Note 337
The moles are here compared with pearls; a simile by no means common or appropriate.
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Notes to The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 1 — Page 15
698 notes in Richard Francis Burton translation. Follow a thought back to its place in the book.
698 notes
Note 338
A parody on the testification of Allah's Unity.
Read the noteNote 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!…
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In the text "Dastúr," the Persian word before noticed; "Izn" would be the proper Arabic equivalent.
Read the noteNote 341
In the Moslem East a young woman, single or married, is not allowed to appear alone in the streets; and the police have a right to arrest delinquents. As a preventive of intrigues …
Read the noteNote 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 fin…
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This is a very serious thing amongst Moslems and scrupulous men often make great sacrifices to avoid taking an oath.
Read the noteNote 344
We should say "into the noose."
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The man had fallen in love with her and determined to mark her so that she might be his.
Read the noteNote 346
Arab. "Dajlah," in which we find the Heb. Hid-dekel.
Read the noteNote 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…
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Arab. "Shirk," partnership, evening or associating gods with God; polytheism: especially levelled at the Hindu triadism, Guebre dualism and Christian Trinitarianism.
Read the noteNote 349
Arab. "Shatm"—abuse, generally couched in foulest language with especial reference to the privy parts of female relatives.
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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 …
Read the noteNote 351
Arab. "Khalifah," Caliph. The word is also used for the successor of a Santon or holy man.
Read the noteNote 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 …
Read the noteNote 353
Both these sons of Harun became Caliphs, as we shall see in The Nights.
Read the noteNote 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."
Read the noteNote 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 AI-Islam (D'Herbelot).
Read the noteNote 356
Europe translates the word "Barmecides. It is Persian from bar (up) and makidan (to suck). The vulgar legend is that Ja'afar, the first of the name, appeared before the Caliph Abd …
Read the noteNote 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 AI-Islam) but…
Read the noteNote 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 verginita of Boccaccio, x. 10.
Read the noteNote 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 u…
Read the noteNote 360
The Arab equivalent of our pitcher and well.
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