Cherished Memories of Africa — Page 246
228 too in a small room. I asked him: ‘what photo’? He said, ‘Maulvi Sahib, Science has made big strides these days. Many inventions that baffle human mind have been made. However, Divine creation is unparalleled. I have taken your photo with my eyes and saved it in my heart. Nobody can take it away from me as long as I live neither can time disfigure it in any way. Whereas a photo taken by an ordinary camera loses its original quality after sometime. How humble and helpless human intellect is compared to Divine creation!’ Talisman Mafia Pirs are the richest people in Africa. All big buildings and important plots belong to them. As the people are superstitious they take talismans from them to make gains and avoid loss. The ruling class are also indebted to them. The former president went to Pir sahib soon after winning the elections. The pir was seated on the sofa and the president expressed his allegiance by sitting in his feet. Handshake with left hand –odd belief Dibbi Trawallay, a native of Mali was a school watchman. He was about to leave for Mali during school’s annual leave and was bidding farewell to his friends. I also went along to see him off. I presented my right hand for handshake to which he responded by putting forward his left hand. I thought he probably had some problem with his right hand. When I enquired, I was told that they held the belief that when embarking on a long journey if you bade farewell by shaking right hand you would never meet again. Therefore, it was customary to shake the left hand before setting off on a long journey.