These," continued she, pointing to
the dwarfs, "will provide for our wants, for souls so mundane as ours
retain too strong a tincture of their earthly extraction; instead of
meats your food will be nothing but rice, and your bread shall be
moistened in the fogs that brood over the surface of the lake."
At this desolating prospect the poor children burst into tears, and
prostrated themselves before the dwarfs, who perfectly supported their
characters, and delivered an excellent discourse of a customary length
upon the sacred camel, which after a thousand years was to convey them to
the paradise of the faithful.
The sermon being ended, and ablutions performed, they praised Allah and
the Prophet, supped very indifferently, and retired to their withered
leaves. Nouronihar and her little cousin consoled themselves on finding
that, though dead, they yet lay in one cabin. Having slept well before,
the remainder of the night was spent in conversation on what had befallen
them, and both, from a dread of apparitions, betook themselves for
protection to one another's arms.
In the morning, which was lowering and rainy, the dwarfs mounted high
poles like minarets, and called them to prayers; the whole congregation,
which consisted of Sutlememe, Shaban, the four eunuchs, and some storks,
were already assembled.
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