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Notes to The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 1 — Page 29

698 notes in Richard Francis Burton translation. Follow a thought back to its place in the book.

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The Barber’s Tale of his Fifth Brother.

Note 674

Arab. "al-Málihah" also means the beautiful (fem.) from Milh=salt, splendour, etc., the Mac edit. has "Mumallihah" = a salt-vessel.

The Barber’s Tale of his Fifth Brother.

Note 675

i.e., to see if he felt the smart.

The Barber’s Tale of his Fifth Brother.

Note 676

Arab. "Sardábeh" (Persian)=an underground room used for coolness in the hot season. It is unknown in Cairo but every house in Baghdad, in fact throughout the Mesopotamian cities, h…

The Barber’s Tale of his Fifth Brother.

Note 677

In the orig. "O old woman!" which is insulting.

The Barber’s Tale of his Fifth Brother.

Note 678

So the Italians say "a quail to skin."

The Barber’s Tale of his Fifth Brother.

Note 679

"Amán" is the word used for quarter on the battle-field; and there are Joe Millers about our soldiers in India mistaking it for "a man" or (Scottice) "a mon."

The Barber’s Tale of his Fifth Brother.

Note 680

Illustrating the Persian saying "Allah himself cannot help a fool."

The Barber’s Tale of his Fifth Brother.

Note 681

Any article taken from the person and given to a criminal is a promise of pardon, of course on the implied condition of plenary confession and of becoming "King's evidence."

The Barber’s Tale of his Fifth Brother.

Note 682

A naïve proposal to share the plunder.

The Barber’s Tale of his Sixth Brother.

Note 683

In popular literature "Schacabac.", And from this tale comes our saying "A Barmecide's Feast," i.e., an illusion.

The Barber’s Tale of his Sixth Brother.

Note 684

The Castrato at the door is still (I have said) the fashion of Cairo and he acts "Suisse" with a witness.

The Barber’s Tale of his Sixth Brother.

Note 685

As usual in the East, the mansion was a hollow square surrounding what in Spain is called Patio: the outer entrance was far from the inner, showing the extent of the grounds.

The Barber’s Tale of his Sixth Brother.

Note 686

"Nahnu málihín" = we are on terms of salt, said and say the Arabs. But the traveller must not trust in these days to the once sacred tie; there are tribes which will give bread wit…

The Barber’s Tale of his Sixth Brother.

Note 687

Arab. "Harísah," the meat-pudding before explained.

The Barber’s Tale of his Sixth Brother.

Note 688

Arab. "Sikbáj," before explained; it is held to be a lordly dish, invented by Khusraw Parwiz. "Fatted duck" says the Bresl. Edit. ii., 308, with more reason.

The Barber’s Tale of his Sixth Brother.

Note 689

I was reproved in Southern Abyssinia for eating without this champing, "Thou feedest like a beggar who muncheth silently in his corner;" and presently found that it was a sign of g…

The Barber’s Tale of his Sixth Brother.

Note 690

Barley in Arabia is, like our oats, food for horses: it fattens at the same time that it cools them. Had this been known to our cavalry when we first occupied Egypt in 1883-4 our l…

The Barber’s Tale of his Sixth Brother.

Note 691

i.e. "I conjure thee by God."

The Barber’s Tale of his Sixth Brother.

Note 692

i.e. "This is the very thing for thee."

The Barber’s Tale of his Sixth Brother.

Note 693

i.e., at random.

The Barber’s Tale of his Sixth Brother.

Note 694

This is the way of slaughtering the camel, whose throat is never cut on account of the thickness of the muscles. "Égorger un chameau" is a mistake often made in French books.

The End of the Tailor’s Tale.

Note 695

i.e. I will break bounds.

The End of the Tailor’s Tale.

Note 696

The Arabs have a saying corresponding with the dictum of the Salernitan school:— Noscitur a labiis quantum sit virginis antrum: Noscitur a naso quanta sit hasta viro; (A maiden's m…

The End of the Tailor’s Tale.

Note 697

Arab. "Kahkahah," a very low proceeding.