and turned them towards it and wanted to arrest them, but they escaped with great effort and difficulty. I said, "And when the scholars were granted security, it was in imitation of some of the nobles in Darfur. The aforementioned Sultan Tirab made a feast for his guests. When the food was brought, he ordered it to be prepared so that he could see which food was best. The food prepared by Abakri, his concubine, and Kashter Ghani pleased him, so he ordered it for the scholars. But she refused and said, 'Am I here with you to give food to the sheikhs and other food to the viziers and kings?' He said, 'I only ordered it for the sheikhs as a good deed, so that you may obtain their blessings.' She said, 'Let my food be eaten by the viziers and kings, and I have no need for their blessings.' He said, 'No, by your life, it will not be eaten by anyone but the scholars!' She said, 'No, by your life, the scholars will not eat it,' and she argued with him until he sent for the kings and chose from her food for the scholars. The position of the 'Muwajjah' was invented in Darfur, as they have no profession but begging. They always approach the emirs and burden the people, and the emirs fear them and dislike them because they do not keep secrets. If they are treated well, they will speak ill of them and spread rumors about them in the morning. If someone deprives them, they will criticize him and spread rumors of his criticism. They are like poets: whoever gives them something, they praise him, and whoever denies them, they curse him. Among the positions in Darfur is the position of Abakri, whom we have mentioned before, and the position of Mahbubat, whom we have also mentioned."