NOTES TO CHAPTER SIXTH.
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Lane, Edward William, Poole, Edward Stanley, and Harvey, William
Note 30. The "melwaṭah" is a garment of which I was unable to obtain a description until I inquired of my friend Mr. Salamé, who informed me that it was the name of a large outer garment which used to be worn over the farajeeyeh. But I afterwards found it stated in one of the marginal notes to a later tale, that the term above mentioned is now pronounced "mellooṭah," and is applied in the present day to an article of dress of cloth or other costly material; particularly to a jubbeh; but that it is also employed, in allusion to a jubbeh, &c., in a contemptuous sense, or, as I infer, ironically.
Note 31. See Note 41 to Chapter iv.
Note 32. The "lithám" is a piece of drapery with which a Bedawee often covers the lower part of his face. It frequently prevents his being recognised by another Arab who might make him a victim of blood-revenge; and is a means of disguise seldom employed but by Arabs of the desert.
Note 33. The meaning is, that the act would speak for itself, and be long remembered; that the grave of the fisherman would be pointed out as that of one to whom the Khaleefeh had shewn signal favours.
Note 34. It is a common custom of Arabs of the lower orders to put the money which they receive, especially when it is the first of the day's gains, to the lips and forehead before depositing it in the pocket; and the same is sometimes done by persons of the middle class.
Note 35. Literally, "twenty nuṣfs." See Note 17 to Chapter iii.
Note 36. These are the Ḳáḍees of the four great sects, or persuasions, of the Sunnee Muslims. See Note 1 to the Introduction.
Note 37. The words "and the Wezeer took him away" are omitted in the Cairo edition.
Note 38. "Ḳuṭeyṭ" is the diminutive of "ḳiṭṭ," vulgo "ḳuṭṭ," a "cat," and properly a "he-cat."
Note 39. The words which I translate "the place of blood" literally signify "the place of the stagnation of blood;" and are applied to the usual place of decapitation, because the blood is left there to soak into the ground.
Note 40. The recompense here alluded to is one to be received at the final retribution; not in the present life.
Note 41. This kind of "ḳulleh " is a small, porous, earthen bottle, with a wide mouth. Some specimens of it are figured beneath.
Source notes
344 See De Sacy, Chrestomathie Arabe, vol. ii. pp. 99 and 120, 2nd ed.
345 In Arabic, "maḥḍaru kheyrin" (vulg., "maḥḍar kheyr"); in Turkish, "neek maḥẓar."
346 Ch. ii. v. 173.
347 Ch. iv. v. 34.
348 Or, according to some, ten thousand dirhems.
349 More than one is unusual; but, at the funeral of Moḥammad 'Alee Báshà, which I witnessed in Cairo, about eighty buffaloes were thus driven in the procession: in the narrow streets of the city, however, many of them disappeared, one after another, so that few reached the tomb.—Ed.
350 If the reader desire more detailed information on the subject of this note, I refer him to my work on the Modern Egyptians, vol. ii. ch. xv.