Note 401 — ALI NUR AL-DIN AND MIRIAM THE GIRDLE-GIRL.[376]

Khulanján. Sic all editions; but Khalanj, or Khaulanj adj. Khalanji, a tree with a strong-smelling wood which held in hand as a chaplet acts as perfume, as is probably intended. In Span. Arabic it is the Erica-wood. The “Muhit” tells us that is a tree parcel yellow and red growing in parts of India and China, its leaf is that of the Tamarisk (Tarfá); its flower is coloured red, yellow and white; it bears a grain like mustard-seed (Khardal) and of its wood they make porringers. Hence the poet sings:—

Yut ’amu ’l-shahdu fí ’l-jifáni, wa yuska ✿ Labanu ’l-Bukhti fi Kusá’i ’l-Khalanji:

Honey’s served to them in platters for food; ✿ Camels’ milk in bowls of the Khalanj wood.

The pl. Khalánij is used by Himyán bin Kaháfah in this “bayt”:—

Hattá izá má qazati ’l-Hawáijá ✿ Wa malaat Halába-há ’l-Khalánijá:

Until she had done every work of hers ✿ And with sweet milk had filled the porringers.