Teaching King of the Spirits

Overview

A sheikh is teaching two pupils when a spirit seizes one after a dish of couscous and meat is brought for him. In the other place the child receives instruction. When he cries for his father and mother, the king of the spirits asks his own children who will return him. A son volunteers, and the king orders that the boy’s ears be stopped with wool so he will not hear the angels worshipping. The precaution fails: the pupil hears and joins their worship, whereupon his guide drops him. He remains unconscious for three days.

Waking, the boy travels among strange sights: a sleeping dog whose unborn young bark inside her, an ass attacked by flies, a blue bird moving and singing between two trees, and a white-water fountain with a silver bottom and gold vault. He also sees a man standing silently for three days and a divinely protected city. A wise man interprets these sights, including the two-tree bird as a man with two wives and the fountain as water of life. These explanations belong to the wise man’s interpretation, rather than extra powers attributed to the spirit king.

The boy again asks to be sent to his parents. The wise man sees a light cloud and tells it to carry this human creature to Egypt. The cloud takes him home. Thus the king’s son initiates a failed journey, while a separate wise man and obedient cloud complete the return. The narrative provides no personal name for the king and does not identify him as Solomon, even though Solomon appears in neighboring stories.

Origins & earliest records

René Basset, Contes populaires berbères (Paris, 1887), no. 31, complete pp. 64–66. Original note 62, printed p. 172, identifies Bibliothèque nationale fonds berbère manuscript no. 17; Preface xiii describes the Rivière and missionary collection.

Records & interpretation

Entire French narrative inspected in original facsimile DjVu pages 102–104, printed pp. 64–66. Preface xiii–xiv and applicable notes inspected as indicated; endings and changes of narrative agent retained.

Selected bibliography

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

1. 01

   Contes populaires berbères

   René Basset, translator and editor; contributor and manuscript context identified separately · 1887

   No. 31, complete pp. 64–66. Original note 62, printed p. 172, identifies Bibliothèque nationale fonds berbère manuscript no. 17; Preface xiii describes the Rivière and missionary collection.

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References

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1. Primary collected narrative; original facsimile inspectedOriginal edition, complete narrative 31Research access: 2026-10-05

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