THE WIVES OF BARAK HAGEB.

Western Star, Issue 1300, 27 March 1897, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE WIVES OF BARAK HAGEB.

There were three hundred and sixty-five of them ! One for every day in the year. Nevertheless, Barak was not a Sultan; he was hageb—that is. upper chamberlain—at the Court of the Sultan Mohammed. He had come to the country as Ambassador of the great Mongolian Kingdom, and the widow of the late Sultan, yet young and pretty, had given him the management of her household, her son Mohammed being still a child. Barak's administration was good; the Army owed to him, among other reforms, the raising of th» pay of the soldiers from three to four sispers. The number three, Hageb claimed, was holy, because there were three prophets. One day the Grand Vizier, Darfur AH, visited the upright Hageb, and while the two drank coffee the guest began : " Truly, Barak Hageb, it is a folly unworthy of you to keep so many wives. If it was with us as the Franks, the custom to give wives, you might then be as rich as King Sapor ; but here yon must not only buy your wife, but must pay cash for her. Now you have squandered a great deal of gold for this purpose, and when your money is spent, what have you ? For the cost of one wife you could keep a hundred soldiers."

Barak stroked his beard. "No doubt, but a hundred soldiers would not give me as much pleasure as one pretty wife." To this Ali inwardly agreed. " But the number."

" One should pick as many flowers ,as he can from the world's garden, returned Barak. "True enough, you have blonde and brunette, white and black, blue-eyei and grey-eyed women, yellow Chinese, and brown Malay—yes, and even those women that colour their hair red and their teeth black. Now I think that one of each tort should be enough. By Allah! you have so many that you cannot remember either their names or their special good qualities." "Don't you believe it," said Hageb ; "I will show you. First, then, there is JedibaS, who can prophesy—we need her to tell the fate of the nation ; then Hajitem, the, medium, who calls up the spirits of the dead ; Nourmahal, who understands the language of the birds better than 1 do yours; Alpaide tells stories that would put a Sultan to sleep ; Mkhadevi and Assainta are famous for a pas de deux. The great thing about Mangora is that she makes a Sultan's bread that is exquisite. Sandabad concocts a wonderful sherbet, after which you wash your beard with regret. Of Bia-Hia, my Chinese better half, I will only say that she translates the expressions of cockscombs, which makes cockfighting much more amusing. The Indian Kacka, subdues wild animals, and even bitches lions to her carriage. Roxana is the star-reader, and can foretell to you the day of your death. Ayesha understands the culture of flowers, Kaika is ugly, but she rubs the rheumatism out of my joints. My Tartar, Yarko, is an admirable equestrienne, and teaches my other wives to ride; while the learned Abuzaide writis my letters iroin dictation. Josa reads to me from the Koran, Rachel sings psslmii, and is accompanied by Kadagival and Samuza; for one must have a trio. Jakima is a rope-dancer, whileZibella throws a knife so skilfully that she can split a hair at twelve paces. Borassa knows all about the healing art. Albien embroiders in gold. Aliciel arranges my turban most becomingly. Bagdad Chatnm interprets dreams. Mavola plays the harp, Zebia the tom-tom, and Kia the tambourine, and altogether they make heavenly music, Znl *' " Good, good," interrupted the Grand Vizier. He had kept count, first on his fingers, and when these gave out, on his toes. When the number exceeded thirty he grew alarmed; he feared bis friend would keep on all uighfc. "I have heard enough, you need every one of them each has evidently her famous side. Take care, lest some day you discover an infamous one."

Whether the Grand Vizier was right or not the following story will show : The Sultan of Kermau, Sidi Achmed, hearing Mohammed's peopln were discontented, decided to liberate them from their oppression. To alleviate the sufferings, of his neighbours has always been a labour of lo<Pe to Oriental rulers. Sidi Achrasd commanded an immense army. Some Persian historians say be had ten thousand soldiers; others insist that he had cue hundred thousand; the truth probably lay somewhere between the two. Certain it is that ho had three hundred cavalrymen. Before declaring war he raised the pay of the troops from four to five aapers. This naturally caused universal enthusiasm.

Sidi Achmed was at the head of the Army, himself and his horse loaded with precious stones. T-he sight of them caused a glow of righteous pride in every barefooted warrior who turned out. The Sultan took with him the most costly delicacies, and the thought*that the Sultan fared sumptuously went far to cheer the hungry soldiers. Mohammed had also an enormous standing army. As to its exact number history is silent; but it is always given as. twice as many as the enemy's force. The Grand Vizier, Darfur Ali was appointed commander. The night before the first battle, one of Barak's wives, the Jedibah, of whom we have already heard, prophesied that the neighbouring kingdom would be destroyed ; and Roxana, who also dabbled in .fortune-telling, predicted that oo Ihe next day Sidi Achmed Would, die. These predictions were made public in the principal city, and there was in consequence universal enthusiasm.

Barak,himself was fjrmly convinced that both would be fulfilled ; and he and bis entire fol lowing of women occupied the next day a hill in the neighbourhood of the battlefield iu order to enjoy from that coign of vantage the amusing spectacle of the downfall of the enemy. The battle began early in the morning, but it did not last long. In describing it the historians again differ widely. The Persian cle says the army of Mohammed lost forty-five thousand men, while the enemy-lost but three. Another writer states that the army of Mohammed did not lose a man, while the oppouent lost, thirty-three thousand". Perhaps in this case also the real truth lies half-way between the two statements. All agree that the army of Mohammed speedily gave leg-bail aud proved that no one could catch them. .

The followers of Sidi Achmed, finding themselves victors, made it their first care to plunder the village in the neighbourhood, as being the best way of freeing the people. "By the beard of the Prophet!" cried Barak Hagcd, seeiug the flight of his soldiery, " I almost think Jedibah's prophecy is not going to be fulfilled. On the contrary, our own country appears to be lost."

" Have patience," murmured the prophetess, consolingly ; " the sun has not yet sunk into the sea. : '

The observation being just. Barak philosophised no more, but spurred his horse ond with his spouses souglit saftty in flight.

Sidi Achmed had heard of Barak's wealth and of his wives, and so soon as he was informed of the flight he bastur.ed in pursuit. Until late in (he afternoon two dust-clonds might be seen, one chasing the other; the one beaten up by Bar«k Hageb and his wives, tho other by the troopers of Sidi Achmed. "By the hely apron of the Prophet's wife,'" growled Barak, '-Rpxana's prognostication likewise fails to be fulfilled. I shall be the dead man to-day, and not Sidi Achmed.'"

" The stars are not yet visible," replied the white Roxana. " There near yonder pond we will take rest. You may take your evening bath and pray : let the rest be our care." In the meantime the women were not idle. When Barak returned from his evening devotions he found, instead of his pious family of wives, an army of bearded troopers. Greit at firso was his fright, for the warriors were of fearful aspect. The women had cut off the manes and tails of their horses', and had made themselves false beards. From a neighbouring grove they had cut bamboo canes, to the ends of which they attached their dainty daggers, making thereby elegant lances. Yarko, the Tartar, and Zibella, the ludian, commanded the gentle cavalry. The troops were divided into three divisions. Sidi Achmed came on in wild haste ; as soon, however, as he saw these warriors, whose long beards swept down to their stirrups, his heart sank into his wide breeches. At once a portly hero rode up to him, calling him to come forth tosingle combat. Th's was Zibella, so expert with the knife. The very first throw of her lance killed Sidi Acbmed.

Under the guidance ,of the Tartar, Yarko, the other amazons now pressed upon the enemy. The troopers of Sidi Achmed were but lukewarm. I'i.e pennies is a nice sum; but it hardly pays for a hole in one'j sido. Bach of these fellows, therefore, took his shield upon his back, and., turning that quarter to the enemy, fled as fast as his feet could could carry him ; and as they went the roared —

"The Tartars are coming! The Barbarians are behind us! Ten thousand—twenty thousand—one hundred thousand horsemen, have come to the relief of Barak Hageb! Save himself who can. The Turks shoot with lightning." "Now you see the fulfilment of my prediction," said Roxana, turning to Barak Hageb.

"And mine will be fulfilled too," added Jedibah, "for the kingdom of our enemy, will go to pieces. Let us hasten to Kermau."

The head of the Sultan was struck from his body and stuck on the point of a lance. With this token of triumph the party pressed on to Kermau. Hour by hour their following increased ; the run-away soldiers came from their lurking places and joined the expedition, so that at last an immense army passed over the frontier of the country. The city gates were cheerfully opeued, for now everybody knew that Sidi Achmed was a tyrant; while Barak Hageb was praised as the liberator of the nation, and was finally asked to be its Sultan. Barak Hageb assembled his wives and said to them :

" Glorious women, I thank you for my life. Yes, I have more to tbank you for : my fame and my kingdom. Name, then, the reward you desire ; I swear by Allah to };raut it."

Then came forward the smooth Zibella, and spoke: " O great Sultan, we do, indeed, deserve a reward, for we fought for you like mien. We ask nothing small, therefore we ask for freedom, and our desire is that all the women in your kingdom shall be as free as men."

Barak Hakeb was touched, very much touched ;he shed tears, Then he said :

" You ask for something unheafd off —something that has never yet been. Yet it must be, for I have sworn. In Kerman, from this time forth, woman is as free as man, and the wives of Baeak Hageb may proclaim that they have gained their freedom by their own personal efforts.''

And so the new Sultan won the hearts of his people, and even in the neighbouring realms his fame increased.

All the Sultans around claimed his friendship and solicited his kinship.

The makers of marriages besieged his house; even the Sultan Mohnmrned, at whose Court Barak had once been ambassador, offered him bisters and cousins.

To him Barak replied, " I choose neither your sisters, uor yet your cousins, for I want not frivolity, but rather wisdom., If you really desire to- be kinsman of mine give mo for wife —your mother.'' And so it happened.

After having had three hundred and sixtyfive wives ho contented himself with one, and found her enough.—From the " Hungarian of Maurus Jokai."