BERBERS FOLKTALES

BEDDOU

Two men, one of whom was named Beddou and the other Amkammel, went to market bearing a basket of figs. They met a man who was working, and said to him:

"God assist you!"

"Amen!" he answered. One of them wanted to wash himself, but there was no water. The laborer, him who was with him (sic), said, "What is your name?"

"Beddou."

"By the Lord, Beddou, watch my oxen while I go to drink."

"Go!"

When he had gone, he took away one of the oxen. On his return the laborer saw that one was missing. He went to the other traveller and asked him:

"By my father, what is your name?"

"Amkammel Ouennidhui" ("The Finisher"), he answered.

"By the Lord, Amkammel Ouennidhui, watch this ox for me while I go look for the one that is gone."

"Go!"

He stole the other one. When the laborer returned he didn't even find the second.

The two thieves went away, taking the oxen.

They killed them to roast them. One drank all the water of the sea, the other all the fresh water, to wash it down.

When they had finished, one stayed there to sleep, the other covered him with ashes.

The former got up to get a drink and the ashes fell on the road. When he came back, the second covered himself with the ox-head. His brother, who had gone to get a drink, was afraid, and ran away.

They divided the other ox to eat it.

The one who had drunk the sea-water now drank fresh water, and the one who had drunk fresh water now drank sea-water.

When they had finished their repast they took up their journey.

They found an old woman who had some money, upon which she was sitting. When they arrived they fought. She arose to separate them.

One of them took her place to pass the night, and pretended that he was dead. The old woman said to him:

"Get up, my son."

He refused. In the evening one of them stole the money, and said to his brother:

"Arise! Let us go!"

They went away to a place where was sleeping the one who had taken the money. The other took away the dirkhems and departed, leaving the first asleep. When he awaked he found nothing. He started in pursuit of the other, and when he arrived he found him dying of illness. The latter had said to his wife, "Bury me." She buried him.

He who had first stolen the money went away. He said, "It is an ox."

"It is I, my friend," he cried. "Praise be to God, my friend! May your days pass in happiness!" Beddou said to him: "Let us go for a hunt."

They went away alone. Beddou added: "I will shave you."

He shaved him, and when he came to the throat he killed him and buried his head. A pomegranate-tree sprang up at this place. One day Beddou found a fruit, which he took to the King. When he arrived he felt that it was heavy. It was a head. The King asked him:

"What is that?"

"A pomegranate."

"We know what you have been doing," said the King, and had his head cut off. My story is finished.

END