Part 3: A Folkloric Social Story - In the Markets and Corners: Hassan the Snake Charmer and Incense Carrier

Hassan the Gypsy, my incense seller.

We begin a new journey and adventure from Hassan's tales. Hassan is shaped like a snake charmer, working as a magician and a spiritual guide, extracting scorpions and snakes from the most difficult places. He is an incense seller, roaming the streets, cafes, and shops, spreading the scent of his incense everywhere. One day, he even managed to reach the ports, ships, and even took to the air. Hassan the charmer, holding his stick and his white turban, with his basket of palm fronds hanging on his shoulder. The secret within it is filled with snakes, and his words have no end—beautiful words that could make a tale.

We begin a new journey and adventure from Hassan's tales. Hassan is shaped like a snake charmer, working as a magician and a spiritual guide, extracting scorpions and snakes from the most difficult places. He is an incense seller, roaming the streets, cafes, and shops, spreading the scent of his incense everywhere. One day, he even managed to reach the ports, ships, and even took to the air. Hassan the charmer, holding his stick and his white turban, with his basket of palm fronds hanging on his shoulder. The secret within it is filled with snakes, and his words have no end—beautiful words that could make a tale.

"Once I was struggling and out of work, and I said, 'Let’s play musical chairs.' I begin trying, either I succeed or I run and escape. Believe me, it was a gamble, I am the one playing."

"I walked through a street in the middle of the farms, with houses here and houses there. Some were made of reeds, and many had walls. There were many doors, and some had no doors. Suddenly, I heard a sound in the place. The doors opened, and Asran ran shouting, 'Help, oh our sheikh!' The neighbors heard and said: 'What’s the story? Catch the snake!' My buffalo died, went to the field. My children were scared, they looked and ran behind the walls. A huge snake, unmatched in size, bit the buffalo. 'Help, oh charmer, catch the snake!'

Asran opened his large door

And said, "Oh Sheikh, your reward is with God, and your secret is in the well."

They entered the place without hesitation.

"Look, there is a bundle of reeds, a huge snake next to the pile, hiding inside."

"My buffalo died from the bite, it released its poison, and the buffalo's calf was left without its mother to nurture and feed it."

Our friend entered, troubled. He struck his stick and shouted, "I am a true charmer, I chant and heal with my secrets. What should I do? My secrets are powerful! I will catch the snake!"

Asran looked at him and asked, "What is it, our master?"

Hassan replied, "Come, I will charm you along with me. Hold the snake, and it won’t bite you; its poison will not harm you."

Asran, stunned and lost for words, agreed, "I accept the snake's bite."

Hassan continued, "It will become tame and might even kiss you. The agreement between you will be a bond, one that is understood, a vow."

Asran hesitated, his face changed. Hassan looked at him and gave him his order:

"Offer me your ear, and I will charm part of it from the snake's fangs, which have no teeth."

"I know them well, and I’ll tell you I am a true charmer and understand their kinds—snakes with scales, cobras, tigers. I can't forget the mighty 'Jaljal,' and I’ll say more, even the ravines. None of this is new to me, for I am a true charmer."

Asran agreed and offered his ear, and Hassan opened his basket (the charmer’s basket), releasing a small snake. Hassan lightly bit it and said, "That's it, Asran, you have taken the vow and are now a charmer."

He struck the stick on the pile.

Asran stepped forward, raised the side of the pile, but nothing happened.

Hassan said, "Perfect!" and struck the stick again, "My secret is in here. I am a true charmer. I prevent misfortunes, and I know how to heal. I release the snakes from their spell."

Asran bravely reached out, touched the snake, and in that instant, it struck him with a big bite on his hand.

Asran screamed, "What happened? Help me, it bit me!"

It seemed he had broken the vow, and now the poison was taking effect.

Hassan quickly left the place, running before it was too late. Women screamed, "Help Asran!" The charmer fled.

The neighbors quickly gathered and sealed off the place. Asran’s poison began to spread, and they rushed to find a cure.

The neighbors ran, like horses, searching for the way to treat Asran before it was too late.

Some of them entered the place and killed the snake.

Asran was treated and swore by all the oaths,

"One day, I’ll see you, charmer Hassan, and I’ll bite you with my teeth from the front,

And my bite will hurt you like the snake's bite."

Hassan left the profession of the charmer and became a perfumer.

Hassan called out, "Unite the scents, my fragrance is sweet and fills the place,

And the fragrance of it is delightful, perfect!"

At the café, Zainab shouted, "Come, the incense will bring in wealth,

And blessings will come."

The shopkeeper, Mahmoud, had plenty of good things for sale, by God's will.

"Honored Sheikh, bless it for us, and customers will come, and we'll be blessed by God's will,"

And the barber was amazed, "Welcome! It will increase, and we’ll cut for many people, for the matter is in God's hands."

Shops, pharmacies, clinics, hospitals, mosques, churches, and forums all blessed him, calling him by the secret name.

"Sheikh, you are blessed, and your incense is special, and everyone praises you."

One fine day, as he was near Mina, with boats and several ships docked, unloading, and another loading cargo,

He thought, "Let me try to board a boat, or even earn something from it."

Everyone knew him, and no one stopped him from entering and incensing, nor did they blame him.

"I’ll come in, incense, and earn from it," he said.

It became a habit to call out, "Incense, Sheikh," or even more.

"Enter the port."

Hassan reached the side of the ship and boarded it. The foreigner saw him and called out to him,

"You're not allowed to incense," so he turned it off.

He asked the foreigner, "Do you sell it?"

The foreigner replied, "I’ll buy it!"

The foreigner was happy with the incense, it was a beautiful artifact with a sweet scent that came from the city,

And asked him for a picture as a keepsake.

The foreigner then asked, "Can I visit inside the ship?"

Many foreigners were interested in him, some joked, some laughed, and others winked. Hassan was happy, and they befriended him,

"Welcome, welcome! What’s your name?" they asked.

Hassan asked them, "Can I travel, and which port should I leave the ship from?"

"It's also a journey, and I’m helping you, the incense is a gift for you."

They took him with them and gave him a gift—an exotic cap.

And he traveled to foreign lands, and Hassan didn’t know any languages,

He only communicated through gestures.

In the port, he tricked them and performed some remarkable acts, which they admired. But the police came and arrested him. With the captain of the ship and the sailors agreeing on his release, they let him go.

Hassan had no place to stay, and he had no money to buy food or anything to eat.

Hassan sat in a garden, placed his cap in front of him, and sang tunes and songs of the gypsies. Suddenly, he found coins falling into his cap from the hands of everyone passing by.

One day, Hassan said, "My confidence in myself is great, and I will make the most of it."

Hassan knew that groups of his people, the gypsies, were spread across Europe everywhere.

Then, he began asking about the whereabouts of these gypsy groups, and slowly but surely, he reached the place after finding the address.

They hosted him, honored him, and promised that they would provide him with work that would suit him—work that didn’t require speech, only gestures.

The next day, Hassan went with them to work on a farm, picking grapes, cultivating vines, raising cattle and sheep, and milking cows.

Hassan was very happy about this and started by picking grapes and working with the vines. After the season ended, he worked in the cattle farms and milked the cows.

Hassan continued to work and acquired many skills.

He learned English and the language of the country where he worked.

Hassan became wealthy, and at that point, he thought about his old work of selling incense.

He partnered with one of his fellow gypsies to open a store selling incense and perfume supplies. His business expanded, grew, and he envisioned making it global. From there, he traveled to France to negotiate for the best types of perfumes.

He also went to India and Southeast Asia to contract large quantities of spices and various kinds of incense.

During his time abroad, Hassan married a gypsy woman, and she became his partner, responsible for everything he owned. He now had sons and daughters.

When Hassan thought about moving his business and family back to his homeland, problems arose. His wife and children refused to go, so he left their homeland.

Hassan returned to his country as he was—a simple incense seller and a poor gypsy, with nothing but poverty to his name.

Stay tuned for part four—what will Hassan do next?