My name is Mallam Alhaji Ibrahim Ilia. I was born seventy five years ago, at a time when a man was a man, and a women were won by those who deserves them. As a youth, my life was wild, and there was nothing I loved better than a good fight, or a hard race on horse back. My parents were wealthy and saw to it that I got nearly everything I wanted at any point in time without question: slaves,gold, horses, merchandise in plenty and the best company at kolan.
As I grew up to become a man,my parents began to lecture to me about taking a wife and having grandchildren for them,and in fact they sent me all the beautiful girls within the famous town wall, but I was not attracted to any of them. I prided myself on being a man, and did not consider it gallant merely to "buy" or " take on" a wife. I wanted something more romantic.
On one fateful Saturday evening, we sat round a fire outside my father's house, talking about brave men of the past, the prospect of the British bringing an army to Kolan, who would oppose them if they did, and what chances we had of beating them back. In the mist of our heated discussion, we heard the clatter of horse's hooves. A company of men cantered up to our gate and rew rein. They were Arab traders from the great desert. With a black splendid turban crowned their heads and their noses were concealed in the dust mask.
"Greetings while you rest!" they hailed.
"You are welcome" I answered with curious eyes. "How is it with you? Can we be of any help to you and your companions?"
"Yes" sneered the leader of the group."You can be of the greatest help, If you are not cowards...."
At the mention of that word "carward", my sword blade flashed out. The firelight, catching against it as I sprang at the speaker's horse, made it glisten dangerously. The great man reared backwards, and, with a simple movement of riding whip,flicked the weapon clean out of my hands, and roared with laughter.
"A brave lad, indeed. Ha, ha! A brave lad. How would you like to win the hand of my daughter Zarah?"
My companions, who had also spring to their feet at the mention of that obnoxious word, paused and regarded my fallen sword with a surprise no less than mine. It was too the first time ever since I had been disarmed by anyone; so easily too and in to the presence of my friends and hero worshippers.
"Get out of here!" I said furiously. "You and your daughter."
"Gently, my young man, lest I make you sorry for your words. How dare you speak like that to Kanemi, prince of the Tuarege?" He looked at me with a piercing glance, and, for a moment, I thought he was deciding to ride me down. But he changed his mind, apparently, and yelled out the order.
"Maji, put Zarah down, and let them see her"
"One of the men, in the rear rode briskly forward,and leaped down,helped another figure down from the same horse.She was clad in white, and her head was bowed. We could not see her face, but it was easy to guess that she was tall, though slight, and her movement suggested to that she had grace and poice.
"Take off the veil" Kanemi snapped angerily.
The slave took off the veil, and there, standing before us in all are glory, she was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. Her face was so radiant and clam that I had a sudden inclination to throw myself on my knees and start worshipping her. Her eyes were down cast, with long lashes. Her lips were slightly parted and though she was not smiling,her teeth glimed in the light of our fire; truly, as beautiful as a woman as I ever imagined in all my wildest dreams.
"She is yours for the winning."
"But how?" I asked.
"That you shall know!"
He gave out another order the the man helped her back into the saddle. "Come to Unguan Kanawa tomorrow at nightfall, and I shall tell you. You would have to pick your fallen sword, and bring it along with you tomorrow, and remember to hold it more firmly.
He laughed tauntingly, turned his horse with a swift gesture, and rode away.
We sat far into the night after he had left, talking about Kenemi's daughter.nobody seemed ever to have heard of the prince of Tuaregs; and as far as Zarah was concerned she was a mysterious princess. So exited was I that I was sorry the prince could not have made our meeting possible that night. It was the most romantic thing that has ever happened to me.