P269
The origin of the Nile of Egypt is in the Mountain of the Moon, and it pours into two lakes beyond the Equator. It circles about in the land of Nubia and Ethiopia, and comes to Egypt, where part of its pours out at Damietta (1) into the Red Sea Rum.

P278-9

(some stories on pious Negroes)

The author of the book al Kanz al matlub fi manaqib al Habasa wal Nub (2) related on the authority of Ibn al Munkadir (3) saying, Rain was withheld from us in Medina in a certain year. He said, The people went out to ask for rain, but no rain came, and they returned. When night came, I went to perform the late evening prayer in the mosque of the Messenger of God -may God bless him and give him peace- I leaned against a wall and no one saw me. Then came a black man, his (features) overcome by paleness wearing a woolen cloak, and with a woolen garment about his neck. He went forward, performed a two-raka (4) prayer, and set down. Then he said while I was listening, O Lord, the people of the sanctuary of Thy Prophet went out to ask for water, and Thou didst not give them water. I adjure Thee to give them water. Ibn al-Munkadir (3) said, I thought he is mad. But by God, no sooner had he put down his hand than I heard the sound of thunder, and it rained. He continued, When he heard the rain, he praised God the Exalted with praises the like of which I had never heard. Then he said, Who am I, and what am I, O Lord, that Thou didst answer me. …………

The author of the book al-Kanz al-matlub (2) also relates, attributing (the story) to Abdallah ibn al-Mubarak (5), (who) said, I came to Mecca in a certain year when a great drought had afflicted (the people). (They) went out to ask for rain at the mosque of al-Haram (6), and I was with the people why they were praying, but there was not a drop of rain; then a Negro youth, with two pieces of striped cloth on him, came and stood in a concealed place near me. I heard him saying, My God, Thou hast created persons with many sins and evil deeds, and Thou hast withheld Thy rain in order to punish Thy servants. O Thou, who dost not let Thy servant know of Him aught but beautiful deeds, give them water, now, now, now. He continued saying now until the heavens were covered up by clouds and rain came from every direction, while he sat in his place. ………….

(1) Damietta: important town in the delta of the Nile.

(2) Kanz al matlub fi manaqib al Habasa wal Nub: this work on habasha and the Nuba has not been identified, but the three stories here mentioned are also found in Ibn al Jawzi (1200)

(3) Ibn al Munkadir: perhaps the same as al-Munkadir ibn Abdallah a resident of al-Medina.

(4) two-raka prayer: A rakaʿah is a single iteration of prescribed movements and supplications performed by Muslims as part of the prescribed obligatory prayer known as salah. Each of the five daily prayers observed by Muslims consist of a number of raka'at.

(5) Abdallah ibn al-Mubarak, Abu Abd al-Rahman (736-797) was an early, pious Muslim known for his memory and zeal for knowledge, collected hadith (muhaddith), and was remembered for his asceticism.

(6) the mosque of al-Haram: Masjid al-Haram also known as the Great Mosque of Mecca, is a mosque that surrounds the Kaaba in Mecca.