German Novelist KarlMay’s 1907/1908,  Schamah [Wisdom’sForgivingLight]

Travel Tales in thePromised Land (Palestine)

Translator:  James D. Schoonover,MA, M.Ed., c. 2008, USA

Schamah, Reiseerzaehlungaus dem Gelobten Lande, von Karl May (c.1907/1908)

http://karlmay.leo.org/kmg/primlit/erzaehl/reise/schamah/index.htm

        As soon as they step into my house and see my strangecollection of travel keepsakes, all visitors’ eyes are drawnto the Arabian saddle, which actually deserves credit as theinspiration and author of this story. It has Oriental-red velvet,richly decorated with gold embroidery. This Pasha saddle was fitfor a tribal Turkish chieftain, having comfortable stirrups and anaccompanying dreadful bit that could conquer the stubbornresistance of even the mightiest horse.

        My magnificent saddle was a present from Mustafa [Mohammed]Bustani, a wealthy merchant and friend who worked equally well withArabs and Jews. His shop is on the right hand side of theMarketplace El Bizar, along the way to the third most sacredIslamic mosque, Harem Esh Sheriff, where the Israelite KingSolomon’s Temple earlier stood. Try to understand the natureof Judaraber, these Arabs of the Holy Land who now liveside-by-side with Jews. Little by little, they have given up theirhanded down-hatred against Hebrews, for they share the strict OldTestament views of “God’s Chosen People.” In thisway, Judaraber are more inclined to think like Semites andless like those in Christendom.

        With these Muslims, it is no more of a disgrace to become aChristian as to convert to Judaism. Anyway, this unique perspectiveonly concerns inner opinions; especially regarding personal mattersor simple business transactions, this peculiar outlook has hardlyany influence. So, I was Mustafa Bustanis’ friend, in spiteof religious differences, just because we liked each other. When Ibought things in Jerusalem, I purchased solely from him wheneverpossible. I preferred to deal with him, not only as a merchant, butmuch more as a good human being. He too knew this truth, and herepaid me through our friendship’s deep affection. I feltthat I possessed his complete trust and confidence.

        I often stopped by his store, even if I had no particular reason tobuy something. For many hours, we sat beside each other, recliningagainst a broad, Persian carpet-covered crate as we endlessly drankcoffee that his A

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