ABSTRACT
T h e jnun are generally lacking in individuality Their characteristics are mostly those of the species and the tribe. Different tribes of them, as we have seen, may have different religions, different dispositions of mind, and different colours, and attack people in different circumstances and on different days. There are also certain jnun who have individual names, such as the jenn saints, some disease spirits, and others whose names play an important part in many in vocations and charms. In Fez there was an kafrit5 by name ‘A llu, who lived in a spring still known under the name ‘A in ‘A llu, but he was killed by M ulai Idris ; the spring is situated in the vicinity of M ulai Idris’ sanctuary. M agicians read in their books about “ the seven kings ” of the jnun (seb'a de l-muluk), whose names are stated somewhat differently in different books. A ccording to one version they are M udhhib (“ gilder ” ), Merra, al-Ahm ar (“ the red ” ), Borqan (“ gleam ing ” ), Semhures, al-Abyad (“ the white ” ), and Mimun (“ lucky ” ).1 O f these personages M im un is popularly known as a jenn saint by name Sidi M im un or Maimun, and Semhures is also much spoken of, under the name of Semharus. He had a son called sAltan l-khal, “ the black sultan ” ; and when he died he also left behind a daughter, who is still alive and assists her own sex in practising witchcraft. But all these individuals are very shadowy beings without any distinct personality.
