The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

MY GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER, SHAHEEN, WAS A GIANT OF A
MAN. HE WAS THE WONDER OF THE AREA. HE WORKED AT A
MILL, WHICH USED GREAT MILL STONES WHICH WERE CARRIED
BY CAMELS BECAUSE MULES WEREN'T STRONG ENOUGH. AT
CHURCH, THE PRIEST ASKED VILLAGERS TO HELP SHAHEEN MOVE
HIS MILLSTONES INTO PLACE ON THE WALL. WHEN THEY GOT
TO THE MILL, THEY FOUND SHAHEEN HAD ALREADY PUT THE
GREAT STONES IN PLACE AND WAS ALREADY WORKING.
ONCE SHAHEEN FELL INTO THE STREAM BY THE MILL.
NORMALLY, HE COULD SWIM OUT, BUT THE STREAM WAS SWOLLEN
BY THE SPRING THAW. ALSO, HIS LARGE PANTS AND SHOES
DRAGGED HIM TO THE BOTTOM. THE WATER CARRIED HIM 4 MILES
DOWNSTREAM WHERE HE CAUGHT HOLD OF A ROCK IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE STREAM. HE CALLED SO LOUD THAT THE MEN AT THE MILL
FOUR MILES AWAY HEARD HIM AND GOT HELP. HE WAS SO BIG
ONLY HIS STRONG SON COULD CARRY HIM BACK TO THE MILL.
ONCE SHAHEEN WOKE UP AND STARTED TO PUT HIS SHOES ON
WHEN SOMETHING STARTED WIGGLING INSIDE. HE TURNED HIS
SHOES UPSIDE DOWN AND THREE CATS CAME OUT. HIE SHOES
WERE SO BIG THAT HIS GRANDAUGHTER USED TO PLAY "HOUSE"
IN THEM.
SHAHEEN FINALLY DIED AT THE AGE OF 105, A VERY OLD AGE
IN LEBANON IN THOSE DAYS. HE WAS SOUND OF MIND, BUT
FAILED BY HIS GREAT BODY.
HE ASKED TO BE BURIED WITH HIS FATHER, WHO HAD DIED A
LONG TIME BEFORE. YEARS LATER THEY UNEARTHED HIS
BONES TO BE PUT IN HIS OWN GRAVE. HIS BONES PROVED TO
BE 7-1/2 FEET TALL AS MANY PEOPLE WHO SAW THEM ATTESTED.
FROM HIS HIP BONE TO HIS FEET, HE WAS ALMOST AS TALL AS
A NORMAL MAN.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; LEBANON

Keyword(s): FAMILY ; Giant ; Legend ; Lore

Date learned: 00-00-1967