Omm Halima, a poor woman, encountered a fairy at a spring who promised wealth in exchange for offerings of herma and perfume. Following the fairy’s instructions, Halima grew rich, sparking rumors of an affair with a wealthy man, Mouley Ismail. When villagers secretly observed her meeting with the fairy, the spirit vanished forever, leaving Halima’s mysterious fortune unexplained.
Source
Moorish Literature
romantic ballads, tales of the Berbers,
stories of the Kabyles, folk-lore,
and national traditions
The Colonial Press,
London, New York, 1901
► Themes of the story
Forbidden Knowledge: The secret of the woman’s sudden wealth, linked to her clandestine meetings with the fairy.
Moral Lessons: The tale underscores the consequences of curiosity and intrusion, as the fairy disappears forever when others discover the secret.
Sacred Spaces: The spring serves as a mystical location where the woman meets the fairy and receives riches.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about the Berber peoples
Translated by Réne Basset
and Chauncey C. Starkweather
A woman who was named Omm Halima went one day to the stream to wash at the old spring. Alone, in the middle of the day, she began her work, when a woman appeared to her and said: “Let us be friends, you and I, and let us make a promise. When you come to this spring, bring me some herma and perfumes. Cast them into the fountain which faces the qsar. I will come forth and I will give you money.” And so the wife of Ben Sernghown returned every day and found the other woman, who gave her pieces of money. Omm Khalifah was poor. When she “became friends” with the fairy she grew rich all of a sudden. The people were curious to know how she had so quickly acquired a fortune. There was a rich man, the possessor of much property. He was called Mouley Ismail.
► Continue reading…
They said to Omm Khalifah:
“You are the mistress of Mouley Ismail, and he gives you pieces of money.”
She answered, “Never have I been his mistress.” One day, when she went to the spring to bathe, the people followed her until she arrived. The fairy came to meet her as usual, and gave her money. The people surprised them together. But the fairy never came out of the fountain again.
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Dreamtime Whispers 