and the glorious title of this contemporary of Mohammed is "Al-Malik
al-Adil" = the Just King. Kisra, the Chosroλ per excellentiam, is also
applied to the godly Guebre of whom every Eastern dictionary gives
details.
[FN#125] "Sultan" is here an anachronism: I have noted that the title
was first assumed independently by Mohammed of Ghazni after it had been
conferred by the Caliph upon his father the Amir Al- Umarα (Mayor of
the Palace), Sabuktagin A.D. 974.
[FN#126] The "Sakkα" or water-carrier race is peculiar in Egypt and
famed for trickery and intrigue. Opportunity here as elsewhere makes
the thief.
[FN#127] A famous saying of Mohammed is recorded when an indiscretion
of his young wife Ayishah was reported to him, "There be no adultress
without an adulterer (of a husband)." Fatimah the Apostle's daughter is
supposed to have remained a virgin after bearing many children: this
coarse symbolism of purity was known to the classics (Pausanias), who
made Juno recover her virginity by bathing in a certain river every
year. In the last phrase, "Al-Salaf" (ancestry) refers to Mohammed and
his family.
[FN#128] Khusrau Parwiz, grandson of Anushirwan, the Guebre King who
tore his kingdom by tearing Mohammed's letter married the beautiful
Maria or Irene (in Persian "Shνrνn = the sweet) daughter of the Greek
Emperor Maurice: their loves were sung by a host of poets; and likewise
the passion of the sculptor Farhαd for the same Shirin. Mr. Lyall
writes "Parwκz" and holds "Parwνz" a modern form.
[FN#129] he could afford it according to historians. His throne was
supported by 40,000 silver pillars; and 1,000 globes, hung in the dome,
formed an orrery, showing the motion of the heavenly bodies; 30,000
pieces of embroidered tapestry overhung the walls below were vaults
full of silver, gold and gems.
[FN#130] Arab. "Khunsα," meaning also a catamite as I have explained.
Lane (ii. 586) has it; "This fish is of a mixed kind." (!).
[FN#131] So the model lovers became the ordinary married couple.
[FN#132] Arab. "Jamm." Heb. "Yamm." Al-Harνri (Ass. Of Sinjar and
Sαwah) uses the rare form Yam for sea or ocean.
[FN#133] Al-Hadi, immediate predecessor of Harun al-Rashid, called
"Al-Atbik": his upper lip was contracted and his father placed a slave
over him when in childhood, with orders to say, "Musa! atbik!" (draw
thy lips together) when he opened his mouth.
[FN#134] Immediate successor of Harun al-Rashid. Al-Amin is an imposing
physical figure, fair, tall, handsome and of immense strength;
according to Al-Mas'ϊdi, he killed a lion with his own hands; but his
mind and judgement were weak. He was fond of fishing; and his reply to
the courtier bringing important news, "Confound thee! leave me! for
Kausar (an eunuch whom he loved) hath caught two fish and I none,"
reminds one of royal frivolity in France.
[FN#135] Afterwards governor in Khorasan under Al-Maamun.
[FN#136] Intendant of the palace under Harun al-Rashid.
[FN#137] Moslem women have this advantage over their Western
sisterhood: they can always leave the house of father or husband and,
without asking permission, pay a week or ten days' visit to their
friends. But they are not expected to meet their lovers.
[FN#138] The tale of "Susannah and the Elders" in Moslem form.
Dαniyαl is the Arab Daniel, supposed to have been buried at
Alexandria. (Pilgrimage, i. 16.)
[FN#139] According to Moslem law, laid down by Mohammed on a delicate
occasion and evidently for a purpose, four credible witnesses are
required to prove fornication, adultery, sodomy and so forth; and they
must swear that actually saw rem in re, the "Kohl-needle in the
Kohl-ιtui," as the Arabs have it. This practically prevents conviction
and the sabre cuts the Gordian knot.
[FN#140] Who, in such case, would represent our equerry.
[FN#141] The Badawi not only always tells the truth, a perfect contrast
with the townsfolk; he is blunt in speech addressing his Sultan "O
Sa'νd!" and he has a hard rough humour which we may fairly describe as
"wut." When you chaff him look out for falls.
[FN#142] The answer is as old as the hills, teste the tale of what
happened when Amasis (who on horseback) raised his leg, "broke wind and
bad the messenger carry it back to Apries." Herod. Ii. 162. But for the
full significance of the Badawi's most insulting reply see the Tale of
Abu Hasan in Night ccccxi.
[FN#143] Arab. "Yα sαki" al-Dakan" meaning long bearded (foolish) as
well as frosty bearded.
[FN#144] P. N. of the tribe, often mentioned in The Nights.
[FN#145] Adnan, which whom Arab genealogy begins, is generally supposed
to be the eighth (Al-Tabari says the fortieth) descendant from Ishmael
and nine generations are placed between him and Fahr (Fihr) Kuraysh.
The Prophet cut all disputes short by saying, "Beyond Adnan none save
Allah wotteth and the genealogists lie." (Pilgrimage ii. 344) M.C. de
Perceval dates Adnan about B.C. 130.
[FN#146] Koran xxxiii., 38.
[FN#147] Arab. "Arab al-Arabα," as before noticed (vol. i. 12) the pure
and genuine blood as opposed to the "Musta'aribah," the "Muta'arribah,"
the "Mosarabians" and other Araboids; the first springing from Khatan
(Yaktan?) and the others from Adnan. And note that "Arabi" = a man of
pure Arab race, either of the Desert or of the city, while A'arαbi
applies only to the Desert man, the Badawi.
[FN#148] Koran xxxviii. 2, speaking of the Unbelievers (i.e.
non-Moslems) who are full of pride and contention.
[FN#149] One of the Ashαb, or Companions of the Apostle, that is them
who knew him personally. (Pilgrimage ii. 80, etc.) The Ashαb al-Suffah
(Companions of the bench or sofa) were certain houseless Believers
lodged by the Prophet. (Pilgrimage ii. 143).
[FN#150] Hence Omar is entitled "Al-Adil = the Just." Readers will
remember that by Moslem law and usage murder and homicide are offences
to be punished by the family, not by society or its delegates. This
system reappears in civilisation under the denomination of "Lynch Law,"
a process infinitely distasteful to lawyers (whom it abolishes) and
most valuable when administered with due discretion.
[FN#151] Lane translates (ii. 592) "from a desire of seeing the face of
God;" but the general belief of Al-Islam is that the essence of Allah's
corporeal form is different from man's. The orthodox expect to "see
their Lord on Doom-day as they see the full moon" (a tradition). But
the Mu'atazilites deny with the existence of matter the corporiety of
Alah and hold that he will be seen only with the spiritual eyes, i.e.
of reason.
[FN#152] See Gesta Romanorum, Tale cviii., "of Constancy in adhering to
Promises," founded on Damon and Pythias or, perhaps, upon the Arabic.
[FN#153] Arab. "Al-Ahrαm," a word of unknown provenance. It has been
suggested that the singular form (Haram), preceded by the Coptic
article "pi" (= the) suggested to the Greeks "Pyramis." But this word
is still sub judice and every Egyptologist seems to propose his own
derivation. Brugsch (Egypt i. 72) makes it Greek, the Egyptian being
"Abumir," while "pir- am-us" = the edge of the pyramid, the corners
running from base to apex. The Egyptologist proves also what the
Ancients either ignored or forgot to mention, that each pyramid had its
own name.
[FN#154] Arab. "Ahkαm," in this matter supporting the
"Pyramidologists."
[FN#155] All imaginative.
[FN#156] It has always been my opinion founded upon considerations too
long to detail, that the larger Pyramids contain many unopened
chambers. Dr. Grant Bey of Cairo proposed boring through the blocks as
Artesian wells are driven. I cannot divine why Lane (ii, 592) chose to
omit this tale, which is founded on historic facts and interests us by
suggesting a comparison between Mediζval Moslem superstitions and those
of our xixth Century, which to our descendants will appear as wild, if
not as picturesque, as those of The Nights. The "inspired British inch"
and the building by Melchisedek (the Shaykh of some petty Syrian
village) will compare not unaptly with the enchanted swords, flexible
glass and guardian spirits. But the Pyramidennarren is a race which
will not speedily die out: it is based on Nature, the Pyramids
themselves.
[FN#157] Arab. "Rizm"; hence, through the Italian Risma our ream (= 20
quires of paper, etc.), which our dictionaries derive from (!). See
"frail" in Night dcccxxxviii.
[FN#158] Arab. "Tarνkah" = the path trodden by ascetics and mystics in
order to attain true knowledge (Ma'rifat in Pers. Dαnish). These are
extensive subjects: for the present I must refer readers to the
Dabistan, iii. 35 and iii. 29, 36-7.
[FN#159] Alluding to the Fishαr or "Squeeze of the tomb." This is the
Jewish Hibbut hakkeber which all must endure, save those who lived in
the Holy Land or died on the Sabbath-eve (Friday night). Then comes the
questioning by the Angels Munkar and Nakir (vulgarly called Nαkir and
Nakνr) for which see Lane (M.E. chapt. xviii.). In Egypt a "Mulakkin"
(intelligencer) is hired to prompt and instruct the dead. Moslems are
beginning to question these facts of their faith: a Persian
acquaintance of mine filled his dead father's mouth with flour and
finding it in loco on opening the grave, publicly derided the belief.
But the Mullahs had him on the hip, after the fashion of reverends,
declaring that the answers were made through the whole body, not only
by the mouth. At last the Voltairean had to quit Shiraz.
[FN#160] Arab. "Walν" = a saint, Santon (Ital. Form) also a slave. See
in Richardson (Dissert. iii.), an illustration of the difference
between Wali and Wαli as exemplified by the Caliph al- Kαdir and Mahmϊd
of Ghazni.
[FN#161] Arab. "Tνn" = the tenacious clay puddled with chaff which
serves as mortar for walls built of Adobe or sun dried brick. I made a
mistake in my Pilgrimage (i.10) translating Ras al-Tνn the old Pharos
of Alexandria, by "Headland of Figs." It is Headland of Clay, so called
from the argile there found and which supported an old pottery.
[FN#162] The danik (Pers. Dang) is the sixth of a dirham. Mr. S. L.
Poole (The Acad. April 26, '79) prefers his uncle's translation "a
sixth" (what of?) to Mr. Payne's "farthing." The latter at any rate is
intelligible.
[FN#163] The devotee was "Sαim al-dahr" i.e. he never ate nor drank
from daylight to dark throughout the year.
[FN#164] The ablution of a common man differs from that of an
educated Moslem as much as the eating of a clown and a gentleman.
Moreover there are important technical differences between the
Wuzu of the Sunni and the Shi'ah.
[FN#165] i.e., by honouring his father.
[FN#166] This young saint was as selfish and unnatural a sinner as
Saint Alexius of the Gesta Romanorum (Tale xv.), to whom my friend, the
late Thomas Wright, administered just and due punishment.
[FN#167] The verses are affecting enough, though by no means high
poetry.
[FN#168] The good young man cut his father for two reasons: secular
power (an abomination to good Moslems) and defective title to the
Caliphate. The latter is a trouble to Turkey in the present day and
with time will prove worse.
[FN#169] Umm Amrν (written Amrϊ and pronounced Amr') a matronymic,
"mother of Amru." This story and its terminal verse is a regular Joe
Miller.
[FN#170] Abuse and derision of schoolmaster are staple subjects in the
East as in the West, (Quem Dii oderunt pζdagogum fecerunt).
Anglo-Indians will remember:
"Miyαn-ji ti-ti!
Bachche-kν gαnd men anguli kν thi!"
("Schoolmaster hum!
Who fumbled and fingered the little boy's bum?")
[FN#171] Arab. "Mujawirin" = the lower servants, sweepers, etc. See
Pilgrimage ii. 161, where it is also applied to certain "settlers" at
Al-Medinah. Burckhardt (No. 480) notices another meaning "foreigners
who attend mosque-lectures" and quotes the saying, "A. pilgrimaged:"
quoth B. "yes! and for his villanies resideth (Mujαwir) at Meccah."
[FN#172] The custom (growing obsolete in Egypt) is preserved in
Afghanistan where the learned wear turbans equal to the canoe- hats of
the Spanish cardinals.
[FN#173] Arab. "Makmarah," a metal cover for the usual brasier or pan
of charcoal which acts as a fire-place. Lane (ii. 600) does not
translate the word and seems to think it means a belt or girdle, thus
blunting the point of the dominie's excuse.
[FN#174] This story, a very old Joe Miller, was told to Lane as
something new and he introduced it into his Modern Egyptians, end of
chapt. ii.
[FN#175] This tale is a mere abbreviation of "The King and his
Wazir's Wife," in the Book of Sindibad or the Malice of Women,
Night dcxxviii., {which see for annotations}.
[FN#176] The older "Roe" which may be written "Rukh" or "Rukhkh."
Colonel Yule, the learned translator of Marco Polo, has shown that
"Roc's" feathers were not uncommon curiosities in mediζval ages; and
holds that they were mostly fronds of the palm Raphia vinifera, which
has the largest leaf in the vegetable kingdom and which the Moslems of
Zanzibar call "Satan's date-tree." I need hardly quote "Frate Cipolla
and the Angel Gabriel's Feather." (Decameron vi. 10.)
[FN#177] The tale is told in a bald, disjointed style and will be
repeated in Sindbad the Seaman where I shall again notice the "Roc."
See Night dxxxvii., etc.
[FN#178] Hνrah in Mesopotamia was a Christian city and
principality subject to the Persian Monarchs; and a rival to the
Roman kingdom of Ghassαn. It has a long history, for which see
D'Herbelot.
[FN#179] A pre-Islamite poet.
[FN#180] Arab. "Bikα'a," alluding to the pilgrimages made to
monasteries and here equivalent to, "Address ye to the road," etc.
[FN#181] Whose by name was Abu Ali, a poet under the Abbasides (eighth
and ninth centuries).
[FN#182] A well-known quarter of Baghdad, often mentioned in The
Nights.
[FN#183] Another well-known poet of the time.
[FN#184] Arab. "Sardαb": noticed before.
[FN#185] A gigantic idol in the Ka'abah, destroyed by Mohammed: it gave
name to a tribe.
[FN#186] Arab. "Ya Kawwαd:" hence the Port. and Span.
Alcoviteiro.
[FN#187] Arab "Tufayli," a term before noticed; the class was as
well-known in Baghdad and Cairo as in ancient Rome.
[FN#188] Arab. "Jauzar"=a bubalus (Antilope defessa), also called "Aye"
from the large black eyes. This bovine antelope is again termed Bakar
al-Wahsh (wild cattle) or "Bos Sylvestris" (incerti generic, Forsk.).
But Janzar also signifies hart, so I render it by "Ariel" (the
well-known antelope).
[FN#189] Arab. "Tarαib" plur. of tarνbah. The allusion is to the heart,
and "the little him's a her."
[FN#190] A well-known poet of the ninth century (A.D.).
[FN#191] These easy deaths for love are a lieu common: See sundry of
them in the Decameron (iv. 7, etc.); and, in the Heptameron (Nouv.
Ixx.), the widow who lay down and died of love and sorrow that her
passion had become known. For the fainting of lovers see Nouvelle xix.
[FN#192] This is a favourite Badawi dish, but too expensive unless some
accident happen to the animal. Old camel is much like bull-beef, but
the young meat is excellent, although not relished by Europeans
because, like strange fish, it has no recognised flavour. I have
noticed it in my "First Footsteps" (p. 68, etc.). There is an old idea
in Europe that the maniacal vengeance of the Arab is increased by
eating this flesh, the beast is certainly vindictive enough; but a
furious and frantic vengefulness characterises the North American
Indian who never saw a camel. Mercy and pardon belong to the elect, not
to the miserables who make up " humanity."
[FN#193] i.e. of the Province Hazramaut, the Biblical Hazarmaveth (Gen.
x. 26). The people are the Swill of Arabia and noted for thrift and
hard bargains; hence the saying, If you meet a serpent and a Hazrami,
slay the Hazrami. To prove how ubiquitous they are it is related that a
man, flying from their society, reached the uttermost parts of China
where he thought himself safe. But, as he was about to pass the night
in some ruin, he heard a voice bard by him exclaim, "O Imαd al-Din!"
(the name of the patron-saint of Hazramaut). Thereupon he arose and
fled and he is, they say, flying still.
[FN#194] Arab. "Fαl" alluding to the Sortes Coranicζ and other silly
practices known to the English servant-girs when curious about her
future and her futur.
[FN#195] i.e., in Arab-land (where they eat dates) and Ajam, or lands
non-Arab (where bread is the staff of life); that is, all the world
over.
[FN#196] This story is curious and ethnologically valuable. The Badawi
who eructates as a civility, has a mortal hatred to a crepitus ventris;
and were a by-stander to laugh at its accidental occurrence, he would
at once be cut down as a "pundonor." The same is the custom amongst the
Highlanders of Afghanistan, and its artificial nature suggests direct
derivation, for the two regions are separated by a host of tribes,
Persians and Baloch, Sindis and Panjαbis who utterly ignore the point
of honour and behave like Europeans. The raids of the pre-Islamitic
Arabs over the lands lying to the north-east of them are almost
forgotten; still there are traces, and this may be one of them.
[FN#197] Arab. "Al-Αr." The Badawi saying is "Al-nαr wa lα l- αr"
(Hell-)fire, but not shame. The sentiment is noble. Hasan the Prophet's
grandson, a poor creature demoralised by over- marrying, chose the
converse, "Shame is better than Hell-fire." An old Arabic poem has,
"The Fire and not shame be the Lord of thee
And e'en to The Fire from shame go flee."
Al-Hariri (Ass. of the Badawin) also has,
"For rather would I die my death than shame,—
On bier be borne than bear a caitiff's name."
[FN#198] A grammarian and rhetorician of ninth century.
[FN#199] Once existing in Syrian Hamαh (the Biblical Hamath); and so
called because here died the Emperor Heraclius called by the Arabs
"Hirakl."
[FN#200] Till lately it was the custom to confine madmen in Syrian
monasteries, hoping a cure from the patron Saint, and a terrible time
they had of it. Every guide book relates the healing process as
formerly pursued at the Maronite Convent Koshaya not far from Bayrut.
The idiot or maniac was thrust headlong by the monks into a dismal
cavern with a heavy chain round his neck, and was tied up within a span
of the wall to await the arrival of Saint Anthony who especially
affects this holy place. In very few weeks the patient was effectually
cured or killed by cold, solitude and starvation.
[FN#201] The Moslem Eve, much nearer the Hebrew "Hawah" = the
"manifester," because (Gen. iii. 20) she was (to be) the mother of all
that live ("Kull hayy").
[FN#202] The mad lover says "they" for "she," which would be too
familiar in speaking to strangers.
[FN#203] i.e. falsely to report the death.
[FN#204] A famous grammarian, etc., of the tenth century.
[FN#205] The classical Amorium in Phrygia now Anatolia: Anbαr is
a town (before mentioned) on the Euphrates; by the rules of
Arabic grammar the word is pronounced (though never written)
Ambαr.
[FN#206] "Art thou not the slave of the Messiah, the Rαhib (monk)?"
"No! I am the slave of Allah, the Rαghib (desirous of mercy from the
Almighty). " A fair specimen of the Saj'a or rhymed prose. Abdallah
(properly "Abdu'llah:") is a kind of neutral name, neither Jewish,
Moslem nor Christian; hence I adopted it, (Pilgrimage i. 20.)
[FN#207] Arab. "Hanut," prop. a tavern where liquors are sold, a term
applied contemptuously to shops, inns, etc., kept by Christians.
[FN#208] Arab. "Shirk" = syntheism of the "Mushrik" (one who makes
other gods partners with God), a word pronounced "Mushrit" by the
Wahhabis and the Badawin.
[FN#209] Koran vii. 195. The passage declaims against the idols of the
Arabs, sun, moon. stars, etc.
[FN#210] This minor miracle is commonly reported, and is not, I
believe, unknown to modern "Spiritualism." The dead Wali or Waliyah
(Saintess) often impels the bier-bearers to the spot where he would be
buried: hence in Cairo the tombs scattered about the city. Lane notices
it, Mod. E. chaps. xxviii.
[FN#211] Koran x. 36, speaking of being turned aside from the true
worship.
[FN#212] One of the Wazirs of al-Maamun, Kurrat al-Ayn = "coolness
(i.e. delight) of the eyes" Ali bin Hishαm surnamed Abu'l-Hasan, was
prefect of Baghdad under the same reign.
[FN#213] The Mac. Edit. (ii. 448) reads for Kawαid (plur. of Kαid =
Governors, Span. Alcayde) "Fawαid": hence Lane (ii. 606) translates "
try thy heart."
[FN#214] The mats of Sind were famous even in my day, but under
English rule native industries are killed out by Manchester and
Birmingham.
[FN#215] Sajαh was the name of a famous female impostor, a contemporary
of "Musaylimah the Liar."
[FN#216] A poet of Mohammed's day.
[FN#217] A singer and composer of the first century (A. H.).
[FN#218] Arab = a roe, a doe; also the Yoni (of women, mares and
bitches). It is the Heb. Tabitha and the Greek Dorcas.
[FN#219] Within the Hudϊd al-Harem (bounds of the Holy Places), at
Al-Medinah as well as Meccah, all "Muharramαt" (forbidden sins) are
doubly unlawful, such as drinking spirits, immoral life, etc. The Imam
Malik forbids slaying animals without, however, specifying any penalty.
The felling of trees is a disputed point; and no man can be put to
death except invaders, infidels and desecraters. (Pilgrimage ii. 167.)
[FN#220] A poet of the first century (A.H.).
[FN#221] In Arab. =a fawn beginning to walk, also the 28th lunar
mansion or station, usually known as Batn al-Hut or Whale's belly.
These mansions or houses, the constellations through which the moon
passes in her course along her orbit, are much used in Moslem astrology
and meteorology.
[FN#222] Arab. Kalla-mα = it is seldom (rare) that etc. used in books.
[FN#223] Dishonoured by his love being made public. So Hafiz,
Petrarch and Camoens.
[FN#224] Sixth Abbaside, A.D. 809-813.
[FN#225] Ala'llah, tenth Abbaside, A. H. 232-47 (847-61), grandson of
Al-Rashid who succeeded Al-Wαsik. He was a fanatic Sunni, much opposed
to the Shi'ahs and he ordered the Christians to wear round their necks
the Ghull (collar of wood, iron, or leather), to dress in yellow
head-gear and girdles, use wooden stirrups and place figures of devils
in front of their dwelling-houses. He also gave distinct dresses to
their women and slaves. The Ghull, or collar, was also used for a
punishment and vermin gathered under it when riveted round the neck:
hence Golius calls it "pediculosum columbar."
[FN#226] Wazir of the above. killed by al-Muntasir Billah A. H. 247 (=
861).
[FN#227] Easterns during purgation are most careful and deride the want
of precaution in Europeans. They do not leave the house till all is
passed off, and avoid baths, wine and women which they afterwards
resume with double zest. Here "breaking the seal" is taking the girl's
maidenhead.
[FN#228] Johannes, a Greek favoured by Al-Mutawakkil and other
Abbaside Caliphs.
[FN#229] Lady of Shaykhs, elders in the faith and men of learning
[FN#230] = A.D. 1166.
[FN#231] Koran iv. 38. I have before noted what the advantages are.
[FN#232] Koran ii. 282, "of those whom ye shall choose for witnesses."
[FN#233] Koran iv. 175, "Whereas if there be two sisters, they inherit
only two-thirds between them."
[FN#234] The secondary meaning is "Fα'il" = the active sodomite and
"Mafa'ϊl" = the passive, a catamite: the former is not an insulting
word, the latter is a most injurious expression. "Novimus et qui te!"
[FN#235] It is an unpleasant fact that almost all the poetry of Hαfiz
is addressed to youths, as we see by the occasional introduction of
Arabic (e.g., Afαka'llαh). Persian has no genders properly so called,
hence the effect is less striking. Sa'di, the "Persian Moralist" begins
one of the tales, "A certain learned man fell in love with a beautiful
son of a blacksmith," which Gladwin, translating for the general,
necessarily changed to "daughter."
[FN#236] The famous author of the Anthology called Al-Hamαsah.
[FN#237] i.e., teeth under the young mustachio.