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Overview
Feigen-Ali plants a fig tree and threatens to feed it to his uncles’ camels if it does not grow. It grows by morning, and another threat produces fruit by the next day. From its branches he offers figs to passing herders, drawing the attention of a witch. He fears being eaten, but she repeatedly promises not to do so. She rejects figs falling to the ground, into her basket and into her hand, finally requesting that he pass one directly with his red-coloured hand. Gaining this access, she catches him and puts him in her basket despite his protest that the promise was deceitful.
Seeing camels along the road, she temporarily lets him out. He fills her basket with stones and puts a lizard at its opening; when she looks inside, the animal strikes her eye. She pursues him angrily, recaptures him and takes him home before leaving for firewood. The boy kills her daughters while pretending to shave them, cooks them and dresses in one daughter’s clothes. Returning, the witch asks whether he has been cooked and accepts the disguised reply. She eats the contents of the dish, after which Ali tells her that she has consumed her own daughters. She recognises parts belonging to Aischa and Fatima; he escapes after the meal. The account ends with his flight, rather than the witch’s death. Stumme titles the piece a true story, but that heading is kept as literary framing rather than independent corroboration.
Origins & earliest records
Hans Stumme, Märchen der Schluḥ von Tázerwalt (Leipzig, 1895), tale 23, Eine wahrhaftige Geschichte: complete German pp. 177–178. Abdulla Ben Mhammed, dictating contributor; collection context Preface v–vi.
Records & interpretation
Complete German tale 23 and adjacent explanatory notes read through the narrated ending. This is a named-contributor collected witness; narrator claims and literary title are not treated as independent verification of historical events.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Märchen der Schluḥ von Tázerwalt
Tale 23: whole German pp. 177–178; contributor/collection Preface v–vi.
Family & connections
A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Primary collected narrative with German translation and contextual notesOriginal bilingual collection: Eine wahrhaftige GeschichteResearch access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
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