noon
They were taking rest in order to continue their journey . How strange it appeared to him to wander through this moveable commercial city , where houses were camels , and elephants were palaces ! Ali passed one of these elephants , on the back of which was constructed a house of tolerable size . It was noon , and the children who were playing about on the grass were called to their dinner . Their father , who stood among them , took one after the other and handed them over to the elephant , who , raising them with his trunk , lifted them slowly and carefully through the air , and then bent his trunk over his head , and gave the child to its mother , who stood above in the door and received them from him without the least sign of fear , and without any of the children crying from terror . The open mosque was crowded with people , some of whom were offering thanks to Allah for their happy return , while others were imploring a blessing on the progress of their journey . Ali was so pleased with this singular and motley assembly , that he loitered the whole day among them .