New-York tribune., 1899-07-23
THE DERVISH STORY TELLER
MINGLED EMOTIONS IN A CARAvANsERAI
AT THE TALE OF RUsTUM

From The London Post
While we were drinking the steaming beverage
we became aware OF q voice crying in the desert
below. That the naib Of the caravanserai was
venting his spleen on his underngs was our
hrSt guess at the strident din and we stuck fast
TO the conjecture until the names Of Zal Rus
tufn, SOhrab and Ruksh left room for no other
thought than That we We're listening to a recita-
ton by some wandering Dervish story teller Of
the tragic fate Of Sohrab. whom his mighty
father Rustum slew in ignorance Now the re-
clter spoke in the voice Of the valiant son. now
he Numbered in the terrific tones OF the terrible
sire. but when he fell on a sudden 90 neighns in
the likeness of Ruksh the immortal war horse
Of the Persian Hercules. there We're two per
sons, but only two, who burst out laughing
friend and I.
Leaping 70 our feet we bestrode the parapet
Of the roof and watched what proved 10 be a
picturesque scene Of Persian life and character.
The coming Of the Dervish story teller 20 Agha
Baba had attracted to the caraVanserai every
soul in the neighborhOod save only the women
folk. The arched inches, crowded with the elite.
might be described the dress circle of the rus
tic theatre. There sat. in the most conspicuous
niche Of all, the COurtly figure of the naib OF
the caravanserai. in whose kolah Of black lamb
skin glistened the emblem of the Lion and the
sun. Around him were grouped the groOns and
pOstbOys in their yellow jenkins and brimless
felt hats. In the other inches a couple Of mule
teers were lingering their money bags medi-
tatiVely; and a camel driver, brOnZed and
weather beaten was examining his mouth full OF
stale bread in thin sheets using each hand in
turn by way Of a ramrOd. And out in the plain
a row Of peasants. fresh from the fields. Of a
critical cast Of COUntenanCe and an economical
turn Of mind. were leaning gracefully on their
tall spades in their long blue smOcks and baggy
blue trousers. Every eye was turned on the
Dervish in the centre who addressed his thrill
ing story now 70 the men in the inches and anon
to the critics in the plain.
Save the blue turban on his head and the green
sash about his waist. he dressed all in
flowing white TO the gfvahs on his feet In
voice toned TO wiring pishkesh from an Armenian
or a Greek, the bearded DerviSh rose 20 the
height Of his argument when he fell 70 reciting
Rustums anguish OF soul what time that terri
bic man came 10 recognize his only son by the
seal in guse Of a griffin pricked on Sohrab's arm
The effect on the audience Of this hstriOnic dis
play was an eloquent commentary on PERSIAN
character in the raw. The nAib Of the caravan
serai wrought 20 loosen the strings of his purse.
relented slowly Of his non-ofticial generosity and
gave the bag a shake by way Of round or ap-
plause ere he shed a sympathetic tear in tribute
10 Sohrabs untimely death. mueteer, scarce
less moved. putting his hand into his money bag
drew out a copper coin. turned II over slowly
eyed the Dervish with moist eyes, then rest"r-
ing the coin TO its place OF safety thrust the Dag
into his pocket The other muleteer followed
suit Then a sigh Of relief arose over the luml-
nous plain. Only the peasants remained CAIN
greeting the narrative Of Rustums despair with
derisiye cries Of "Ajab" (wonderfuD. PohdeF-
ing as 10 how many signs and tears IN a Fer ,
and threw the Dervish a couple Of humans IN
silver coins He did not pick up the money al
once. He rather stayed 10 relate how Rustum'
having rnourned his sons death, laid him IN the
fruitful earth and "heaped stately MOUND
above his bones and planted over all far-seeh
pillar" -. H..
Then stooping 70 the silver coins in the dust
no rose again in his wrath and fell on those Per
siaps with the whips Of a righteous indignation
that they should learn a lesson IN geherosi'y
from the unclean Feringhis. whose ldthers Hdu
49, burned in the lowest hell. The men IN me
,,icbas scattering ike chaf in the breath or the
,,.ird came back laden with sheets of Dredu'
,,.Licb +ba,- laid at the feet OF the DerNish buI
tba ,easants murmured and said; 10 We SOW DIV
tho God that thou shOuldst reap the gram
Ard tho Dervish not a whit appeased ny O'e O
offarinp asked for more. Bread Il s''u
eaid hut What l. bread without eggs anu " nc"
-, cqps without tea9' When these thih5s Ia
hoa, brought TO him he opened MS Hou'H a''4
oi5. "T4ere indeed is food for one person pul
1youId We that a father should "a. nIa '.l -
~ sar vent hungry to bed? what ye nave
iS liia - me Give We in like measure to my SON
-, is a,en now in the caravanserai ana llr"
49, - ein,, 10 YOU in a voice so sweet ana 50
au,,rire that the very nightngales VIII ,o'lIT & ~
..tia -, his head" And the men IN the hlChe9
oto,.sd' after which the son, mere 7tlpAnS'
ca,ne out and sang his plaintlVe song III d 80
tjII and 60 strident that the very pros -.
~ air sought refuge in flight lhth H.S"' lVl'
st,,-I,, over the solemn waste. anu lir S''ii9'
iy +bair hacks on the sun whom thelr an
csstnrs had worshipped, fell on the4t hn-ea d"
..a- nd bo,yed their foreheads TO the dust.
NE DISPOSED or THE BOON.