A plain and literal translation of the Arabian nights entertainments, now entituled The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 1 (of 17)

337

The moles are here compared with pearls; a simile by no means common or appropriate.

338

A parody on the testification of Allah's Unity.

339

Arab. "Simát" (prop. "Sumát"); the "dinner-table," composed of a round wooden stool supporting a large metal tray, the two being called "Sufrah" (or "Simat"): thus, "Sufrah házirah!" means dinner is on the table. After the meal they are at once removed.

340

In the text "Dastúr," the Persian word before noticed; "Izn" would be the proper Arabic equivalent.

341

In the Moslem East a young woman, single or married, is not allowed to appear alone in the streets; and the police has a right to arrest delinquents. As a preventive of intrigues the precaution is excellent. During the Crimean war hundreds of officers, English, French and Italian, became familiar with Constantinople; and not a few flattered themselves on their success with Turkish women. I do not believe that a single bonâ fide case occurred; the "conquests" were all Greeks, Wallachians, Armenians or Jewesses.

342

Arab. "Azím": translators do not seem to know that this word in The Nights often bears its Egyptian and slang sense, somewhat equivalent to our "deuced" or "mighty" or "awfully fine."

343

This is a very serious thing amongst Moslems and scrupulous men often make great sacrifices to avoid taking an oath.

344

We should say "into the noose."

345

The man had fallen in love with her and determined to mark her so that she might be his.

346

Arab. "Dajlah," in which we find the Heb. Hid-dekel.

347

Such an execution would be contrary to Moslem law: but people would look leniently upon the peccadillo of beheading or sacking a faithless wife. Moreover the youth was of the blood royal and A quoi bon être prince? as was said by a boy of viceroyal family in Egypt to his tutor who reproached him for unnecessarily shooting down a poor old man.

348

Arab. "Shirk," partnership, evening or associating gods with God; polytheism: especially levelled at the Hindu triadism, Guebre dualism and Christian Trinitarianism.

349

Arab. "Shatm"=abuse, generally couched in foulest language with especial reference to the privy parts of female relatives.

350

When a woman is bastinadoed in the East they leave her some portion of dress and pour over her sundry buckets of water for a delicate consideration. When the hands are beaten they are passed through holes in the curtain separating the sufferer from mankind, and made fast to a "falakah" or pole.

351

Arab. "Khalifah," Caliph. The word is also used for the successor of a Santon or holy man.

352

Arab. "Sár;" here the Koranic word for carrying out the venerable and undying lex talionis, the original basis of all criminal jurisprudence. Its main fault is that justice repeats the offence.

353

Both these sons of Harun became Caliphs, as we shall see in The Nights.

354

"Dog" and "hog" are still highly popular terms of abuse. The Rabbis will not defile their lips with "pig;" but say "Dabhar akhir"="another thing."

355

The "hero eponymus" of the Abbaside dynasty, Abbas having been the brother of Abdullah, the father of Mohammed. He is a famous personage in Al-Islam (D'Herbelot).

356

Europe translates the word "Barmecides." It is Persian from bar (up) and makídan (to suck). The vulgar legend is that Ja'afar, the first of the name, appeared before the Caliph Abd al-Malik with a ring poisoned for his own need; and that the Caliph, warned of it by the clapping of two stones which he wore ad hoc, charged the visitor with intention to murder him. He excused himself and in his speech occurred the Persian word "Barmakam," which may mean "I shall sup it up," or, "I am a Barmak," that is, a high priest among the Guebres. See D'Herbelot s. v.

357

Arab. "Zulm," the deadliest of monarch's sins. One of the sayings of Mohammed, popularly quoted, is, "Kingdom endureth with Kufr or infidelity (i. e. without accepting Al-Islam) but endureth not with Zulm or injustice." Hence the good Moslem will not complain of the rule of Kafirs or Unbelievers, like the English, so long as they rule him righteously and according to his own law.

358

All this aggravates his crime: had she been a widow she would not have had upon him "the claims of maidenhead," the premio della verginità of Boccaccio, x. 10.

359

It is supposed that slaves cannot help telling these fatal lies. Arab story-books are full of ancient and modern instances and some have become "Joe Millers." Moreover it is held unworthy of a freeborn man to take over-notice of these servile villanies; hence the scoundrel in the story escapes unpunished. I have already noticed the predilection of debauched women for these "skunks of the human race;" and the young man in the text evidently suspected that his wife had passed herself this "little caprice." The excuse which the Caliph would find for him is the pundonor shown in killing one he loved so fondly.

360

The Arab equivalent of our pitcher and well.

361

i. e. Where the dress sits loosely about the bust.