IV.D7.CXXIII, OF THE SUDAN 373

CXVI Sheikh Nasir was fond of amusement and play, and very capricious. It is even said that he never touched gold with his hand, excepting on one occasion, when it befel that one of his friends came

to him and told him that he proposed going to the Hegaz ; and Nasir opened his coffer and filled both his hands with gold to give it to the

man, and he intended the man to hold out the flap of his robe so that

he might bestow upon him lavishly; but the man held out [only] his two hands, so Nasir gave him what was in his own hands and no more.

CXVII And many tales are told of his generosity, and it is said that four kings who were all famous for their generosity lived at the same

time, namely Nasir at Sennar, and the Sultan 'Abd el Rahman in

Darfur, and Murad Bey in Egypt, and Ahmad Pasha el Gazar in Syria, and each of the latter three had a larger empire than Nasir.

CXVIII And between him and el Hag Sulayman walad Ahmad existed complete friendship and trust, and when the latter came to him he used to honour him and bestow on him bountiful gifts; and he was, God have mercy on his soul, a man held in honour and respect.

CXIX Nasir continued in residence at Sennar, and Muhammad walad Khamis Abu Rida at el Turfaya, east of Sennar, paying no heed to Nasir but occasionally entering Sennar alone, by night and secretly, to have discourse with his friends, and then leaving it.

CXX Things remained thus for some time, and in 1211^ Nasir

crossed the river with his troops, accompanied by his brother 'Adlan,

to attack Abu Ri'da ; and a fight ensued and Abu Rida was killed and the villages on the east bank were looted and laid waste. But with all his generosity Sheikh Nasir was an oppressor and held not his hand from taking the possessions of true believers, but enriched one man by impoverishing another.

CXXI And in his time the feki Hegazi died of thirst in prison. A number also of the Hadarma were slain by the hand of his brother Husayn. But subsequently he turned upon this brother and seized all the possessions and herds he had.

CXXII In his time, too, died the feki 'Abd el Rahman Abu Zayd, the pious and learned saint, and also that other holy man the feki Muhammad Nur Subr.

CXXIII During the days of his rule, again, the Sultan Hashim

walad 'Isawi and the sons of Sheikh el Amin, supported by Fezara and Beni Gerar, advanced into the Gezira; and Nasir went out

against them and met them near Siru. And they came to terms and all returned to Sennar excepting the Beni Gerar, who went back

1 1796 a.d.