A hint from the past

chapter two

It is the custom of the land that every year the river become violent, they will sacrifice a virgin to the river in a way of appeasing it, order wise, it will out flow and swallow the whole kingdom.

It has been like that for century that every year a virgin has to be sacrificed to instigate a flood. The virgin girl will be adorned with beautiful ornaments like a bride on her wedding day. Her hand and feet will be tight with a rope to prevent her from running away. She will be taken to the river arm in arm with two warriors of the land who will cast her into the river in front of everyone to purchase it favor and prevent outflow.

After the sacrifice, their crops will grow abundantly, they will be able to fished for enough fishes and the richness of the land will multiply.

-~**~-

All the maidens of the village were gathered at the palace of the king. What they usually do was to fold pieces of beads in foliage, with a particular golden bead outstanding. They will cast all beads on the floor according to the number of maidens present. Each maiden will pick a piece of folded bead. The maidens will not unfold the bead but will line up and present it to one of the palace guard to unfold it. Any maiden with the golden bead will be the one to be sacrificed.

So they did, and unfortunately, the maiden that picked the golden bead was no one order than maida, the chief warriors daughter.

It was a moment of trepidation for both maida and her family. She have to say farewell to her family right there in the palace because she won't be allowed to go back to her home, in the fact that they assumed she will runaway, because a maiden had ever done that before.

Maida's mother cried uncontrollably as maida emerged with the golden bead. They knew and have certainty that that's the parting with their daughter.  All families usually gather around during the picking each praying to a particular god that their daughter shouldn't be the one to pick the golden bead.

The chief warrior was devastated. He paced up and down the palace square as they led his daughter into a particular palace room where they usually lock maidens to be sacrificed.

As maida was being taken away, her mother scampered towards her and held her tightly to her bosom, not letting go of her. One of the palace guard yanked her away and they led maida out of the scene leaving her family crying.

The next day, maids was adorned beautifully and ready to be thrown into the sea. She was led to the river by two warriors and multiples of palace guards, hands and legs tight under chain, with troops of people escorting her away.

As they got to the sea, the chief priest said some incantations and strike the sea with his staff.

As maida was about to be casted into the sea, one last glance at her mother, she smiled to ease the pain of the older one. Her father, the chief warrior couldn't make it to the scene because he couldn't bear the sight of his daughter being sacrificed.

And so, she was casted into the sea which engulfed her completely.

"Its done, now sea we can have peace!"

The chief priest declared as he led the sacrifice successfully. He blew incantatious words on a knot made of animal skin and threw into the water.

After the sacrifice rite, everyone dispersed to his home mourning maida. Her close friends and family wept as they turned to leave, saying farewell to maida for the gods to accept her and make her clean.

*
A similar incident happened during the khalifat of Hadhrat Umar ibn Khattab. Hadrat Qais bin Hajjaj reported that after Egypt was conquered by the Muslims, the people met Hadrat Amr bin Al Asas who was the governor assigned to them.