Spirits of Nuhas

Overview

Mohammed enters Nuhas along a stream while carrying the sword supplied by a white-snake relative. He sees its inhabitants without being seen by them. His captive wife explains that the marid who brought her there holds the authority over the city's jinn and has prepared means of binding them. She identifies an iron bar with a ring, an incense vessel and the actions associated with their use. When Mohammed follows her instructions, beings of many forms appear in fear, including some with one eye, some with one arm and some with one leg. These are distinct appearances within the assembled group, rather than one uniform body plan.

The summoned spirits acknowledge Mohammed's commands. He orders them to bind the bride's abductor and bring him back, and the marid soon stands before him with his hands behind his back. After the couple dispose of the prisoner in a copper bottle, Mohammed tells the spirits to carry away valuable and rare objects. He and his wife sit on a couch with the implements and chosen possessions, and the jinn transport the whole company to their house in Bussorah. A joyful reunion and renewed wedding follow. Their coercive service is a plot mechanism of this selected tale, with the wife's knowledge essential to the change of authority.

Origins & earliest records

Steere's preface identifies Mohammed the Languid as a story also present in Arabian Nights. His Swahili version was begun by Mohammed bin Abdallah bin Ali, continued by another Mohammed at p. 160 and, after that contributor died, completed by the first at p. 180. This is a Swahili literary and storytelling witness with acknowledged wider transmission, not a claim of uniquely local invention.

Records & interpretation

The complete supernatural encounter sequence and conclusion, English facing pp. 165-189, read in the bilingual 1870 primary volume. English pp. 185-189 supply invisible entry, the wife's account of authority, varied one-eye/arm/leg forms, capture and homeward transport.

In the literature

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

1. 01

   Swahili Tales - Mohammed the Languid

   Named Mohammed contributors; Edward Steere, collector and translator · 1870

   English pp. 185-189 supply invisible entry, the wife's account of authority, varied one-eye/arm/leg forms, capture and homeward transport. Contributor sequence in preface pp. ix-x; Arabian Nights comparison in opening preface.

2. 02

   Swahili Tales, as Told by Natives of Zanzibar — Mohammed the Languid

   Mohammed bin Abdallah bin Ali, initial contributor; another Mohammed, continuation160–180; Mohammed bin Abdallah, completion; Edward Steere, compiler and translator · 1870

   London: Bell & Daldy,1870, actual title-page OCR. Complete selected Mohammed the Languid, title149, English151–189 with facing Swahili placement, independently read; relevant prefacev–x read. Prefaceix explicitly identifies changing contributors at160 and180 and calls this an Arabic-story rendering; no independently inspected Arabic original or whole-volume claim.

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.

Located primary passages

Specific passages supporting details in this entry, grouped by their published witness.

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

1. Digitized primary collected narrative and literary transmission witnessSteere 1870 - Mohammed the LanguidResearch access: 2026-10-05
2. Primary text transcriptionMohammed the Languid transcriptionResearch access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

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