The house of Islâm

Introduction

IN the reign of the Sultan Abdul Mejld Khan, upon termination of the war with Muscovy, a multitude of faithful Georgians and Circassians chose to cast themselves, their women and children, upon the bounty of the Padishah rather than endure the yoke of an infidel conqueror. They begged but leave to settle in some part of the Sultan's dominions, to dwell in peace among true believers in obedience to the law of God, as transmitted to Muhammed, His Apostle. But their spokesmen had fierce eyes, and, when a little emphasis seemed called for, each clutched quite naturally at the dagger in his sash.

The Sultan's advisers — black-coated, red-capped Othmanlis of the eyes that see but never look — noted this slight discrepancy while placidly telling their beads. There were lawless spots in the empire. On the confines of Esh-Sham, for example, the peasants paid tax to the chiefs of the desert rather than

i to the lawful tithe farmer. There was a place with work in the world for men both loyal and warlike.

The Sultan Abdul Mejid heard those exiles. He clothed them in the mantle of his grace. Lands were granted in a far province, rights and privileges were conferred upon them. Letters written under the Tughra made it a duty for all men to do them honor. And to prevent untoward collision with the old inhabitants, one Milhem Bey, a native of that country, was appointed to overlook the settlement and quell the disputes which were sure to arise at the outset.

Many days after the Circassians had set sail for their new land, one hot afternoon, this Milhem took boat at Tufana, down by the bridge, and went to visit his brother, a young doctor of the religion, who dwelt by the shore of Asia. As his caique shot forth into the strait, the coasts of Europe opened like a scroll. Fat domes and slender minarets rose up white from out dark cypress groves on the hill of Istanbul. Heaped Ghalata and straggling Pera gathered beauty as their forms receded. The song of waters, with the pleasant sense of gliding, soothed Milhem. He closed his eyes upon the shining prospect, while he said in his soul:

" It is well. . . . Yet not altogether well. After fifteen years of obeisance, now at last I am lord of something — a small thing, but earnest of more to come. That is good. Praise to Allah, I am blest in that! . . . But it has taken long to reach this little eminence, and has cost me — Merciful Allah ! — how much money ! My patrimony is all but spent. And this post is not worth the trouble unless as a step to something finer. A few rock-scraping fellahin, a few wild-beast Circassians. . . . What profit, O Lord, in such a government? After six months or eight I shall return. Then, it may be, they will speak to me of a pashalik. Where — Allah pity! — can I touch the price of a pashalik? Without money I can go no farther. If Shems-ud-din, my brother, will not help me, I must borrow of the infidel. O Shems-ud-din ! O my soul ! Allah knows it has been my sin to neglect thee. How long since I embraced thee, O my dear! "

The boat came to land at a point where a huddle of colored dwellings on the sea's brink and a mosque with needle-pointed minarets cast a shimmer on the smooth water. Milhem clambered out on to a landing stage and started to climb a path through orchards which led to his brother's house.

The Sheykh Shems-ud-din sat under a tree enjoy- 3 ing the view, across the strait, of the imperial city, when he was struck by the apparition of a white sunshade slowly bobbing up the path from the shore. Another minute and he sprang to his feet, crying, " Thanks to Allah! " With eyes alight, he ran to kiss his brother.

" They told me thou wast gone," he said, as he led him to the carpet under the tree. " But my heart informed me that they lied. Thou wouldst never have gone without my peace on thee. I am glad they lied who told me thou wast gone."

" Of a surety they lied," chuckled Milhem. " Everyone thought I should travel with those wild beasts. Only this morning one of the greatest called me laggard for remaining behind. Hear my answer ! I said : * O my lord, had I journeyed with the colonists, I had surely been a party to their quarrels as they arose. With your Grace's permission, let the quarrels first arise that I, coming as a stranger, may judge impartially with whom the right. Moreover/ I said, ' may it please your Highness, I would set my house in order ere I go. And your Excellency's self will admit that the city Istana is mistress of more charm than the desert possesses.' I tell thee, he laughed, that great one; he laughed immoderately and praised my understanding. Men begin to perceive that Milhem Bey is not foolish. In sh' Allah he will be Milhem Pasha some day."

" In sh' Allah ! " echoed Shems-ud-din vaguely.

" But a province costs much money!" sighed Milhem, at the same time darting a sharp glance at his brother's face.

The stupid had not heard. There he sat, fingering his great black beard, and gazing with his great brown eyes, full and wistful as a gazelle's, over the cypress tops of an adjacent cemetery, over the blue strait, to the crowding minarets of the city.

" Am I here to watch thee dreaming? " said Milhem tartly. " Art in love, or what ails thee? "

Shems-ud-din turned to him with a smile.

" Love, saidst thou ? I have not loved these many days, since the death of one I loved truly. She whom I have now is but for appearance, lest neighbors should deem me disreputable, living alone. . . . I do but think, O my brother 1 I think, by Allah's leave, I go with thee."

Milhem flung up his hands and eyes to heaven.

" What a fancy! " he cried, affrighted. " May Allah heal thee of it quickly."

" Mock me not, O beloved! " pleaded Shems-ud-din. " Whom love I in the world like thee ? While thou wast absent fighting in the holy wars, had my soul peace? And since then, seeing thee so seldom, have I been content? I adjure thee, by our love of old, gainsay me not in this matter! "

Launched upon a favorite theme, he continued in this strain of deep affection a great while.

Milhem answered not a word. Profoundly moved, he plucked up the grass near him by the roots, snuffling to keep from tears. At last, able to bear it no longer, he rose abruptly and took his leave with broken words of blessing and praise to God. Not until his boat danced midway across the path of darkening water, and the minarets of the sovereign city, aloft in the sunset, seemed spears of a phantom host uplifted, threatening, did he remember his purpose in the visit.

On the morrow, before noon, he found his way to the street of sweet odors, where Shems-ud-din had a shop which it was his custom to visit on that day of each week for the purpose of taking account with his steward. This morning Shems-ud-din was not alone. Two old men sat with him in the inner gloom, beyond where a group of women chaffered with the salesman. They were sheykhs renowned through all the world for their learning and piety, stern foes to innovation, for whom a time-serving official was an unclean beast.

Milhem bowed low before those holy ones, and blessed the lucky day.

After seats had been resumed, Shems-ud-din observed :

" I was telling these, my friends, of the journey I purpose to make. And they have honored me with a mission. . . ."

But Milhem stopped his ears, crying: "Think not of it, I beseech thee, O my brother! I come on purpose to restrain thee. With the permission of these reverend ones, thy thought to go with me is not of wisdom. Does a man right to quarrel with the part allotted? Behold thee here in great honor, with such friends about thee ; yet not content ! Thou must needs embark upon a venture — very perilous, very tiresome — whereunto no one calls thee. Do not so, O my brother, for the sin is great ! "

" Once upon a time Eblis himself met an angel from Allah, and, looking earnestly upon his face, observed, * Sin not, I entreat thee,' " said one of the two old doctors in a manner of abstruse meditation.

Milhem bit his lips. He said, " Who am I to discuss what is right with the law's exponents ? Yet, now and then, in my chamber, I give thought to these high matters. And it has seemed, to my little understanding, a sin that my brother should wander from a road so clear before him."

" By my beard, I see not the harm ! " said the sheykh who had before spoken. "Why should not our friend, the learned Shems-ud-din, revisit his native land, a land of true belief? In sh' Allah, he will enjoy himself there. . . . But perhaps our lord the Bey would go alone. Two eyes of truth fixed constantly upon him embarrass the statesman."

" Which is only to say: * He would keep his master's counsel.' Allah witness, I have no desire save for my brother's welfare."

" That is known for certain," cried Shems-ud-din heartily. " But fear not for me. I go gladly."

Milhem shrugged his shoulders. As soon as coffee had been served he took his departure. Where was the use in staying longer? These dotards showed no intention of moving, and he would not mention his need in their cold hearing.

At a later hour he returned that way, and, seeing Shems-ud-din alone in the depths of the shop, ran in and, stooping, kissed the hem of his robe. Through eagerness to convince, he magnified his want a hundredfold. By Allah, by the admirable Koran, he had spent all his inheritance — had sown it rather, hoping to reap a rich crop of honor. His last para had gone to procure this beggarly appointment of governor over sundry wild beasts. On his return, if Allah kept him alive, he would have the offer of a wilayet. Where in the world could he touch the price of a wilayet? Rather than borrow of an Armenian or other usurious infidel, he would beg in the gate of one of the mosques; he had not yet decided which. He was in the hand of the Almighty, to whom the praise. . . . Three hundred thousand piasters at the lowest. . . . Ma sh' Allah ! It was too much to ask of any man ! . . .

" O my dear, O light of my eyes, O my breath ! " cried Shems-ud-dm, when he could speak for amazement. " Why hast thou kept silence ? Is it for this thou didst shun me ? Fie on thy pride ! Thou hast a share in this business, as in all belonging to me. Talk not of begging when thou hast a trade. There is but little now in my hand; but to-morrow or the day after I will pay thee all I can collect. Of the rest we will speak later. Have no fear! All mine is thine; and, by the blessing of Allah, it may be that my patrimony has increased while thine wasted."

Milhem wept on his brother's neck and called him kindest of the sons of Adam.

" By my life, he has earned the right to bear me company," he murmured as he went his way. " May

Allah requite him! And if, in such close converse, he should discover a little thing to my disadvantage, it is so decreed. Allah knows, a man of my employments cannot keep the habits of a saint."

He vowed before God to keep strict watch upon himself, to avoid giving offense to his brother's piety. But he had forgotten the vow, or recanted, when the day of departure came.

Shems-ud-din, with other turbaned voyagers, was in the customhouse, patiently enduring the chicanery of a number of small officials whose end was bakshish, when Milhem passed down the middle of the great shed, escorted by the mudir and a group of high officers. He overlooked Shems-ud-din's salutation, appeared unconscious of his neighborhood. In loud talk with his companions he walked out at the farther doors, through which the dance of violet waves shone twinkling, and his brother was left to conclude his bargain with the customhouse men, when a nod from the Sultan's plenipotentiary might have released him.

On the steamship, bewildered by the novelty of his situation, alarmed by the pushing of rude Franks, Shems-ud-din herded for countenance with a little group of the faithful on the fore part of the deck; nor dared to look round for Milhem. The shores and the fair, great city were slipping fast away, ere he descried the latter standing amidships. He ran to him with intent to embrace, but was checked by the formality of his reception.

" Leave me alone here, I entreat thee," said Milhem, as if his teeth were set on edge. " Afterwards, upon land, I will explain all things."

Shems-ud-din withdrew, much hurt. He made no further claim on his brother's notice, but sat all day long in the company of three Turkish merchants, men of substance and of imperturbable phlegm, who spoke in proverbs between long sucks at the narghileh. At the rising of the night, when the evening prayer was ended, his black servant brought him food, and spread a bed for him beneath the stars. Once, ere he lay down, his ear caught the voice of Milhem at no great distance talking glibly in a foreign tongue, and by the light of one of the lamps he could distinguish his brother strolling amid a crowd of Franks, both men and women. They kept laughing the senseless, heathen laugh that knows not past or future, nor foresees the judgment of the last day.

The faces of Shems-ud-din's companions were lost in night, except when the charcoal in the bowl of a narghileh glowed up redly as its owner drew on it. One said:

ii

" Allah created different animals. He made no crossbreeds. These latter spring from sin. What can be said of one who, being circumcised and duly shaven like ourselves, yet chooses to sit on a chair at a table with infidels, his hands unwashed, to eat abomination, and to toy with unveiled women whose face is of brass for all men, who know not shame ? Shall such an one treat us as dirt, being most likely the son of some pimp or other? May the justice of God overtake him, and that suddenly ! "

" Now Allah avert that curse, for the man is my mother's son," said Shems-ud-din sadly.

"Ma sh' Allah! Is it truth thou speakest? Then Allah forgive me ! Let it be as though I had said nothing. I guessed not, O my lord, that he was the son of any honorable house. Most of these officials are the sons of nothing. Why comes he not to sit with thee ? May Allah teach him the way of the upright! "

The speaker, a good old man, by name Yusuf, a dealer in cotton goods, sucked hard at his narghileh. From that hour no one of the sedate circle referred to the great man on board, or betrayed the slightest interest in the doings of the Frankish passengers. Time glided smoothly for Shems-ud-din in their company, though few words passed, and those of abstract wisdom. It seemed matter for praise to Allah that there was no chatterer among them. And ever the steamboat panted on over that silken sea, tossing back its mane of dingy smoke along the furrow it had plowed. Only when the panting ceased awhile, did the faithful quit the pose of resignation, uncross their legs, rise, stretch themselves, and praise God for the view of some white town that rimmed the sea, with minarets and distaff cypresses, and fertile gardens on the hill beyond.

At length, near dawn of the fifth day, Shems-ud-dln awoke to find the ship at rest on the bosom of a wide bay. Already a whiteness played upon the ripples. Already, above high mountains in the east, appeared a blushing streak, a fluttering pulse of light that throbbed and spread till shapes grew clear in silhouette upon the shore line, here a palm tree, there a dwelling; and still the sky to seaward was night blue and spangled with stars.

Shems-ud-din knelt down and prayed with fervor, prostrating himself many times. The sun rose, and its rays struck upon his two hands held before his face as he prayed. There were the heights of Lebanon, towers of darkness up against a glory. By the mercy of Allah, he beheld those heights once more. His heart was full.

3 13

Later, when the sun rode high and many boats had put forth from the shore, he embarked in one of them with his friends of the voyage, and was rowed to the customhouse. There, engaged in the civilities preliminary to the gift of a coin, he was surprised by Milhem. He leaped at the sound of his brother's voice hailing him with words of love, and the flush of pleasure overcame him. The Bey showed a paper to the officers, who straight made reverence. Shems-ud-dm and his friends were free to go where they chose.

" I have saved thee and those quaint worthies a mejidi apiece. Art thou not grateful?" laughed Milhem, as they issued forth into the morning sunlight.

Instantly their ears were assailed with the shouts of carriage drivers, and a mob of porters pressed on them, shouting also and gesticulating, shouldering one another roughly in the strife for employment. The Bey had one arm round his brother's neck. With the other he signaled to the most importunate of the carriage drivers, who shook his reins in triumph ; the while he continued :

" Praise to Allah, that ordeal is ended. May all the Franks rot painfully, and their fathers be consumed with fire! But it is the will of the Sultan that we mix with them and learn their ways. For me, to hear is to obey. What am I but a servant? ... I proceed to the city Esh-Sham by the coach this evening. That Greek dog, my secretary, follows with the baggage. There I obtain my soldiers from the Waly — a hundred only, not half enough to overawe those wild beasts. Go thou, upon arrival in that city, to the khan of Ahmed Effendi, the same who was the steward of our father's property. I shall seek thee there. . . . Allah be with thee now and always, O my beloved ! "

He kissed Shems-ud-din very suddenly on both cheeks, sprang into his carriage, and was driven to a foreign hotel.

His brother, left thunderstruck, stood by the door of the customhouse, impervious to the frantic efforts made by porters, and others having an interest in new arrivals, to attract his notice. He scarcely heard his servant speak to him, and answered at random a question as to whither they should be going.

" So his Excellency the Bey has flown again," said the voice of Yusuf, the old merchant, close to his ear. "Well, Allah knows where such birds nest! I know not, nor greatly care to know. Wilt thou make the journey to Esh-Sham with us who are plain men? With Allah's leave we will hire baggage animals, and buy each one of us an ass whereon to ride. We shall journey slowly, by easy stages, being old men and burdened with fat. If thy youth can bear with our infirmities, journey with us and welcome, for we love instruction, and it is seldom that a learned sheykh of the religion falls to our lot for company."

" Let it be as he says, O my lord ! " pleaded the negro eagerly; for he tired of standing still, a gazingstock for low people.

" So be it then," said Shems-ud-din, with a cordial smile. " By my beard, I thank thee ; for in this minute I knew not where to face."

So it happened that Shems-ud-din entered the city of his birth one morning, riding soberly upon an ass, in the company of three fat old men, riding each likewise upon an ass. The legs of all four stuck out wide over full saddlebags. On foot beside Shems-ud-din went his faithful negro, now walking, now trotting, in accordance with the donkey's pace. From Zebbadani, where they had spent the night, they ambled by garden ways to the great city, down a valley full of shade, and the song of birds, and the ever-sweet murmur of running waters.

Shems-ud-din had found the journey anything but 16 tiresome. And now, in the familiar streets where every sight and sound recalled his childhood, he felt like nothing more than a happy child.

Near by the khan of Ahmed Eff endi, in a covered way narrow and crowded, where the cavalcade had to go in single file with shouts to clear the path, a hand grasped Shems-ud-din's arm, and the voice of Milhem snarled:

" Get down ! Get down, madman ! "

With fear the traveler alighted, holding his donkey by the bridle. The rope was promptly snatched from his hand and thrust into that of the negro, who stood grinning by.

" Go on — on to the khan! Destroy that beast! — hide him ! — drown him. Y' Allah ! " hissed the same voice of authority and anger.

More and more alarmed, Shems-ud-din faced Milhem. The latter seized his arm.

" Come away ! This way or that, what recks it? . . . And now, peradventure, thou wilt deign to inform me why, in the Holy Name, thou masqueradest as a jester, riding upon an ass, preceded by three old men, all on one pattern, all of them also riding upon asses; so that people, deeming it a portent, ask: * What means this strange riding?' Thou couldst well afford a fine horse apiece for thyself and thy servant. What ails thee that thou must needs play the mountebank?"

" I must return to my friends," said Shems-ud-din, disengaging his arm. " They will wonder what has befallen me."

"Thy friends! . . . That absurd procession! . . . Allah witness, it is a child ! — a little child ! " Milhem raised eyes to heaven, while his laugh rang out. " Must I tell thee that thou art a great man here? All the learned await thy visit with impatience. They would have ridden forth to meet thee. And behold thee seated upon the sorriest scrub of an ass that ever I saw; preceded by three old men, all the sons of one mother, all born at one birth, all as like as camels. What can one say ? It is a miracle, perhaps ! "

" They are not brothers, neither do they in aught resemble one another," said Shems-ud-din, much aggrieved. " They are my good friends. Howbeit, to please thee, I will sell my donkey and buy me a good horse before we ride together."

" That is well. For didst thou come riding upon an ass, attended by three old men with but one face between them, I should know thee for a wizard and depart quickly."

With that Milhem went off, chuckling; leaving 18 his brother, crestfallen and mystified, to find his own way to the khan of Ahmed Effendi.

Milhem's words proved true. Shems-ud-din found himself in high request among the erudite of Damashc-esh-Sham. During the weeks spent there, he was constantly visiting and being visited; twice was he called upon to preach in the great mosque ; and a general meeting of the doctors was convened on purpose to debate with him upon certain knotty questions of religious law. To his vast surprise, Milhem attended him everywhere, lending a disciple's ear to his disquisitions, and treating him in public with a new respect. In private, he condescended to explain :

" O my dear, it is well for one like me to secure the good word of these reverend ones; who, as a rule, hate the government and its servants. I would have them perceive that I am not irreligious in the likeness of other officials. And I thank Allah for thy great holiness, O my brother! "

" Call me not holy! " cried Shems-ud-din in horror. " There is none holy save God alone. I give thanks for thy goodness, O light of my eyes! Very kind hast thou been to me these last days. Nevertheless, I shall rejoice when we ride out from hence. It tires me, all this honor undeserved. My head aches with the burden of it."

At length came the morn when Milhem rode forth from that city at the head of a hundred armed horsemen. Certain of the notables of Esh-Sham bore him company a part of the way, and many of the learned paid the like compliment to Shems-ud-din, who cut no mean figure in the cavalcade, mounted as he was upon a coal-black charger, richly caparisoned with housings of gold and scarlet and light blue. Out through the orchards they pranced in the cool of morning, and peasants at work among the trees stood idle a space to admire their bravery. Anon the orchards gave place to vineyards, the vineyards in turn fell away, and the desert rolled out before them, smooth and bare. Then, a halt being called, the promenaders from the city took leave of the serious wayfarers.

" It is the pilgrim's road. You face the kibleh ! " one called to Shems-ud-din. " Allah hold you in safe keeping! "

Shems-ud-din rode beside Milhem at the head of his retinue. Their way led straight across the brown waste — a track a mile wide marked by the horde of pilgrims wending yearly to Mekka. Here and there, upon the sky line, rose a wave of faint blue mountain. The sun shone hot on their left cheeks.

Milhem was in high spirits. Ever and anon he 20 turned in the saddle to gaze with pride upon his suite, who rode at ease, smoking cigarettes, talking and laughing lightly together.

"Art thou happy? " asked Shems-ud-din.

" Very happy. Praise be to Allah who has freed my hand at last. I have not known such elation since the day when the Muscovites fled from before Silistria."

" Silistria ! Wast thou really there ? I have not heard thee speak of it. The story, I beseech thee."

" I speak but of the joy felt by all believers when the place was relieved. I was not of the heroes."

" But thou thyself hast done brave deeds, O my brother?"

" Yes, surely," said Milhem; and he proceeded to recount a few of them.

That night, in a pavilion pitched on the open plain, the guards lying upon the ground without, around their watch fires, Shems-ud-din could not sleep for the wonder of those tales. Himself a timid man, he loved to hear of wild encounters. He strove to place himself in some of the perils braved by Milhem, and thought he would have died of fright.

There seemed no end to Milhem's strange adventures. On the morrow he remembered more of them, which he told with a wealth of homely circumstance which enabled Shems-ud-dm to witness all he heard. For the listener, those long marches passed as the Thousand and One Nights must have passed for King Shahriar.

They left the plain and entered a land of rocks, where the horses picked their own way gingerly. Here progress was, perforce, much slower. At length, after noon of the fourth day, he reached a height whence, their guide informed them, they could catch sight of their destination. Immediately a dispute arose among the soldiery, some vowing they could see a fine city plainly, while others as positively asserted that there was nothing of the sort within view. Milhem made use of his field glass, a marvel he loved to display, then handed it to his brother. At first Shems-ud-din could see nothing; but suddenly he became aware of rocks, and houses like to rocks, of monstrous ruins and a few poor fig trees, the whole presented in a rainbow light not of earth.

" A sweet, a charming place I " said Milhem bitterly.

They descended a rough slope to a ravine, which led on to other ravines ; so that more than three hours elapsed ere they again beheld the little town, this time close at hand. A motley crowd of men occupied a hillock at the entering in of the place, above the thrashing floors. At sight of the horsemen this crowd broke in a trice and ran helter-skelter down the hill to meet them. There appeared some strife among the runners, each trying by every means to retard a neighbor. Some were knocked down; some rolled together, struggling among the rocks.

" Allah have mercy ! Behold, trouble already ! A feud, if I mistake not," said Milhem, as he watched the race. He spoke a word to the chief of the soldiers, who repeated it in a louder tone. The troop pulled up, smartly, on the alert.