six years old, his mother got a high fever, and within just a few days, she too had died. His grandfather on his father’s side took over care of the child, but again, the arrangement did not last. When he was still a young boy, the grandfather died. This time his care was transferred to his uncle on his father’s side, and he went to live with his cousins. The young boy tended sheep. When he was a teenager he started traveling with his uncle who was in business as a caravan trader. One time his uncle