[Oriental Encounters by Marmaduke Pickthall]@TWC D-Link book
Oriental Encounters

CHAPTER XXVII
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It took us a long while to see the whole of it.
The chief, fatigued, alighted and sat down beneath some walnut trees.
He ordered Sheykh Huseyn to cause refreshments to appear.

The latter shouted, and a dozen villagers went tearing off.

In a very little time a meal of honeyed cakes and fruit was set before us, and the ceremony of making coffee was in progress on a brazier near us in the shade.
'Allah! Allah!' sighed the Sheykh Huseyn, telling his beads.
'Mon bere est triste, tu vois.

Il aime bas quitter,' murmured his hopeful son in tones of high delight, the feeling proper to express before a new acquaintance of my quality.
'Curse the religion of these flies! It is extremely hot!' exclaimed the chief in momentary irritation.
The trees went with the land without exception, I was glad to hear.
One-fifth of all the produce of that land of any kind whatever would be mine, the rest belonging to the husbandmen by immemorial right.
There was never such a thing as wages for the cultivation of the land.
The Sheykh Huseyn implored us to return to luncheon at his house, protesting that he had commanded a great feast to be prepared; but the chief declared we were too busy to allow ourselves that pleasure.

As we were then some way below the village, we did not go back thither, but rode off along a path through orchards till we found the road to the ravine.
At taking leave, the eyes of Sheykh Huseyn met mine a moment.


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