Sudan Archive

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Like lightning, and fire came out of its belly, and it swallowed the two bulls and returned to its appointment. Alexander ordered them to make for it two more on the second day, and on the third day, the same. Its hunger intensified, so Alexander ordered two great bulls. Their hides were flayed, and their skins were stuffed with pitch, sulfur, lime, and arsenic, and placed in that known spot. The Natin would come out to them as usual, swallow them, and go away. Those things churned in its belly. When it felt its desire, and he had placed in those mixtures iron hooks, so that it would pull them out of its belly, the hooks got tangled in its throat. It fell down, and opened its mouth to breathe. Alexander then ordered fire to be lit, and the iron was pulled out. It was carried on iron planks and thrown into the Natin's throat. The mixtures in its belly ignited, and it died. And God relieved the people of that island, and they thanked Alexander and honored him and brought him the strangest things they had. Among the rarities they brought him was an animal like a rabbit, whose fur shone like gold in a hole, called a Faraj. It had one black horn on its head, and when the black lion, wild beasts, and any wild animal saw it, they would flee from it. In this sea, there is also the island of Qalhan, inhabited by a people different from other people. Their heads are like those of animals. They dive into the sea and bring up whatever sea creatures they can catch and eat them. In this sea, there is also the island of the two sorcerer brothers, one named Sharham and the other Sharram. It is said that they were on this island, waylaying passing ships, destroying them and all their inhabitants, and taking their possessions. So God transformed them into two standing stones on the seashore as punishment for their evil deeds. This island was then passed by the people.

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