The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-12-27

FROM "sKErcHEs or PERSIA"

crafty ana acute people on EARN, ana OF
ten supply the want Of courage by their
address. An inhabitant Of that city was
once compelled to travel alone and at
night through the dreadful Valley Of the
AngeE Of Death, where the Ghools as
suIne any shape they please, in order to
lure men to their destruction. He was q
man Of ready Wit and fond Of adventures,
and though no lion, had great confidence
in his cunning, which had brought him
through a hundred scrapes and perils,
that would have embarrassed or destroyed
your simple man of valor.
This man, whose name was Ameen
Beg, had heard many stories OF the
(ShoniSH 5P7 tboogtx 4 & - :, - ."':ats q
meet one he prepared accordingly. by
putting an egg and lump Of salt in his
pocket. lie bad not gone far amid the
rocks, when he heard q voice crying,
Holloa, Ameen Beg Istahanee! you are
going the wrong road you win lOoso
yourself; come this way; l am yoog
friend Kerreem Beg; know your father,
old Kerbela Beg, and the street in which
you were born" Ameen knew well the
power the Ghools had Of assuming the
shape of any person they choose and he
also knew their skill as genealogists, and
their knowledge Of towns as well as fam
lilies; he had, therefore, but little doubt
that this was one OF those creatures al.
Turing him to destruction. He, however,
determined to encounter him, and trust
to his art for his escape.
"Stop, my friend, TILL come near you,
was his reply, When Ameen came close
to the Ghool, he said: "You are not
my friend Kerreem, you are lying de-
mon but you are just the being desir-
ed to meet. | have tried my strength
against all men and all the beasts which
exist in the natural world, and ! can find
nothing that is match for me. Icame,
therefore, to this valley, in the hope ol
encountering Ghool, that might prove
my powers upon him.
The 0hoOl, astonished at being address
cd in this manner, looked keenly ut him,
and said, "Son Of Adam, you do not
appear so strong" Appearances are
deccitful," replied Ameen; but l will
give you proof Of my strength. There,
said he, picking up stone from rivu.
let, "lhis contains fluid try if you can
50 squeeze it that it will flow out" The
Ghool took the stone, but after a short at.
tempt, returned II, saying, "Thc thing
is impossible" "Quite easy" said the
TSfahance, taking the stone and placing il
in the hand in which he had before put
the egg, "look there" and the astonish
cd Ghool, while he heard what he took
for the breaking Of the stone, saw The
liquid run from between Ameen's fingers
and this apparently without any effort.
Ameen, aided by the darkness, PLACED
the stone upon the ground while he pick
cd up another off darker hue. This,
said he, contains salt. as you will fine
if you can crumble it between your fin
gers" But the Ghool, looking at it, con
fesScd he had neither knowledge to dis
cover its qualities, nor strength to break
it. "Give it to me-" said his companion
impatiently, and having put it into the
same hand with the piece of salt, he in.
stantly gave the latter, all crushed to the
Ghool who, seeing it reduced to powder,
tasted it and remained in stupid astonish,
ment at the skill and strength of this
wonderful man. Neither was he without
alarm lest his strength should be exerted
against himself; and he saw no safety in
resorting to the shape of beast, for
Amcen had warned him that if he com.
menced any such unfair dealing he would
instantly slay him; for GhooiS, though
lOng-lived. are not immortal.
Under such circumstances, he thought
his best pan was to cenciliate the friend
ship Of his new companion till he found
an opportunity for destroying him.
"Most wonderful man" he said, "wil
you honor my abode with your presence!
1t is quite at hand; there you will find
every refreshment; and, after a comfor.
table nights rest, you can resume your
journey"
81 have no objection, friend Ghool, to
accept your offer but, mark the, am,
in the first place, very passionate, and
must not be provoked by any expressions
which are in the least disrespectful and
in the second, l am full of penetration
and can see through your designs as
clearly rs l saw into that hard stone in
which l discovered salt; so take care
th0S w CutCl tOlO Sk1bb AtO WIChCu,
or you shall suffer-"
The Ghool declared that the ears of his
guest should be panied by no expression
to which it did not befit his dignity to
listen and he swore by the head of his
liege lord, the Angel of Death, that he
would faithfully respect the right of hos
pitality and friendship.
Thus satisfied, Ameen followed the
Ghool through number Of crooked
pathes, ragged cliffs and deep ravines, till
they came to large cave, which was
d!mly lighted.
Here" said the Ghool, al dwell
and here my friend will find all he can
want for refreshment and repose. So
saying, he led him to various apartments,
in which were boarded every species OF
grain and oil kinds of merchandise, plum
dered from travellers who had been de-
luded to his den, and of whose fate
Ameen was too we'll informed by the
bones over which he now and then STUN
bled, and by the putrid smell produced
by some half.consnmed carcasscs.
"This will be sufficient for your sup
PSI1 hOpCI Shiu Iuc OuOOI,- LuhlnR up
great bag of rice; "a man of your
prowess must have tolerable appetite. "
True" said Amcen; "but / ate q
sheep, and as much rice as you have
there, before proceeded on my Journey.
| am consequently not hungry but
will take little least offend your kind
hospitality"
81 must boil it for you," said the de-
mon; "you do not eat grain and meat
raw as we do. Here is kettle" said
he, taking up one lying among the plum
dered property -! will 60 and get
wood for a fire, while you fetch water
with that" pointing to bag made of the
hides of six oxen:
Ameen waited till he saw his host
leave the cave for the wood, and then
with great difficulty be dragged the enOr-
nous bag to the bank of q dark stream
which issued from the rocks at the