ABSTRACT
A W O M A N came to the Caliph Ali crying, ‘One of my little ones has climbed up the water-spout. If I call him, he won’t come to my hand, and if I leave him be I’m afraid he’ ll fall to the ground. He isn’t intelligent enough to under stand like us if I tell him, “ Come to me out of danger.” Also he doesn’t understand manual signs, and even if he did he wouldn’t listen. This is a bad business. I ’ve shown him milk many times and the teats, but he simply turns his eyes and face from me. For God’s sake-you great ones are the succourers in this world and the next-be quick, apply the cure, for my heart is trembling lest to my anguish the fruit of my heart is torn from m e.’
