Note 269 — ABDULLAH[232] THE FISHERMAN AND ABDULLAH THE MERMAN.

Arab. “Shíraj” = oil extracted from rape seed but especially from sesame. The Persians pronounce it “Síraj” (apparently unaware that it is their own word “Shírah” = juice in Arabic garb) and have coined a participle “Musayrij” e.g., Bú-imusayrij, taint of sesame-oil applied especially to the Jews who very wisely prefer, in Persia and elsewhere, oil which is wholesome to butter which is not. The Moslems, however, declare that its immoderate use in cooking taints the exudations of the skin.