Bu Darya
In short: A supernatural figure that approaches boats in Gulf sailors’ lore.
Character
How does it work in the tale?
In the record from the Emirates he first sounds like a drowning man. In the Kuwaiti record the sailors spot him climbing aboard. What changes is when and how they recognise the danger.
What does a cry for help ask of the crew?
In the telling from the Emirates, a voice from the water calls for a decision before anyone can be seen. The crew must weigh how to respond without knowing who is calling. In the Kuwaiti account, the figure comes into view on the deck. Compare what the sailors hear, what they see and what they cannot yet know.