Note 506
This is still a popular form of the "Kinchin lay," and as the turbands are often of fine stuff, the petite industrie pays well.
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Notes to The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 1 — Page 22
698 notes in Richard Francis Burton translation. Follow a thought back to its place in the book.
698 notes
Note 507
Arab. "Wali" = Governor; the term still in use for the Governor General of a Province as opposed to the "Muháfiz," or district-governor. In Eastern Arabia the Wali is the Civil Gov…
Read the noteNote 508
Arab. "Al-Mashá ilí" = the bearer of a cresset (Mash'al) who was also Jack Ketch. In Anglo-India the name is given to a lower body-servant. The "Mash'al" which Lane (M. E., chapt. …
Read the noteNote 509
I need hardly say that the civilised "drop" is unknown to the East where men are strung up as to a yardarm. This greatly prolongs the suffering.
Read the noteNote 510
Arab. "Lukmah"; = a mouthful. It is still the fashion amongst Easterns of primitive manners to take up a handful of rice, etc., ball it and put it into a friend's mouth honoris cau…
Read the noteNote 511
I need hardly note that this is an old Biblical practice. The ass is used for city-work as the horse for fighting and travelling, the mule for burdens and the dromedary for the des…
Read the noteNote 512
A dry measure of about five bushels (Cairo). The classical pronunciation is Irdabb and it measured 24 sa'a (gallons) each filling four outstretched hands.
Read the noteNote 513
"Al-Jawáli" should be Al-Jáwali (Al-Makrizi) and the Bab al-Nasr (Gate of Victory) is that leading to Suez. I lived in that quarter as shown by my Pilgrimage (i. 62).
Read the noteNote 514
Arab. "Al-'ajalah," referring to a saying in every Moslem mouth, "Patience is from the Protector (Allah): Hurry is from Hell." That and "Inshallah bukra!" (Please God tomorrow.) ar…
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Here it is a polite equivalent for "fall to!"
Read the noteNote 516
The left hand is used throughout the East for purposes of ablution and is considered unclean. To offer the left hand would be most insulting and no man ever strokes his beard with …
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Two feminine names as we might say Mary and Martha.
Read the noteNote 518
It was near the Caliph's two Palaces (Al Kasrayn); and was famous in the 15th century A. D. The Kazi's Mahkamah (Court house) now occupies the place of the Two Palaces
Read the noteNote 519
A Kaysariah is a superior kind of bazar, a "bezestein." That in the text stood to the east of the principal street in Cairo and was built in A. H. 502 (=1108-9) by a Circassian Emi…
Read the noteNote 520
Arab. "Second Day," i.e. after Saturday, the true Sabbath, so marvellously ignored by Christendom.
Read the noteNote 521
Readers who wish to know how a traveller is lodged in a Wakálah, Khan, or Caravanserai, will consult my Pilgrimage, i. 60.
Read the noteNote 522
The original occupation of the family had given it a name, as amongst us.
Read the noteNote 523
The usual "chaff" or banter allowed even to modest women when shopping, and—many a true word is spoken in jest.
Read the noteNote 524
"La adamnák" = Heaven deprive us not of thee, i.e. grant I see thee often!
Read the noteNote 525
This is a somewhat cavalier style of advance; but Easterns under such circumstances go straight to the point, hating to filer the parfait amour.
Read the noteNote 526
The peremptory formula of a slave delivering such a message.
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This would be our Thursday night, preceding the day of public prayers which can be performed only when in a state of ceremonial purity. Hence many Moslems go to the Hammam on Thurs…
Read the noteNote 528
Lane (i. 423) gives ample details concerning the Habbániyah, or grain-sellers' quarter in the southern part of Cairo; and shows that when this tale was written (or transcribed?) th…
Read the noteNote 529
Nakíb is a caravan-leader, a chief, a syndic; and "Abú Shámah"= Father of a cheek mole, while "Abú Shámmah" = Father of a smeller, a nose, a snout. The "Kuniyah," bye-name, patrony…
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