cting the rays of the sun, seemed from a distance to be fire: and
when I drew near to it, reflecting upon this sight, there approached me
an old sheikh, accompanied by ten young men who were all blind of one
eye, at which I was extremely surprised. As soon as they saw me, they
saluted me, and asked me my story, which I related to them from first to
last; and they were filled with wonder. They then conducted me into the
palace, where I saw ten benches, upon each of which was a mattress
covered with a blue stuff; and each of the young men seated himself upon
one of these benches, while the sheikh took his place upon a smaller
one; after which they said to me: "Sit down, O young man, and ask no
question respecting our condition, nor respecting our being blind of one
eye." Then the sheikh arose, and brought to each of them some food, and
the same to me also; and next he brought to each of us some wine: and
after we had eaten, we sat drinking together until the time for sleep,
when the young men said to the sheikh: "Bring to us our accustomed
supply"--upon which the sheikh arose, and entered a closet, from which
he brought, upon his head, ten covered trays. Placing these upon the
floor, he lighted ten candles, and stuck one of them upon each tray;
and, having done this, he removed the covers, and there appeared beneath
them ashes mixed with pounded charcoal. The young men then tucked up
their sleeves above the elbow, and blackened their faces, and slapped
their cheeks, exclaiming: "We were reposing at our ease, and our
impertinent curiosity suffered us not to remain so!" Thus they did until
the morning, when the sheikh brought them some hot water, and they
washed their faces, and put on other clothes.

On witnessing this conduct, my reason was confounded, my heart was so
troubled that I forgot my own misfortunes, and I asked them the cause of
their strange behaviour; upon which they looked toward me, and said: "O
young man, ask not respecting that which doth not concern thee; but be
silent; for in silence is security from error." I remained with them a
whole month, during which, every night they did the same, and at length
I said to them: "I conjure you by Allah to remove this disquiet from my
mind, and to inform me of the cause of your acting in this manner, and
of your exclaiming; 'We were reposing at our ease, and our impertinent
curiosity suffered us not to remain so!' if ye inform me not, I will
leave you, and go my way.