THE TUAREGS 205 surrounding them before they were fully awake, embraced them.

" In the morning the women returned to the village.

" When a few moons had risen and died (that is to say, when a few months had passed), the men of the village saw that the women were about to become mothers.

" The chief of the village therefore cried, * Seize them and put them to death ! * " But the cadi replied, * No, let us wait until the children are born.'

" So they waited until nine moons had risen and died, when each woman gave birth to a boy.

" Some men said, * Now let us kill the mothers and the children.'

" The cadi replied, * No, let us wait till they are older, none but God can create a soul.'

" So they waited.

" The boys grew, and as time went on fought with the other children of the village ; and they made for themselves weapons of iron, swords and daggers, such as had hitherto been unknown in the country.

" The chiefs then said, * If we do not put them to death these boys will become our masters. Let us kill them at once, before they come to their full strength.'

" To which every one replied, * Yes, yes ! you are right ! ' " They then sent a messenger to call the uncles of the young fellows, and said to them, *What we wish is that you should kill your nephews, and if you do not we will kill you.' " To this the uncles answered, * We have no wish but to comply with your demand, but we do not know how to put to death our nearest relations. You take our weapons and do with them what you will.'