How was this possible

Sat in his tent in the desert the Bedouin smoked his hookah puffing through one corner of his mouth whilst with the other corner her regaled the semi circle of his companions with tales of his travels in caravan trading his wares about the sunblazed desert towns.
"The camel sank without trace into a sand trap set by the Terag People one minute it was there snarling and growling amongst its herd the next sinking steadily into the desert before puff! (he clapped his hands jolting awake one of the snoozing guests who had eaten more than his fill of dates) it was gone." He took a long contemplative draw on the pipe, "Its relations took no notice of the camels fate and plodded meaningfully forward - such is the way of the dromedary."
The others nodded in unison agreeing wholeheartedly with such philosophical dreamings. One reached forward and selected from the array of orangeglazed platters a bluebottle filled with honey and marigold leaves. He sucked the caramel sweet appreciatively whilst his host continued his discourse.
"To the east I have found that leaves once sealed between the finest cloth will imprint a pattern forever on the linen and when one sleeps the gentle rustle of wind through trees can be heard and soothes the most restless of sleepers."
The gathering frowned at this new discovery and one pleaded for a sample of the cloth that he might present it at court and gain the trust of his lord, but the host merely sucked upon his pipe and eyes half closing spoke on as if uninterrupted.
"It is said in the town of El Afid that if one reads aloud the words inscribed above the lintels of each of the houses in a particular street in the kasbah, a great storm of rains will fall turning the surrounding sands to grain and palms."
"Surely this would be a good fortune for the people." One more attentive listener suggested. The Bedouin gave him a quizzical glance.
"Good fortune?" He mused, "But who will house the people who would flock to such a place, how would they find work, or women, how long would there be water enough to sustain such a oasis once sand returned to the land." He shook his head. "Better to have sand and camel, a house for every family and money enough for one man to pay another so he may yet fulfil his debts."
The men nodded at these sage words and each reached for a delicacy from one of the plates, grateful for the sand and their camels.