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As told to and by Jane Taylor, Khamsa Salukis

2005, Jane Taylor

Allow me tell you story, a story of sadness and sorrow, a story of delight and joy, a story of a life in a harsh and unforgiving desert... So it begins...

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long time ago, at an oasis not far from here there lived an old Bedouin with his old Arabian war mare, old camel, and a few precious salukis. The mare was old and grey but faithful and loyal to the old Bedouin as an Arabian mare should be. The old camel, well she was an old camel that would still carry his supplies when the old Bedouin needed to travel because it was all she could do as her milk had dried up long ago. The salukis, however, were few in number, just four as five would have been too many and a very bad number to have any way. Of the four salukis there was a red one, a white one, a black one and a blue one. Since blue ones are very rare, and not looked on with much favor, it is an interesting story of how this little blue one came to be with the old Bedouin, but that is a long story, a story for another time and place. So a blue saluki he did have and he had to make due with what he had. The old Bedouin knew the merit of the red one to be swift like an arrow loosed from a bow, he knew the merit of the black one to be quick at the snatching up the hare as it ran near him and he knew the merit of the white one to be endurance beyond measure as she could run with the wind until the hare was out of sight. Just as sure as the white one would be out of the old Bedouins sight, she would return with the hare alive and held gently in her jaws so the old Bedouin could dispatch it. These three went hunting with the old Bedouin almost every morning before the sun rose and they always came back with a hare or two for the stew pot. However, the little blue saluki was left at home for the hunts as the old Bedouin felt that she would be unlucky in the hunt and might spoil the red ones swift flight or make the black one miss the catch or even make the white one not come back after a long run on a hare and besides she was blue and ugly. So at home she stayed waiting and waiting for their return. 1

Now this old Bedouin didnt live in a tent as you might think and as some Bedouin do. He lived in a clay brick house with thick walls to keep the inside cool in the hot summer and warm in the cold winter, with lattice shuttered windows that dappled the sunlight streaming through them during the day. This house also had a wonderful large courtyard with tall clay brick walls, date palms to provided shade during the heat of the day and sweetmeat dates for a treat in the evening. In the center of the courtyard there was a small fountain that gently splashed water fed from the near by oasis into a reflecting pool at its base. It was under the date palms and next to the pool that the little blue saluki waited for the return of the old Bedouin and the other salukis. Every day she would sit and patiently wait watching the sun rise over the edge of the courtyard wall and far up into the sky before they returned. Every day she would greet the hunting party with happy tail wags and smiling lips. Every day she received the same pat on the head from the old Bedouin and the same nose touches from the red, black and white salukis. Every evening the red, black and white salukis would curl up next to the old Bedouin and dream of hunting and every evening the little blue would curl up next to the red, black and white and dream of hunting too hoping she would be able to go along the next morning.

ne morning the old Bedouin and the red, black and white salukis set off for their hunting trip as usual with the old Bedouin telling the little blue saluki as she stood by the door hoping that she could go along this time this, You must stay home again and wait. I will be back with dinner soon enough. With that the old Bedouin opened the blue courtyard door in the tall wall and left for the morning hunt with his old war mare and the red, black and white salukis. When the little blue saluki could no longer hear the hoof beats of the mare, she turned from beside the door and went to settle down in her usual place by the pool to wait for their return. She had just made herself comfortable in her usual place by the pool under the date palms, the place she knew would catch the very first rays of the morning sun to peek over the courtyard wall; She had just started to close her eyes to rest and possibly dream of hunting; She had just sighed a big sigh of comfort to start her dreams when she heard a little sound at the courtyard door. She twitched an ear in the direction of the door and there the sound was again. Not lifting her head, she opened her eyes and looked around. The sun is not yet over the edge of the wall, she thought, it isnt time for everyone to be back, and she heard it again only louder this time. The little blue saluki raised her head and looked toward the door, it was opening. Off like a swift arrow she ran to the back shadows of the courtyard far away from the door. She didnt know who or what it was opening the door and she didnt want to be seen. When she looked toward the door again she saw that it had opened a little more and that a man was quietly stepping through the opening and closing the blue door behind him. This was a man that the little blue saluki had never seen before and she saw that he was looking around the courtyard like he was searching for something he knew must be there. She did not 3

like this, not in the least did she like it. This house and courtyard belonged to the old Bedouin, his red, black, and white saluki, and his old mare and camel. She thought, Maybe this is why he told me to stay here and wait, to guard and protect the house and courtyard. With her mind made up that that was indeed what the old Bedouin wanted her to do she started to circle around the edge of the courtyard in the shadow of the west wall and date palms, always keeping the stranger in sight and being careful not to be seen herself. Quiet as a slight breath of wind across the top of a sand dune she moved around the edge of the courtyard. So quiet that she didnt disturb not even one grain of sand or one leaf on a palm frond. Closer and closer she moved towards the door behind the stranger. Closer and closer she moved to a place where she could bound out towards him from behind barking and snarling and hackles raised and eyes open wide. She was certain that this must be why the old Bedouin had left her behind and now she understood her purpose and what she must do, to guard and protect what belonged to the old Bedouin. So closer and closer she crept into position to strike out like a cobra and make this stranger run away. Finally, she was in position and the stranger had taken a few steps in toward the pool by the fountain and the sun was just starting to peek ever so slightly over the edge of the eastern wall. She stood there like a coiled spring waiting for the right moment to be released. Waiting, waiting, not just yet, waiting and NOW! She sprang forward leaping and bounding toward the stranger, all teeth, claws and noise. Close enough to his hand that the stranger felt her hot breath on his hand but not so close he could touch her or grab her. Tense, tight muscles; snarling curled back lips, gnashing teeth enough to make anyone run full tilt away from the house and courtyard, or so she thought. At the first snarling lunge, at the first intake of her breath to growl the stranger heard the little blue saluki and turned to face her. When the little blue 4

saluki saw the stranger turn she saw his face for only a moment before the sun rose blazing over the edge of the wall behind the stranger blotting out any features that she might have seen. It was in that moment the little blue saluki stopped in her tracks and heard the stranger say. Oh, there you are! I have been looking for you for a long time and I would have thought that you would be out hunting on this fine morning. Does the old Bedouin not know who you are? Does he not know how special you are? Does he not see how beautiful you are? When she heard his voice it sounded like the gentle breeze in the palm fronds or the gentle splash of the water into the pool from the fountain. His voice was so gentle, kind, and comforting. Something about his voice was familiar and she was now close enough that she could sniff him and there was something familiar about that too. Who is this stranger? She thought. This stranger held out his hand to her and she warily sniffed it. The strangers fingers moved ever so slightly and now he was touching her muzzle, her head, her ears, neck and body. With his touch and soothing voice she now knew who he was and was embarrassed that she didnt recognize him. The little blue salukis tail starting wagging furiously, so much so that her whole body moved with its motion. Her lips curled back showing her teeth but not in a snarl this time but a smile; a smile that only salukis know how to do. This was all as an apology for not recognizing him, as she should have. It had been such a long time since she had seen this stranger but remember him she did and he was very forgiving of her guarding because it is one of the things he taught her to do so long ago. When all of the greeting smiles, tail wags and apologies had finally quieted down he asked her again, Has the old Bedouin not seen how beautiful you are? How swift and agile you are in the hunt? How so very special you are? I guess he has been busy with the others. Here lets put this on you and then he will see what a special and beautiful hunter you are. 5

I know the other salukis see it and now he will too. The stranger who is not a stranger knelt down and placed a ribbon around the little blue salukis neck adjusting it to set just so. Suspended from the ribbon was a medallion. A medallion that had a miniature painting of the little blue saluki on it striding out with her head and tail held up high and beneath her feet in gold were the words Blessings to the owner. Surrounding it all was a circle of crimson symbolizing the life blessing of a saluki companion. The little blue saluki looked down at the medallion hanging around her neck and then up into the strangers face that was so close that she gave him a tiny little kiss lick of thanks and he smiled an ever so gentle smile. At that the stranger stood and said to her I must be going as the old Bedouin and the others are on their way home. The hunt has been successful but it will be even more so tomorrow when you go along too. He gently touched her cheek and ear to say goodbye and when she looked up the dazzling sun came fully over the wall shining directly into her eyes making her blink ever so much. In the split second it took for her to blink back the bright sun, she looked around the courtyard for the stranger and did not see him anywhere. She didnt hear the door open and close, as she should have either. All she could hear was the gentle splashing of the water from the fountain into the reflecting pool and the gentle breath of a breeze through the fronds on the date palms and she could just barely hear the hoof beats of the old Arabian mare getting louder as she drew closer to the house and courtyard. It was as if the stranger had just vanished in the blink of an eye and so he had. So the little blue saluki walked over to her customary place by the pool to wait for the old Bedouin and the red, black and white salukis. This time she waited sitting up instead of lying down and the medallion on the ribbon around her neck glinted and gleamed in the sunshine as she waited. She did not have to wait long for the old Bedouin to arrive with the others and the hares they 6

had caught this morning. She heard the blue door open and the red, black and white salukis came bounding into the courtyard followed by the old Bedouin and the old grey Arabian mare. And the little blue saluki just continued to sit by the pool waiting for the old Bedouin to see her and see her he did! It was like seeing a ray of sunlight for the first time and marveling at its brilliance. It was like beholding an incredibly blue sapphire that was polished and cut to perfection. But most of all it was like seeing a pricelessly rare work of art for the first time and it took your breath away! He stopped in his tracks and dropped the old Arabian mares reins, he dropped the hares, he dropped the goatskin water bag he was carrying and just looked at the little blue saluki! Finally, he found his feet and walked over to her and knelt down by her. And finally, he found his voice and said to her Oh my little blue saluki, what a blind fool I have been! I have been ignorant to not see what Allah, most merciful and kind, has so graciously graced my humble home with! I must beg His forgiveness as well as yours my dear little blue saluki. Tomorrow, morning you will join the hunt and it will be a glorious one! The old Bedouin stretched out his hand to touch her cheek and ruffle her ear when his hand found the ribbon and the medallion. He was stunned because he knew that it wasnt there when he left and he was sure that no one could get into the courtyard with the little blue saluki in it! He held the medallion and looked at it and then at her and back to the medallion again. He was astonished to say the least! How could anyone have made such an item in so short a period of time, gotten by her guarding and placed it around her neck! It must have been a truly special being and thus this is a truly special saluki, a gift from Allah, most merciful and kind, to one of his children! Now the old Bedouin was especially thankful and grateful and went immediately to prayer in thanks for everything he has. 7

he next morning when the sun had not even peeked over the horizon, much less the wall of the courtyard, the old Bedouin saddled up the old Arabian war mare, gathered up all of the salukis (this time no one was being left behind), and headed out the blue door of the courtyard for a morning of hunting with the red, black, white, and blue salukis. Today was a very special day and this hunt was going to be like none other the old Bedouin had witnessed or heard of. This hunt was a hunt of fulfillment and richness beyond any other. In fact the salukis, the war mare, and the Bedouin came home from the hunt with a full sack of hares and a gazelle! A gazelle! Oh my, of all things a gazelle! It had been a dream of the Bedouin to hunt a gazelle with his salukis and now they had done it! What a gift he had been given! Now the old Bedouin knew the merit of the little blue saluki to be her heart, her heart of true aim, focus, and determination. It took a combination of the red ones swiftness, the black ones sureness in the catch and the white ones endurance along with the blue ones heart to be able to capture the gazelle! Oh what a day! Oh what a hunt!

ou may think that this is the end of the story but there is just a little more to tell and that is that when the Bedouin walked into his house with the bounty of the days hunt. He found a fire in the oven, his sons and daughters, and his wives all greeting him as if they had not seem in a long time. He looked around and caught sight of his reflection in the mirror on the wall. He was stunned! He walked over to it and took a good look at himself. He almost didnt recognize himself! The lines and wrinkles from the long days in the sun were almost gone, the grey in his beard was just a few hairs here and there, his eyes twinkled with life, he stood straight and tall. He then noticed it didnt hurt as much to walk and move. What is this! he thought, How could all of this happen? Surely it must be a trick, a dream, an illusion! No it was no trick, dream, or illusion it is just that he finally woke up and truly saw the gifts in his life and is grateful, as well as thankful, that they are there and the little blue saluki is just one of them.

In Closing...
This story, although fictional, speaks to being open in your life. Being grateful for all that you have and truly seeing the merit of each and every individual being in your life. The story is written in the style of a Middle Eastern folk tale as read by a storyteller. It is a story that is meant to be read aloud with all of the embellishments, exaggerations and posturings that one might see with this kind of story being told to them. Through the centuries storytellers, bards, and others have contributed to the culture of a people in many ways. In some cases these were the ones who kept traditions and a culture alive for future generations. In the ancient Keltic cultures a Bard was said to have magical powers in that they could make you slumber, laugh, or cry in the blink of an eye. In todays modern societies stories are being told in much the same way time and time again with flavors from all cultures. Through this process we are truly becoming a world culture, a melding of all societies. Thus it is becoming more and more important that the study of all cultures and customs come to the forefront. We can no longer ignore that which does not make sense or speak to us. Interestingly enough common threads can be found in all societies and by those threads can we find the sense and hear the voice to understand. We have but to open our eyes and see in much the same way as the old Bedouin in the story. The story was written as an accompaniment to a medallion displaying a turquoise blue saluki, in fact the one described in the story. The medallion came about due to the speculation discussion of whether there is a blue/grey colour in the saluki gene pool. Indeed there is and it is rare, photos have been circulated several years ago showing a dark blue/grey saluki. The medallion was created as a token for class placements at the San Angeles Saluki Club Summer Specialty in 1996. Again, the lettering shown on the medallion translates to Blessings to the Owner and indeed everyone who is owed by a saluki is truly blessed. I hope you enjoyed the story. 10