
Akamfuata akamwona ataka kupaka, akamwambia,
«*Shekh akanena, Bassi." Wakaja hatta kwa Shekh,
akamsomesha ilmu, akawa Shekh bora, akaitwa 1-
mam il ghazal, kwa sababu ya paa wake wa thahabu.
Akaja kwa sultani wake, na mbele ya nyumba
ya sultani pana jabali kuu, akitaka kutoka shuti
azunguke. Akamwambia, "Wewe kana Shekh
kweli nataka uliondoe hili jabali hapa mlangoni
O KI8A C U A M 1 U iN A hi v\ AN A V/ K .
pangu, kama hukuweza nitakuua." Akamwa-
mbia, "Wallakini shuuti usbike mtaimbo inwe-
nyewe upande juu ya jabali ukalipige kidogo kido-
go." Akatwaa »rtainibo yule sultani, akapanda
juu ya jabali akulipiga. na yule shekh akalisomea
jabali batta likacbezacbeza lile jabali. Akamwa-
mbia, "Kaa vema katikati." Akakaa yule Sultani
na yule Shekb akalisomea jabali, likaruka na Sul-
tani pia, asitambulikane alipokwenda. Watu wa-
kamuza habari, akawaambia, ^'Sultani yule alitaka
kuniua, nami nimemua yeye."
KISA CHA MTU NA MWANAWE.
PALIKUWA na mtu an mwaiiawe, akamwa-
mbia babaye, "Pesa zetu hizi tununue kuku tu-
fuge, wakizaa tuuze, tununue mbuzi, tufuge, waki-
zaa tuwauze tununue punda. akizaa unipe mimi
nimpande." Baba yake akamwarabia, "Humpandi,
nitampanda." "Humpandi." Wakagombana hatta
akamtia kidolecba macbo, akamtolea jiebo mwana-
we. I'lawakupata punda, wala kuku. Hasara ika-
wafikilia, na pesa zao palepale. Wakajuta sana ma-
juto makuu.
PAKA ALIYE MTAOWA.
HAPO ZAMANI palikuwa na paka. Na Bu-
PAKA ALIYE MTAOWA.
ndi alikuwa Sultani, na paka akajifanja welii sana,
hakamati nyama wala kitu kmgiae. Hatta siku
inoja akaenda panya kushtaki kwa paka, yeye ame-
kuwa kathi na welii. Paka akanena, '^Sisikii sana>
njoo karibu." Akasogea panya, moyoni mwakc
anena, "Hanikamati, mcha Muungu." Akasosjea
sikioni pake. Akamkamata. Akamwambia, "Gri-
iisi gani, mzee paka, utaowa wako." Akamwa-
mbia, *'Sijui." Akamla.
KISA CHA BENI HAMDAN.
PALIKTJW A na watu vvatatu, mmoja jina lake
Salih, na mmoja jina lake Mahmtid, na wa tatu ji-
na lake Amran. Naye alikuwa na reale miteen,
na alikuwa na mke. Akaona watu wanafanya kazi,
akamuuza mkewe, "Hawa wanafanya niai?" A-
kamwambia, "Wanafanya kazi, wapate fetha." A-
t
kamwambia, "Mbona mimi ninayo reale miteeix,.
nami sikufanya kazi, labuda hizi si fetba, kana fc-.
tba pana mtu amenunua mtumwa kwa reale mia,
mimi nitakwendampabizi reale miteen, kana fetba,
atanipa. Akachukua mkuki wake, na frasi wake,
na fetba zake ndani ya mfuko, akaenda batta kati
ya njia akacboka sana, akasema kwa nafsi yake,
* ^Nitalala bapa kidogo, nipumzike, wallakini nao-
gopa fetba zangu kuibiwa. Bali nitacbomeka mku.
12 KISA CHA BE.VI IIAMUAN.
kata shina, nikajua kana utaanguka." Akatnwa-
nibia, ^'Mimi sijui haya, utanambia siku ntakayo-
kufa, kana hunambii nitakupiga shoka nitakuua/'
xlkamwambia, "Enenda nyumbani kwako ukaso-
nge mseto, ule, ushibe sana, unywe na maji. Uka-
isha uje zako hapa ulale, utakufa/' Akaenda, aka-
fanyiza mseto akala akashiba, akanywa na maji, a-
kachukua na punda wake, akaenda zake hatta mwi-
tuni, akamfunga punda wake, akalala.
Akaamka yeye, anatbania amekwisha kufa-
Wakapita watu wanauliza njia. Akawaambia,
"Nilipoknwa hayi, nafabamu njia niyo buko, sa-
sa nimekufa." Wakamjibu, "Wee bukufa, mzi-
raa." Akawaambia, ^'Nimekufa." Wakaja wa-
le, kuja mtazama pale, Wakamwambia, "Kana
umekufa, sasa umefufuka." Akawaambia, ^'Ka-
na mimi sikufa, punda wangu yuko wapi?" Na
yule punda, akapita mwivi akamwiba. Akawaa-
mbia, "Nambieni punda wangu alikokwenda, wa
imma, nitawaua. Kana mimi mzima, punda wa-
ngu akaenda wapi?" Hana babari mwenyewe
kama amekwibiwa. Wale wakaona watnkufa,
wakamwambia uongo, kana punda wake amege-
uka imami na kukbutubu moskitini mwa jumaa.
Akaloka yule akaja zake, batta njiani akaenda
hatta akafika katika moskiti, na siku lie siku ya
jumaa. Akaingia moskitini, akamwona kbatibu
KISA CHA BENI HAMSAN. 13
ataka kupanda ndani ya mimbara apate kukhutu-
bu. Akamkamata, akampiga makonde, akasema^
''Hayu punda wangii akanikimbia." Watu' waka-
mwambia, "Una wazimo nini wee ?" Akawaa-
mbia, "Huju punda wangu, akanikimbia, nime-
ambiwa kama ndiye huyu." Watu wanamkama-
ta, naye ait^mpiga tu, "Ndiye punda wangu
yee." Akakamatwa, akaenda akafungwa, na sala
ya jumaa ikavunjika.
VITA YA NaAMIA.
IL'AE*AB alikuwa na Sultani mmoja mshujaa,
hatta katika siku akaondoka akitembea katika bu-
stani yake, akaenda akamwona ndege katika juu
ya mti katika bustani yake; ndege yule mzuri mno,
nayule ndege amejenga katika ule mti. Akamwa-
mbia akamtolea ushairi, maana yake r— Ndege wa-
ngu jenga, uaze, uungue, wala usikhofu, usiondoke,
we we katika bema ya Kuleib il Azari.
Akaenda zake yule Sultani, batta katika siku
akaja akamtazama ndege wake, akamwona anakaa
juu, amejikunyata, na nyumba imeliwa upande. A-
kamwambia, "Ndege wangu iliyokupata nini ?
Na wewe nimekutolea usbairi, katika mategemeo
yangu, balikupati neno." Akawaita watumwa wa-
ke, akawaambia, "Nyama gani aliyekuja akaHa
14 VITA VA NO A MIA.
nyuinba ya udego wangu?" Wale watumwa wa-
kamwambia, 'Xabuda ngamia wa Sultani yule, hu-
ja kutembea huku, ndiye aliyekula nyumbaya nde-
ge wako." Akamtoa mtu kuenda kuwaatnbia we-
nyi iiganfiia^ "Msiwaache ngamia waje, huja waki-
la nyumba ya ndege, bwana amenitumu." Hatta
wakasahau, wakawaachia ngamia wale kule. Wa-
kaenda wakala nyumba ile marra ya pill. Akaiona
yule Sultani, akawaambia watumwa wake, "Wa-
pigeni ngamia hawa." Mmoja akampiga mkuki
ngamia, wakakimbia ngamiya wale, wakaenda kwao.
Akamwona ngamia yule mwenyewe mwanamke, a-
kamwona akapigwa mkuki ngamia wake. Akaa-
nguka chini, akalia nana yule mwanamke.
Akalia sana, akasema yule mwanamke, ""Waa-
rabu wamekufa, hakuna tena, sina mtu mimi, ku-
pigiwa ngamia wangu na waliopo yakawafurahisha
haya, kumpifi^ia ngamia wangu, na wao wasiweze
kunitoxea haki yangu." Akasema, "Bassi, mimi
nitakwenda kutegemea mahali pangine, anitozee ha-
ki yangu ya kopigiwa ngamia wangu." Ilatta pa-
na kijana cha Sultani akafanya hasira akatoka aka-
panda ngamia wake na upanga wake, akamwambia
baba wake, "Baba, mimi nitakwenda kwa Sultani
huyu nikauze kisa hiki cha ngamia." Akaenda,
na baba yake akapanda juu ya nyumba yake aka-
tazama mwanawe. Akaenda yule kijana hatta
lyjAti
YITA YA XGAMIA. 15
katika bustani ya yule Sultani mwenyi ndege. A-
kamwona anatembea katika bustani yake, akamwa-
mbia, "Zunguka, nimekuja mitni kuja kukuua."
Akamwambia, " Wangapi nyie waliokuja huku
nyuina?" Akamwambia, "Mimi mmoja tu peke
yangu." Akamwambia, "Mimi sizunguki uso
kukutazama wewe mtu inmoja, ilia watu arobaini,
ikipuDguka katika watu arobaini, mimi sizunguki
uso kupigana nao." Na yule Sultani mwenyi nde-
ge shujaa sana, na maneno yake man'eno ya kweli.
Akamwambia yule kijanii, "Nitakuua." Akamwa-
mbia, " Nine, lakini mimi ni fetheha yangu kupi-
gana na wee mtu mmoja." Naye asizuuguslie uso
wake, akaja akamwua, akafa yule Sultani mwenyi
ndege.
Akakimbia yule kijana anakwenda katika inchi
yao mbio, na ngamia wake. Baba yake akamwo-
na kule juu anakuja mbio na ngamia wake, akase-
ma, "Mwanangu anakuja mbio, batta miguu ya-
ke inaonekana, nguo yote imemvuka si burre ame-
fanya jawabu kuu." Hatta alipofika kwa babaye
pale, akamwuza, "Una nini mwanangu?" Aka-
mwambia, "Yule sultani mwenyi ndege nimemua."
Akamwambia, "TJmefanyiza nenokuu, umeua Sul-
tani mzima kwa sababu ya ngamia ?"
Wale watu wawili wa Sultani aliyeuawa waka-
fanya shauri, pana kijana jamaa ^?Jr^ xcvknss^ ^\^^
16 VITA TA KGAMIA.
Sultani mlevi mkubwa, killa kitendo thaifu cha
maasi kiko kwake. '^Twendeni tukamtaka sliaori
ya kuuawa nduguye, akitupa jawabujema ndiye
infalme wetu, kana hakutupa jawabu jema tumw«-
lie mbali."
Wakaenda wakamwambia kana, "Nduguyo a-
ameuawa kwa sababu ya ngamia wa fuUani."
Akaenda yule kijana hatta uyumbani kwa ndu-
guye aliyekufa, akawaambia watu wake, '| M&ilie,
nyamazeni, watu hulia kwa kudra ya Mwenyiezi
Muungu, ambayo kwamba watu hawawezi kutenda
neno, walakiui haya twayaweza kulipa kisasi, kwa
sababu ya huyu aliyeuawa. Msilie bassi ilia nita-
kaporudi mimi." Akapanda frasi wake yule kija-
na na upanga wake, akatoka. Na yule kijana jina
lake Mohelhel.
Akaenda yule kijana akampiga yule Sultani a-
liyempiga nduguye. Akamwondolea mbali yule
Sultani, wakaenda wale waliofukuzwa wakatege-
mea kwa Sultani mgine. Wakaja kupigana naye
akawaua wote, akawashinda, naye mmoja pake
yake yule kijana. Wakaenda kwa Sultani wa pili
kutegemea, wakaja kupigana na yule kijana, waka-
shindwa viyyo. Wakaenda kutegemea kwa ma-
sultani sita, wote wakashindwa na yule kijana.
Wakachimba cbini wakajizika illi aaehe kupigana,
asikubaK kabisa.
VITA YA NGAMI^ 17
Wakaenda wale hatta kwa Saltani mgine, Sul-
tani wa saba tena yule, kutegemea kwake. Wa-
kamwambia, "Wewe Sultani wa saba, kiUa Sulta-
ni tunaokwenda buuliwa na kijana huyu, na watu
wake wakafukuzwa." Akawauza, " Sababu nini?"
Wakamwambia, "Palikuwa na mwanamke aUku-
wa na ngamia wake, akaenda kwa Sultani huyu,
akala nyumba ya ndege wake, akampiga mkuki
ngamia. Akatoka kijana wetu, akaenda akamua
Sultani yule, kwa sababu ya ngamia.** Akawaa-
mbia, "Umefanya neno kuu, kuua mtu mzima
kwa sababu ya ngamia? Wallakini haithuru."
Akaandika barua yule Sultani, akamtoa na m-
toto wake anayempenda sana, akawapa wale, aka-
waambia, '' Mchukueni buyu mwanangu na ba-
rua bii, kampeni huyu aliyeuliwa nduguye, am-
ue buyu kwa kisasi cba nduguye, na bawa watu
waliomua bassi tena."
Wakaenda wakamwona wakkmpa barua ile, aka-
soma akaona babarl ile, akasema, '* Huyu bawi fi-
dia ya gidam cha kiatu cba baba yangu." Aka-
mtwaa akamulia mbali. Wakaenda wale waka-
mrejea Sultani yule, wakampa habari ile ya kuua-
wa yule mtoto. Akagbatbabika sana yule Sul-
tani, naye shujaa sana. Akasimama, akawaambia,
''Sogezeni ngamia wangu Naama, kwa kuuawa
mtoto wangu asiwe fidia ya gidam cba kiatxsL ^\a.
18 TITA YA XOAMIA
babft yake." Wakafathaika wale rajia^ wakamle-
tea ngamia ngine si jale Naama. Alipokaja jvie
ngamia, akatwaa akamkamata, akamfanga matar
ndiko yeje mwenyewe Sultani, akimwambia yule
ngamia, ''Sogea ngamia wangii kwa kuoawa mwa-
nango, isiwe kwa fidia ya gidam ya kiatu cka
ndagaye.*' Akamkaza matandiko, akamkata yipa-
nde yiwili. Akawaambia mara ya pili, ''Nileteeui
yule Naama." Hatta kiUa ngamia akaja, akamka-
za matandiko akamkata kwa ghathabu nyingi na
nguYu nyingi, hatta mabanda saba ya ngamia ya-
kaisha. Hatta pana mtu mmoja tena, akasema,
"Hiiyu siye Naama huya, wameuawa burre bawa,
na Naama yuko katlka banda lile kubwa mmoja tu
yeye peke yake."
Wakaenda wakamleta akamtwaa matandiko yu-
le Sultani asikatike. akampanda akacbukua na u-
panga wake, akasema, " Sitaki askari kunifaata."
Akatoka yeye peke yake, akaenda akamwona
yule kijana akitembea na frasi wake na upanga
wake mkononi, akamjua kama ndiye yule kijana.
Akatoka mbio na ngamia wake yule Sultani, aka-
enda akamtwaa juu ya frasi wake, akamweka juu
ya ngamia wake. Akasema yule kijana, akamwa-
mbia yule Sultani, ^* Nataka maamaba kwa Mwe-
nyiezi Maungu na kwako wewe, asinitendee nd-
no." Akajuta yule Sultani alipomkamata asimue
QADITUI TA NeAKIA 19
raara, hatta akaomba lile neno kirtt Mwenyiezi
Muungu. Akamwambia, '^ Siwesi kukutenda
neno sasa, umeokoka wewe kwa sababu umelio-
inba neno lile kwa Mwenyiezi Muungu, na mimi
nimekusamebe, bassi wewe enda zako, ukae katikar
mji wako tena."
HADITHI YA MWIZI NA TAJIEI.
Inchi ya Misri, siku moja usiku saa saba aka-
toka mwizi, akachukua sanduku yake akaenda
batta nyumba ya tajiri, akabisba. Mlango aka-
fungua, akaiagia, akamuza, "Nani wewe?" Aka-
mwambia, "Mimi nalikuwa mwizi mkua, sasa na«
taka kutubu kwa Mola wangu, twaa bii sanduku
yangu, nipe asbarat alaf dinar, balipe mali za
watu nilizokwiba." Akafungua sanduku akaona
jobari, na yakuti, na feruzi, na almasi, akafurabi yu-
le tajiri, akatwaa asbarat alaf dinar, akampa akae
nda zake. Yule tajiri usiku kucba asilalc kwa fu-
raba ya mall. Hatta assububi akafungua, akata-*
zama, akaona vigai vitupu. Akalia sana na mwizi
bamjui, akavitupa vigai. Mali yamepotea, baya-
pati tena kabisa.
HIKAY A YA MTUME.
Palikuwa na mtume akiabudu katik^^ ^^-^Kk
20 HIKATA YA MTUMX.
kubwa, na chini jake pana maji yanapita, na
kati wa mchana, hukaa juu ya jabali, wasipate
kumuona watu. Uatta siku moja amekaa ana-
tazama katika mto wa mtfji, akamuona mto ana-
kuja, akashuka juu ja farasi wake, akaweka mfu-
ko uliokuwa began! mwake, akastarebe akanwa
maji, kesha akaenda zake, akawacba mfuko wa
fetha. Mnrra akuja mtu mgine, akaona mfuko
akautwaa, akanwa maji akaenda zake na furaha.
Akaja mtu mgine mcbanja kuni, naye amecbu-
kua mzigo wa kuni mzito juu ya mgongo wake,
akakaa mtoni, akanwa maji. Marra yule wa
kwanza mwenyi fetba akaja mbio, akamwambia
mcbanja kunI, *^XJko wapi mfuko uliokuwapo ba*
pa?'* Akancna, " Sijui, wala sikuuona." Yule
akatwaa upaitga, akampiga mcbanja kun , akamu-
ua. Akamtazama nguoni mwake, asione kitu.
Akamwacba, akasbika ndia akaenda zake. Aka-
nena yule mtume, "Ee Muungu wangu, aliye-
cbukua fetba mtu mgine, na aliyeuawa mgine,
ametbu iuiiwa JVIweuiezi Muungu." Akam-
sbusbia wnMi akamwambia, "Wewe tazama ibada
yako na ukitaka mambo baya, wala si kazi vako."
Akamwambia, "Baba yake yule wa kwanza alim-
iiyang'anya dinari alf katika mali za babaye yule
kijana, bamleta yule kij na uja twaa mali > a ba-
baye. Na yule mcbanja ..uni alimua babaye yule
IIADITHI TA ABUNUWAS. 21
wa kwanza, haoileta kijana kuja kutoa kisasi cha
babaye." Akanena yule mtume, *^ Hapana anaye-
abudiwa kwa haki, ilia Wewe, uliyeepukana na
maovu, nawe ndiye unayejua ghaib."
HADITHI YA ABUNUWAS.
Zamaiii za Abunuwas alichukua kondoo wake
akaenda, hatta njiani akaonana na wezi saba, kil-
la mmoja katika wale wezi saba wakakaa mbali-
mbali, wakaafikana, Akipita Abunuwas tumwa-
mbie huyu si kondoo, ni nguruwe. Akipita Abu-
nuwasi, yule mmoja akamwuliza, " Unachukua
nini ?" Abunuwasi akamwambia, "Nimechukua
kondoo." Yule mwizi akamwambia, "Huyu si
kondoo, ni nguruwe." Akaenda wa pili, akamwa-
mbia maneno yaleyale, hatta wote wezi sab a wake-
sha. Akaisha akamwacha yule kondoo wake kwa
maneno ya wale watu sabaa, walionena, akasema,
"Kweli maneno yao, ni nguruwe huyu." Alipofi-
ka kwa mkewe akamwambia, " Kondoo yuko wa-
pi ?" Akamwambia, "Nimekutana na sabaa, wa-
meniambia si kondoo yule nguruwe, nimemtupa
mwituni." Mkewe akamwambia, ** Mume wangu,
hawa wezi wamekukhadaa, ujanja wote huo, wa-
mekwiba kondoo wako." Akasema, " Kesho nita-
kwenda knlipa kisasi changu." Akaenda akachu-
22 HADITHI YA ABUNUWAS.
kua dinari tatu za tliahabu. Akaenda hatta mwi-
tuni akaona mbuyu mkubwa, akaupasua, ndani ya-
ke akatia zile dinari za thahabu. Akaujengea uku-
ta ule mbuyu, akaweka na asikari na kitanda cha-
ke, akalala palepale. "Wakaja wale wezi sabaa,
wakamwambia, "Uniifanya niiii hapo ?** Abunu-
waa akawaambia, "Nalinda mbuyu wangu, ndio
asili yetu alioniachiababa, kwa killa nikivuna killa
buyu moja ndani huona dinari za thahabu." "Waka-
unvambia wale wezi, ''Utulize sisi." Akawaambia,
" Siwezi kuza hii, nimeirithi kwa babangu." 'Na.
wale w^ezi kule wanakotoka wamekwiba ng'ombe
sabaini elf. Wakamwambia, "Pasua buyu moja,
tutazame ndani." Akamfundisha mtumwa wake,
akapjuida juu ya mbuyu, akatwaa mabuyu yale
yaliyotiwa fetha. Akashuka nayo, wakayapasua
wakaona kweli maneno ya Abunuwas. Waka-
mwambia., "Tutakupa ng'ombe asharat alaf, utupe
sisi huu mbuyu wako." Akawaambia, "Wala-
kjni sharti mshike miiko msionane na wake wenu
kama mimi nilivyokuwa hishika mwiko, nikilala
papa hapa. Mkiharibu hii miiko, nawaambia ha-
mpati kitu. Akachukua ng'ombe akaenda zake
hatta kwa mkewe. Akamwambia, "Nimelipa kisa-
si ehangu cha kondoo wangu."
Wakakaa wale hatta zamani za kwenda kuvuna
laabuyu yao, wakawa na furaha kubwa mno, waka-
HADITHI TA ABUlfUWAS. 23
enda wakaangua mabuyu asharat alaf, wakayapa-
sua yote hawakuoua kitu ndani, ilia ubuyu mtupu.
"W^akajua kama ni khadaa zake na malipo ya ko-
ndoo wake tuliomwibia. " Walakini na twende aka-
tupe ng'ombe zetu. "Wainna tumfunge tumpe-
leke katika sharia." Na yule Abunuwas ni sheik
mkubwa, akapiga ramli akajua kana wale wezi wa-
nakuja.
Akamwambia mkewe, "Nnakwenda kutafuta
paa." Akaenda akatafuta paa wawili namna mo-
ja, akaja nao hatta kwa mkewe. Akamwambia,
"Wale watu niliojilipa kwa kondoo wangu wana-
kuja leo kwa vita vikubwa, walakini leta ng'ombe
mmoja tumcbinje." "Wakamchinja ng'ombe mmo-
ja wakatwaa damu na tnmbo, wakazitia ndani ya
kibofu cha ng'ombe. Akamwambia mkewe, "Vaa
kanzu ya chxima ndani, juu ujifunge hichi kibo-
fu." Akamwambia, " Vaa kanzu. "Wakija hawa
wezi mimi nnakwenda koondeni, nitachukua paa
huyu mmoja. Wakija wakiniuliza, waambie, Tu-
ko koondeni."
Wakaja wale wezi. Wakauliza, " Bwana yuko
wapi ?" Akawaambia, ^' Yuko koondeni." Na
yule Abunuwae alimfundisha mkewe, akamwa-
mbia, "Nitakapokuja nitakupiga kisu, kikipasuka
hichi kibofu na tumbo hizi zikitoka, anguka, uwe
kama uliyekufa, khalafu nitakuchapa kwa ufito, u-
26 ZA.1LLSI ZA IfABII DAITD.
Akapiga ramli Abunuwasi, akajua habari yao
pia, "Na sasa watakuja kuniua." Akamwambia
mkewe, "Nichimbie kaburi." Akamcbimbia, a-
kajizika, akatoboa na tundu dogo. Wakaja wale
wezi kwa gbatbabu, wakamwona yule mwanamke.
Wakamwambia, "Mumeo yu wapi?" Akawaa-
mbia, "Rafiki yenu amekufa, leo ya tatu." Wa-
kanena, **Li wapi kaburi lake ?" Akawaonya.
Wakatoka mji ule, akatoka Abunuwasi katika
kaburi.
ZAMANI ZA NABII DAUD.
PALIKUWA 'na kizee mwanamke killa Riku
kazi yake, bufanya mikate akapeleka mosikitini.
Hatta siku moja akasaga unga wake akaweka;
ikaja baridi, ikacbukua unga wake wote. Akato-
ka kwenda kwa nabii Daud kuisbtaki baridi, ime-
mtwalia unga wake. Hiatta, njiani, akamwona na-
bii Suleman. Akamwuliza, "XJnakwenda wapi,
wee kizee ?" Akamwambia, "Nakwenda kuahta-
ki kwa baba wako, baridi imenicbukulia unga wa-
ngu." Akamwambia, "Nenda." Akaenda hatta
kwa nabii Daud, akasbtaki kwa sababu ya baridi.
Akampa asharat alaf dinari. Akarudi, akamwona
nabii Suleman, akamwuliza, ''Habari zako ?" A-
kamwambia, ''Baba yako amenipa asbarat elf di-
ZAMAJ^I ZA NABII DAUD. 27
nari ." Akamwambia, "Hii siyo haki yako, ame-
kupa sadaka, enenda marra ya pili, akakutoze haki
yako." Akaenda marra ya pili, akampa fetha vile-
vile. Akarudi akamwona nabii Suleman, akamwa-
mbia, "Hii fetba siyo haki yako, enenda tena." A-
kaenda mara ya tatu akampa fetha vilevile. Aka-
mwona nabii Suleman, akamwambia, '*JNa sasa a-
menipa fetha." Akamwambia, "Hii siyo haki ya-
ko, enenda ukamwambie nitozee haki yangu kwa
baridi, kumwaya unga wangu." Akaenda. Aka-
mwambia, "Nani huyu anakuleta huko mara kwa
mara?" Akamwambia, "Mwanao, nabii Suleman."
Akamwambia, "Nataka haki ya Muungu naishta-
ki baridi utuhukumu kwa haki," Nabii Daud aka-
ita baridi, ikaja. Akayuliza, "Kwani ukarawaya
unga wa huyu maskini ?" Akamwambia, "Si mi-
mi. nimeturawa na Israfiil." Akamwita Israfiil, a-
kamwambia, "Kwani ukaamuru baridi kumwaya
unga wa maskini ?" Akamwambia, *'Mimi nime-
tumwa Tia Muungu wako, Muungu haharibu neno
ilia kutengeza neno. Palikuwa na merik«bu, ime-
pata thelathini elf, ikatoboka, nao wako katika ba-
hari. Bassi nikaamuru baridi kuchukua unga,
kwenda nao hatta panapo merikebu pamoja, ukae-
nda, ukaziba tundu ya merikebu. Ikiwasili hiyo
merikebu, theluthi ya mali, mpeni huyu maskini
mwenyi unga," Uipowasili merikebu aka\iew{L
30 BADAKA NDIZO MALI.
kwalce, akashika wosia wa babaje.
8ADAKA NDlZi) MALT.
PALIKUWA na miu, alikuwa na mali mengi,
akaaikia shekhi akinena, ''Mwenyi kutoa sadaka,
hompa intu maskini, Mweiiyiezi Muungu humpa
mali mengi."
Akaeadiki neno lile la sbekh, akaenda uyumba-
lii kwake, killa amwonaye akampa, batta akafilisi-
ka. Akatoka akamwambia shekh, akambisbia mla-
II go usiku, akaogopa akamwitlka, akacbuagulia
mlangoni, akamwona amecbukua gongo kau. A-
kamwambia, ^'Watakani ?'* Akamjibu ya kwa-
mba, "We we ulinena, mtu ampaye masikini kid»*
go, Muungu bumpa kikuu, nami mali jangu yote
yamenipotea.'*
Akamwambia, "Kaenda Beit il mukaddas, yuko
Muungu buko, kamwulize, atakwambia." Na yu-
le sbekb kumwambia yale kwa sababu ya hofv.
Akaenda.
Hatta njiani akamwona mtu amekaa kitako ana-
lia. x\.kamuuza, "Unani ?" Akamwambia, "Na-
likuwa na sbamba langu kuu, killa siku bupata
reale elf, nao wezi bwiba na nyama hula ; hafanyi
tamaa, bajenga ukuta, illi, kana nyama hawakupa*
ta ku]a, na wezi hawapati kwibn, nitapata mali me-
SASAKA NDIZO MALI. 31
ngi. Hajenga nkuta, hatta ussuboi haona yitu
Timekauka pia. Bassi nakutuma, kana wewe una-
kwenda kwa Muungu, mwambie kbabari yango,"
Akaenda yule, batta kati ya njia akamwona mtu
na ng'ombe wake, bukama maziwa. Akamuuza
''Wenda wapi?" Akamwambia, "Nnakwenda
kwa Muungu kusbtaki, mali yangu yamepotea
pia." Akamwambia, *'Naini nna watoto wangu
na mke wangu, -nami nimekaa bapa na buyu
ng'ombe, namkama maziwa usiku namcbana batta
linip" Akamwambia, "Vema."
Akaenda batta Beit il Mukaddas, akanena,
'^Ee Muungu mali zangu zimepotea zote, nalim-
sikia mtu akinena kwamba Muungu amenena,
Mtu mwenyi kutoa kicbacbe kumpamasikini, Mu-
ungu bumruzuku kingi."
Akasikia sauti, akamwambia, ''Enenda ukatwae
funguo, ukafungue kasba lako, utaonafetba nyingi,
na killa siku toa ukiwapa masikini, nazo bazitapu-
nguka, ukifanya eboyo, zitakwisba pia ; na maneno
alionena yule sbekb, kweli."
Akamwambia, 'Tana mtu mkama ng'ombe, ame-
niambia, batta lini ? I^aye ana watoto wake na
mkewe." Akamwambia, "Mwambie, acbimbe pa-
le alipokaa kadiri ya tbiraa, ataona fetba, atumie
muda wa mwaka zitakwisba, zikiisha naye atakufa.
I^a ng'ombe amlekeze njia, ampige kofi^ aiak^^-
\
32 SADAKA. KDIZO MALI.
nda zake."
I
Akamwambia, 'Tana na mgine, ana shamba
kuu, kiila siku akipata reale elf, sasa bapati, kwa-
ni?" Akamwambia, "Kwanza maskini wakiila,
^ na wezi wakiiba, na nyama wakiila, akafanya cboyo,
kutaka kukata riziki za ziumbe, akajengu ukuta :
alipoje^ga mimi nikakausha miti, sasa mwambie,
abomoe ule ukuta, atapata riziki yake kama kwa-
nza."
Akaja hatta akafika kwa yule anayekama ng'o-
mbe, akamwambia, ^'Muungu anakwambia^ pima
bapo ulipokaa kadiri ya tbiraa, ucbimbe, utaona
fetba, utatumia muda wa mwaka, ukiisba utakufa,
na huyu ng'ombe, mpige kofi, akaende zake."
Akacbimba pale, akatoa fetba, akamwelekeza
ng'ombe njia, akampiga kofi, akaenda zake. Yule
akatumai moyo wake, ya kwamba naye ataona fe-
tba.
Akatumai yule, akija maskini akampa, ukatimia
mwaka asife, akataajabu sana, ^'Mimi nimeambi-
wa, muda wa mwaka utakufa, na sasa zayidi ja
Hiwaka." Akisikia sauti mbinguni, akaanibiwa,
'^Muungubakubalikufatbiliwa, yeye alikupa wewe
peke yako, wewe ukawapa maskini, na Muungu
ameukuza umri wako."
Akaenda yule batta kwa yule mwenyi shamba,
akamwambia, '^Muungu anasema kwanza pia ziu-
SADAKA JNDiZO MALI, 38
mbe wakineemeka kwa shamba bill, ukafanya ta-
maa ukajenga ukuta, kukata riziki ya watu pia, na
Muungu akalikausba shamba, sasa vunja ukuta
huu, iwe kama kwanza, utapata kama kwanza na
zayidi." Akavunja ukuta ule, akapaTta riziki jake
zayidi ya kwanza, yule akazidi kutumai.
Akaenda zake akafika nyumbani kwake, akatwaa
ufunguo, akafungua bweta, akaona imejaa mali te-
le. Akashukuru, akanena, ^'KweH maneuo ya
shekh yule." Akachukua fetha usiku ule hatta
kwa sbckh yule, akambishia mlango. Aliposikia
sauti ya yule, akanena, "Huyu ataniua sasa, mimi
nimemdan^anya, Muungu atamwona wapi huyu?"
Akafanya khofu nyingi. Akamwambia, "Nimeo-
nana naye Muungu, amenipa fetha, na hii sehemu
yako." Akazidi hofu yule.
Akamwambia, "Nitavuiija mlango." Akavunja
mlango, yule imeingia khofu liatta hawezi kui-
nuka. Akamwambia, "Twaa mali." Alipoona
fetha kweli, akapata nguvu, akamwuliza habari.
Akampa habari. Akamwambia, "Mimi simekwa-
mbia. Enenda kwa Muungu, ona umepata mali?"
Naye akamwambia, "Kiila siku insha'allah nita-
kuletea." Akatoka yule, akaenda zake, akamwa-
mbia mkewe, "Tutoe fetha tuwape maskini." Wa-
katoa fetha yeye na mkewe wakiwapa maskini.
Killa wakitazama, hazipunguki, vilenle kamili,
34 MIFANO.
wakashukuru shukuru ja miiele.
MIFANO.
Tulingane sawasawa, kama sabani na kawa.
Mtoto umleavyo, ndivyo akuavyo.
Mjumbe bauawi.
Akutendaye mtende, usimcbe akutendaje.
Fat bill za nyuki ni moto. -
Heri kukwaa kidole, kuliko kukwaa ulimi.
Kinga na kinga, ndipo moto uwakapo.
Njia ya uwongo fupi.
Ujinga wa kuza, si ubaratbuli wa kununua.
Cbema cbajiuza, kibaja cbajitembeza.
Mti bauendi ilia kwa nvenzo.
Kawaida kaoa sheria.
Mpanda ovyo, kula ovyo.
Kufaa hakutburu.
Siucbezei mubogo mcbungu.
Samaki mmoja akioza, wameoza wote.
Mtungi baukuvuajika, maji bayakumwagika,
Wa kuume baukati wa kusboto.
Mtaka cba mvunguni buinama.
YrTKXDAWTLr. 35
Saburi yavuta heri.
Mtaka yote kwa pupa, hukosa yote.
Mpanda frasi wawili, hujishuka miguu miwili.
Paka akiondoka, panya butawala.
VITENDAWILI.
Gumugumu huzaa teketeke, teketeke huzaa
gumugumu. mahindi.
Mtoto wangu killa mwaka hulala chini. boga.
Ubwabwa wa mtoto mtamu. usingizi.
Baki bandika, baki bandua. mguu ukienda.
Nimemtuma mjumbe, amekwenda, aliokwenda
kwita amekwisha kuja, na yule mjumbe ha-
jaja. NAZT.
Njia ya sikuzote haina alama. bahabj.
Nalikwenda iijiani basikia, Wifi, mwenyi kuniita
sikumwona. baazi kavu ziltzo mtint.
"Watu wangu wannpigana, wangino wanakufa.
MBISI.
Nyumba yangu kubwa, makuti tele, ikinya
mvua kuvujar. mwimbt.
Sbungi ya Mwarabu inapepea. taa.
Nyumba yangu kubwa baina taa. KAT^m.
36 VITEADAWILI.
Para hatta nyika. kuteleza.
Kibibi kikongwe chapepeta mafuta. kope.
Ukumbau wa baba mrefu. njia.
Nimetupa mshale wangu, mchaDa kwenda mbali
nikitupa usiku hauendi mbali. macho.
Kwenda zako endako, ukirudi kukikuta yile?ile.
JAA.
Waana watatu^akiondoka mmoja, wawili hawafai.
MAPIGA.
Nnao watoto bamsini, sitini, nimewapa visibau
vyeupe wote. kungubu.
Nyumba yangu kubwa, kiguzo kimoja. uyoga.
Marra cbako, marra cbangu. mali.
Watu tbeneen u asbarini wakaenda njiani, wa-
wili wakaona cbimgwa moja, wakapanda wote the-
neen u asbirini wakaenda juu ya mcbungwa, watu
watano wakalicbuma chungwa, wakashuka wote,
wakaja cbini, watu kumi wakamenja cbungwa lile
moja, watu watano wakampa mtu moja akala, wote
wakawa wa ratbi. yibole va. macho.
ARAB TALES.
THE ROPE AND THE STONE.
THERE was a man who went and studied learn-
ing for a long time, without learning anything
at all. And he Avas vexed, and went his way
until in the midst of his journey he saw a well,
and he went to look whether there was water
there, that he might drink. And he saw a piece of
free stone cut by the rope, because it passed every
day over that stone. And he said, "This rope has
cut the stone because it passes over it every day.
1 will go back then and study, that if my heart bo
even like a stone and learning like a rope, it may
wear into my heart." 80 he went back and stu-
died, and became a great Sheikk.
THE STORY OV THE SULTAN'S SOX.
Thebe was a Sultan's son Avho inherited great
wealth and he was very liberal, and all his wealth
passed from him, because of his liberality, and he
became ashamed and made a plan to leave the
'I TUE STOllY or A MAN AM) HIS BliOTIIER.
to the Sultan and he laid them on. That some
day immediately he got some sleep. A.nd he en-
quired about the juatter. »And he gave him news
of it from the beginning to the end. And that man
was taken and sewn in a mat and drowned in the
sea. The youth acquired Jiigh rank, and was
married to the Sultan's daughter, and dwelt in
rest and prosperity.
THE STOR\^ OF A MAX AND HIS
BROTH EE.
There was a Sultan and his brother, and th(»^
brother was poor and sought for food. He and his
wife they found no food. Till one day he took
counsel with his wife to leave the town because of
poverty. And they left the town, he and his wife
and his children all of them, and they went to ano-
ther town. They reached a place under a tree and
sat down and rested. And above in the tree there
was a Jin. And lie aiskeil. "You people, I say,
what are you doing here r" And they answered,
"We are looking for you, tliits is the fifth year, and
now your fate i« completed. We are hungry and
we will cook you." And he sent his children, one
went and brought a rope, and one went and brought
fire. And he told liis wile, "Put on the pot." And
fcilie put on the put. and they eaid. "To-dav we fiihall
THE STOEY OF A MAN AND HIS BBOTHEB. 5
see the devil.'* And he said, "Don't kill me, but
take this pot, for everything that you wish this
pot will give." And he gave them the pot.
And they went their way to their own town, as
often as they wanted anything they got it out ot*
that pot. And it was seen that no smoke ever came
out of their house. At last one day his wife went
to her husband's brother's. And his wife asked
her, "You there foruiorly used to beg, why do you
not beg now ?" And she explained the matter
from the beginning to the end: And she said to
her husband, "Hasten, let us too go and search."
And they set out and they went till they arrived
at the same place. And he saw them and asked,
"What do you want ? ' And they said, "We are look-
ing for you." And the Sultan spoke to his chil-
dren. And they said to him, '*We are tired, we
cannot go and look for firewood and a rope." And
he said to his wife, "Put the pot on the hearth,"
and she said, "I am tired." And the devil said to
them, "You can do nothing you there, do you
want to die for nothing, you are not even of one
mind, go back to your country, and every time you
are making ghee send him some." And they ran
back to their town, and there came upon them this
loss, that every time they made ghee, they sent
some to his brother, because of their greediness-
6 TFB DEVOUT SLAVEWOMAN.
THE DEVOUT SLAVEWOMAN.
There was a man who hought a slavewoman
for twenty thousand dinars, and he sat and looked
at this slavewoman and wept much. The slave-
woman asked him, *What are you weeping for,
my master ?" And he said, "Your two eyes, when-
ever I look they occupy all my thoughts, even in
the worship of my Lord, I cannot worship be-
cause of the beaut of your eyes."
The master went put, and the slavewoman took
out both her eyes with her finger, and threw them
awav. "When her master came b . K and saw her
in that state, without eyes, he said to her, "Why
have you done this ?" And she said, "I would
not have it anything should occupy your thoughts
even during the worship of your Lord."
And he said, "I bought you for twenty thou-
sand dinars, now you are in that state, I shall
never get my money, our value is gone." And
her master wept much and was sad. Till at night
he slept, and an angel came to him and said, "Now
she has destroyed her value with you, but we will
buy her, you will find her price under your pillow."
So when be awoke in the morning he took up the
pillow and saw his money, and he looked at the
slavewoman, she was dead,
i
STOBY OF THE VIZIE AND HIS SULTAN. 7
THE THIEF AND THE SANDAL.
There was a man who took his sheep and went
on his way till he saw on a road a sandal for one
foot, a very fine one. And he said, "This is a fine
sandal but it is only one, it's of no use." And he
went on. When he had gone half an hour's walk
further on, he saw another sandal of the same pat-
tern, and he said, " 1 will tie my sheep here and take
that other sandal which I saw first and this, and
come here and take my sheep and go on ray way."
So he tied his sheep there and went back to go and
get that sandal there. And he found no sandal
there, and came back running to where his sheep
was, and found no sheep and no saikdal. It was a
thief who had put the sandal in the road, and he
carried off both the sheep and the sandal.
STORY OF THE VIZIR AND HIS SULTAN.
In old times there was a Sultan and his vizir.
They were very much attached to one another, till
the Vizir made a gazelle of gold and set it at his
feet, and they sat, he and his vizir. All at once
there appeared a learned Sheikh, and when the
Sultan saw the Sheikh he became confused and
forgot the gazelle and rose up. And the gazelle fell
and was broken. The vizir was very angry and said.
b THE STORi' OJb' THE VIZIR AM) HIS SLLTaX,
''I am the vizir, I am rich too, and it is a poor
man that has come, I made a choice thing too, this
gazelle, and the Sultan was confused, and my ga-
zelle felL and is broken. Is not this learning a
very great thing ? I will wait for him when lio
leaves, and follow him and study learning."
When the Sheikh came out he followed him.
And he said to him, **You will not be able to
«tudy." And he said, "Go to such a place where
there is mud, take and smear it upon your beard."
And he said, "Very well." And he set out and
went, and the Sheikh said to his man, "Go and
follow him, if you see him going to smear it on, tell
him not to, and bring him here." And he foUeAv-
od him and saw him going to smoar it on, and saiil
to him, "The Sheikh says, that will do.' And they
•:ame to the Sheikh, Hud he taught him learning
and he became a great Sheikh and was called, the
Imam il Ghazal (the sheikh of the gazelle) because
of his gazelle of gold.
And he came to his Sultan, and before the
house of the Sultan there was a great rock, wheti
he wanted to go out he had to go round it. And
he said to him, "If you are really a Sheikh I want
you to take away this rock here at my door, if you
cannot I will kill you." And he said to him, "But
70U mujt take an iron bnr yoiireelf nnd mount on
tllE STOKV Oh' THK AlA.N AND UlS SOX. 9
to the top of the rock and strike it gently." And
the Sultan took the iron bar and climbed up upon
the^rock and struck it, and the Sheikh read to the
rock till it began to dance about. And he said,
'^Stand well in the middle." And the Sultan stood,
and the Sheikh read to the rock, and it flew with
the Sultan and all, it could not be known whither
it went. And the people asked him of the matter,
jind he told them, "The Sultan wanted to kill me
and I have killed him."
THE STORY OF THE MAN AND HIS SON.
Thei'o \va55 ;i man, and his son v<aid to his father,
"Let us buy fowls with these pice of ours, and keep
^em, and when they lay let us buy goats and
kefe;gj;liem, and when they breed let us sell them
and oiiy a donkey, and when it breeds give it to
me that I may ride it." And his father said to him,
"You shall not ride it, I will ride it, you shall not
ride it." And they disputed until he put his finger
in his eye and took out his son's eye. They got no
donkey, nor yet a fowl. Loss had come to them,
and their pice were there still, and they were sorry
for it with grcnt regrets.
10 THE STORY OF THE SONS OF HAMDAX.
THE CAT THAT WAS A DEVOTEE.
Once upon a time there was a cat. And the
owl was kfng, tmd the cat made himself a great
saint, he caught neither rats nor anything else. Till
one day the rat went to make a compiaint to the
cat, he had become the kathi and a saint. And
the cat said, "I don't hear well, come nearer. "
And the rat drew near, saying within himself, **He
will not seize me, he fears God." And he drew
near to his ear. And he laid hold of him. And he
said, "How is this, venerable cat, what of your de-
voutness?" And he said, '4 don't know." And ate
him up.
THE STOET OF THE SONS OF HAMDAiV.
There were three men, the name of the one was
Salih, and the name of the one was Mahmoud, and
the name of the tliird Amran. And he had two
hundred dollars, he had also a wife. And he saw
people working and asked his wife, "What are
they doing?" And she said, "They are working,
that they may get money." And he said, "How-
is it that I have two hundred dollars, and I have
never worked, perhaps they are not money, if
they are, there is a man who has bought a slave
for a hundred dollars, I will go and give him
THE STORY OP THE SONS OF HAMDAN. 1 1
these two hundred dollars, if they are money he
will give (him) to me." And he took his spear,
and his horse, and his money in a bag, and went
on, till in the road he got very tired and said to
himself, "I will sleep here a little, and rest, [but
I fear my money will be stolen. However, I will
stick my spear in the ground. 1 will take the m<i-
ney and hang it on the spear, so then the thief will
not get to steal it." And when he had hung it so,
and tied up his horse, he went to sleep. And
a thief came and carried off the money, and the
spear, and the horse, and went away. So when he
woke he saw there was no spear and there was no
money, nor yet a horse, and he said, "Ain't I Am-
ran r Amran had two hundred dollars and' I
have none. Amran had a spear and 1 have none,
Amran had a horse and I have none. If I am Am-
ran, I will go and knock at Amran's house, and
if I am he 1 shall know," And he went to his
house and knocked, ' Hodi!" And they answered
him. And he asked, "Is master Amran here ?"
And they answered him, "No." And he said, "I
am not Amran, if I am he, I wil! go again." And
he went and knocked and asked again, "Is master
Amran here?" And his wife answered him, "You
are master Amran yourself." And he ran away.
And his wife called to the people, "Catch me my
12 TIIK STOllV OK TIIK SONS oK 1IAMDAN\
'uisiband, lie is gouo mad.'' And the people weut
and caught hiin. And ho said to them, ^'I am nofc
Amran." And they said, "You are." And he
said, ''A mrau had money, I have none, he had a
spear, I have none, ho had a horee, I have none."
And they caught him and bound him, and his uuv
ncy was lost and his things were lost.
And Mahmoud married a wife and she cooked
some meat. When it was done, the wife went out-
side and licr husband snatched up the meat, and
put it in his mouth. And his wife was new as yet
1o him, she aj)pcared at once and saw her hus-
band with his mouth very full and asked him,
'•What is the matter, my husband ?' He did not
answer. And she asked him the second time,
"What ail's you, my husband ?" And he did not
answer. And the young wife called out, and
lamented for her husband, and said, "My husband
is taken with some sickness, so that he cannot
speak." And people came and spoke to him, but
he never m v<*red at all. And they said, he is
taken with some sickness. And they took a nail
and put it in the fire, and thrust it into him. And
the meat came out. And he got wounds for his
folly.
And Salih, the third, was cutting firewood in the
forest, and he sat upon the end of the branch, and
THE STORY OF THE SONS OF RAMDAN. 13
held his axe and cut the beginning of the branch,
and a man passing hj saw him cutting the root of
the branch and sitting on the end. And he said,
to him, "That's the wrong way to cut, you will
fall, you are sitting on the end and cutting the
root end, when it parts you will fall." And he
said, "I shan't." And the man went on. And he
cut the branch, and when it parted the branch fell,
and he and his axe fell too. And he ran until he
caught the man who had told him he would fall,
and said to him, "Tell me when I shall die." And
he said, "I know not, God knows." And he said,
"flow is it you told me 1 should fall, and it was true,
I did fall ?" And he said, **Tou sat the wrong way
on the end and cut the root, and I knew you would
fall." And he said, "I know nothing about all that,
tell me what day I shall die, if you don't tell me
I Avill strike you with this axe and kill you." And
he said, "Go and mix up mseto (a mixture of grain
and beans) eat it, till you can eat no more, then
drink some water. Afterwards come away and lie
dojni and you will die." And he went and pre-
pared mseto, and eat till he was full and drank wa-
ter, and took his ass and went away into the forest,
and tied up his ass and lay down.
And he awoke thinking that he was dead. And
Homo people pnissed asking the way. And he said,
14 Tin: STOKY of tiik sons op uamdak.
"When I was alive, 1 remember there was a road
here, but now I am dead." And they said, "Yo i
are not dead, you are alive." And he said, "I am
dead." And they said, "If you have died, you have
come to life ajrain." And he said, "If I am not
dead, where is my donkey ?" Now as to the don-
key, a thief had passed and stolen it. And he said,
"Tell me where my donkey is gone to, or I will kill
you for a certainty. If 1 am alive, where has my
donkey goner" And he did not know himself
that he had been robbed. They saw they were in
danger, so they told him falsely, that his donkey
had become an Imam, and was preaching in the
Friday Mosque. He set oft' and went his way, and
along the road he went till he came to the Mosque,
and that day was Friday. And he went into the
Mosque and saw the preacher about to go into the
pulpit to preach. And he laid hold of him and
struck him with his list, and said, **This is my don-
key, and he ran away from me." And the people
said, **What mad fancy have you got ?" And he
said, "This is my donkey, and he ran away from
me, and I am told that this is really it." And the
people laid hold of him, and he did nothing but
beat him» "He is my donkey, he is." And he was
fceized and bound, and the prayers of the congrega-
tion were broken up.
THE WAR OF THE CAMEL. 15
THE WAR OF THE CAMKL.
In Arabia there was a very valiant Sultan and
one day he arose and walked in his garden, and as
he went he saw a bird sitting upon a tree in his
garden, the bird was very beautiful indeed, and it
had built upon the tree. And he spoke to it and
made a verse to it, and its meaning was, "Build,
O my bird, sit and hatch, and fear not, neither go
away, thou art beneath the tent of Kuleib the A-
zari."
And the Sultan went his way, and after some
days he came and looked at his bird, and saw it
sitting above, crumpled together and one side of its
nest was eaten. And be said, "My bird, what has
happened to thee''' And I had given thee a verse
that under my protection nothing should touch
thee." And he called his slaves and said to them,
"What beast has come and eaten the nest of my
bird?" And the slaves said, "Perhaps one of the
camels of yonder Sultan, they come and walk here,
it was one no doubt which ate the nest of your
bird." And he picked out a man to go and tell
the owner of the camels, *'Do not let your camels
come, they come and have eaten the bird's nest,
the master has sent me." But after a while they
U' 'I Hi: \\Ai: »•]■ 1 lij-: i;\mj-j..
forgot and allowed ihi? Cd'aeK to com * jind o:it
there. And they vv-ent ivA ate the nest the .^ecoinJ
t'lae. And the Sultan saw it and told his slaves.
"Beat these caraels." And one struck a camel
vitii a spef.r, f.nd the caraels ran away and went
home. And a woman who owned it saw her ca-
ir.el had been struck with a spear, and the woman
fell on the ground and wept much.
And the woman wept much and said, "The
Arabs are dead, there are none any more, there
is no one to care for me. Mv camel is wounded,
and those who were thero Avere glad of it, nay
camel is wounded and they cannot get me justice.'*
And she said, *'I Avill go then and seek protection
rlsewhero, that he may get me justice for the
w oiinding of my cftmcl." Sn tho son of the Sultan
])ocame indignant and sot out and mounted his
ramel, with his sword, and said to his father, **Pa-
thor T am going to this Sultan thai T may enquire
into this story of the camel." .\nd he went, and
his father went up to Iho lop of tlio house and
looked after his son. And Iho youth went as far
as the garden of the Sultan, whose tho bird was.
And ho saw him walking in his garden, and said
1o him, "Turn you, 1 am oomo moaning to slav
you." And he said, "How many are you thero
who aro coming behind ?'* And be said, **I only
THE WAE OF THE CA.MEL. 17
one myself." And he said, "I will not turn my
face to look at you one man. unless there are forty
men, if there are less than forty men [ will not
turn my face to fight with them." And the Sul-
tan whoso the bird was, was a great hero and his
words were true. And the youth said to him, "I
shall slay." And he said, "Slay me, for it would
be a reproach to me to fight you a single man."
And without his turning his face he came and slew
him, and the Sultan whose the bird was died.
And the youth fled, running to their country
with his camel. And his father saw him from up
above coming running with his camel, and he said,
"My son comes running, his legs are to be seen,
his clothes are off him, it is not for nothing, he has
done some great thing." So when he came where
his father was, he asked him, "What ails thee, my
son ?" And he said, "That Sultan whose the bird
was, I have slain him." And he said, "You have
done a great thing, you have killed a living Sultan
for the sake of a camel."
And tyro of the Sultan's people, who was slain,
consulted together. There was a youth, one of the
Sultan's kinsmen, a great drunkard, and every un-
worthy and disorderly action had been his. "Let
us go and ask advice about the slaying of his bro-
ther, if he answers us well he is our king, if he
i S THi: WjkB OF THE CAMEL.
*i<ji:*i fiot ;;lrfr u* a o:ood Hn&wer we will kill him out
of thc: wa-.V'
And thev we lit aii<l lold iiim that, ''Your bra-
ther hab been eluiii because of the camel of such a
^ . * »»
oue.
And the vouth went to the house of his brother
who wa« dea^J, and said to his people, "Weep not,
h'i Htill, pe^iple wtep for what belongs to Almighty
O'/fi, aK to which men can do nothing, but this we
can avenge, for the sake of him that is slain. Weep
not tiJI I return." And the vouth mounted his
horise with hin sword, and went forth. And the
name of the youth was Mohelhel.
And the youth went and smote the Sulcan who
had smote his brother, and those who were chaadd
away, went and sought protection with another
Sultan. And they came to fight with him and he
slew them dl, : nd overcame them, and that youth
was alone. And they went to seek protection
with another Sultan, and they came to light with
tliiit ynuLli Hfid were beaten as before. And they
wtjtit to seek protection with six Sultans, and all
wcnj overcome by that youth. And they dug in
ili<; ground and bufied themselves, that he might
(;r«H(? flighting with them, but he would not.
Ami lliry wont to another Sultan, he was thie
.sc\fijtli Siilian, to sook j)rotocti()n ^vith him. And
THE WAE OF THE CA.MEL. 19
they said to him, "Thou art the seventh Sultan,
every Sultan we have gone to has been slain by
this youth and his people put to flight." And he
asked, **ror what cause ?" And they said, "There
was a woman who had a camel, and it went to this
Sultan's and ate the nest of a bird of his, and he
struck the camel with a spear. And there went
out a youth of ours, and went and slew that Sul-
tan, because of the camel." And he said, "You have
doue a great thing, to slay a living man for the
sake of a camel, however it matters not." And
the Sultan wrote a letter, and chose out a child of
his whom he loved and gave them, and said, "Take
this my son and this letter, and give it to him
whose brother was slain, that he may slay him in
revenge for his brother, and as to these people who
slew him, let it suffice."
And they went and found him and gave him the
letter, and he read it and saw the matter, and said,
"He is not the ransom of the strap of ray father's
sandal," And he took him and slew him then and
there. And they went and returned to the Sultan,
and gave him the news of the child's being slain.
And the Sultan was very an^ry, and he was very
valiant. And he stood up and said, " Bring here
my camel Naama, because my son has been slain
without being the ransom of the strap of his father's
i
20 THE WAB OF THE CAMEL.
uandal.'' And the subjects were confused and
brought him another camel and not Naama. When
the camel came, he took it and laid hold of it, and
the Sultan its master fastened its saddle, saying to
the camel, "Bring hither my camel, for the slaying
of my son not to be the ransom of the strap of his
his father's sandal." And he tightened the harness
and cut it in two pieces. And he said again,
"JJring me Naaroa," till each camel had come
and he tightened the harness Jind cut it through
in his great anger and great strength, till seven
stables of camels were ended. Then there was a
man who said, "This is not Naama, these have
been killed for nothing, and Naama is in that
great stable alone by itself."
And they went and brought it, and the Sultan
took it by the harness and cut it not, and he
mounted and took his sword and said, ** I wish no
soldier to follow me. "
And he went out alone, acd went and found
the youth moving about with his horse and his
sword in his hand, and knew that it was indeed
that youth. And the Sultan set out with speed
with his camel, and went and took him from off
his horse and put hifh upon his camel. And the
youth spoke and said to the Sultan, " I ask par-
don of Almighty God and of you, do me no
THE TALE OF TDE THIEF AND THE MEECHANT. 2 1
harm. " And the Sultan regretted that he had
taken him, and had not killed him at once, till he
had prayed for that thing from Almighty Grod.
And he said to him, "I cannot do anything to
you now, you have prayed that thing from
Almighty God, and I have pardoned you, now
go your way, and stay for the future in your own
town."
THE TALE OF THE THIEF AND THE
MERCHANT.
In the land of Egypt one night about one
o'clock, a thief went out carrying a box, and went
to the house of a merchant and knocked. And
he opened the door and he went in, and he asked,
"Who are you ? " And he said, " I have been a
great thief, now I mean to repent to iny Lord,
take this box and give me twenty thousand
dinars, and let me pay for people's goods which
I have stolen." And he opened the box, and saw
jewels, and emeralds, and turquoises, and dinmonds,
And the merchant was glad, and ho took the
twenty thousand dinars and gave to him, and ho
went his way. The merchant slept not that whole
night for joy of the wealth. So in tlie morning
he opened it and looked, and saw nothing but bits
of glass. And he wept mucii, and as for the
1
2i JI5F AytC-DOTM 0¥ A F»0-pfflT.
thi«f he knev nnx who be W39. ami be ftkrev
«way the bm ^f a^^^*- K^ prt^pertj wa» loat
Af^ could he get it again at all.
Ay .AXFXDOTE OF A PROPHET.
There wai^ a prophet who used to worship upon
a great mooiitam, and below it water flowed, and
in the dav he i^^ed to sit on the top of the moun-
tain, AO that no one :^aw him. Till one dxr he
ha/1 i^at down, and looking into the stream of
water, he »aw a man coming, who got down from
his horjie and laid bjr a bag which he had on his
iihoiilder, and restted and drank of the water and
thfm went on his way and left his bag of money.
Immediately there came another man, and saw the
ba^ and took it, and drank of the water and went
hii* way rejoicing. And another man came up, a
Wifod outt<}r, carrying a heavy load of firewood
<m hiM back, and he sat by the stream and drank of
the water. All at once the first man, the owner
of the? treaHure came running, and said to the wood
(•uf/f/(!r, **Where is the bag that was here?" And
]w »ni(I, " 1 know not, nor have 1 seen it."
Atu\ \w took a Hword and struck the wood cutter
iinH hIpw him. And he examined his clothes and
lomnl nothin;^. Ho he left him and took his way and
wrni. AihI ilic prophet rtjiid, "O my God, he who
THE TALE OF ABUNUWAS. 23
carried away the treasure was one, and he who was
slain another, God the Almighty has been wronged."
And there came down to him an angel, and said,
"Do thou attend to thy devotion, if thou enquirest
after things like these, this is not your calling."
And he told him, "The father of the first man
robbed the father of that young man of a thousand
dinars belonging to him, and I brought the young
man to come and take his father's property. And
that wood cutter slew the father of the first man,
and T brought the young man to come and avenge
his father." And the prophet said, " There is
none that ought to be worshipped save Thee, whom
evil cannot approach, and Thou art He that knowest
the right."
THE TALE OE ABUNUWAS.
Iri the times of Abunuwas he took a sheep of
his and went on until in the way he was met by
seven thieves. Each of those seven thieves sat apart
and they had agreed, "When Abunuwas comes by
we will tell him that this is not a sheep, it is a pig,"
And Abunuwas came by, and the first asked him,
"What are you taking with you?" And Abunu-
was said, "I am taking a sheep." And the thief
said to him, "That is not a sheep, it's a pig." And
"4
2 J TH£ TALE OF ABU^rWAS.
he went up to the second, and he said the same
irord«, till all seven were fioished. At last he let the
nhecrp go, because of the words of those seven which
they upoke, and he said, ''Their words are true,
this most be a pig." When he came to his wife
she said to him, ''Where is the sheep f And he
said, "1 met seven people and thev told me it was
not a sheep, it was a pig, and 1 cast it away in the
forest." And his wife said to him, '* These thieves
have cheated you, my husband, this is all deceit
they have robbed you of your sheep." And he
said, "To-inorrow I will go and revenge myself."
And he went and took three dinars of gold. And
ho went till he found in the forest a great calabash
true, and h(5 split [calabashes] and put in those
dinars of gold. And he built a wall round the ca-
labasli tree, and set a guard, and [took] his fcitanda
and slept there. And those seven thieves came and
said to him, "What are you doing here ?" And
Ahunuwas said to them, * 1 watch my calabash tree,
this is what has made us, which my father left to
nu% every time I reap it one finds inside each cala-
bash a gold dinar." And the thieves said, ''Sell it
to us." And he said, "1 cannot sell this, it is my
inheritance from my father." And those thieves
were coniijig froin where they had stolen seventy
thouHUud oxcji. And they said, 'SSplit one of the
THE TALE OF ABUNUWAS. 25
calabashes that we may see what is inside." And
he told his servant what to do, and he climbed up
the tree, and took those in which the money was.
And he came down with them, and they split them
and found that Abunuwas' words were true. And
they said, *'"We will give you twenty thousand oxen,
give us this calabash tree of yours." And he said,
"But you must live in abstinence, do not come near
your wives, as I have been living in abstinence and
sleep in this place. If you break your abstinence,
I tell you you will get nothing." And be took the
oxen, and went his way to his wife. And be said.,
"1 hav^ tuken my revenge for my sheep."
And they waited till it was time to go and reap
their calabashes, and they rejoiced exceedingly and
went and threw down twenty thousand calabashes,
and split then: all and saw nothing inside except
pulp. Aud they knew that it was a fraud of his
and the payment for the sheep they had robbed
him of. "However let us go, and he shall give us
our oxen, in very truth let us bind him and carry
him to the law." Now Abunuwas was a great
sheikh and he divined and knew that the thieves
were coming.
And he said to his wife, "I am going to look for
a gazelle." Aud he went aud looked for two ga-
zelles ol the same form, and came with them to his
26 THE TALE OP ABUNUWA8.
wife. And be said, 'iThe people whom I paid off
for my sheep are coming to-day for a great fight,
however brin«r <in ox and let us slaughter it." And
they slaughtered an ox and took its blood and en-
trails and put them into the ox's bladder. And he
ssid to wife, "Put on an iron dress inside and over
it tie on this bladder." And he said, "Put on your
Icartzu. If these thieves come, I am going into the
field, and shall take this gazelle. When they come
and ask for me, tell them, he is in the field."
And the thieves came. And they asked, ** Where
is the master ?" And she said, *'Ke is in the field."
And Abunuwas had instructed his wife, and said,
"When T come, I shall strike you with a knife,
and when the bladder is split and these entrails
come out, fall down, and be as though you had died,
afterwards I will tap you with a switch, arise and
fall down at my feet." And those thieves went
yonder to the field, and said to him, "How is it
that you our friend came to play us this trick ?
Now we want our oxen." And he said to them,
"You have not kept abstinence as I told you. Still
never mind, wait till we get to the house." And
he said to the gazelle, "Go to the house, and tell
your mistress that she get food quickly, and I am
coming with guests." And he let the gazelle go,
d it run uff and went into the forest. And they
^^i(
THE TALE OF ABUNUWA8. 27
Stayed there till he said, "Let us go, my friends,
to the house, and rest yourselves a little." And
they went to his house, nnd he said to his w ife,
"Why havt^ you not got food ready and the gazelle
came to tell vou ? You women have no manners."
And he drew a knife and struck his wife in the sto-
mach, and the bladder burst, and she fell down as
if she were dead. And they thought, "It is true,
she is dead." Afterwards he took a switch and
tapped her, and said cheating words that they
might believe them, and immediately his wife arose,
and fell at the feet of the husband.
And they went and begged pardon for her from
her husband. And he said, "Go then and get food
ready quickly for the guests, it is only your idle-
ness." And she got ready food, and they ate all
seven, and afterwards they said to him, "Sell us this
gazelle, and that switch, and this knife, that we may
teach our wives how to behave." And Abunuwds
said to them, "I shall net sell my gazelle, you
wanted my calabash tree before, and I sold it to you,
and now you want this gazelle, I cannot sell to you,
go to my w^ife for the gazelle is hers." And he
and his wife had told one another what to do. And
they went to Abunuwas' wife and said to her, "We
want the gazelle, sell it to us, and his switch and
his knife. We will give you each man a thousand
28 TI[K TALE OF ABU>'UWAS.
dollars." And she saul, "Bring them." And they
took out seven thousand dollars, and gave them to
the woman, and took the gazelle, arid went their
way.
And so they went on till one day they were go-
ing about their business of stealing. And they
went and stole, until as the}' were returning they
had got half way, and they said, "Let us send our
gazelle to the house, and tell them to have the food
ready for us." And they told the gazelle. And
they unfastened it, and the gazelle went off into
the forest. So when they arrived at their houses,
they found their wives sitting down, and they ask-
ed, "Why have you not got the food ready, did not
the gazelle come to tell you V" And they said,
"We have not seen it." And they said, "You are
all liars, the gazelle has come and told you and then
went back to come with us, but we have missed one
another on the way, and as for you it is nothing bat
great idleness." And each man took hold of his
wife and struck her with his knife, and thev fell
down and died. And they took the stick and struck
them and they did not get up, and they knew that
it was a trick of Abunuwas. " Xow let us bury
our wives first." And they buried them, then they
went after Abunuwas with the design of killing
him.
THE TIMES OF THE PROPHET DAYTT). 29
And Abunuwas made a magic figure, and knew
all about them, "And now they will come to kill me."
And he told his wife, "Dig me a grave." And she
dug for him, and he buried himself and pierced
through a small hole. And the thieves came in a
rage and found the woman. And they said to her,
"Where is your husband?" And she said, "Your
friend has died, three days ago." And they said,
"Where is his grave?" And she showed them.
And they left the town, and Abunuwas came out
from the grave.
THE TIMES OF THE PROPHET DAVID.
There was an old woman whose business it was
every day to mal^e cakes and take them to the
mosque. Till one day she ground the flour and laid
it aside, and the wind came <\nd carried away all
her flour. And she set out to go to the prophet
David to complain against the wind which had car-
ried away her flour. So on the road she met the
prophet Solomon, and he asked her, "Where are
you going, you old woman ?" And she said, "I am
going to complain to your father against the wind,
which has carried away my flour." And he said,
"G-o." And she went to the prophet David, and
made her complaint because of the wind. And
30 TTTE TTVF.S OF THE PBOPIIET DAVID.
he gave her twenty thousand dinars. And she re-
turned, and saw the prophet Solomon, and he asked
her, "What is your news?" And she said, "Tour
father has given me twenty thousand dinars." And
he said, "This is not your right, he has given an
alms, go again and let him get your right for you."
And she went a second time, and he gave her mo-
ney as before. And she returned and saw the pro-
phet Solomon, and he said to her, "This is not
your right, go and say to him, get me my right
against the wind for stealing my flour." And she
went. And he said, "Who is sending you here time
after time ?" And she said, "1 our son, the pro-
phet Solomon." And she said, "I ask justice from
God, I accuse the wind, judge between us justly."
And the prophet David called the wind, and it
came. And he asked it, 'Why have you stolen
the flour of this poor person ?" And it said, "It
was not I, I was sent by Israfiil." And he called
Israfiil, and said to him, "Why did you order the
wind to steal the poor woman's flour P" And he
said, "I was sent by your God, God destroys no-
thing except to form something. There was a ship,
worth thirty thousand, and it was pierced, and they
were there in the sea. 80 1 ordered the wind to
take the flour and go with it to where the ship was,
and it went and stopped the hole in the ship.
THE STOET OF TUE SON AND HIS FATHER. 31
When the ship arrives a third of the goods give to
the poor woman forh^r flour." When the ship
arrived the poor woman wns given her right, a third
of the goods.
THE STOEY OF THE SON AND HIS
FATHEE.
There was a son and his father dwelling toge-
ther. His father was taken with a great sickness,
and he called his son and said to hirn, ' I shall noD
recover from this sickness, but 1 give you my advice
in two matters. T)ie first is, never sleep in a tor-
rent bed, tliat is a place where water sometimes
flt)ws. The second, never tell a secret to your wife.'*
And he answered, ''Very good." And his father
died.
And the youth lived on, till one day he went to
a distance and reached a torrent bed and slept on
a rising ground. But in tlie night there fell such
a rain that all the date trees were washed away.
And he said, **My father's words were true, if I
had slept in the torrent bed, I should have died."
And he said, "I will try that other matter now."
Tliere was a sheep of the Sultan's own, and he was
very fond of it. And he stole it, and went and
bought another sheep, and killed it, and said to
32 T1T>: STORY OF Til K RON AM) 11 IS FATHER.
his wife, "This sheep of the Sultaii's I stole, if you
say aAvord we shall be killed." And she said, "I
won't sav anything/* Till in the evening thej
came to visit her. And she said to them, "There
was a choice animal, the Snltan's sheep, and ray
hnshand stole it and killed it, and don't you tell
anybody." And they went out, and this one told
another and that told another, till the news reached
the Sultan, and he said to his soldiers, "Go and
take him." And the soldiers went. W^hen he saw
them, he rose up and invited them in, and gave
them much honour, and brought out food for. them,
and they ate. When they had eaten, they could
not say anything to him. And they thought of his
goodness and his kindness, and went their way to
the Sultan and told him, "We did not find him.'^
And others went and he did them honour in the same
way, and they went and answered, "He is not
there." All that went he received them in the
same way. Until at last he went to the Sultan.
And he said, "Kill him, as he killed my sheep."
And he said, "Let me tell you something first."
And the people said, "Let him speak." And he
said, "When my father was sick he told me two
matters. The one I found, but not yet the second.
The first was not to sleep in a torrent bed, and I
went and slept on high ground, and then in the
ALMS ARE TBUE WEALTH. 33
night there came rain and washed away all the
date trees. The second was not to tell your secret
to your wife. And I said, 1 will try it, and I stole
your sheep and bought another and killed it, and
told my wife, This is the Sultan's sheep, he will
kill me, that I might find out what my father told
me, and now I have found it all. Tour sheep is in
such a place." And he sent a man, and he went
and took it, and came with it. And he said, "Is
not this it?*' And he said, "It is." And he went
his way and kept his father's saying.
ALMS ABE TRUE WEALTH.
There was a man and he was very rich ; and he
heard a sheikh say, "He that gives alms, gives to
the poor man, Almighty G-od will give him great
wealth."
And he believed what the sheikh said, and went
home, every one he saw he gave to him, till his goods
were all gone. And he went out to tell the sheikh,
and knocked at his door at night, and he was afraid
and replied to him, and peeped at the door and saw
that he carried a great stick. And he said, "What
do you want V" And he said that, '*You said,
whosoever gives a little to the poor, God will give
him much, iind all my goods are gone from me."
And he said to him, * Go to Jerusalem, God is there^
34 ALU:ft ARE TSCE WEALTH.
and ask Him, he will tell joa/^ And the sheikh
told him this through fear. And he went.
On the road he saw a man sitting down weep-
ing. And he asked him, **What is the matter
with yon ?" And he said, ^I had a large planta-
tion, each daj I got a thousand dollars, and the
thie>'es stole, and the animals fed. and 1 became
greedy, and built a wall, that the animab could not
feed, nor thieves steal, and I should get much
wealth. And I built a wall, but in the morning I
saw that everything was dried up. So I give you
the charge, that as you are going to God, you tell
Him about me."
And he went on until in the road he saw a man
with his cow, milking. And he asked him, "Where
are you going ?'* And he said, "I am going to
God to make my complaint, all my goods are lost."
And he said, " I have my children and my wife,
and I sit here with this cow, I milk day and night,
how long ?" And he said, **Very well."
And he went to Jerusalem and said, **0 God, all
my goods are lost, and I heard a man saying that
God said, "He who gives a little to bestow it on
the poor, God will supply him abundantly."
And he heard a voice saying to him, "Go and
lako a key, and unlock your chest, and you will
lind ninch nionoy, and every day tnke out and give
ALMS ARE TRUE WEALTH. 35
to the poor, and it will not be diminished, if you
are avaricious, they will all end, and the words
which that sheikh said, were true."
And he said, "There was a man milking a cow,
and he said to me, How long ? And he has his
children and his wife." And he said, "Tell him to
dig about a cubit from where he sits, he will find
money, let him use it till a year is finished and then
he will die. And his cow let him turn it to the road,
and strike it with his hand and it will go away."
And he said, **Thero was another, he had a large
plantation, every day getting a thousand dollars,
now he gets them not. Why?" And he said to
him, "Formerly the poor ate, and thieves stole,
and animals fed, and he was greedy and desired to
cut off the provisions of the creatures and built a
wall ; when he built it I dried up the plants, now
tell him that he throw down that wall, he will get
his supplies as at the first."
He came till he reached the man milking the cow
and told him, "God says to you, measure from
where you sit about a cubit, and dig, you will find
money, use it for a year, and then you will die, and
as for the cow strike it with your hand, it will go."
And he dug there, and took out money, and he
put the cow to face the road, and struck it with
his band, and it went away. And he hoped in his
i
33 ALMS ABE TIIUE WEALTIf,
heart that he too should fiod money.
And lie trusted, when a poor man came he gave
to him, and a year was ended, he did not die, and
wondered much, "I was told, in a year you shall
die, and now it is more than a year." And he
heard a voice from Heaven, and he was told, "God
does not consent to be put under an obligation, he
gave you for yourself, and you gave to the poor,
and God has added to your age."
And he went on to the man with the plantation,
and told him, "God says, all creatures were bene-
fitted by this plantation, and you became greedy
and built a wall to stop the supplies of all other peo-
ple, and God dried up the pbmtation, now break
down this wall, and let it be as it was, you will
get as at first and yet more." And he broke down
that wall and got supplies greater than at first.
And he hoped still more.
And he went on, and arrived at his house, and
took a key and unlocked the box, and saw that it
was full of abundant wealth. And he gave thanks,
and said, "True were the words of that sheikh."
And he took money in the night to the sheikh, and
knocked at his door. When he heard his voice he
said, "This man will kill me now, I have deceived
him, where would this man find God ?" And he
had great fear. And he said to him, "I have met
ALMS ARE TEUE WEALTK. 37
with God, he has given me nioaey, and this is your
share." And his fear increased.
And he said, "1 shall break the door." And he
broke the door, and the other wa*^ so full of fear that
he could not lift himself up. And he said, "Take
the goods." When he saw that it was really money,
he gained strength, and asked about the matter.
And he told him. And be said, **Did I not tell
you to go to God, see you have got wealth." And
he said, "Every day if God will, I will bring to
you." And he went out, and went his way and
tohi his wife, "Let us take out money and give to
the poor." And they took out money, he and his
wife, and gave to tke poor. Every time they looked,
it had not diminished, it was complete, just as be-
fore, and they were thankful with never ending
thanks.
38 PROVERBS.
PEO VERBS.
We match together, like a dish and a cover.
As you bring up a child, so he grows.
A herald is never killed.
As he does to you, do to him, fear not him who
does ought to you.
A bee's thanks are the fire.
It is better to stumble with the toe, than with
the tongue.
A brand to a brand, that is how the fire bums
up.
A lie goes but a little way.
Folly to sell, is not silliness to buy.
A good thing sells itself, a bad one offers itself
about.
A log will not go without rollers.
Custom is as good as law.
Plant rubbish, eat rubbish.
Profit is no harm.
Don't play with poisonous cassava.
If one fish is bad, they are all bad.
If the jar is not broken, the water is not spilt.
The right hand does not cut the left.
K you want what is under the bed, you nmst
Btoop.
ENIGMAS. 39
Patience brings luck.
He who wants all for greediness, misses all.
He who rides on two horses comes down on two
feet.
When the cat goes away, the rat is king.
ENIGMAS.
The hard is the parent of the soft, and the soft
of the hard. Maize.
My child each year lies on the ground.
A Pumpkin.
The child's pap is sweet. Sleep.
Now the skin's on, now the skin's off.
A FOOT IX WALKIIS tf.
I sent a messenger, he went, the one he went to
call has come already, but the messenger has not
come back yet. A Cocoaitut,
(Because the man who climbs for it throws it down).
An every day road, there is no mark. The sea.
I went on the road and heard, ''Sister in law,"
but I could not see who called me.
Dbt Baazi on the teee.
My people are fighting, some are dying.
Paeched Coen.
My house is large with plenty of thatch, when
the rain falls it leaks. Mwimbi [a kind of grain].
10 EMOMAS.
The Arab's crest waves about. A Lamp.
My <rreat house ha-^ no lamp. The Gra.ve.
A slide to the wilderuess. Slippotg,
The old old ladv is beatins; oil. The EYE-LtB.
Father's girdle is lou^. A Road.
I cast my arrow iu the day time, it went far
off, it I catjt it jit night it does not go far.
The Eyes.
Going where you go, if you return you find it
just the same. A Dust Heap.
Three children, if one is gone, the two are no
good. JStoxes to set a pot on oveb a pibe.
1 have fifty or sixty children, I have given
them all white waistcoats.
KuNouRU [a black and white crow].
My house is large, it has one post. A Mushboom.
Now yours, now n?ine. Pbopebty.
Twenty-two people went along the road, two
saw one orange, all two and twenty climbed up the
orange tree, five people picked the orange, they all
descended and came down, ten people peeled that
one orange, five people gave it to one man and he
ate it, and all were content.
FiNGEKs, Toes, and Byes.
/ . . .' V
(
/
/
Y-:^ ^- .- - ■• ^
NABII MUSA NA MTU MASIKINI.
Mtu mmoja alikawa masikim^ hatta pesa
moja liapati. Akienda akiomba^ hnpata cha-
kala tu bas8^ katta akapita miaka arobaini ha-
knpata robo moja^ licha reale. Akaenda aka-
kaa njiani knngoja nabii Masa akipita. Nabii
Musa akamwona. Akamwambia, " Eh ! Mtnme
wangu, tafatkali unapokwenda kwa Bwana weta
Mnungn^ nisalimie Bwana wangu. Mwambiej
'Kwani kntaki kamroznka mtamwa wakoj
amekosa nini f ' Nabii Musa akamwambia
''Marahaba.'' Akaenda Musa^ akapanda katika
jabali^ akajizumgamzift na Bwana wake^ hatta
alipokwisba knznmgamza^ akataka knshnka.
Mwenyezi Mannga akamwambia Mnsa^ '' Kwa
nini wewe, kupewa amana^ nsimpe m wenyewe V^
Akanena nabii Masa^ akamwambia Maungiu
'' Wewe ndiye usiosahau; mimi nilipewa salaa-
mu kukuletea na mtnmwa wako* Akwambia^
kwa nini hntaki kamroznka T '^ Maanga aka-
mwambia nabii Masa^ ya kwamba '' Kanisali-
"1
z sum ifvsA JUL MTV wiwgnrr.
mie, umwBtnbie, mmrtmknkabimJ* Alramdi
luibii MtuM katika jabaH^ akamwona yule mtn
alkmitoina. Tale mtn akamwunbiaiiabiiMiiflay
akamwtiza^ ^^ Je f amekojilmje ? '* Nalxii Mnaa
akamwambia^ ^^ Salaama Bwana wako. Baada
aakamo^ aaaoa ja kwamba hakapi, katia pesa
iBoga.^' Tola akalia^ akarodi^ akaenda ssake.
Stka ja pill akaenda akamkalia nabii Musa ka-
tika DJia ileile^ batta akamwona anakoja nabii
Htiaa^ akamwambia, ^^ Ewe I Mtame wa Mnn-
Bgn^ tabtbali nkienda msaliniie Bwana wanga ;
nmwambie ta&thali mmzakn mtomwa wako."
Akalia jrole mtn kwa nabii Musa. Akamwa-
mbia ya kwamba^ *'^ Tamwambia Bwana wcta.''
Ku0a akapanda katika jabali akaenda knsema
na Bwana wake^ batta alipokwisha kajizamga-
mza na Bwana wake^ alipotaka kasbnka akasa-
baumaagizoaliyoambiwana yule mtn. Munngn
akamwambia nabii Masa^ ^^ Ewa nini wewe ku-
pewa amana usimpe mwenyewef Akanena
nabii Musai ya kwamba, " Wewe Muungu ndiye
QBiosahau mambo yote. Mtumwa wako ameni.
pa salaam/^ Akamwambia, ^' Hali yake tbaifoi
ataka umruzuka.'' Muungu akamwambia na-
Maea ya kwamba, ^^ Kimi eipendi kumpa
NABII MUSA NA MTU HASIKIKI. 3
mali^ wallakini sasa^ 'tamruzaku reale moja ta
ynle. '* Masa yako kulekale juu ya jabali.
Yule mtu akapata reale moja. Alipopata re-
ale^ akanena yule mta^ " Eleale hii nitakwenda
kuniiniia npanga/' Akaenda sokoni akaenda
knona upanga. Akaona upanga iinatembezwa
kwa reale. Akamwoliza^ '^ Kabsi gani apanga
huu f '' Akamwambia^ " Reale/'
Akampa reale, akatwaa upanga, akaufuta.
Alipof uta akanena ya kwamba, ^^ Upanga hUa
mtu kumpigana mtu, hivi | '* Akampiga mtu
akafa, naye akaaawa. Mwenyezi Mnungu aka-
mwambia nabii Musa, '' Shuka ukaangalie mto
wako/' Akaenda, akamwpna amekufa, Ikf uungu
akamwambia nabii Musa ya kwamba, '' Mimi
sikupenda kumf anyia kumpa mali ; mimi nali-
penda awe masikini, lakini leo umemtakia mali,
na mali jana matkara yake. Sasa ameknfa/^
SUNGUEA NA MWEWE.
SuNGUBA alikawa chioi ya mti^ na juu ya mti
amekaa hua^ ndio mahala pake^ na pale ndipo
anapozaa hua. Akiislia kuzaa hua yule^ bado
kntimia sikn zao za karaka, snzigura akamwa-
mbia hua^ ** Lete mtoto Tumoja, ada yanga^ na
kamahuknletea^ 'tapandajnuniknle.'' Hua ha-
£Emya hofa^ humpa, killa mwezi. Akapata mia-
ka mitatu kali hiyo. Hatta siku moja a!kapita
mwewe^ akamwona hna yu katika hnzuni. A-
kamwuza^ ^' Una nini ? umekonda.'^ Akamwa*
mbia mwewe, ^' 'Nna balaa kabwa mimi^ kulla
mwezi natwaa mtoto nikimpa sungara^ akila,
Nisipompa naogopa kunila mimi/' Akamwa-
mbia^ *^ 'Takapa dawa mimi/' Akamwambia^
''Nipe ; utapata thawabn^ nduga yangu/' Aka-
mMrambia^ '' Je! watoto wameknwa wakati wa-
kiroka bado ? '^ Akamwambia, ** Ada yake^ 'ta-
toakesho/'Akamwambia^'^'Takupadawa. Ke-
slio akikwambia 'Lete ada yanga,' usitoe kabi-
sa, nyamae kimya.'^ Akamwambia^ '' Atanithu-
SCJNGDRA NA MWEWE. 5
ru^ atanipandia hiiku niliko/' Akamwambia^
'^ Hawezi kupanda sungnra ; akili zake zote^ sn-
ngura hawezi kupanda mti/' Akamwambia^
" Si nitie kisimani^ akitaka kanichongea/' A-
kamwambia, '' Hapana kbofu/' Akaenda zake
mwewe. Assubai sangora .akamwambia hua,
'' Lete amana yanga/' Akanyamaa kimya hua^
asijiba. Akanena teua sungura, *' 'Takupandia
'takula hukuhuka : busikii, ninyi^ wewe na wa-
anao ? '^ Akasnbiri bna sikn tatu, akaona mane-
no ya mwewe kweU, hawezi kupanda sungnra.
Akamwambia hua. ^' Nimekwisha kuina mtu
Ofndoka sunguraj akaenda akalala jaani^ akaf a^
illi makusudi amngojee mwewe^ aje amue za-
mani za kumchukua. Sungura akafa kabisa^
mainzi wakaingia hukn na hnku na wadudu, «A-
kaja mwewej akaja akamwona sungura ameku-
fa juu ya jaa. Akanena^ ^' Hii nyama hii^ sungu*
ra ameku&u 'Tamchukua sasa/' Akasimama
akamtazama. Akamtulia akimtazama sana su-
ngura, akaenda zake mwewe, kiisha akarudi.
Mwewe akamtazama tena, akamwona inzi wa-
naingia kinwani na puani. Mwewe akamwa-
ngalia sana tena, akanena mwewe, ^kaxs^-^^^
6 SUKGURA NA MWEWB.
mbia^ " Sangura pale alipokufa, wazee wa-
meneaa^ 'Sungora akifa halisi, hapigapiga
mkia wake. ' '^ Akapigapiga mkia pale. Mwe-
we akamwambia^ '^ u-u-u-u-e^^^ akarakia mbali^
akaeoda zake, aeimpate.
Natamani kutia nanga^
Bali naclia knhiziwa ;
Tama wali wa mpanga^
Na kitoweo maziwa.
Mvavi nataka voa^
Wenyi bandari waambaje ?
Mvuvi wataka yna.
Huna mshipi na cbambo^
Huna invata kasia,
Wala msukuma pondo.
Viwi baramba na vyombo,
Na vema vikala mbwani.
CROSS PURPOSES.
Mtu mmoja zamani za kale alikawa mustarifa^
liali ana kinnga chake^ na nynmba yake mjini^ na
vitomwa vyake viwili. Bassi wakaingia frasi
katika mji^ killa mtu akanunua. Ilia yeye asi-
nnnue hatta mara ya piU. Naye akananua
{rasi kwa reale khatiisi a asliarini. Katika nya-
inba yake liana lijamu wala tandiko la kumta-
Bdikia Na mke wake na mwanawe na mkwe-
we wako eliamba. Alioko mjini yeye bwana.
Akaingia nyambani, akatwaa godoro lake aka-
mtandikia frasi^ akatwaa shapatu akamfnnga
nalo kinwani frasi^ akampanda. Alikwenda
kwa mke wake kiungani. Watu njiani zamani
ya kwenda^ wakimwamkia^ " Sabalkheri Bwa-
na ! " " Si wa kiiza ! '' na " Shikamo Bwana ! ''
'' Si wa koza frasi wangu ! '' " Sabalkheri,
Bwana ! '' ^' Hatta kwa reale mia siuzi frasi
wangu ! '* Na, *' Shikamo Bwana ! '' Akawaa-
mbia, ^'Eoyi watnmwa, hamnaadabu; hatta
kwa reale mia siuzi I ''
i
8 CROSS PD EPOSES.
Hafcta alipowasili kwa kiungani kwa mke-
woj akashuka. Akaja tnkewe^ akamwambia^ ya
kwamba, '' Mke wangu^ mambo makau haya !
Nalipokuwa nikija huko, watu wakinializa kassi
gani f rasi buyu^ nikiwaambia^ si kuza frasi ha-
yu ! " Mkewe akamjiba^ '^ Sijui ; mtoto wake
amepika wali^ ao hakupika/'
Akaendamwanamke akamwuliza mtoto wake^
'^ Wall nmepika ? Baba yako ana njaa.^^ Mtoto
akasema^ " Mimi nina nathari gani ? Mnme a-
kiwa mtumwa ao mngwana, mimi sina natkari/'
Yule kijana mwanamke akaenda kwa bibi ya-
ke> akamwambia ya kwamba^ '' Baba na mama
wameknja kuniuliza^ ' Wataka mume ? ' Mimi
nikajibu, ^Ah ! sijui/'* Yule bibi naye akajibn^
" Vikiwa vibichi ao vikiwa vimepikwa, mimi
hula tu^ mkinipa 'taknla^ sina nathari/'
MAHOMED SEYID DIR.
Palikuwa Sultani na waziri wake^ wakakaa
siku nyingi. Pa«a masikini na mtoto wake.
Mtoto wa masikini akaenda mwituni kukata
kuni, akapata ndege mmoja mzuri sana, akaja
naye mjini, akamwonyesha mama wake^ aka-
mwambia^ '^Nimepata ndege mzuri sana; nita*
mpelekea kwa Sultani/' Mamaye akamwa-
mbia^ '^ Haya^ pelekee/' Akampelekea Sulta-
ni yule ndege. Sultani akampenda sana ndege
yule^ akampa reale thelathini, tunza zake. A-
karadi yule mtoto^ waziri akamfuata akamwa-
mbia^ '^ Nipe reale hamstaskara/' Mtoto a-
kakataa. Akamwambia^ ''Utaona/' Akanidi
waziri^ akaenda kwa Sultani^ akamwambia^
'^dege huyu anataka na mwenziwe^ ndipo ata*
kapoUa sana yizuri/' Sultani akanena^ ^' Ka-
mwita mtoto masikini aje/' Wakaenda wa-
kamwita^ akaja. Alipokuja^ Sultani akamwa-
mbia^ ^'Nataka ndege kama huyu/' Mtoto
akasema^ '' 'Tampata wapij ndege kamma bu-
10 ICAHOMKD BETID DIB.
yn f Akamwambia^ '^ Kamtafate^ usipompa-
ta nitakacliinja/' Mtoto akatoka akaenda
kwa mamaye^ akalia. Mama akamwuliza,
^' Mwanango^ nnalia nini f '' Akamwambiaj
^'Nalia yule ndege akanichongea. Nimeambi-
wa nikatafate mgine^ kama sikiunpata' nta-
ciimjwa/' Matnaye akalia, " Nimekwambia,
ttwananga/' Akashnknra Mnonga. Mtoto a-
ikasema, '' Nifanyizie mikate, nende nikatafate
nSege.'^ Mama akamfanyizia mikate saba, aka-
mpa kiriba oka maji, akampa na zile fetka ali-
zopewa na Snltam. Akatoka mtoto^ akaenenda
mkn ya kwatiza, sika ya pili, sikn ya tatu, aka-
Ona kizee kimoja kifnpi sana. Akamwaliza m-
toto, '' Wenda wapi f ^' Akamwambia, ^'Maee
ifangn, Bijni niiiakokwenda^ wala ninakotoka :
ninakwenda kntafata ndege/' Akamwnliza,
^^mechnkna nini mf akoni m wako f '' Akamwa-
mbia, '^ Nimeckakna mikate na maji/' Aka-
mwombia, '^ Niletee/' Akampa, akaila mika-
te yote na maji yote, akatwaa na zile fetha, aka-
mwambia, '' Tazama jnn/' Akaona ndege. A-
kamwnliza, '^ Ndege hayn, kama kayn f ** A-
kamwambia, ^'Ejima kayn.'' Akamwambia,
'^Kamate/' Akakamata. Eajana akaf orahiwa
ICiLHOMBD SSYID DIJ^ 11
Sana. Na yule kizee shetani^ akatwaa nyele zake
akampayiile mtoto; akamwambia^ ''Chakui^
nyele zanga^ enenda zako : ukimtaka na neno
Ijngine, Ida nyele zangu katUca moto^ marra.
mimi utaknja. Haya tonafanya vingine/'
Akaradi, kwao na ndege wake^ akamwo-
nyealia mamaye^ akamwambia^ ^'Al baQid il
!(llahi.'' Akamchukaa ndege^ akampeleka kwa
Snjitam. Saltan! akaforahiwa sana^ akampa
reale mia. Akaondoka mtoto. Waziri akamfo-
ata^ akamwambia^ " Nipe reale bamsini ; katna
bmknnipa^v utaona/' Akakataa mtoto. Waziri
akaenda kwa Snltani, akamwambia^ '^ Kama xk-
ngalipata tnndu lake ndege^ wangekwimba Sa-
na," *' Ntapata wapi tundu ?^' 'fMwambie mijo-
to ynle kama bokupata tunda nitakachinja/^
Tena Sijiltfkni akatuma mtu, akaenda kumwita
mtoto i^asikini, akaja. Alipokuja^ Sultani aka*
mwambia> '^ Nataka tundu la ndege.^' ^^ Bwana^
tundbi mimi nitalipata wapi ? " Akamwambia,
''Kama bukupata nitakuchinja/' Akaondoka
mtoto wa masikini, akaenda kwa mamaye^ akilia*
Mama wake akamwuliza> '^ Mwanangu, unalia
nini ? ^' Akamwambia^ " Kimeambiwa na Sul«
tani, kama sharuti nimpelekee tunda 1& ^^^^
12 «l|^OHED SXTID PIB.
ndege/' Na mamaye akalia. Halafa mtoto aka-
ingia chumbani kwake^ akafanga mlango wake^
akamwambia mama wake, " Akija mtu akinin-
liza, mwambie nimekwenda kutembea/' Bassi
akatwaa zile nyele za kizee cbake akazitia mo-
toni. Marra akaona kiambaza kikapasuka,
akaja'yale kizee shetani, masikio yake ndiyo
ngao. Yule mtoto akaogopa sana, kizee
akamwambia, " Nimeknja. Una jambo nini,
ulitakalo, una neno gani, liliokupata ? '^ Aka-
mwambia, '' Nipe chaknla changa nile/' Aka-
mwambia, '' Chaknla gani wataka ? '' Eizee
akanena, '' Nataka knkn mweknndn mknbwa,
na mikate ya knsonga na mayayi/' Mtoto aka-
itika, ^' Marahaba/^ Akaondoka, akaenda aka-
leta vyaknla vya kizee. Kizee akala ; aUpokwi-
sha kola, akamwambia, '' Sema maneno jeko"
Akamwambia, '' Nimeambiwa sasa kupata tu-
ndu la ndege/' Eizee akamjibn, ** Mwanangn,
hawa wanataka knknpoteza; wallakini baitlm-
ra. Tandu lile halipatikani ela inchi moja,
Inwenyewe mzee Sinsin, na hnko kuna masbe-
tani mengi sana, asikai!! wake. Sasa wewe,
mwanangn, nikamate mwongoni mwangn, sa-
sa miye ntaruks, nende juu sana, nikisbnka
MAHOMED SETID DIB. 13
polepole hatta none mji ; mji huo nna nynmba
knbwa sana katikati. Bassi^ fnnua macho yako
ntazame nynmba hijo, ntaona matnndn mengi.
Bassi^ wewe ntazamie tnndn lisio kitn^ nniambie
npande wenyewe nipite. Nikipita^ maira uli-
twae." Bassi mtoto akaitikia^ ^' Inshallah/'
Kizee akaondoka^ akaenda jnn kabisa, akarudi
polepole^ polepole^ polepole^ hatta mtoto aka«
mwambia, '' Naona majnmba mengi madogo-
dogo.'' Wakashnka, wakashnka^ hatta mtoto
akamwambia, " Naona jnmba moja knbwa sana^
Una vitn vidogodogo jnn yake/' Akashnka^ mto-
to akamwambia^ '^ Naona vitn vile kama matn-
ndn yandege.^' Eazee akamwambia, ^'Unaliona
tunduMo ndege ndani?" Kijana akamjibu
'' Naliona/' Akamwambia^ ^' Liko npande ga-
ni?^' Kijana akamwambia, ''Liko npande
mkono wa knshoto/' Kizee akashnka hatta
mtoto akalipata tnndn^ akalitwaa. Alipokwi-
aha knlitwaa^ majini wakamwona^ akapigiwa
nkelele^ mashetani wa mjini wakamfnknza^
wacdmpate. Akafika mjini knle kwa mamaye.
Alipofika^ kizee akamwambia^ '' Miye nakwe-
nda zangn^ na wewe likikntokea neno lingine,
niitOj ntaknja/' Kizee akaenda zake. Akapele-
14 HAHOMED S£YID DIB.
ka tunda kwa Saltani. Alipopeleka^ Sultani a-
kafurahiwa sana, akampa reale miteen. Aka-
cliukua^ akaenda zake. Waziri akamfaata^ aka-
mwambia^ ^' Nipe reale mia ; kama hakunipa u-
taona/^ Mtoto akakataa^ akaneua ^' La ! La ! ''
Akaradi waziri^ akaenda kwa Sultani^ akamwa-
mbia^ '^ Umepata ndege^ nmepata tandu^ sasa
ungepata mwenyewe ndege hawa, Saltani^ a-
kamwoa^ ungeradi ukawa kijana/^ Sultani
akanena^ ^^Atampata wapi yule ? " Waziri aka-
mwambia, '^Anamjua yole kijana/' Saltani
akamtnma mta^ akaenda knmwita mtoto masi-
kini^ akaja. Alipokuja akamwambia, '' Nataka
mwenyewe ndege kawa/^ Mtoto aliroka^ aka-
mwambia, ^^Bwana, mwenyewe ndege hawa, ni.
tampata wapi ? '^ Akamwambia^ ^' Sijoi^ pata
mwenyewe ndege hawa^ usipopata ntakaaa/'
Akatoka mtoto akaenda kwa mamaye^ akalia
Sana. Mamaye akamwoliza^ '' Mwanangn^ nna-
lia nini T " Akamwambia^ " Nitaf ate mwenye-
we ndege; nitampata wapi?'' Na mamaye
akaangaka akalia sana. Mtoto analia, na mama
analia^ nkelele mwingi sana. Tena yule mtottt
akashokara Maungu, akanyamaza^ akaenda a*
kananaa clzakola cha kizee. Akaisba akaingia
MAHOMED 8ETID DIB. 15
chnmbani kwake ; akamwambia mama wake^
'' Akija mtn mwambie nimekwenda kutembea/'
Akafaoga mlango^ akatwaa nyele zake akazitia
motoni. Marra akaona kiambaza kikapasuka^
akaona kizee sbetani^ masikio ndiyo nguo zake.
Mtoto ameogopa sana. Akamwambia^ ^' Unao-
gopa nini ? Mta ananijua siku zote/' Akaisha
mtoto akaitikia^ ^' Siogopi kita : nakujua kama
baba wanga/' Akaisha kijana akamkaribisha
babaye akae kitako. Akamwambia^ " Una nin
mwananga V* Akamwambia^ " Baba^ sasa anata-
kamwenyewe ndege Binti Sinsin/^ Kizee aka*
nena^ ^'Niletee chakula changa^ iiile/^ Akamwa-
mbia^ '^Marahaba/^ Akaondoka mtoto akaenda
akatwaa cbakala^ akamletea kizee^ akala. Alipo-
kwisha knla^ akamwambia^ " Mwanangu^ nenda
kamwambia Snltani^ ^Maneno yako mazuri sanaj
w^akini nataka meiikebn ya thahabu^ milingo-
te ya fetha, matanga ya italassi, kamba Hariri,
na babaria waanawake watu thelatha mia vija-
na bikira, nao watoto wa waziri, na merikebu
iundwekwa mali ya waziri/ '^ ^'Bassi tutapata
nashehenagani?'' ^^Boni iliyotwangwa/' Aka.
ondoka mtoto akaenda kwa Snltani^ akamnena
babari kama hizi alizoambiwa na babaye. Sol-
16 MAHOMED SEYID DIB.
tani akamtuma mtn^ akaenda akamwita waziri^
akaja. Akamwambia^ '^Mtoto wa masikini
alikuja^ ataka merikeba ya tbahabu^ milingote
ya fetha^ matanga italassi^ kamba hariri^ ifa<
nyiwe kwa maK yako/^ Waziri akaruka^ aka-
nena^ ^'Mwongo huyu mtoto/' Sultani akanena^
'' Haifai wewe 1 ndio ulioniambia^ kama mtoto
huyu atapata mwanamke.^' Waziri akaruka te-
na^ akamwambia, " Ynle mtoto atampata mwa.
namke huyu ? '* Mtoto akajibu^ '' ISIi&bnyizie hi-
vyo vita nilivyotaka^ nitampata.'^ Waziri aka-
mwambia Sultani^ '^ Usimsadiki mtoto buyn/^
Snltani akamwambia^ ^' Mtoto baya ananena
kweli knlla sika ; maneno yako hayafai/' Snlta-
ni akaamum wata^ wakamsbika waziri waka-
mfanga, wakaenda naye kwake^ wakatwaa mali
yake yote. Akalia waziri, wakaja nao mali kwa
Snltani. Sultani akawaita wahnnzi wa cbn-
ma, wakaja wakaiponda thahabn, waka£anyizia
mbao. Ikaisba fetba ya waziri ; wakanza maju-
mba yake, wakanza masbamba yake, wakanza
watnmwa pia wote, isitoshe. Snltani akaf nngua
bazina yake, isitosbe i akauza nnssn ya mnlki ya-
ke, akamaliza merikebn ya tbahahn, milingote
jra iethaj matanga italassi, kamba bariri, na ma-
MAHOMED SBYID DIR. 1 7
shua zake thahabu. Saltan! akamwambia mtoto
wa masikini^ "Merikebu imekwisha/' Mtoto a-
kamwambia^ '^ Snltani^ nataka shehena ya buni
iliyotwangwa^ nataka waanawake vijana bikira
watu thelatha mia.^' Saltan! akawakasanya
watoto waanawake wote mji mzima^ watoto wa
tajiri na masikini pia. Watu wote mji mzima
wakalia na kumwapiza. Akaisha Sultani,
akamwambia yule mtoto wa masikini^ " Nime-
kwisha kupata vijana aliowataka; wamekwi-
slia kofondishwa mambo yote^ sasa tayari^ hu-
ngoje wewe" Mtoto akamwambia Saltani^
'^ Marahaba/' Akaondoka mtoto wa masikini^
akaenda kwa yale kizee chake^ akamwambia^
" Merikeba imekwislia^ na watu wamepatikana^
na shehena tayari/' Kizee akamwambia^ '^Ue-
nde kamwambia Sultani afanyize sandaku ku-
>bwa, zurisana ; uje unitie miye ndani. Akupe na
watu waje wachukue sanduku polepole waende.
Ukimpata kizee ndani ya chumba chako, ufu-
nge mlango^ asiingie mtu/^ Akaondoka mtoto
akaenda kwa Sultani^ akamwambia^ ^'Nataka
unifanyizie sanduku/' Sultani akamfanyizia
SMiduku^ akampa ; akaichukua akaenda nayo
hatta kwake, akaenda akamtia kizee ckake. ^-
18 MAHOKED SEYID DIR.
karudi kwa Saltan!^ akamw^ambiaj ^^Nataka
watu wachukae sanduka yangu/' Saltani aka-
mpa watu, Wakaenda kaicliakua sanduka.
MweuyewOj ''Ichukaeni vizori, msigonge maka-
IW Wakaichukua w^kaenda na^o liatta pwa-
ni ; ikaja mashaa^ akaipakiza sandnku, na mwe-
nyewe akaingia akaenda merikebuni^ akaingiat,
akatia sanduku chumbani kwake^ akafaiiga
lolaDgOj akachukua funguo akasbtrka pwani
akaja akamwambia Sultani, '^Nipe chaknla
changu cha kizee, na watu wangu : nimekuWa
tayari/^ Sultani akapakiza chakdla ; mtoto aka^
agJBk watu mjini. Akamwambia Sultani^ *' Ma-
ma wangu mtazama sana.^' Saltani akaitikia a-
kamwambia, '^ InshaUah/' Akaenda zake me*-
rikebani^ akapiga mizinga^ akaisha akatweka^
akaenda siku ya kwanza, siku ya pili^ aiku ya
tatu^ siku ya nne; ikabimia siku kumi, akafika
katika mji ule kwa inwanamke. Watu xDJini
walipoona merikeba ya thahabu, wakastaiyabu
Sana ; killa mtu akakimbilia kwenda kutazama
merikebu. Bassi tena akashusha mashua^ a-
kawaatnbia watu wake^ ^'Jipambeni sana/'
Wakajipamba^ wakaisha wakaingia ma^uani.
Yule mboto akasbuka^ akaenda pwani^ akafika
MAHOMKD 8EYID I^lfi. 19
kwa Sultani kwake. Akauliza^ " Sultani ame-
kwenda wapi ? *' Wakamjibu watu, '' Sultani
amekwenda moskitini ya Jama. Naye mtoto
akaenda moskitini^ akaaali na watu pamoja.
yakaishi^ kni^U wakatoka. wakakwenda kwa
Sult;ani wakakaft. Sultani akamwuliza^ ^' Kwa»
ni merikebu ing'are sana ? ^^ Akajibu^ '^Meri-
kebu ilfi.imaandwa ya thahabu*^' Sultani aka^
staajabu^ akfiniwuli2sa; '^ Milingote kitu gaui 7^'
Akamjibu, '^ MiUugiota ya f etha^ kamba hariri^
ua matanga italassi/' Akamwambiaj ^^Waba-
haria wote, na nakbotha, waanawake; bakuua
mwanamume isipokuwa mimi/' Sultani aka-
sidi kuataajabu^ akamwuliza^ ^^ Uzaepakiza ni-
ui?^' j^kamwambia^ ^^Nimepakiza buni/^ Sul-
tani akafurahiwa sana^ akamwambia^ ^^Utashu*
aha lini V* Akamwambia^ ^^ Utakapo wewe^ Sul-
tani/^ Na iiiclii ile buni gbali sana^ kipimo kwa
kipimo almasi. Sultani akatuma watu w&kaenda
merikebuni^ wakasbusha buni yote^ wakaisha
wakapakiza suff uf^ wakashebeni merikebu, wa*
kaisba. Yule mtoto wa Sultani akamwambia
baba wake^ ^^ Baba^ miye nataka kwenda kuta-
zama menkebu ile ; wallakini nataka waanamaji
Wangu kana wale/' Babaye akamwambva* '^'^-
20 MAHOMED SEYID DIB.
ziri wake, '' M wanangu ataka kwenda merikebn-
ni, bassi ataka waanao waje kumpelekea/^ Wa-
ziri aitikia, '^ Inshallah/' Akaenda iSultani a-
kamwita yule mtoto mwenyi merikeba, akaja;
akamwambia, ^' Mwananga ataka kaja kuanga-
lia merikeba yako/^ Akaitikia, ^*Ee Wallah/'
Akaraka akaondoka akaenda Dibio, akaenda
merikebuni akaingia ndani, akamwambia kizee
ohake, ^'Yule mwanamke atakuja kutazama
merikeba I ^' Kizee akamjiba^ ^^ Ndio vema^
enende okawaambie watn wako wote wawe ta-
yarij wavate nanga^ watie moto tayari. Ataka-
pokuja yale mtoto^ waambie watn wako^ wa-
mpitisbe chini atazame merikebo, na wata wa-
ke waende peke yao. flatta halaf a mpige ki-
fihindo, mfungolie matanga, tia na moto^ wafa-
kaze wata wake waingie mashoani : wakiingia
mashaani^ sisitatakimbia/' Akaondoka mtoto^
akawaambia wata wake kana haya. Akaisha,
mtoto yale akatwaa mashaa kabwa^ akachagna
watoto wazari sana akawatia mashaani, akawa-
ambia, '^ Kendani pwani, mkamtwaa binti Sal-
tani/' Wakaondoka wakaenda pwani ; walipo-
fika pwani, wakamkata binti Soltani ameingia
katika maehaa jake, anakoja. Wallakini wata
MAHOMED SfiYID DIR. 21
wake hawajai kuvutaj wanavata vibaya sana.
Watu wale wa merikebu wakamwambia^ ^^Bi-
bi^ njoo^ ingia buku tupate kwenda upesi/' Bi-
bi akakataa^ wakamfuata nyama nyuma. Ha-
l&fa watu wake wakachoka^ wakamwambia,
" Bibi, kana hutaki kuingia huku, njoo tu-
kuf ungase/^ Akakabali knfangaswa. Bassi wa-
kaisha wale wata wa merikeba wakamfanga*
sa wakavuta kwa nzuri sana^ wakafika meri-
kebnni^ wakapiga mizsinga ya salaamu mingi.
Akaisha akaondoka mwalimn mkubwa^ akam-
chukiaa bibi^ waalimn wadogo wakachakua wa-
tu wake^ wakazangukazuDguka^ hatta halafu
ukapigwa ukelele kusafiri, watu mbio mbio.
Watu wale wa bibi wakachukoliwaj *' Haya
upesi ! baya npesi ! bibi kenda zake ; '' na
wale wakatoka mbio^ wakafika ngazini^ waka-
ingia mashuani, wakauliza^ ^' Bibi wapi ? ''
Marra wakaona merikebu inakwenda^ tu-tu-tu-
ta^ mbio mbio^ wakapiga kelele ngine^ ^' Haya,
bibi anakwenda/^ Zikafunguliwa merikel^ju
zote zilioko bandarini^ zikaifuata. Na ile meri-
kebu inakwenda kana mshale, wakamfuknza
mchana kucbwa, na usiku kucha, wasimpaite,
wakarudi. Yule bibi akalia sanandaxLVxsL^rk!^-
22 MAHOMED SEYID DIB.
bttiii. Yule mtoto akambembeleza^ hatta yule
bibi akanjamaza. Akamwuliza^ ^^ Kwa nini
ukanichukua ? ^' Yule kijana akamwelessea vi-
fia^ vyake vyote^ vilivyompata. Akam^wambia
mtoto wa Sultani^ ^^Naaasa tutafikakwa Stil-
tati wangu^ ataknoa, nami nitakuwa mtamiw>a
wako/^ Mwanarake akajibu^ akamwambia^
" Miye sitaki kuolewa na mtu ye yote, isipoku-
wa wewe, uliyenichukua kwefeu/* Akajibu
mtoto wa masikini^ akamwambia^ '^ Akiji ujoik^o
mwenyi bibi ? '^ Marra aka^oa barra, w^akwi,
hatta alfajiri wakafika mjini kwao.
Watu pia mjini wakajshukia pwani w>enyi
watoto wao^ wamekuja kuwatazama.wao wakipi*
ga miisinga na kacheza. Akaisba akatia nanga
akasbuka kijana cha masikini. Alipofika pwa-
ni^ akamkuta Sultani. Sultani akaruka^ aka-
mbusn yule mtoto sana^ " Stahili salaam^ sta-
bili salaam 9 Bwana/^ Sultani akanena^ " Kile
kitu umekipata f '^ Akamjibu, '^ Nimepata/^
Sultani akaf urabi sana^ akamwambia> '' Nenda
kamBhusbe/' Akaitikia^ akamwambia^ ^'Walla-
kini anafanya sbaruti akifika pwani umohinje
waziri/^ Akaruka Sultani^ akaitikia, 'Mnshal-
lab/^ ^i/aita akaendajahazini. Alipokwenda,
MAHOMED SEYID DIR. 2-J
aksrmwambia^ ''Bibi, nimekuja kukushusha/'
Akaitikia, akaondoka akavaa nguo zake^ akai-
slis> akatoka, akaingia mashuani. Alipoingia
luasbuani ikapigwa mizinga wahid a isbreen^
wakaviita mashoai ikaja batta pwani. Ilipofika
prwani waziri akaangasbwa cbini, bibi aliposbu-
ka^ wasiri akuchiajwa. Akag^aka^ akaeada
ssake batta kwa Saltani, akaingia ndani^ tena
Stiltani akamkaribisba^ akamwonyesba uyu*
mbaj akakaa batta usiku. Sultani akaenda kn*
inwita mtu mwalimu^ kuja kumwoa yule mwa-
xiamke.
Mwanamke dcamwambia . Sultani, ^'Mimi
fiikatai^ iirallakini biyi si vema. Kama wataka
kunioa mimi na kwetu, nkafanya aafiri, kwe-
ndalcwetu, kwa baba yangu na inama yangu^
ukaniolee bnko, ndipo utakapokuwa ra^/'
fiultani akakubali, akaenda akamwita mtoto .wa
•masikini, akaja. Akamiii^ambia^ '^Katengene-
^sa merikebu sasa bivi, assnbui tayari kosofifi.^
^kanha^ akapewa na Tyakula palepale foaiiai,
akacbnkua mtoto vyakuk^ na watu wake usiku
loittxpn, akaenda merikebuni, akatengeneea^.faat-
ta alfajiri akaisha kusbuka^ akaja^ iJcamwa-
mbia Sultani, ^' Merikebu tayari/'
24 MAHOMEL 8EYID DIR.
Saltan! akaaga watu marra, akapakia yitu
yyake, na yule mwanamke^ wakasafiri wakafd-
dia kwa yule mwanatnke. Wakaenda siku ya
kwanza^ sika ya pili, sika ya tata^ ilipoiimia
siku ya kami^ wakafika. Watu mjini waliku-
wa na msiba. Walipoiona merikebn, Icilla
tnta akaforahiwa sana^ ^' He merikebu inarudi.
Merikeba aliyeingia bibi inarudi?'^ Ikatwe-
kwa bandera^ ikatiwa nanga ; marra ikapandi-
wa na asikari^ wakaja wakamchnkoa bibi^ na
yule mtoto wa masikini wakasbuka nao pwani.
Alipofika pwani^ Soltani wakamkata, ameka-
sarika sana^ alitaka kamchinja yule mtoto wa
masikini. AkamwambiaBdltani, ''Usinicliinje;
mwulbie mwana wako visa vyangu/' Snltani
akamwuliza mwanawe^ '' Nieleze. visa vya hnyu
mtoto/' Mwanawe akamwelezea Snltani. A^-
flikitika Sana, akamwambia, " Yukp wapi liay^
Snltani^ anayetaka kumwoa mwananga V^ Ta-
le kijanaakamjibu, '^ Yuko merikebuhi/^ Aka-
mwambia^ '^ Nenda kamshadie.'' Akaondoka
kijana akaenda merikebnni akamwambia^
^'Bwana^ unakwitwa pwani.^' Snltani akaondoka
akajipamba sana^ akashnka pwani. Ikapigwa
mizmgtL merikebuni kwake^ na pwani ^ akaji-
lUHOXXD SXTID SIR. 25
bii, Akathuka^ akafika pwani^ akat nda akito-
naiia babaye yule mwanamke. AkamwambiSj
'' NieWse habari zako tanga mwanzo hatta m wi-
aho/' Ynle Snltani akaanzaknmwelezababari
lake, akamirelezea mambo kana yale yaliyopita.
Snltani (aliye baba wa binti) akamwambia,
'' Weye mtu mzima, buna akili, hana adabn,
hnwesiknfikm,buoni,hu8ikukwambiwa/' A-
kamwambia, '' Stahili yako kucbinjwa. " A-
kawaamnra ynAn ¥rake^ wakamoa ynle Snltani.
AW^a>M^ yule mtoto wa masikini akaozwa ynle
mwanandce, akawa mtu mkubwa, mfalme kwa
benbitna, akakaa. Akataka kwenda knmtaza*
wm mama wake ; akasafiri, akaenda knle incbi-
ni kwao akafika.
Alqpofika, watn wote walipomwona wakafti-
nildwa wakaaema, ''Snltani wetu ameknwa
ktjana.'' Wakamnliaay ''Mtoto wa masikini
ynkowapir' Akawaambia, "Mtoto wa masiki-
siameknia.'' Baasi akaahnka pwani akatawala,
akawa ndiye mwenyi inohi ile. Akatwaa mama
wake, akaingia nynmba kubwa sana, akakaa
akaatarebe. Mke wake akamwambia, "Bwana,
kana nnataka rathi yangn, watwaa watoto wa
waavinwaoe/' Akaitikia, ''InsbaS^ab.!' V2a^
26
HAHOHSD SETID !6n^.
isha akawaoa. Akaweka nynmba moja binti
Sinsin^ makasudi kawalipa yaliyompatA ba-
bayao.
I. .(
I
■ i .
■ "J
I J
• .•»
-J
• • 'I r ^
. ' ■ .. •
lubuH' *^ y^w^tkgff Bxiipwpd mtoi^y ataki&o lo^lcjfee^
nitantriiiMs^' Na waadti akaweka natihiriiaka^
Mbiij'^'MiMitigb anipapomiotojhatoki !QJ6iii eW
bitl^/^ Mimii^ aikajali Saltani akajpato
]IU?ifibiteiftMe; lia; wazM' akt^eWuibto^itiwa^
naifaaiiie. SiUtaaf^ tittoto wake atlik^o k) tot^
adblintUif aa'ihWafitt wia-WAziri h^^ki^jMf."
itttbtiii^Sttltaid amekaa sika«»te-k^^^
t^Wa do aaokocho ckote babaye knmfliimtdiay
atalkttft.- Sika' mqja akimena; na WatdlntlW
ismki}/^-' Tiko. mtoto alioaaliwia sawa sawali^
ittf^t^' Wajnu&wW wake wideamjifeu^ ktra kn^
WW f^akG^ WstOiokana wewe, wa twanssW tttdtd
wa^ wii2iri> walk^ni mtoto wa waziri hAffoM
nj^V. AkaoM^mtoto waSiilta]ii> ^' Haffcoki rge
kWnibi'f '^^'Wafeajibdy kwa ktiwa '' Babiaye a^^
Uirektt ^Mthm/t Mt(dtd%ar-^ akaieftda
kwa babaye akamwambia ** Baba^nataka neno
kaBngiGk kuw koinki*
«l
■Irnrg^ jm-hamm ^
no gMU, InraiM 7 "
Mrtaka mtoto ifmitoiie iia
tasbM*'^ Mwaiuunke akandoi^ ^ Be BuHmi^^
HMO alijiialo koiuijiift aitliiiMdi^ Bp AUfadi^
mpeMce/' Wadri ftkachinja iBgombe irateaosi^
oa ngtmift wateno, akatos aadaka, akaiaha ak»<
mtoa mwaimfre akampeleka kwa Stdtaoi^ akae-
ada knf oatana na mtoto wa Snltaiii, wakaeadft
kutMDb^a. Halafa mtoto wa Snltaiii akamt«p»
KIB41UKA. 29
Mtoto wa waziri liajni kning^i akapotea-
akaaenda orika kachai hatto asBabni akaonana
Mkiaeb rimwi. Akaaichakiia, akMndanajra,
baMa ii;^iiiba kwake, jiimba kabwa sanai aka«
nlta'iidaiiii akamwambia, '' W^ya mwanaiigai
kM hapa.*' Akaisha akamwoi^lFedia'l^mba
y¥Bbt dtamiDngidia vyonba vyote. Akamwi^
tttriai ^ Ifimi nakwandia katembea. Vyauiba
yfo^ fimgtia, eU kimoja QsifimgQa/' Akaondo*
kaklaee; akaenda sake, sika ya kwaaxa, sika
ja jaB^'Bikii ya tata, aika ya nne, na yida kiaee
MMkireiida kowaita wenaii^j knja kala iqraibab
41a yide kijaoa aflca ya kwanaa aKflfUgw
tiMaib% akaiidrata diiri ; kijanaakaogopiidadt^
Cbii akMDWaiabia^ ^ Heri kaningiliaj kaaija ka*
khnbia/' Mtoto akamgia ndani. Alipoingia,
chai akamwambia^ '' Nina njaa.'^ Krjana'^aki*
toka^ akaenda akaAmgoa gfaala^ akatwaa vyaka*
1% akamtetea bbm^ akala akashiba^ okamita-
mUai ^^ Wdwe bin Adamn^ utaona mengi knliko
baya/'
Kijaaa akashnknra, akaenda akafnsgoa ohn*
mba kii^fiiie akamkala dmbaj amef ongwa mi-
agforcffo) kijana akaogopa 8ana« Sunb^^k^-
30 KIliABAKA.
mbia/^ Kijana anatetemeka^ akaenda. Simba
akamwambiaj *' Ee bin Adamu> nina njaa*'' Ki*
j,aoa akaondoka akatoka, akaenda akafozigaa'
g}^]A vyaknla, akatoa< yyakala akampelekea^
i;ifiibf^> ,. akavipokea^ akala ak^pshiba ; . aka»r
Q^wambia^ '^ Utaona mengi kuliko nlijoana/''
Akftfcuoga mlangOj akaenda zidce*
AUpokwenda akafungoa ehumha Mng^
ajcfjsata npanga, nnapigana mwenyewej Hj^
Qai;akapom0ka. Uponga ukamwambia^ ^^- Wa^
oba alionayo utaaame ajaonayo/' Eijanafaka-^
amkaf ' akashnkani Mnooga. Akawead^le^
x^fpofxg^s &lipokweDda;i upangn ukaiawaQdnaj
'^Nisbike onitazam^ki^aart^mekiraM^.V 'Kgfh
D»-4kiaoshika akakha kiiBcha^. akjiMiluBa np&ngPi
7i.fibaknllb chdko nini I " UpangHi u1
'.^Obakttla cbatigahafibtt kwa mkono
mntnov ' AkafturaMwa kijana, abEifatigMOAaBg^it
.tAkaotidokb/aklienda aka£ias|gna ohtiaibb; kn
ngbsbe^i akaktttAr jambia linapligaaik JrayeWB^j
kijana akapomoka. Jambia likamwambii^/yf|
ka)#fk '^JBeBi^ Adamo, yapxte uycfpnayo/iia-
ck» uUyp^ atttyo/' Kijana akaamka, jEJudJieod^f^
j^iTAbia.' " Jambia likamwambiaj^^ Nibbik^ .-fmi^
baliyaoga oniam^e/': AJi^alifihiliaj^
KIBABAKA. 31
mbia^ akaisha akaliweka^ akaliambia^ '' fiali la-
kojema^ chakala ohako nini ? '^ Gambia li&a-
BQJibn^ Ukamwambia^ ^' Chakula cliangti hariba
-kwa mkono mwanamnme/^ Kijana akafumhi-
Wa Bema, akaafanga mkkngo^ akaenda zake.
A^kaa^ akai^iri ya ka wa^ nimeam biwa ohu-
i&ba kile nsifoxigae. Akaondoka akaenda kiija-
ribOf id^aesda hatta mlango^ akafanya mashaari,
iialaftL>aka]ieBa^ '' H^ri nifm^e^ mtasame Hli«
-ko.^ Akafongoa. AlJpodiDgaa^ akamkata fra-
Tsti .cnkabwa mno. Yiuikjaabii kijana^ akaog€^
'OSDO fikaanguka^ akasaga miguu kana anaku^;
fVasi akamwambia^ '' Usiangiike^ mpambofo/^
iKiJana fJcaeikilusa^ akaondc^a akapigiwa^ " Sa^
ham <al6k^ ya bin Adamu/^ Akaitikia '^Ale*
kiim isalaam frasi/^ Akamaliza^ ^'Je >frasi^ tita-
i^i'' Fraeiakamjibn, akamwambia, '^Mknte
-w^ye^ ndiye otokayenila/^ Kijana lai^v&iwiitiiHiF;
^ttfaekayenikb ni nani ?'^ Frafii akam jibu^ ^^ AiUBS^
ieayeknla alieknleta buko/' Kijana akate^
•^fatunHU sana^ Fraei akamwnUsa^ ''Ba!ba yakb
^bwenda wapi V* -.Kijana akamjibn^ '^Baba-fcire-
-»&■ toinbea/^ • Frasi akamwnlieay ^' Alikaagasstt
-nini ? " Ejjana akamjibn^ '' Aliniambia^ ^ Ja-
mbift yote iEangua ela hiki/ '*• "pT%j&\^^KaaBs?5Rv«^sk-
92 KnJLRkKk.
/
A, " Mbona nmekifangaa ? '* Kijanaakamjibo^
'*' Moyo baukanipa kutokakifangua/' Frasi a*
kamwambia, *' Eanipe chakala nile^ nikwambie
nililo nalo" Kijana akaondoka, akaenda kutwaa
ehakala^ ngano^ tende^ zabiba^ akamletea frasi*
Frasi akala^ akamleta na maji akanywa^ akaisba
akamwambia^ ''Wanijoa baba yako> kwamba
shetani yule ? '^ Kijana akamjibu, '' Sijui/'
Prasi akamwambia,, '' Mimi bwaaa wanga she-
tarn; tnlitoka kweta kucangaka^ kutasama
boldaiu, tukafika bapa, kizee huyu^ m wenyi nya-
mba bii^ akatakamata, Bwana wanga ameliwa^
nami nikawekwa, kangojewa knnenepaj miaka
aahariBi sasa. Bassi^ sasa amekapata wewe^
ndiye amekwenda kawaita wensiwe waje, wata-
twaa mimi na wewe, na simba, na ohni, na pa*
nda^ na killa kitu kilicho ndani ya nyomba hii
chenyi roho^ watakila/^ Kijana akafimya hnarop
ni na simanzi nyingi. Frasi akamnlusa, '^ Leo
ngapi tanga amekoaga kwenda kataaama we-
nzi wake f '' Kijana akamjibn, " Leo sika ya
ttaxo" Frasi akamwambia^ '^ Imebaki sika
mbili ataradi, bassi &nya sbaari/' Kijana ak^
mwulisa, '' Ni&nye shaori gani f '' Frasi aka-
lawmmbia, ^^ Nitvatguidt anitoe nje." Kijana
KIB4BAKA. 33
abxmfquglis, akamtoia, nje. Fraai akamwa*
lAbiaj. '^ Nonda^chumbani kula onlikoliJa^.aka*
tai^me mtQ ule wa. baba yako, akaletooj ncUlo
tlndiko- laogu*'' KijiUMi akaidtida akalittivM
tandibo, akajainak). Frasi akamwambia^ ** Ni-
twdik^/' Kijauat akamtcuadika^ akamwumbia^
" Nifaoge sana/' Eijaaa akaoif (inga> fraai^^
akaitiwambia,. '^ Nipande nikataaame;^' Ki*
jaoj^: akariopandia- fragd, FrasI akapiWjambia[>
'' Nipigo uikutazame^^' Kijanai akampiga ; fran
8ii akeudaisbotoi Kijaaa akatoliajs kaiij^: oko
vHJii'i Frasi. akaaimama^ akamwatabin^ '^ Bm
dfir- tbttfna. hodar/' I^aaa akii^ak»» akar
mwita^fraaii fra^i akamwambiay '^Kafungaa
njtama: aiQte> uyalete mali yotie^^' Eijaita'a-'
kModa, akamf ungulla simba^ sa chiUj akamav
too; pnada^ iig^6mbe, ua killa kita ndani^. a-
kaivH^ nje. Fraisi akamwambia;^/* Kafangnui
kaaba kabw&> yiobapa saba:yilet6^ kimojfu olte
babarii c}ia>pili:cha:iDlufcop6> cba^tata chamoto)
cha nne miiba^ cha tano cha mawe^ cha sita
cbaandaoo, cha saba.cka mbigUi/' Kij^na
akayileta^ .akaviw^eka tisti. Fraai ak^mwambii^
^n^akatii naakwiska waalika wanakuja/' El^ft^
Daakamjibti akamwambia^ ^^Madiaariyote!:^ii.vL
34 KlfiARAKA.
jakoJ* Frari akamwambia^ '* Niletee simba/'
Kijana akamletea^ na chui^ na punda, na mail
yote. Frasi akavimeza vyote^ akaoHTanibia,
" Jifunge jambiay uchiikae upanga^ ngao na vi-
chapa, wewemwenyewe/' Kijana akaitikia aka-
mwambia^ " Haya I wakati umekawako/' Ki-
jana akaondoka, akamtandika frasi akampanda,
wakashika njia. Wanakwenda wakafika ka(i«
kati ya njia. wakaona kivambi, Kijana aka*
mJ.J, "Uiu«,n. kivombi kingiCo ch*
i^rintf Frasi akamjiba, akamwambia, ya
kawa " Kizee kinamdi na wenzi wake, tasima«
me niwataamme/' Eajana akaitikia. Frasi a«
kamwambia, ''Watakapokaja^wakituonawata-
tnf akaza ; bassi wewe tazama wakinikaribia,
vunja kichupa cha mbigili/' Bassi wakafika
wale maanmwi, walipofika wakawaona, waka-
piga makalele, ^'Nyama yeta inakwenda/'
Wangle wakanliza, ''Iko wapif Wakao-
nyeshwa, ''Ile-e-e/' Wakafakmu^ '^Nyama
yetn i nyama yetu I '*
Frasi akaenda mbio, akaenda mbio, waka-
mkaribia^ kijana akamwambia, ^'Wamekawa
kariba.'' Frasi akamjiba, " Vonja kichupa cha
lobigiliJ' Kijana akakivunja, wakija zikiwa-
EEBARAKA. 35
choma^ wangine wakaadla^ wangine wakifa, war
kairiiflha wakawafakgga tena. Eijana akamwia-
mbia frasi, '' Wamekuwa kariba.'^ Frasi aka-
mwambia, '^ Vanja kichupa cbasindano/' Wa-
kawachoma^ wangine wanakafa^ wangine waai-
okota, wakiisha^ wakamfakoza tena. Eijana
ak^mwambia^ ** Wamekawa kariba/' Frasi a-
kattijibOy ^'Vonja kichapa kingine." Akakiva-
9Ja ki^hiipa cha miiba^ wakamfiikaza, wang^de
wianailitaj wangine wanakofa^ wangine wanao-
kota» wangine wimaila^ wakaisha wakamfnkuaa
tena. Kijana akamwambia^ ^'Wamekowa kac-
ribu/' Frasi akamjibn, "^anja kiohnpa dia
matope/'. Akavanja, wangine wanaangaka, wli-
ngihe wanaaaiwa pnmnzi, wangine wanaku&
wvtng^e wanasama, wakaisha, wakamfakoza te»
na* Kijana akamwambia frasi ^'Wameknwaka^
libn/' Frasi akamjibn, ''Vunja kichapa dta
mawe/' AJaiynnja, wangine wanaangoka, wa-
ngine wanajikata, wangine wanaknf a, wakaiahaj
wakamfokuzatena. Kijana akamwambia, ''Wa-
mekawa kariba/' Frasi akamjiba, ''Vonja-
kiehapa eha moto/' Wakawafakaza, wangme
wanateketea, wangine wanaokota, wangine wa-
naka&, wakaisha^ wakamfakaza tena. WslI^
36 KlBAB^iBA.
^Mlioadiwa wakaixtfak^za 'fMii£a. EijanaiAa-
-ttlMttnlm frasi, '^ Wamektiwa kariba/' Frasi
Kkamjiba, ''Tatijakichiipa cha b&h&ri/' Aka-
tetiinja. Widca^dtoa^ '^wikn&k pia wote^ frasi
Wn^aenda asao waln^lm wakaiikoribia'Bfifi
-W«kaj^nga nytniiba'fei^^ ktffcikaimritlii
uttfkakaa. Aka(»id<lka<M|aiia, akamwaittbiarfra.
(fli/'^^imi natekakweiida'teiiibeattfnii.^' I*M(A
ukamwambia^ '^Mia, waUakini ioefende kitaji*
^, ^ttdtida Mttiadkiiii/' £i jana^adttix^a' nda^
•iftiaokoto ivitaoibaa vibovoi '^dbo^, fl^tflfEata
4ci^pak»olia, akatia kwapaau dkata&tta mpanga
•AaohiikDai ekaimS^ aake h^bta tn^m. AUpo^
tlkA, akipita^ddottba^yfiam^^iia kuokeaa aika*
v^mAiorioBiijBke. fi^ttto w«ta wote waka^-
«jua^kailaka ttiji; abakaa. Akakaaka^to^aiaa^
xdr)i]K)gaiSiiltai|i akanena^ '' Nalaka kirfanya1ia->
vm ytk :waaTia wai^/^ Akaonddka akamto-
(Bia naiiXL, aka{)iga mkm, 4fi]i ^iHsifaia^alali^
^ ^Isio ^aana aeleike jnveiiivi^ keeliotiiakalittifo
<^wa /Suliaai^ atuka knoza Waanawe/' Eiibda
«bi 41e bafcia okartiA nirakaamka^ fWdipoattdDa
-wakakutfloa watn wale kwafinltaai. Suham
dksioa adimn ^aaba^ akawapa waanawe. Aka-
KIBABAKA. 37
Aa, "Endani mkasimame mcliuiigQliei
mtu ^ttmtnpe ndima mume amtakaye/'
Wakaondoka/ wakaeada, wakasimama. Mto*
(awa kwanaa akatupa ndima^ ikantipig^ mtoto
wa wasm. Babaye akafurahi sana, lakapiga
ndaiiiga mia. Wa pili akatnpa ndima yake^
akampiga imtoto npra •wa2siri wa ipili. Babayit
akifnfahi Sana. Wakasntendeakamajale^'Wa*
te/watatQ •rilenley wote eht wa saba. Wa; saiba
aMpdtapa ndima jake» akampiga Eifaarakay
waibaii^ga xnftteke akakinrbia. IkatWaliwa
odiiMi akapdekewa mtoto wa Sbltani kujalriba
Biamyapili. Alipqjariba akampiga Eabaraha
teiia. Wata wakaiiaka kampiga KibamABiii
Adtoni akakirtaaa^ akanena, " Nitemoasa jreye
knyn/'iakaBikiiiikaswia. fiay^l Sultani akaAi^
ayiaa>liataiBi >kabwa watoto ;wake aita* JBabal«*
ka ' ffebLcvWa faarasi yake ^kama 'inttimw«|ilJBa»
penia^|Mliali ))adogo^ akakaa. Akakaa Kiba^
faka.
' ilhatokaa iinehi'iia Jkoingia vite^ "SnlttitB iaka-
*#aaBibia wakwewe wote eht &ibavakaj akawa-
iNnbia^ ^'Indhi ineiiigiwa vita» Bimawnaii msatiltt
jifakiimi/' £illa mta akaitikia, '' Marahaba;''
Wakaingia tty nidb&m jeilta mtu/ likatwaa aekha
38 KIBARAKA.
apendayo^ an fraai apendaye^ wakaisha waka«
zatiti vita. Wakaisha, hatta sika ya pili, wana-
kwenaa vitani. Kibaraka wakampa.panda moja
mbovu, wakampa na upaaga mbova, na mata-
ndiko mabova na hatama mbovn. Wakaazimn
kwenda vitani ; wakatoka watn wote wakaenda.
Kibaraka na kipnnda chake anakwenda^ waka*
msakoma anaangaka analia. Hatta halaf a Ki*
baraka akaingia mwitnni^ akamf nnga pnnda
jiAe, akakimbia mbio, akaenda nyambani kwa^
ke, akamwuliza frasi mambo yale, Frasi aka*
mjiba^ '^Nenda koga^ uvne ngao zako bizi nli-
OBazo^ nvae libassi njema ; utwae choi, nmta*
ndike^ wende hatta ritani, nsiache mtn kaka#
jna." Kijana akaitikia^ akaondoka, akampanda
ohni wake, akatoa shote akaenda hatta vitani.
Alipofika watn wa hnkn, na watn wa hukn pia
walifanya khofa. A.kaja hatta karibn'jra wa-
ta akapiga^ '^ Salaam alek/' Wakamwitikia^
'' Waleknm salaam/' AkanKza, '' Hawa watn
gaiiif Wakamjiba wakamwambia^ ''Watn
wale wa barra Yemen, na sisi watn Maskat/'
Marra kijana akaingia akapigana, akawashinda^
akawana wote. akasaza mtn mmoja, akamkata
pda aJbimwambia^ '* E!amwambia Snltani wako.
KI6ARAKA. 39
' Umeleta tambuu haina yifaa. ' ^' Akamwacha
naye mwenyewe^ akarodi mbio, akawakimbia,
akaenda 2sake kwake. Aka&hnka jau ya ehoi,
akamiandua upesi upesi, akaisba akafim^a 8e«
kha zake sote akaweka, akavaa Dgoo sake mba*
ya mbaya, akatoka mbio akaenda hatta paloj
ameficha panda wake. Akamfnngoa, akampa*
nda akaenda zakej hatta njiani wakamkuta wa«
ta waUotoka vitanij wakamstikama Kibaraka,
wakamtnkana, '* Nyoo I kunaye haya f '' Ku
baraka akawajibo, " Nifanyeje bassi, na panda
wanga baendi.'' Wata wanapita na faraha na
nyimbo, na bandoki zinalia na vigelegeloj wa«
kafika mjinij kiUa mta anajisifii kwa abora wake,
wakamchekaj '* Nyoo-oo*oo I '' Eibaraka aka«
nena, ** Ni&nyeje bassi, na miye siwezi, panda
mbaya, ndio maana sikiifika/' Wakamwambiai
"Wewe ndiye wa kapigana halisi, kwa 8a*
baba ameoa mtoto wa miaime" Kibaraka a*
kanena, " Mimi sikatai kapigana, wallakini mta
mmoja masikini sina ngava, ndio maana nisi*
ende apesi/' Wakamcheka tena» wakanusomea.
Sika ya pili vita tena, wata wakatoka vilerile.
Kibaraka akatoka vilevile, hatta pale katika
mwitn. Akakimbia akaenda nyambani kwa-
40 KJBARAILA.
ke, akamwambia fraai wake habarL Frasi a-
katnjibO; '' Jifange selaiia zako, avae ngno za«
ko> umpande simba^wako^ wende nkajionyeahe.''
Kijaiia]|akacmdoka; i^mba akamtandika, selaba
zake akaxishikii, akamrakia simba wake, aka.
mtoa shote hatta.akafika;yitaai. Alipofika^.wa*
tufwote wamta8am% wale wa kwao wakalam*
biwa sana^ na yale. aliokatw^ paa^.aUppiiiliroiia,
'/Ah^hrb/' akawaonyeaha wenzdwe, akaiiena#
''l^ale-eanakaji^aJioAikaJiiapiia/' AM^mhm
.A^k^lfika akapiga^. " S«llaam aMcam/' ' "V^aknr
xpinritilijai '' Alekmii fif^aam/' Sy^li.ile aaioli^f
ZQ neiio^ akapig^na, ak»pig^nmiakawaqa:W€ttet#
akaM^a< mmoja^ ak^mkato sikio^aki^v^ambifM
" Kskumtdnhifk mfi^lio^ wako. ya kdwA^ kutoto
tmnbau, na.pppopi: Iwafr tambak^H^ Imnsk.ck^
kaai/' Yule mtu aka^iid^ mUo^ .akaaudaalisa*
xowap^bia ^ultam wake> j^kuwa- ''Hapanmhiya
y^ kup^kjaa w^tu^ mt^ a»aQpig<aiafb«kQ!quaft04
jf^iPi.biMsiaiiafiya^sliauri/^ Sultamaka'mTvamlHK
wai^ri wake, alike vita^ vikub wa^ ; '' Kesbo ' Qtor
kwenda mwenyewe/'
. l!iFaiwaleiwa;kale wakae^da^zaQ^ .Nj^cyide kijjat
M Akakimbiai aki^nd94aHike> halafo^ akav^ingiOO
^ak^ akamtandua simba wake, akamfanga^.a*
KIBABAKA. 41
kaisha akakimbia^ akaenda pahali pake> akatwaa
kipunda chake, akapanda na upanga mbovu^
^kakaa njiani. Wakatokea wale wenziwe ; wa-
lipomwona, wakaanza kazomea, Eeugh-ngh^
na kamBokama nakumtukana. £ibaraka aka*
wajiba majiba kana yale^ na wao wakamwambia
xnaneiio kama yale. Walipofika mjini^ Waara-*
bn wanatamba, wakajisifa^ wakapiga bundu-
ki na vigele^rele mjini. Wakaingia, wakakaa
kitako. Wakanliswa na Soltani, '^ Habari ya
vita f " Akaisha, pana mta mmoja akamwa-
mbia, "Sultani, wanakudanganya ; wanapokwe-
nda vitanii hawatendi neno. Yoko Mwarabu
anaopigana, na sisi tnkamtazama burre/' Sal*
tani akaneqa^ ''Kesbo nikijaliwa nitakwenda
vitani mwenyewe/' Wakaamka assabui^ waka-
£Emya yita vikabwa sana. Hapana kusalia mtu
mjinij wakaenda wakafika yitani^ wakakusanyi-
ka watn wote wa huko na huko. Soltani akau-
liza, *' Ynko w^i huyn Mwarabn ? ^' Watu
wakamjibn^ " Hajaja bado^ akija utamwona.'^
Wakakaa. Mara wakaona kivnmbi kikabwa
nino kinaknja^ wakatazama, wakaona Mwarabu
]ua ya frasi, frasi yule mkubwa mno waajabu.
Akafika beina ya safu mbili^ akatoa ^' Salaamu
42 KIBARAKA.
alek/' Wakamjibu, '^Alekum salaam/' Aka-
chezesha frasi wake^ akaisha akapigana akashi^
nda. Pana mtu mmoja akampiga yule Mwarabu
ya mkono. Sultani akaondoka akatv^aa kilo-
mba chake akamfunga. Mwaraba akaaga^
Snltani akamwambia^ '' Af athali karibn kwa-
ngu/' Mwarabu akamwambia^ ''Asant, 'na
haraka ya kwenda zangu/' Akaondoka Mwa*
rabu^ akaenda zake. Na Sultani na jeslii lake
kwenda zao na furaba nyingi ya ajabu. Wa-
kafika mjini^ wakarandit wakacHeza sana, Te-
na yule Eabaraka akafika kwake^ akageuza
nguo zake^ akarudi akapauda kipnnda cba-
ke^ akaja akafika nyumbani mwake^ akaingia
ndani akalala. Sultani akatuma asikari mii-
xn. wakatazan,a majnmba yote wasimwone.
Halafu Sultani akaondoka akauliza^ ''Huyu
bwana Kibaraka^ yuko wapi f " Watu wa-
kamjibu^ ya kuwa, ''Siku bizi batnmwoni/'
Wakaondoka asikarij wakaenda kumtazama^
wakamkuta bawezi^ wakamwuliza^ ''Huwezi
nini ? '' Mkewe akawajibu^ '' Hawezi mkono/'
Wakamwita kuja nje^ akakataa. Wakaenda
wakamwambia Sultani. Sultani akaondoka
mwenyewe, akaenda kumtazama^ akamknta
KIBABAKA. 43
huko ndani. Akamwita uje^ akatoka nje. Sul-
tani akamwuliza, " Una nini ? '^ Akamjibu, "Si-
wezi^ mmejikata kidole/' Sultani akatazama^
akao^a kipande cha kilemba chake, akamwuli-
za "TJmekipata wapi ?'' Akamwambia, ^' Nime-
kiokotanjiani/^ Akamwambia^ '^ Nambie kweli,
Imna haja kanificha/' Akanyamaza. Akamwa-
mbia, '' Tafathali halafu njoo nyumbani^ nina
maneno ntakwambia/' Sultani akaenda zake^ na
Eibaraka akamfnata nyuma^ hatta kwake^ aka-
ingia ndani ya sebnle ya Sultani. Sultani aka-
shnka chini^ a&aja akaonana na Kibaraka. Sul-
tani akamwambia, " Tafathal ukawacbe ulio na-
yo, ukanambiekv^eli.^' Kibaraka akamwambia,
'^ Hiki kitambaa nimekiokota kwa yakini/' Sul-
tani akanyamaa, na Kibaraka akaenda zake^ a-
kakaa kadiri siku mbili^ tatn. Sultani akawa
bawezi^ wakaja waganga kuuifanyizia dawa^
Sultani kabisa asipone. Akaondoka mganga m-
zee, akanena kama^ '^Sultani haponi ela yapati-
kanamaziwaya chui/' Sultani akatuma mtu kwa
wakwezi^ kwenda kuwaambia maneno yale.
Wakaitikia. Kibaraka wakamwambia^ ya kuwa
" Mia raha na utungu hula/' Kibaraka akauliza,
'' Kuna nini ? " Wakamcheka sana, wakamwa-
4lr EIBABIKA.
mbia^ kama '^ Mkwe wetu hawezi^ naye haponi
ela kwa maziwa ya chtii/' Eibaraka akaitikia,
** Inshallah/' Wakamcheka tena. Wakaondo-
ka wakaenda zao^ na Kibaraka akatoka akaenda
njumbani kwake mwitani. Alipofika aka-
mhadithia f rasi wake ya kawa^ " Tonatafata
maziwa ya chai, dawa ya mkwe wetn Sultani^
hawezi/^ Frasi akamjibu, akamwambia ^'Mtoe
clmi wako, acbezecheze njiani^ watakapokaja
wenzi wako wakija knona, watataka maziwa^
baasi usiwape maziwa ela wapiga chapa. Marra
Heile wamekaa^ wasikia^ flodi I -wata wanakn-
ja. Walewale wakwe wa Sultani^ wakaja hatta
barazani. Wakaaliza ''Bwana mwenyewe nyn-
mba bii, yuko wapi?'' Wakajibiwa^ "Yuko
ndani/' Wakatama mta kamwita^ wakamwona
Mwarabu mzari kijana anawatokea. Wakao-
ndoka^ wakamamkia^ akaitikia^ akawakaribisha
kwa heshiroa. Akawauliza na habari ganif
Wakamjibu^ " Tumekuja twataka ntapatie ma-
ziwa ya chui/' Kijana akaitikia ^'Maraha-
ba. Wallakini maziwa ya chni yana sharti
moja/' Wakamaliza, " Sharti gani ? '^ Aka-
waambiaj '' Sharti killa mtn aknbali nimpige
chapa,, Ndipo nimpe maziwa ya chui/' Wa-
kibaraka. 45
kaknbali. Bassi akawatwaa mmoja mmoja
akampiga chapa akawaisha w^ote. Akaisha
akaenda^ akakama maziwa ya cKui^ akayatia
maji^ akawapa^ na mwenyewe akakama yake
mema^ akaweka. Wale Waaraba wakaenda
zao^ wakapdleka maziwa. Na Kibaraka naye
akachukua maziwa ndani ya kalasia Dznri mno
ajaaba. Akaichukaa akaenda hatta nyumbani
kwake^ akampa mkewe, akamwambia, '' Twaa
maziwa hayo mpelekee baba yako^ kwani hawe-
zi/^ Kijana akachukna maziwa; anakwenda
nayo, nduguze wakamcheka^ wakasema " Watu
wanatafata maziwa ya cbuij yeye labuda kaleta
ya ng^ombe/' Alipopelekwa maziwa yote ya-
katazamwa yote ya kawa mabaya^ ya Kibaraka
ndiyo mazuri. Wakarndishwa maziwa yao, ka-
ambiwa '' Maziwa yenu mabaya^ ya Kibaraka
ndiyo yatakayofaa."
Sultani akapona^ akakaa^ akaugua tena^ aka*
ambiwa na waganga, " ffuponi ela upate maziwa
ya simba/' Akawaita wakwowe, akawaambia
kama, '' Siwezi, na miye dawa ya^gu ma?iwa
ya simba." Wakwewe wakaondoka, wakaenda
knyataf ata ; wakafika nyamba kabwa mno ya
ajaabu; wakamknta Mwarabu amekaa barazani.
46 KUABAKA.
Wakampigia salaama, akawaitikia. Wi^mwn-
liza habari. Naye akawajibn akawaoliza habvri
zao. Wakamwambia, " Tameknja katafata ma-
ziwa ja simba/' Akawaambia, '' Habari xanga
zilezile/^ Tena wakakabali akawaclmkiia;, aka-
wapiga killa mta cbapa na mikono. • Akawaka-
mia maziwa^ akawapa akayatia maji. Wakao-
ndoka wakaenda zao. Halafu akakama yake
mwenyewe mazari sana^ akachakoa, akajigea-
ka^ akaenda zake akafika mjini nynmbani kwa*
kej akampa mkewe maziwa apelekee mkwewe.
Akachukaa maziwa akaenda nayo, ndagnze wa-
namcheka, '^ Mtazameni mke wa Kibaraka, ana-
kaja na maziwa yake. AfathaU maziwayale ya
mbuzi/' Wanamcbeka sana. Yakatwaliwa ma-
ziwa yote yakatazamwa^ ya Kibaraka ya kuwa
mazari. Tale yote hayafai^ aka&inyiziwa dawa
Sultani akapona^ akatoka nje. Akakaa siku zi-
mepita, akamwita Kibaraka^ akamtwaa faragba
akamwuliza^ ^' Nataka neno kwako^ unipe wa-
hadi ya kuwa nitalipata/' Kibaraka akajiba^
Inshallah, nitaknpa/^ Sultani akamwambia,
Niapie kama hataniambia uwongo/' Kibaraka
akaapa^ tena Saltani akamwaliza^ " Weye mto-
to wa nanif Kibaraka akaogopa kasema
it
k>
KIBAKAKA. 47
uwoBgo, akamwambia, " Miye mwana wa wazi-
ri katikainchiya Bassorah^ waziri Mkarraba/'
Akamwambia^ ^'Kwa nini ukaja hapa, ukafanyi-
za liivi ? '' Akamwambia^ " Nilikuwa nikitaka
kufayidi ulimwengu/' Akamwambia, '^Na sasa
nataka watumwa wangu.f ' Sultani akamwuliza^
" Watumwa wako ni nani f '* Kibaraka akam-
jibu, wa kuwa ''Wakweo wote watumwa wa-
ngn.'^ Sultani akastaajabu. Akamwambia^ ^'Na
la pi]i mimi ndiye niliokuwa uikipigana,/' Sul*
taui akafurahiwa mno yaajaabu, akatoka akaa-
mru watn^ wakapiga mizinga ya furaha mingi
mno. Akawaita watu akawaambia^ '^ Nataka
knfanya harrusi ya mwanangu vingine, pale
nimemtlinlumu/' Ikafanyizwa harrusi kubwa
mno ya ajaabu katika mji, watu pia wakaja.
Kibaraka akaenda zake akaingia kwake^ aka-
panda frasi wake^ akajipamba akaja pale pana-
po watu^ akapiga kelele^ akaita jina lake^
'' Ana Hamed bin Waziri fi biladi Bussorah^
mimi si Kibaraka." Watu wote wakiratazama^
Kibaraka akaruka^ akaisba akashuka juu ya
frasi, akakaa kitako barazaTii. Watu pia waka-
ja knmwambia, akadai watumwa wake^ wale
watu wakakataa. Walipokataa, KibQjc^kA.^>!s^-
48 KIBARAKA.
sema, '^ Watazamani karaa hawana chapa cha-
nga/^ Wakaenda wakatazama kama chapa
cha Kibaraka. Wakaja wakatahayari sana. Te-
na Sultani akatwaa nyumba yake anaokaaj a-
kampa Kibaraka^ na Usaltani. Saltan! akakaa
kitako mzee wa mji ; kazi yote jau ya Kibara-
ka. Bassi mkewe Kibaraka anawacheka nda-
gu zake ; anawaambia^ '^ Waume wenu wata-
mwa wa mume wangu ; na sasa ndiye Snltani/'
MASIKINI NA SULTANI.
Alikuwa Soltaoi na mii wake, akawa na masi-
iM h.k» „^g»i. 'sd-ni ^le ^jiri »»..
ana watn wengi sana^ ana mke mzuri sana, wa-
kakaa. .Saltan! killa aingiapo ndani, mkewo
amekonda kwa maneno maovu ; killa siku mke.
we kusddi knnywea. Akaondoka kizee mwana-
mke^ akaenda kutembea^ akapita nyumbani
kwa masikini^ akamkuta masikini ; ndiye kwa-
nza amemdi knomba^ amekaja na wali kaiika
kitambaa^ anampa mkewe anakula. Kizee alipo-
mwona mke wa masikini^ ginsi alivyowanda na
ginsi alivyo mzuri, akakimbia akaenda kwa
Snltani, akamjiba akamwambia Sultani, '^ Ni-
meona mke wa masikini jisi alivyo mzuri alivyo-
wanda minjiza/' Sultani akamjibu, '' Ajuza m-
wongo/' Kizee akaapa, ya ku wa ^^ lapo wongo
kamma mke wa masikini si mzuri kuliko mkeo,
nikate kichwa cbangu/' Sultani akatuma watn
wakaenda kumwita masikini, akaja. Alipokuja
Sultani akamwambia, " Nenda kamlete mkft<i/'
52 MASIKINI NA SDLTANI.
Iiamli. Masikini akamcliukua mkewe. Mwana-
mke akafurahiwa mno na furaha sana. Mke
wa Sultani ameingiwa na huzani sana. Ma-
sikini alipofika kwake akatosha kula^ aka-
mpa mkewe akila na tambuiza^ mwanamke ha-
mu ikampungaa^ sika ya kwanza, sikn ya pili^
siku ya tatu^ amerudi hali kama asili ao zayidi.
Na mke wa Sultani sikn mbili^ tatn^ amekonda
zayidi ya kwanza. Soltam' akamwita masiki-
ni akamwambia^ " Nambie unachomlisha mkeo^
ao ntakukata kitwa chako" Masikini akamji-
isi^W ™ t™»W « .A li^.'; si
tani akamwambia^ '^ Mwongo/^ Masikini aka-
apa^ ya kuwa '^Haya nikoambiayo yakini/'
Snltani akatuma asikari^ wakaenda wakaka-
mata wale wachinjao ng^ombe^ na wachinjao
mbozi^ wakaletwa wakatiwa gerezani. Wakau-
liza^ '^ Maalana^ sababa ya kutuf unga nini ? ''
Sultani akawajibu^ ya kuwa '^ Nalikwambiani
mchinjapo ng'ombe, na mbuzi, na kondoo, uKmi
asinunue mtu isipokuwa mimi^ nani mmezinza
ndimi zote kwa masikini/' Walio gerezani wa-
mpiga masikini. Masikini akauliza^ ^' Mwani-
nini ? " Wakamwambia, ^' Kwa uwongo
MASIKINI NA SULTANI. 53
wako^ aliomwambia Sultani, kwa kuwa unanu*
nua ulimi katika madaka yetu/' Masikini aka-
wajibu, ya kawa " Ndinyi na Sultani wenu pia
wapambafa; miye mapesaya kunanaa ndimi
nimepata wapi ? '^ Wale watu wakampelekea
habari Saltan!^ ya knwa '' Tuf ungulie^ amwulisBe
masikini mbele yetu^ bassi^ ikiwa kwamba tu-
memliza atanena ; na ikiwa hatukumliza atane-
na," Sultani akawafungua^ wakaja wakasima*
ma mlangoni; na Sultani akashuka^ akaja, aka-
wauliza^ ^' Mwonaje masikini anenapo kama a-
kanunu&ndimi katika madnka yenu^ niwatenda-
ni ? ^' Wakamjibu, " Utufunge maisha yetn."
Sultani akamwita masikini^ akamwambia^ " Leo
nena kweli, usiponenakweli ntakuf unga wewe/'
Masikini akamwambia^ '^ Sultani kweli yu chu*
ngu na kwamba sina chungu, niamuru nikna-
mbie/^ Sultani akamjibu '' Nambie/' Masiki-
ni akamwambia^ '^ Sultani^ wewe^ bakuna mtu
mjinga kama wewe/' Sultani akamuliza^ ''Kwa
nini ? ^' Akamwambia^ ya kuwa " Nyama ya
ulimi niliokwambia mimij si ulimi wa ng'ombe,
wala si wa mbuzi^ wala si wa kondoo ; ulimi
niliokwambia^ maneno mema/' Sultani aka-
tahayari sana^ akatoa fetba nyingi^ akampa
54 MASlKlNr NA SULTANI.
masikini^ akamtaka rathi sana^ akawafangnza
wale watu. M^sikini akaenda kwake^ akatwaa
fetha yake^ akananaa nyamba njemaj na sha-
mba jema ; akananaa ng^o zake^ Qa za mke
wake^ akastarehe.
MLA NAWB HAPI NAWB EL A KUWA
MZAWA NAWE.
Paiiicuwa Sultaxu xia ndugi^e?. Ndagaye
azif^ rafiki yake, anampenda sana zajidi nclii*
guye. Wakakaa siko nyingi, kwa ndiiga-
y^ ImhoLjikk, wala liana fijhAQii nayei HatU aa»
lyiani mojaj ikamwuigilia yita j ilipomwiBgUili,
akf^pigana^ zikAwa ng^Vu zake ob£uxbe^ akatai-
xoa watm kwa rafiki yake kataka aum> rafiki
aB]iEBlet#f^< Akafagmia mwenyewe akaskiiidwarj
ilK>hi yake iki^twiiliwaj na vitu vyake vikaiwa^
liwa* Akasalia poke yake^ akakimbia akaenda
kwa rafik\ yakoj i^mweleza habari iliyowpat^
ta« Bafiki yake akamjibo^ " Sasa ni&nyeje ? *'
Akamwambiaj nataka anni^ nende niki^agaQe
Zkip^taiiiohi yanga.'^ Bafiki yake aka(6uiyia»
maiMsno yajce^nponzi, akamwambia^i " Ngqje^xiU
meiBihaiiTi wata wangu/' Akawashaari, waka^
mjibn, '' XTpendavyo.'' Akawaambia^ '' Mimixia-
taka iDJe mbele ya rafikiyang^i mkatii.-^ Aka*
ja akamwambia rafiki yake, ya knwa '^ WafeA tAf
mewaambia, nao. wamenena waliakiija konijibD.
56 MLA NAWE HAPI NAWE.
Bassi wakija utasikia majibu yao/^
' Sika ya pili wata wake wakakusanyika aka-
wauliza^ ^^ Maneno niliyowaambiani nataka ma-
jibu kwenu." Wakainjibu, ^^ Maneno yako
mazuri sana. Wallakini kupigana hatuwezi/^
Snltani akalilia kagon&bana na watu Wake^ kwa
Uwongo. Halafu akakaa^ akaisha akaf anga
B^ri akaenda kwa ndngaye^ na kwenda kwa-
k^ anaona haya, wallakini hana lakutenda. A-
kafika kwa ndaguye. Nduguye ynko ndani. A-
kapelekwa habari, ya kawa '' Mwambiani Sal-
tan!^ ' Ndugayo yuko chini^ ataka kuonana na-
«we/' Saltani aliposikia^ akashnka upesi upesi>
ktija kuonana na ndaguye^ alipofika akamwdna
ijdugu yake hali aKvyothili. Sultani akaangua
kilio^ akalia. Ndugaye akalia^ YFetn waka-
mnasihi Sultani. Sultani akanyamaa. Ali-
ponyamaa akamwuL'zaj '^Ndugn yangu^ neno
jgani liliokiipata^ hatta kupata hivi ? Nduguye
akaona haya nyingi sana^ maclibzi yakatoka.
Nduguye akampangusa machozi akamwambia>
Hatta leadiri ijulikcknayo na sisi tumekadin tu
. ' / Tieema yd wenyi kukadiri. . . . • i
MLi^ NAWJB RAVI N^WIB. 57
Texia uliposikia tpaj^e^o }kajB^ Akamwe]ie^>
aki^mvamliAa, " l9i^Mj«a|ra wa«ny»ag'anywa,
V^n, mfgkw^^k wim na mtan^wa w^gu miftQ-
jm'' N49gU70 ajcaondplsa, alramlniLribishfr n^-
ni, Inrn imkew^, AkiawaajipbiA, " l^i^ff^gi y ^-
lui Imyii/' W^Qwo wa^iaforaliiw^ ^aBi^. M^irft
akoapelokiri^ (dpooni^ ak^nda akaogik. j^p^f).
]6«wa l)aluilm ya iigooj pa selaba oying^. 4,.
l]{M>toka qhoonij Q4agay^ aka^hokoai Mp§ft-
luia naye oj9. Akapiga mli>ia, " Wafeu pv^ ]mj,-
aa»yik«afti njf> 'mmwwi^U^ ndaga j^ugffL^'
Wata wakalmsiaiyika, mji jD^u^^a ^^aja |c$i-
mwamkia.
Akawaamb^# ''Hay a n49ga yang^^^jim lap-
ja» loama mpja/' W^lba wa mjini waki^urahiiji^
aaiMi<, wakamwambiai ya kuwa ''Tamefnrabhiia
^Mmana kumwona ]i49guyo/' Soltani <Jca^-
njisa karamu kubwa mno ya lya^bn^ alf:;^)^^^
akaelebd vita yya £araga. Wata ^^e wi^-
kuaanyikay akatoa bunduki nyixigi, ^ riai^i ^
bamU. AUpokwisha akamwaoibi^ vA^fg^fft
ya kuvra '' Wewe k^a kiiako badili yanga |i;4*
mi, na xaimi nakwenda kokusaaya idta/' JSi^--
gaye akaitikia, ^' Miprahaba/' Solt^sikuya
58 MLA NAWE HAFI KAWE.
pili akatoka yeye na watu wake wote katika
mji. Wakaenda hatta katika mji nliokuwa wa
ndagaye. Wakapigana^ Mnnnga akamjalia ma-
knsudi^ akashinda. Akaipata inchi ya nduga-
ye, akapigana na mji wa yiile Sultani aliyempi-
ga ndngnye^ akamsMnda. Akapata inchi mbili
akafnnga safari akamdi. Na ndagaye hana ha-
bari. Alipokoja akakaa sika mbili^ tata. Aka-
mwambia ndnguye, « Sa«a nimekwisha kufa-
nga vita, twende tnkatarazie inchi yeta/' Nda-
gaye akamjiba, ^^ Ee Wallah/' Wakaondoka,
wakaenda wakafika njiani, akamwambia ya ka-
wa, " Mimi nimekwisha pigana, na incW yako
nimeipata, na inchi ya adai wako nimeipata,
naye nimemoa/' Ndagaye akaf arahiwa vikaa
mno. Wakaenda wakafika katika inchi, wa-
kawakata T^ata wake wote^ na wangine ambao
na kuwaacha katika inchi yake, na wote wa-
metii. Akafarahiwa sana, Ndagaye akamtwa-
lisha akampa na ile inchi nyingine, zikawa
mbili. Akamwambia, "Wewe mdogo, mimi
mkabwa, sasa inchi hizi zote katika amri yako
na mimi nawe mshaari wako ; naswi tapatane
tasiwekama talivyokawa,kwani Mla nawe ha-
FT NAWE J BLA KTJWA MZAWA NAWE.
MTU ALIYEKUFA MARRA TATU.
EiswA hila alikufa mtu marra tatu akalufakir*
Siamani moja aliondokea Saltani^ na tajiri, na
kafchi^ na amiri^ na watu. Mjini pana mtu mmpja
akazaa mtoto. Naye masikini yule^ akamlea
mtoto wake hatta akawa mkubwa. Baada ya-
ke^ yule babaye akafa. Akani^acha mali^ reale
thelatha mia^ bass.
Yu1p> kijana akatazama feiJia hizi^. ''Natha^ii
ni heri niende na;9o kw^ jnwana cbuoni. Nar
t^a elimu/' Akaendar hatta kwa mwana chuo*
n|, akamwambia, ^^ Nataka wosia/^ Akamwa*
mbia^ ^' Wosia wangu mmcja kwa reale mia^V
Ak^n^wambia atakubali. Akampa reale mia.
Akamwambia^ ^^ Wosia wangu nnaokupa^ Sha^
ri ya incM, Muungii asinegeslw/^ Akampa rgpJe
mia. Wapilij '^Ahikaribiskwa maUcdi ji)e^na>
mtu huhaa JuwndokiJ^ Akampa resale jzni^f.
Wa tatu, " Mtu hamfanyi wwenziwe ManaJ\.^
Petlia zake zimekwisha^ liana nyumba^^ ^fiua
kita. Akatafakari. Akanena '^ Ni heri^nitoke
60 MTU AUTHKUfA MABBA TATU^
mji/' Akatoka mii. akaenda na barra. akato-
kia mji mgine. AW watu wengi k;a mU-
lij na watu wakamwona. Nao wale watu alio-
waona^ wako nde ya mji waBgi. Akiwajonge-
lea wale waki^ akawaambia, ^' Salaam aleikam/'
^h*h^M diydfflca fuie kiji^tta^ imhi Jle 4ittU
^JlMIe^ Bl^t^ya ktewa. Httina -ditto, %iJa 'l4>.
g&to^i&kisittEafeuiibjattt. Ma]i4a!fta(^tzabatl],
a^kiikilaW«ftl»,%tt«iamtdld'ki8^^ K^
Bft kile akaliwa xia iiyoka li^aiii ya Iki&^ifiia.
NaSj[k>%iftpatel|x) ^H ya ttWilka. Bb(w '^lateji
itfa&na ^#titiiep6leka Waikylo llf<ad kdtika feiidma
kite. H^fdcklitK) lilfittiwa iHten ya ktfietelm
SiiHWm binti Wake. %I^ IcWeti^ kw«k Idmlia
iia'^i^iAi^^iigi^aiiDiji, kttiiit>dekatt^ kttm-
^nibikfetiiate^jl^bti. ^M^iaOiaeiijAft naye la^.
ta^ld^mMaj t^iid^ dtatdk^ ytde^^^ Sti-
t^ i^mwoxia ytife'kijiiuiik, tdNtmw«mbia.^
iMvMiba, ^^VtM^m i<N»Dr^ kt&iTj^ toasri, kti^te-
Ita'ttu^i killa8&fii ? ^kui^i^iNsak^theifttba^ia.''
l^iji^na ^to iftkAtaatottia taiali m^til^/lakiBiaka.
kdM^^kdMkte niaji mbod/ilaiitg'otkibe/iia lira-
to. iSajm liabaH iliyo ndani ya kiiima kile.
MTU ALIYEKUFA ICAREA TATU. 61
Akaohakna ndoo akaitia ndani ya kisima
kabla hajatia mta. Akasikia ndani ya kisima
kile santi kubwa^ ikatetemeka^ mbingu na inchi
ikatetemeka, na watn wote wakatetemeka kwa
santi iliotoka katika kisima^ aJdnena nyoka ka-
tika 'idsima, '' Shari ya incbi I Sliari ya inchi !
Shari ya indu I'' Tale krjana aliotia nda» ka-
tika kisima akamjiba, wosia wake wa kwanssa^
''Mttcffliga aaioeiBfeiAej aayo shari ya indhi/'
Yule nyoka Mnimga akamvimjavunja, akampe-
leka inchi 'ya saba. Akateka maji, akawapa wa-
ta. Siku 7a Icwanza kutwa, na siku ya pili ku-
twa tokia, waicateka maji.
Snllani akanena, *^ Sasa 'tamtwaa hpya ki<r
jana mgeni huyo, nimwoze hnyu bind yangn/^
Akamditikiiayiile kijaiia, akatnweka nyamba-
ni. Akaiapa Bcm^o zanyamba sote^ na masha*
mba yake yole. Akamngojea kamwosa bisAi
wake. Snltoni akampenda nana kijana ynle^ na
w»ta wa mji pia wakampenda sana. Mkewe
Snltani akamtaka yide kijana n&kwewe, ytde
kijana akakataa killa sikn. Akamwambia, ya
kwasnba '' Mta haoi&nyizii hiana mta asio-
mwamini, fakefa^aUomwamini/' Ndiyo mane-
no yake, killa siku yole kijana ham¥rambia'
62 MTQ ALTYEKUPA MARRA TATU.
mwanamke yule wa Sultani; na killasika hu-
mtaka na kijana hakubali. Mane no yake ni
hayahaya.
Hatta siku moja Saltan! amekwenda mosiki-
tini kusali. Akatazama amesabaii tasibihi yake
nyumbani. Akamwita yule kijana, akamwa-
mbiaj '' Enenda nyumbani ukanitwalie tasibihi
yangu/^ Akaenenda ynle kijana^ akaingia glio.
ro&ni ya Sultani. Yule mwanamke alipomwo-
na kijana ynle^ akaingia ghorofani^ yule mke
wa Sultani. Akamkamata yule kijana, akapiga-
na naye, akataka kufanya mambo ya Sbetani.
Yule kijana akakataa, akapigana hatta akatoka.
Akaanguslia yule mwanamke chini, akaohu*
kua tasibihi, akaenda zake mbio.
Akafanya hofu yule mwamamke, akauena ya
kwamba '^ Hana buddi atamwambia mume wa-
ngu, akimwambia itakuwa fetheha/'
Bassi yule mwanamke akatwaa fimbo, akayur
nja vyombo vya nyumbani vyote, vilivyo katika
ghorofa, na vitanda, na yeye akajikatakata na
Yieu.
. : Na yule kijana hakumwambia Sultani. Hatt^i
alipofika nyumbani Sultani, akaingia ghorofani
akaona Ffombo vimevunjika vyote, na mkewe
MTU ALIYKKUPA MARRA TATU. 63
analia^ amekatikakatika katika mwili wake. A-
kamwuliza^ " Habari gani ? Mambo gani haya ?
Una nini ? '' Akamwambia mwanamke, aka-
nena^ ^' Si huyu mwana baramu wako uliomwe-
ka katika nynmba ? Killa sikii ananitaka bayu
na mimi nakataa/^
Bassi akakasirika katika moyo wake. Aka-
mwita nokoa wa kiangani kwake^ akamwambia^
'' Kachimba shimo knbwa. Atakaokuia knku-
nli^ ^ Kazi ya bwana imekwisbaT ' mtie ndani
ya shimo, mue/'
Bassi hatta usikn, akamwita yule kijana,
akamwambia, ya kwamba ^' Kesbo tnkijaliwa,
enenda kiangani ukamwolize nokoa, ' Kazi ya
bwana imekwisha ? ' Atakuonya, uje, nnijibu/'
Akaja, akalala hatta assabni. Akaondoka,
alikwenda alikotumwa na mfalme. Akaenenda
hatta akakoma kariba ya kianga. Akaona wata
wengi vijana wa katika karamu, na wangine
wa katika kucheza, na wangine wa katika ka-
soma. Walipomwona wakamkaribisha, ^^ Ful-
lani kariba 1 Taf athal kariba I Sisi jamii ya
wata, ya vijana wafalume na mawaziri, na vi-
jana vya masikini, tumefanya leo karama, kuja
kastarehe.*' Wakamwambia, "Njoo^tule/*
^
64 MTU ALlTifiKUFA MABEA TATQ.
Na kijana apendeza katika mji. Akawaa-
mbia, " Siwezi kukaa> nimetumwa na bwaua
kweuda kutazama kazi yake/' Mtoto wa m£al-
mo akamwambia^ ^^ Hnna rukia ja kuondoka ;
kama kazi ya bwana imekwishaj 'takwenda mi-
mi katazama^ mimi nimekula hapa, na wee kaftj
nle/' Kijana akafikiri wosia wake aliopewa na
m?nina chnoni^ katika reale thelatha mia sake^
*' Mabali pema ukikaribisbwa a* mta, kaa.'^ A-
kakaa.
Mtoto wa Saltani akaenda kutazama k^i a*
Uotumwft yole kijana. Hatta alipofika kia-
ngani kule^ akamwita nokoa, akamwoliza, ''Ki^
n ya bwana imekwisba 7 Ta wapi ? '^ Akamwa-
mbia, " Bwana^ iwende> nkatazame/' Hatta a-
Upokwenda akifika^ akamtia sbimoni^ akamoa.
AkakaA yule kijana mfreni, aliotumwa na
Snltani^ kusha akaenda kiungani, akamwuliva
nokoa^ '' Kazi ya bwana imekwisha f " AffB-
mwambia^ ''Twende, nkatazame/' Akaenda
akatazama, akamwona ynle mwenziwe^ wame-
mwoa. Yule kijana akafikiri, akalia. Akanena
katika moyo wake, '' Ningaliknfa mimi bapa,
lakini, Allah ta^ala/^ Akamwambia, " Mcboku-
enj/^ Wakamchnkua, wakaenda naye batta
HTU ALITBKUFA MABBA TATd. 65
njumbani kwa baba yake. Hatta alipomwona
baba yake, akamwuliza, "Nini T " Akaambiwa,
"Mwanao amekufa/' Akajua mfalme, aka-
mwita kijana yale, akwamwambia, " Ewe kija-
na, niatubie kweli tangu mwanzo hatta mwisbo.
Watoka wapi ? Uniambie na ginsi yako/'
Akaambiwa na yule kijana tanga mwanzo,
alikotoka, hatta alifika pale. Akamwambia ki-
Bwa cha mke wake, na chake alikotoka kule
jatnii.
Sultani akamwambia mkewe, ya kwamba
'' Uthalimu umefanya wewe, umeupata mwe-
nyewe/'
Sultani akamtwaa kijana, akamwoza binti.
Akamtwalisha iifahne, na Sultani akakaa mzee
wa mji tn. Akahukumu. Akakaa raha mu-
starehe.
KUZIKWA KWA PISI.
F18I alikuwa na mkewOj akazaa naye watoto
wawili. Akakaa baada yake^ akafa mke, aka-
baki yee na watoto wake.
Bassi killa sika assaboi huwaambia watoto
wake, '^Nakwenda kaziira katika kaburi ya
mama yenu/^ Bassi huenenda kwenda kazurn,
afikapo katika kaburi humf ukaa mkewe akimla*
Eilla siku kazi yake hiyohiyo.
Wale watoto wakitaajaba, '' Gissi gani hayu
mzee wetu hunena, nukwenda kuzuru T Bassi
kuznru huko gissi gani f ^' Hatta sika moja
alipoaga, '^Makwenda kazoru,^' wakamfuata
nyama, wakaenda, wakamwona anamfakua
mke wake, mama yao, akimla. Wakarudi wa»
le vijana, wakanena wale yijana, " Kuzuru kwa
baba anapomzuru mama yizori 1 '^
Bassi akakaa. Alipokuwa mzee akawansia
waanawe, akawaambia, ^' Enyi waananga, 'ta-
wansia: nikifa nizikeni sana, mnifanye kulla
jema.^^ Wale watoto wakamjiba babayao, *' Ku-
zikwa kwa fisi si viwiliwili tu? '^
MTU ALIYESHIKA RATHl
YA BABAKE.
AuKOWAKo mtu mmoja. Akazaa mtoto mwa-
namnme. Naye ana mali mengi. Hatta kari-
bn ya kafci yule baba akamwusia mtoto wake.
Akamwambia^ " Usiape kwa kweli wala kwa
nwongo/' Akafa yule mzee.
Akakaa yule kijana ila siku nyingi. Watu
wakasikia ya kuwa baba yake amemwambiaj
" Usiape kwa kweli wala kwa uwongo/' Wa-
kaenda wakamwambia^ ya kuwa '' Sisi tnna-
mnwia baba yako/^ Akawalipa. Ikawa kulla
mtu huenda akamwambia kama liaya^ naye
mtoto buwalipa. Hatta mali yote yakaisha. A-
kawa hana kitu tena. Akamwambia mkewe^
'' Ni heri tutoke katika mji huu, kwani sasa
batuna kitu/'
Akasafiri yeye na mkewe na watoto wake
wawili waanaume. Hatta baharini wakapi-
gwa na tufani^ ile jahaasi waliyoingia ikavxinja.
Yule mtn akapata kisiwa kimoja^ na mkewe
akaenda mahali pangine na wale watoto^ killa
mtn akawa mahali mbali. Pale kisiwani haku-^
68 MTU ALITESHIKA BATHI TA BABAEE.
na mtu ilia yee. Hatta siku moja akalala, aka-
ota^ akaambiwa, ^' Nenda mahali fullani, uf a-
kue> utapata riziki yako kwa rathi ya kufuata
wosia wa baba yako/' Akaenda akafukua^ aka-
pata mali mengi.
Tena akakaa pale kisiwani^ watn wakapita
wasafiri^ wakaona nyumba^ wakasema, *^ Laba-
da pana watn bapa/' Bassi ikiwa^ killa mtu
akipita haenda pale^ hatta akawa mji mkubwa*
Wale watn wa katika mji wakamfanya yeye
ndiye mkubwa wao.
Wale watoto wake, mmoja akasikia incbi
ile (alioko baba ya ce ) ina neema nyingi. Akae*
nda, naye bajui ya kawa baba yake yule mfal-
me. Lakini akampa nyumba kukaa, sababa
mgeniy akamfanya asikari.
Akaenda yule wa pili akasikia kama yale,
yule ndugu yake aliosikia yale, kuna neema
nyingi, akaenda naye katika ule mji. Naye
hajui ya kuwa yule ndiye baba yake, yule Snl-
tani. Naye akampa nyumba kukaa, akamfanya
naye asikari, kama yule mwenzi wake. Na yule
hajui kama yule ndugu yake, wala yule baba
yao Saltani.
Satba siku moja akaenda mtu mmoja kati-
HTQ ALITSSHIEA BATH! TA BABAEE. 69
ka ule mji^ yale akashuka pwani, akaenda hat-
ta kwa Sultani^ kumtazama Sultani. Akamwa*
mbia yule mtu^ ^^ Leo lala hapa^ hatta kesho
safiri^ sababu mgeni kuondoka jioni hapana
haja/' Akamwambia, ya kuwa " Mimi sikatai
kama walioniambia, lakini nina mke wangu^
yn jahaziDi, siwezi mimi kulala pwani/^ Sulta-
ni akamjibu, ya kuwa " Wewe lala hapa pwa-
ni^ na mkeo tutapeleka watn vvawili chombo*
ni wakarangoje/' Sultani akawaambia wale
wageni wawili, aliowapa nyumba, '^Nendeni
hatta jahazini mkangoje mke wa huyu mgeni,
asithurike na mtu yo yote.'*
Wale wakaingia mashuani wote wawili hatta
jahazini^ wakakaa illi kungoja yule mwanamke.
Wakakaa hatta usiku tena wukafanya usingizi.
Mmoja akamwambia mwenziwe, " Na tufanye
hadithi^ tusipate kulala/'
Mmoja akasema, ''Nalikuwa mimi na nduga
yangn, jina lake kama lako wewe^ na mama
yetu na baba yetn, tukaingia jahazini kusafiri.
Hatta baharini jahazi ikavunja, kuUa akaenda
mbali/'
Na yule mwanamke anasikia yale maneno
yao. Hatta assubni yule mwanamume, aliyelala
70 MTO AUTSSfliKA SATHI TA BASAKE.
kwa Sultani, akapanda jaliaziQi, akamwona ta-
ke wake amekasarika sana. AkauJiza, ^' Saba-
ba nini kukasirika V Akasema^ *' Hawa watu
waliokaja kuniHgojea ndio walionitia hasira/'
Wakashuka wote pwani. Yule mume aka-
mwambia yale mfaltne habari iliopita jahazini.
Akamwita yule mwanamke^ akamwaliza^ '^Na-
mbie waliokafanya hawa asikari yanga/' A-
kamweleza mfalme. ^ Tena mfalme udipo alipo-
tambua. Akakmnbaka mambo yaliyowapitia.
Akajna yule mke na wale watoto wake. Aka-
mtwaa yule mkewe na watoto wake, akakaa
nao, raha mustarehe.
Na yule akasafiri peke yake.
Na yote haya kwa sababu kushika rathi na
wosia wa baba yake.
CHUNGU ZA THAHABU.
IsA alitoka sika moja kwenda mnaja. Akaenda
hatta njiani akam wona mta^ akamwuliza^ *' Una*
kwenda wapi T '' Akamjibu^ '' Nakwenda mna-
ja/^ Akamwambia^ ''Tufuatane mimi na wewe."
Akamwambia^ *' Hataweza kufuatana na mimi."
Akamwambia, " Taweza.^' Isa akajibu^ '* Twe-
nde zetu/' Wakaenda hatta karibu ya mji Isa
akatoa mapesa^ akamwambia yule mtu, *' Ne*
nda katika mji ukanunue mikate mitatn^ mmo-
ja wako^ mmoja wangu^ mmoja taweke akiba/'
Akaenda akanunaa mikate, akaleta. Wakala
pale^ kulla mtu wake^ akasalia mmoja. Aka-
mwambia^ ^* Huo chukua, tukipata maji tupate
kola."
Wakaenda zao, hatta sikn ya pili wakapata
maji. Isa akamwambia yule mtUj ** Lete mka*
te tnpate knla.'' Akamjibn^ " Ule mkate ume*
ibiwa." Isa akaona ajabu sana, lakini akasema^
"Haithuro/' kwa moyoni mwake. Akamwa*
mbia, '' Twende aetn/' Wakaenda, hatta n^ianv
72 CHUNGU ZA THAHABU.
wamechoka. Wakaona mahali pana mchanga
mwingi. Akamwambia^ "Na tapumzike hapa/'
Wakakaa kitako. Isa akakusanya mchanga
akafanya chunga tata^ akaomba Muungu^ nio
mclianga ukageuka thahabu. Akatnwambia^
'' Ee rafiki, twaa f ungu moja yako ile tbahabu^
na fungu moja yangu mimi, na moja ya yule
aliokwiba mkate.^' Akamwarabia, ^' Aliokwiba
mkate mimi hapa/^ Akamwambia^ ** Twaa, na
hii yangu, twaa wewe/'
Isa akaenda zake^ akamwacha yeye> na ile
thafaabu. Tule mtu kuondoka kuiacha thahabu
hawezi, na kuichukua hawezi^ akakaa palepale
hatta mari*a wakatoka watu watatu^ wamepanda
frasi, wakamkamata yule mtu, wakamua. Kwa
ajili ya ile thahabu, ndiyo iliyomua.
Wale watu watatn wakamwambia mmoja
wao, " Twaa fetha, enenJa hatta mjini, ukann-
nue mikate, ulete, tule."
Yule akapanda frasi wake akaenda hatta mji-
ni, akanunua mikate^ akafanya shauri na moyo
wake kunnnaa sumu kuwatilia wenziwe katika
ile mikate, apate yeye kupata mali ya wenza-
ke^ wafe, apate wale frasi wawili, awapakie ile
tbahabn. Na wale watu wawili, wale wenzafce
CHUNGU ZA THAHABU. 73
wakafanya mashauri, akija yule mwenzao, wa-
twae mikate, naye wamue, wapate wao peke
yao^ yule mwenzao asipat© kitu.
Yule mtu akatia sumu katika mikate^ aka-
rudi kwa wenziwe. Alipofika wakamwuliza, '^ I-
ko wapi mikate ? '^ Akatoa, akawapa. Waka-
mtwaa wakamua mwenzi wao . Wale watu wa-
wili, mmoja akamwambia mweuziwe^ ^^ Na tule
mikato, tupakie thahabu, twende zetu/^ Wa-
kala mikate, na wale wawili, walipokwisha kula
mikate, wakafa.
Watu wanne wakafa wote, kwa sababu ya
ulo mchanga aliogeuza Isa thahabu, illi apato
kujua yule mtu aliomwibia mkate.
Hatta Isa aliporudi kule alikokwenda, aka-
pita njia ileile. Naye amefuatana na watu.
Hatta wakifika pale mahali pa mchaoga, waka>
ona chungu tatu za thahabu, na watu wanno wa-
mekufa. Wale watu wakamwuliza Isa, '^ Hii
habari gani ? hapa pana thahabu, na watu wa-
nne wamekufa/^ Akawaeleza hadithi aliokuwa,
toka mwanzo hatta mwisho. Akawaambia,
'^ Na huu ni mchanga, si thahabu, na kama wa-
taka nirudishe mchanga 'taurudisha/^ Wale
watu wakamwambia, ^^ Urudishe/^ Akaomba
74 CHUNaU ZATHAHABU.
Mannga^ nkaradi kama oliyyokawa asili yake^
thahabu ikawa mchanga.
MTOTO ALIOKULA. NGUEUE.
Alikuwaso mtu mmoja masikuii. Bassi akazaa
mtoto mmoja mwanamke.
Wakakaa siku nyingi, na kulla siku nmasa-
kini wao nnazidi. Mkewe akamwambia mome-
we '' Ni heri tuhame inohi hn" Akamwambia^
'' Vema/'
Wakahama. Wakaenda njiani sika nyiqgi.
Chakala kikawiahia. Wakaja wakamwona nga-
rae njiani. Mkewe akamwambia mnme^ '' M«
kamate nguroe tumchinje, tupate kula/' Wa-
kamkamata^ wakamchinja. Yule mtoto aka-
mwuliza baba yake, " Ngurue si karamu ? ^' A-
kamwambia, '^ Haramu^ lakini mta akithiiki-
ka, hatta mtu kama jeje, humla. Na saaa
tumethiikika^ leo ya tata hatuna cbaknla, na
twendako hatujui^ kariba^ mbali.^' Wakala
Bgurue na yule mtoto.
Wakaenda zao hatta njiani baba yake aka£a
kwa njaa. Wakamzika.
W^aenda hatta siku ya tata, kariba ya m\i
76 MTOTO ALIOKDLA NGURUE.
na mama yake akafa. Akasalia mtoto rawana-
mke peke yake. Akazika mama yake, akae-
nda^ sika ya pili akapata mji. Akapata nyn-
mba moja ya kizee. Akakaa^ akapumzika.
Kizee akamkaribisha^ akamwambia^ '^ Mjuga
wangu/^ Akamfvulizahabari anakotoka. A-
kamwambia^ " Sijai nitokako wala nendako/^
Akamwambia, '' Kae kitako, mimi sina mtoto^
sina mtu yo yote^ na tukae mimi nawe^ tukipa-
ta tule, takikosa tashuktira Muungu/' Wa-
kakaa.
Yule kizee akafa^ akamzika. Yule kijana
akakaa kitako pale nyumbani peke yake. Usi-
ka akiingia hutoka. Akazunguka mjini huta-
futa chakala. Akirudi kwake akalala.
Hatta sika moja^ akatoka mtoto wa Sultani
kwenda kupiga ndege. Wakati wa kurudi a-
kapita katika nyumba ya yule mtoto, na yeye
kiu ikamshika sana. Akamwambia mtamwa
wake, *^Ingiandani humo ukatake maji ni-
nwe.'^ Akaingia yule mtumwa wake kutaka
maji. Akamwona yule mtoto. Akamtaka maji.
Akampa. Akampelekea bwana wake, akanwa.
Akamwambia, ** Bwana, humo ndani, yumo
mivnriamke mzun sana/' Akaendaknmchungu-
MIOTO ALIOKULA NQURUE. 77
lia^ akamwona. Akamwambia, *^Mimi nataka
nikuoe/' Akamjibu^ ^' Nimekubali/'
Akaenda kijana^ hatta kwa baba yake. A.
kamweleleza, ya kuwa " Mimi nimemwona roto-
to mwanamke, nataka unioze.'^ Akamwambia
*'Marahaba/' Akamwambia na mahali alioko
yule mwanamke. Sultani^ akapeleka watii na
nguo. Wakamwosha^ wnkamvika nguo. Wa-
kampa na chakula^ akala. Wakakaa hatta
jioni^ wakamchukua hatta katika nyumba ya
Saltani. Akamwoza. Akakaa raha mnstarehe.
Na yule mtoto wa Saltani anampenda sana.
Na yule kijana akapewa nguo njema, na thaha-
bu nyingi huvaa. Yule kijana hukaa akanena
^' Ah-h ! ^* Siku zote ndio kazi yake. Hatta
mtoto wa Sultani akauthika sana^ akamwambia^
" Maana yake nini, wewe husema Ah-h ? Tha-
rau ao wewe bora kuliko mimi ? Mimi si kifa-
no chako kuoa wewe ? '^ Akamwambia, '^ Na-
kumbaka inchi yangu na wazee wangu.''
Akamwuliza, " Kwenu wapi ? '^ Akamwambia
" Mbali Sana, mwendo wa siku nyingi, na inchi
yetu yote pia thahabu, hakuna mti kwa kuje-
nga nyumba wala kuunda merikebu ilia kwa
thahabu. Ndipo nikakumbukauikisQmft. ^K-\^ \
78 MTOTO ALIOKUJJL NGURUE.
Na mi mi mtoto wa Sultani naliibiwa na jini^
akanileta huko/^ Na moyoni mwake maana
ya kusema, *^ Ah-h ! '^ ile nyamaya ngarue alio-
kula. AJtoto wa Sultani akamwambia, *^ Twe-
nde kwenu/' Akamwambia, " Marahaba.'^ Mo-
yoni mwake akasema^ '' Ni heri kupotea^ nikafa
kama kawa hayi nikikambuka nyama ya nga-
rue nilioknla/'
Mtoto wa Sultani akamwambia baba yake.
Akamfanyia safari^ akamfanyiza marikebu ka-
mi. Akampakilia vyakula na wata.
Akasafiii^ akaenda zake« Akamwambia ma-
nahoda, " Shika njia kusini/' Wakaenda siku
nyingi. Na yule kijana mwanamke hajui ma-
hali po pote^ amesema tu^ bass. Wakaenda
wakaona kisiwa. Akawaambia^ '^ Twendeni pa-
le kisiwani^ tukatie nanga^ nishuke niende ni-
katwae majira ya kwenda kwetu. Watu wote
wanaokwenda kwetu husliuka hapa wakatwaa
majira.^' Mtoto wa Sultani akamwambia, '* Ma-
rahaba/^ Akawaambia manahoda, " Twendeni
kisiwani/' Wakaenda wakatia nanga. Akawa-
ambia^ ^^ Nataka mashua iiiingie peke yangu
niende pwani, na ninyi msishuke pwani^ ningo-
je hatta niradi/^ Mtoto wa Sultani akamwa-
MTOTO ALIOKUL\ NGLRUE. 79
mbia, " Marahaba/^
Akaiugia mashuani^ mwanamke na iiitu
mmoja knvuta mashua. Akafika pwani, aka-
shuka. Akamwumbia yule aliomo mashaani,
'^Nenda zako marikebuni, nikija ^tafanya ala-
ma uniletoe mashua/^ Akaenda z<ike yule rna-
rikebuni^ na yule akasema na moyo wake " ^Ta-
kwenda zangu nipotee nisionekane/^ Akaingia
mwituni. Naye hakuchukua chakula, haku-
chakna maji, apate kufa haraka. Akaenda ka-
tikati ya mwitn. Akamwona nyoka, akamwa-
mbia, '^Mwana Adama ukitaka umekufa, usita-
ke umekufa/^ Akaenda asimjibu neno. Nyoka
akamwambia^ '^ Njoo, nikule/' Akamwambia,
"Marahaba/^ Akaenda hatta karibu naye, nyo-
ka akamwambia, '* Mwana Adamu, kwa nini
wewe hnsema nwongo sana ? Na wewe buna
mbele hnna nyuma nkajifanya mtoto wa Sul-
tani ? '^ Akamwambia " Kweli, ndipo nikataka
nijiue/' Akamwambia, " Wasemaje ? Mimi ni-
kikn&nyizia kama ulionena, utanipa kitu ga-
ni ? '' Akamwambia, " Utakacho ^takupa/' A-
kamwambia, '' Iko inchi ya thahabn tnpa, ha-
kima mti, wala jiwe,'^ kama vile alivyosema
yule mwanamke kurawambia mtoto wa Sultani.
to MTOTO AUOEUIA XGCBCE.
Tena ajoka akanawambia, ** Na mtoto wa
Sultani wa inchi bijo akapotea sika njringi, na
wewe 'takafanjizn kama mtoto bajo, akikaona
Soltarii, aseme mtoto wake/' Akamwambia^
'^ Absent ! '* ^^ Xami 'takapeleka batta incbi
biyo afike/' Akarowambia^ " Marababa/' T'ina
akamwambia, ^M^kini mimi kwako, nataka
nkipata mtoto wa kwanza ukipita bapa^ anile-
tee nimle, aniletee na mitangi ya asali mia^ na
kapo mia ya bisi/' Akamwambia^ '' Marababa/^
Akamwambia, '' Nenda marikebani kaleta ka-
ratasi na wino nikaandikie majira ya kwenda
bnko/' Akamwambia^ " Marababa/' Akaenda
pwani^ aka&nya alama^ ikaja mashna^ akamwa-
mbia mtamwa^ '^ Nenda kaleta karatasi na wi-
no/' ^kaenda akiitwaa akamletea. Akamwa-
mbia, '* Nikiradi 'taweka alama aniletee ma-
sbua twende zetu/' Masbaa ikaradi marikeba-
ni, na yeye akaenda kule kwa nyoka. Aka-
mwambia majira ya inchi ile anayoitaka kwe-
nda, na jina la yule mtoto aliyepotea kwa inclii
ile anayokwenda.
Akarndi pwani, akafanya alama, ikaenda ma-
fibua kamtwaa. Akaingia katika mashua, a-
kapanda marikebani, akawaambia, "Tusafiri
MTOTO ALIOKULA NaURUB. 81
twende zeta^ na majira nimekwiaha yapata^
angalia katika karatasi^ msiniutliie kuniuliza
marra kwa niarra/* Wakamwambia, " Mara-
haba/' Wakaenda hatta siku ya hamsini, wa.
kaoDa kama moto mwingi huko mbali sana
Wakamwita yule mwanamke wakamwonyesha.
Akawaambia^ ^' Tumekwisha fika inchi yetu/^
Wakaenda hatta siku ya tatu, na kulla siku ule
mwanga wa inchi nkazidi kung^ara^ hatta siku
ya tano wamekuwa karibu sana ya inchi^ aka-
waambia^ '' Pigeni mizinga apate habari baba
yangu kama mimi nimekuja/^ Wakapiga mizi-
nga sana.
Mfalme aliposikia mizinga akakasirika sana^
akasema^ '' Nani anaokuja katika inchi yangu
anapiga mizinga^ na mimi na msiba kwa mtoto
wangu aliopotea siku nyingi ? '^ Wakamwam-
bia, '^ Hatuna habari yahao wanaokuja.'^ Sul-
tani akamwambia waziri wake, akamwambia,
" Ingia katika mashua uende uangalie watu ga-
nihawa/' Akamwambia, " Marahaba/^ Akai-
ngia mashuani akaenda, akifika marikebuni a-
kataka mksa ya kupania. Wakamwambia,
"Karibu." Akanliza habari ya mtu aliokuja,
aliopiga mizinga. Wakamwambia, '* Nex^^ia^ka.-
82 MTOTO ALIOKULA NGURUE.
mwambia Sultani, aliokaja mtoto wake aliopo-
tea/^ Akarudi, akaenda akamwambia Sultani.
Akawa na f uraha sana akampa mali mengi. A-
kawaambia^ '^ Mtengeneze sana mji, mfagie,
mwupambe^ mwiitie maua mengi katika njia ;
kesbo mtoto wangu atakuja. ^' Hatta assnbui
mfalme akaingia katika marikebu ndogo kwe-
nda kumwangalia mtoto wake. Akawaambia na
watu, '* Pigeni mizinga hatta nirudi/' Akaenda
marikebuni kuonana na mtoto wake^ akipanda
wakapigia mizinga ya salaam^ na yale Sultani
akataajabu kuona marikebu ya mti^ na wale wa
marikebu wakataajabu kuona marikebu ya tba-
habu. Yule mtoto wa Sultani akamkaribisha
mkwewe akamheshima sana. Mfalme akamwa.
mbia '^Tutweke tweiide bandarini.'^ Wa-
katweka wakaenda bandarini, ma mizinga ika-
lia katika inchi na marikebuni pia, kwa fu-
raha ya mtoto wa Sultani kumwona babaye.
Wakifika bandarini, akamwambia mwanawe^
" Na tushuke.^^ Na Sultani akamwambia wa-
ziri wake kutandika thahabu toka pwani hatta
katika nyumba yake Sultani. Wakashuka.
Yule mtoto wake Sultani akaona ajabu sana
kukanyaga thahabu, na mle wanamopita ile
MTOTO ALIOKULA NQUBUE. 83
thahabu wanatwaa masikini hatta wakafika
nyumbani.
Akapewa nyumba yule mtoto wa Sultani ye-
ye na watu wake aliokuja nao. Yule Sultani
akawaambia kumfanyizia harusi. Wakafanya
harusi kubwa sana, akamwoza yingine. Aka-
mwambia^ *^ Na we we kaa kitako hapa, na nf al-
ine nitakupa." Yule mtoto wa Sultani akamwa-
mbia^ '' Siwezi/' Akamwambia, " Kae kitako
siku nyingi, kwani ukisafiri hunabuddi mkewo
utamchukua, na mimi siku nyingi sikumwona/^
Akakaa kijana inchi ile hatta Muungu aka-
mpa mtoto mwanamume. Yule mtoto aka-
mwambia mumewe, ^' Tusafiri, twende zetu/^
Na moyoni mwake kutekeleza ahadi yeye na
yule nyoka.
Wakafistnya safari. Na yule baba yake aka-
mfanyizia mali mengi^ akampa. Akamwambia
mtoto wa Sultani, " Nataka marikebu mojaya-
ko ya mti unipe, na mimi n^takupa marikebu
ya thahabu." Yule mtoto wa Sultani akataaja-
bu Sana. Akampa. Na yule mwanamke, aka-
zidi kumpenda Sana, akaona yale aliyoambi-
wa yote pia kweli.
Wakasafiri, wakarudi kwao, hatta wakipata
84 MTOTO ALIOKULA NGUBUE.
kisiwani akawaambia^ '^ Tia nanga nishuke pwa-
ni nimchukue na mtoto wanga^ nikamwombee
Munngu. Ndio desturi ya kweto/' Akamwa^
mbia^ '^ Marahaba/^ Akamwambia, '' Nataka
mitongi mia ya asali niende pwaiii^ na vikapo
mia vya bisi/' Akamwambia, '* Marahaba/'
Wakavishuslia pwani. Na yeye akasbiika na
mtoto wake^ akafika pwani^ akawaambia^ " Chn-
kaeni bisi na asali^ nif uate hatta hapa mwitoni,
mrudi/^ Wakachukua^ wakaradi wale hatta
pwani. Akawaambia^ " Nendeni zenu marike-
buni^ na nikirudi 'taweka alama mje nitwae/'
Wakamwambia^ '' Marahaba/' Wakaenda zao.
Mwanamke akaingia mwitnni kwendakumta-
futa nyoka. Akaenda akamwona. Akamwa-
mbia '^ Oh ! Mwana Adamu^ nmekuja ! '' Aka«
mwambia^ '^Na'am^ nimekuja/' Akamwambia
'^ Vitu vyangu umeleta V Akamwambia^ "Na'-
am, nimekuletea. Twende nitakapa.'' Wpkae-
nda hatta alipoweka asali na bisi. Akamwam-
bia« " Hivi.^^ Akatwaa na mtoto akampa^ akam-
wambia, ^' Huyo mtoto.'' Akamwambia^ " JSita-
kalo nitafanya^ kwani Ditamtowelea chakala m-
toto wako na mwenyewe ukiangalia.'' Akamjibu
wwanumkej "Toka nilipokoletea nalijoa uta-
MTOTO ALLOKUUL NGU&US. 85
mla, wala mimi sina majnto kwa liajra niliyopa*
ta/' Nyoka akamtwaa mtoto akamtia kinwani
akamtoa puani. Na mwenyewe mwaoamke ana-
mwangalia. Akamtia teiia kinwani akamtoa
puani apande wa pili, na mwanamke amenya.
maa kimya. Tnle nyoka alipumwona mwana
Adamn kule kusubiri kwake, akamfanyia hurn-
ma^ akamwambia, '^ Twaa mwenyewe mtoto wa-
kOj naye atatamdlak inch! nyingi wala yeo hata-
knfa kwa npanga wala kwa selaha yo yote, na
wee nenda zako mchukne na mwanao.'^
Akamchukaa mtoto wake akaenda zake pwa-
Bii na uyoka akala zile bisi na asali^ akaenda
zake mwitnni. Yule mwanamke akifika pwa*
ni akaweka alama, ikaenda mashua, ikamtwaa.
Akapanda marikebuni na mtoto wake> wakasa-
firi wakaenda zao hatta walipofika katika inchi
yao wakapiga mizinga nungi sana. Baba yake
akajua anakuja mtoto wake^ akaenda akamlaki
kwa f uraha sana. Akapanda marikebuni akao-
nana naye mwanawe.
Mwanawe akamwambia^ ''Baba^ yale aliyo-
niambia mke wangu^ nimeyaona vilevile na ka-
zidi/' Akamwonya na maU aliokuja nayo» a-
kamwonyesha na marikebn ya tbahB^sa ^Jc^Sqa^-
80 MTOTO ALlOKUIxA. ^OUBUE.
dili kwa tnarikebu ya mti. Wakashuka pwa-
ni kwa furaha nyingi, na mji umefanywa mzori
Sana. Yule Sultani akamwambia mwanawe^
" Ufalme nimempa huyo mtoto wako, na mimi
sitaki kitu^ nimekuwa mtu mzima/^
Akakaa kitako yule mtoto katika ufalme.
Na yule mfalme mwenyi inchi ya thahabu^ na
yee akampa yule mtoto ufalme. Akatawala
inchi zote mbili. Akakaa raha mustarehe.
KIJANA ALIYBWEKA NATHIRI
NA VIPOFU VITATU.
Paliondokea kijana, akaweka nathiri, '^ Pindi
Muungu akiniriziki reale tatu, moja n^tampa
masikini akaaye mosikiti ya Juma/'
Na Muungu akampa zile reale tatu kama ali-
vyoomba, Na yule kijana akatimiza ahadi ya
Muungu, akaenda mosikiti ya Juma, akainwo-
na masikini kipofu, akampa ile reale. Aka-
mwambia, '^ Dnani bwana wangu V Akamjibu
" Naliomba kwa Bwana haweka nathiri, ^kipa-
ta reale tatu, moja ^tampa masikini akaaye mo-
sikiti ya Juma/^ Yule masikini akasema, ^^ Zi
wapi bizo nyingine f '' Yule vijana hajui, aka-
i^wambia, " Hizi hapa ninazo/^ Akamwambia
^'Ngapi r '' Akasema, '' Reale mbili/' Yule
masikini kipofu akamkamata yule kijana, aka*
piga kelele, " Ee, bapana mtu ? Hapa mosiki-
tini nalikuwa na reale tatu, moja ninayo, mbili.
'kaniuyang^anya huyu kijana nilv^^xsAL-Ma!!!^"
/
88 KUANA ALITEW^KA NATHIBI.
Marra ile wakaja wata wengi, wakamwambia
ynle kijana, '' Ginsi gani wamthulamu huyu
kipofa, kaisha masikini ya Muunga f ** Yule
kijana akawaambia, " Huyo mwongo ! '' Wa-
simsadiki^ wakamnyang'anya zile reale mbili^
wakampa yule masikini. Na yule kijana aka-
shuknru Muungu^ akaenda zake^ akanena na
nafsi jake^ '' Inshallah 'tamlipa kipofn huyu V*
Na yule kipof u ana rafiki sake vrawili, nao
wote kipofu, na yee ndiye wa tatu. Na yule
kijana anajua wanapokaa katika mazumgumso
yao alasiri hatta alasiri. Akakaa hatta alasiri
akaenda akawakuta. Yule aliyemwona mosiki-
tini^ akanena^ '^ Mimi leo alikuja kijana mosiki-
tini, akanipa reale ya fetha^ hamwiiza^ 'Yatoka
wapi r ' Akaniambia '' Naliweka nathiri Muu-
ngu anipapo reale tatu, moja 'tampa masikini
kipofu wa mosikiti ya Juma. Hamwambia^ ' Ha-
po unazo ngapi T ' Akanena, ' Mbili/ Hamka-
mata, hapiga kelele, wakaja watu hawaambia^
' Mimi masikini fakiri, nalikuwa na reale ta-
tu, mbili akaninyang'anya huyu kijana, kwan£
mimi sioni/* Wale watu walipoona moja ninaycy
mimi masikini kipofu na mbili anazo yule kijana
wasimsadiki, wakanyang'anya, wakanipa mimi.
KIJ^^A AfclTEWSKA NATHIBI. 89
Basai sasa nimetimiia reale mia^ nazo li katika
kichunga^ nimeweka chini ya tendega la kita-.
nda changtt. Bassi mwiyi afeazipataje T *'
Na yule kijana awaaikia^ nao hawatia habari.
Akawangoja batta magbrebbi wakeondoka ku-
Ia« Mmoja akaenda zake mbali^ yule kijana
akamfuata yule kipofu aliyemtbuluma batta
nyumbani mwake. Akafungua mlango, na yu-
le kijana akaingia^ kwani amesikia mabali zi*
lipo f etba^ akaenda batta cbini ya kitanda aka-
twaa kile kicbungu kinacbo reale mia^ akaenda
zake yule kijana.
Na yule masikini akitazama fetba yake ba-
pana wala kile kicbungu bakiko^ akapiga kelele
yule masikini, '' Be waana adamu I Nimeibiwa
fetba yangu^ reale mia ndani ya kicbungu^
naliweka chini ya kitanda cbangu/' Watu
pia wakamwambia, " Wewe, upate \Tapi reale
fnia ? ''
Hatta siku ya pili yule kijana akaenda tena
batta makutanoyo. Akawaona. Yule akane-
na, '* Mimi jana nimeibiwa reale zangu mia,
ndani ya kicbungu, nazo naliziweka cbini ya
tendegu langu/^ Akaondoka yule masikini
^a pili, na yee kipofu, akamwambia, " Wewe
90 KUANA ALITEW£KA NATHIia.
mjinga ! Knna mtu akitia fetha katika kicliD-
ngn mbona ? Mimi ninazo reale miteen^ nime-
ritia ndani ya hii fimbo yanga ya mwanzi mbo-
na mwiyi hapati kwiba/' Yale kijana awasi-
kia maneno yao. Akapiga mbio, akakata go-
ngo la mwanzi^ akalitoboa^ akalijaza kombe.
Akajaakawangoja hattawalipoondoka, akamfa-
ata yale mwenyi fetha katika gongo^ katta ali-
pofika nayo Dynmbani kwake. Yule kipofa
akasimamisha gongo lake mlangoni. Yule ki-
jana akamwekea gongo lake^ lile alilolitia ko-
mbe, akatwaa lile lenyi fetha^ akaenda zake
mbio.
Yule masikini alipokwisha knftmgua mlaugo
akashika lile gongo lake^ akaliona jepesi saua,
akaJBa kama silo gongo hike, akajaribn kuliti-
kisa^ hasikii santi ya fetha^ akalipiga chini^ li-
kapasuka^ akapapasa^ akaona kombe. Akapi-
ga kelele^ '^ Mimi masikini nimeibiwa ! '' Wa-
kaja watu wengi^ wakamuza^ ^^ Onani^ ee masi-
kini ? *' Akanena^ " Nimeibiwa gongo langn^
ndani mna reale miteen/' Wakamwambia^
'^ Hili silo gongo lako ? ^' Akanena, '' Silo/'
Wale watu wakamwambia^ " Ninyi ! Atbani
nHpefanyiKk wazimu tanga jana ! Hili silo go-
KUANA ALITSWIKA NATHIBI. 94
ngo lako ? Wewe lUa maaikini mno npate wa-
pi reale miteen ? Tena nzitie ndani ya gon-
go ! *' Wakaenda zao wale watu.
Hatta siku ya tatu yule kijana akaenda ka-
wasikiliza. Yule mwenyi gongo akanena, " Mi-
mi jana gongo langa limeibiwa hawekewa
gongo jingine ndani Una kombe/^ Akaondoka
yule wa tatu, akanena^ ^^ Bnyi wapumbaru kil-
la mtu^ kutia f etha ndani ya kichungn ao ka-
tika gongo ! Mimi ninazo reale thelatha mia^
nimeziahonea ndani ya hichi kisibau changu^
na mitni nalala mosikiti ya Juma. Mwivi ata*
pata wapi 7 Hafcta aje mosikitini na milango
yote hufungwa, na mimi kisibau kimo mwilini
mwangfu/'
Yule kijana aliposikia akaenda mbio hatta
nyumbani kwake, akamwambia mkewe^ '' Leo
nataka utwae kibaba cha tangawizi, na kibaba
cha pilipili manga^ na kibaba cha mchele^ ufu-
nde pamoja^ ufanye mkate^ uje nao mosikiti ya
Juma saa ya sita. Upige hodi^ akikuuliza ^Wa-
takani ? * sema^ ' Mimi naliweka nathiri^ mu-
me wangu alisafiri, haweka nathiri arudipo
salama ^tafanya sadaka ya mkate nipeleke mosi-
kiti ya Juma/' Yule mwanamke aka£ua^^
92 EIJANA ALITIWEKA NATHIKI.
kama alivyoamnra mnmewe. Na ynle kijana
akangoja hatta ilipopita saa moja ya nsiku aka-
enda hatta kariba ya mosikiti. Akapiga kelele,
''Jamaa! Hapana atakaye thawaba kwa
Muanga ? Mimi mgeni masikini kipofu, na-
toka Sham. Akanionye mosikiti haingie, ha-
lale hou usika mmoja ta/^ Wato wakampi*
gia kelele ynle masikini aliye mle mosikitini^
'' Mfnngnlie huyu mwenzio masikini kipo-
fu^ na yee mgeni aje alale/' Akafongaa mla-
ngo, akamwnza^ ^' Jina lakp nani ? ^' Aka-
mjibuj ^' Jina hinga Hadji AhtniBd/* Akamwa-
tnbia^ " Pita/' Akapita. '^ Kaa hapa wee/'
Akajifanya a na na ynle kijana aonaye aka-
mfanyia kipofu. Wakakaa hatta ilipopata saa
ya sita ya nsiku akaja ytile mkewe kijana
akamwita^ ^' Ee I Masikini uliyo humo mosiki-
tini ! '' Akamjibu, "Nani we we, nsiku huu?''
Akamjibu, " Mimi hapa, fungna mlango/'
*' Watakani ? '' Akamwambia, "Naliweka na-
thiri mnme wangu aliposafiri arudipo salama
nifanye mkate nilete mosikitini ya Juma waka-
ti huu/' Ynle kipofu akamwambia, " Hadji
Ahmed, ondoka nfungue mlango, upokee mka-
^^'^ Akamjihu, ''Mimi kipofu mgeBi, sijtii
MTOTO ALIYEWEKA NATHIRI. 93
mlango." Akaondoka, akamfanya yule kijana
ndiye kipofu, yeye ndiye aonaye. Akafungua
xnlango akapokea mkate mwenyewe, " Kidogo
tu/^ Yule kijana akamwambia, " Hii ndiyo rizi-
ki yetn aliyotupa Muungu, wajibu tushukuru/^
Akamwambia^ ^^ Wewe mtaowa, kwani wato-
ka Makka/' Akampa kipande kidogo. Ytde
kijana anajua kwamba nle mkate^ akautupa.
Yule maBikini aliye mosikitini akafanya roho.
Akala. Akaona hari sana sababa ile tangawi-
zi na zile pilipili manga. Akavua kile kisibao
chake kwa sababn ya jasbo. Ataka knoga sa-
babu jasho, akamwita yule kijana, '* Hadji Ah-
med ! Hadji Ahmed ! *' Akamjibn, " T^fathali
uniache ailale, kwani natoka mbali, nimeclio-
ka.^' Akaondoka akaenda akaoga.
Yule kijana akaenda taratibu akatwaa kile
kisibao cba yule masikini akatoka mbio. Yule
maskini akapiga kelele, wakaja watu wakamwa-
mbia, " Unani ? ^* Akawaambia, " Nimeibiwa
fetba yangu, nayo yalikuwa katika kisibao cba-
ngu.*' Watu pia wakanena, " Hawa wamefo-
nya wazimu sasa.^'
Hatta assubui ilipopata alasiri yule kijana
akaenda akawaona. Na yuleakaafii\\a»^*'^'^^s^-
94 MTOTO ALI7EWEKA NATHiBl.
ye jana nimeibiwa kile kisibao changu chenyi
fetha js.ngii, Bassi sasa twende tuibe katika bo-
hari ya Sultani/^ Na yule kijada awasikia ma-
shauri yao akawangoja hatta magherebbi^ aka-
wafaata hatta katika bohari ya Sultani. Wa-
kaingia. Wakaiba mifuko saba ya fetha. Na
yale kijana akawaf uata hatta mahali pao. Wa-
kaweka ile mifuko saba waliyokwiba kwa Sul-
tani^ wakasema^ '^ Haya ! sasa tugawe/' Aka-
twaa yule kijana yote ile mifuko saba ya fetha.
Na wale masikini kuUa mmoja humwambia
mwenziwe^ " Haya^ gawa I '' Bassi kulla mmoja
humwambia mwenziwe, killa mmoja hunena
'' Mimi sinayo/^ Wakapigana wenyewe kwa
wenyewe hatta wawili wakafa. Yule kijana a-
kamkamata yule mmoja aliyesalia^ akamf unga
akampeleka kwa Sultani^ '^ Bwana^ huyu kipof u
ndiye mwivi. Jana ameiba kwako/' Sultani
akamfunga hatta aknfa^
Nayule kijana akapata mali kwa sababu yule
masikini aliyemnyang'anya fetha yake. Aka-
starehe na mkewe wala hawakuwa masikini
tena.
AYARI NA MTOTO.
Palikuwa mtu ramoja, ayari, kudanganya wa-
tu. Bassi akamwambia mtoto mmoja, ^'Njoo,
fanya kazi kwangu, inwezi 'takupa reale mi-
teen, lakini mwezi ukiisha ^takutuma, letea vitu
viwili, ukiletea, bassi reale miteen 'takapa.
Baknna kuleta, hakuna kupa/' Bassi yuleaka-
sema, ^' Ee Wallah V^ akakubali.
Bassi akakaa kwake hatta kutimia mwezi^
akamwambia^ '' Umekwisha mwezi, nitume ni-
kuletee vita viwili, nipate fetha yangu/' A-
kamwambia, ^' Kaletee Ha- a ! Hi-i I Bassi nki-
leta Ila-a ! Hi-i I ^takopa reale miteen. Nenda
zako/'
Bassi yule akafikiri, '' Ha-a ! Hi-i ! nini f ''
Akaen da akataf uta taanda . Akakamata taanda
kabwa, akaitia ndani ya chupa nyeusi. Akata*
futa tena nge kubwa, akaitia ndani ya chupa.
Akafung8i ngema. Bassi akampelekea. Aka-
mwambia, '' Hii Ha-a ! Hi-i ! '' Yule akata-
zama chupa. Akasema, '^ Nini ndani yake ? "
00
ATARI NA MTOTO.
iVkamwarabia^ " Tia kidole/^ Bassi yule akatia
kidole. Akamuma kidoleni ile taandn. All-
pomama akasema^ ^'Ha-a-a-a! Ha-a-a-a ! ^^
Akasema^ ^^ Ee^ umeiona Ha-a ? Hi-i imo ndani
ya chapa ! '' Bassi akatoa reale miteen.
Jumanne, 4 Novemba 2014
"HADITHI ZA WASWAHILI KUTOKA UGHAIBUNI"
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