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MANUSCRIPTS C 6 (a) and (b)

Introduction

The former of these two Sherifi pedigrees comes from Wad Hasuna, between Khartoum and Abu Delayk, It is alleged that the original was brought from Mekka by a certain el Hag el Sheikh about fifty years ago. This original is in a crabbed but clear hand, written on four small pages. One or two other pages were lost in the Dervish times, but a copy of the whole had previously been taken by Ibrahim el Imam of Wad Hasuna. The copy lent to me for translation was

made five years ago from Ibrahim el Imam's copy. The grammar and the writing are both bad.

The second version of the pedigree appears to be for the most part a mere variant of the first version, attached to the pedigree of a quite different man. It had evidently been written out within recent years by a copyist. It was given to me by an Inspector but he had forgotten from where he had obtained it. Both the nisbas seem quite independent of the A and B groups wherein the author-

ship is generally ascribed to "el Samarkandi." They were probably procured by pilgrims from some soi-disant Sherif at Mekka.

It is noteworthy that whereas the former of the two pedigrees makes the Hasuna family descendants of el Husayn, i.e. Ashraf, and though they are commonly regarded as such by many at present, the author of D 3, writing in the latter half of the eighteenth centur}^, had obviously no suspicion that they were Ashraf at all.

C6{a)

I In the name of God, the Compassionate and Merciful. Praise be to God, and blessings and salutation upon the apostle of God, who revealed that which was in darkness, the Prophet, son of Abdulla, the last and greatest of the prophets, the mediator for sinners, the disperser of clouds [of doubt] , he that made the darkness light : upon him be the blessings of God in every place. Blessings and salutation upon him who revealed that which was in darkness, and all thanks. . .

II This is the pedigree of the children of el Hasan and el Husayn, the sons of Fatima the Glorious, God bless her.

III I will commence with the children of el Husayn.

Among them is el Sayyid Hasan son of el Say}4d Mekki son of el Sayyid Hasan son of el Sayyid Mekki son of el Sayyid Sowar son