The CHARM of the Rababa

                                          The CHARM of the Rababa

Back in the 2^nd decade of the last century , old Abod had a farm and a house on the banks of the river of Babylon (Shat Alhilla) near the town of Hilla and the historical city of Babylon . He also had four cows individually named according to their color or temperament; the Red, the Black, the Wise and the Terrible. He had four very beautiful Young daughters and a good wife.

In those days of no electricity, gas, drinking water, telephone, television and internet, he lived comfortably and happily with his family was it not for another very important missing item namely security. He had to toil the land all day and stay awake most of the night guarding against cattle thieves. Steeling cattle from villager's homes outside town was considered a worthy conduct by the thieves and their families in those days, however this activity was governed by unwritten norms, such as steeling should be only done from families who are asleep or frightened to confront the thieves and the cattle should be returned back to their owner after an affordable ransom is negotiated through semi known mediators.  Sometimes off course things can go wrong and a thief  or  a house owner could get killed during the burglary.

Every night after the girls and their mother go to bed, Abod would feed the dog and take  him outside the house to exercise his duty of warning the household of night intruders .

One night  as Abod was dosing  in bed , the dog was engaged in a  fierce  bout  of barking seemingly  at a big adversary . Abod picked his axe and went near the wall quietly to listen to what is going on outside. He heard the sound of dry grass being walked on and branches broken , then the movement sounds stopped and the dog barking changed from barking in motion to a static barking at a  fixed  object .

Abod guessed that this must a be a big  group of thieves , three or more and they are sitting in the bush outside waiting to hear  the household reactions such as firing shots or shouting,  before they move in .

Abod`s head was buzzing with horrible thoughts ; what if they killed him or overpowered him ? What if they discovered that there is four beautiful girls in the house ? what they may do  to his daughters if he was rendered powerless ? Should he volunteer and take one cow to them and ask them to leave peacefully ? Would  they sense his weak position and opt for more ?.....

Abod walked dazed  to his daughters bed  lit a match to see how they are. They were trembling from fear, their mother trying to persuade them that there is nothing outside ,the dog  was parking at wild animals going to the river normally  for water .

Abod summoned his courage and said to his wife: Bring me the Rababa 

His wife was astonished: What for ?

Abod : Never mind just bring it .

Abod takes the Rababa and sits between the door and his cows............

 Abod applies  the bow string  against the body of the Rababa`s  lonely string and the wholeheartedly sad and  clear  Rababa sound ploughs through the fearful  darkness  . Abod then releases his powerful voice to accompany that of the Rababa singing the "Ataba " .......

The foreboding situation was shattered and the wilderness was sympathetic to the very sad words and tones of the  Ataba  .

The dog stopped parking as though   to allow the unwanted guests to listen and reconsider, while Abod continued singing until dawn when the birds in the bushes assumed their usual good morning chatter.

Abod picked his axe , followed by his wife , went outside to inspect the aftermath . The sitting place of the thieves was found, their path to the place and their few minutes ago departure was also evident.

Abod`s Wife :  Look her Abod , me and the girls were terrified to death last night .You take the cow Terrible  to market , sell her and buy a gun  Please do not return home without the gun .

Abod turn to his wife with half a smile on his face : Why should I need a gun ? I have the Rababa  !!.

The River of Babylon - The Ataba - The Charm