When the world was new, the camel, a creature of 'scruciating idleness, said "Humph!" too often and received for all time a hump[h] from the Djinn of All Deserts.

Timoken and his sister, Zobayda, under the protection of a forest jinni but pursued by evil virideed, straddle the world of men and the world of enchantments, seeking a home while remaining young by drinking a potion called Alixir.