scribes or Tálibs who make a profession of writing. These may frequently be seen in small rooms opening on to the street, usually very respectably dressed in a white flowing haik and large turban, and in most cases of venerable appearance, their noses being adorned with huge goggles. Before them are their appliances,?pens made of reeds, ink, paper, and sand in lieu of blotting paper. They usually possess also a knife and scissors, with a case to hold them all. In writing, they place the paper on the knee, or upon a pad of paper in the left hand." The main merit of the village school in Eastern lands is its noises which teach the boy to concentrate his attention. As Dr. Wilson of Bombay said, the young idea is taught to shout as well as to shoot, and this vivâ voce process is a far better mnemonic than silent reading. Moreover it is fine practice in the art of concentrating attention. [FN#140] Arab. "Mikshat," whose root would be "Kasht" = skinning (a camel). [FN#141] Evidently said ironicè as of innocents. In "The Forty Vezirs" we read, "At length they perceived that all this tumult arose from their trusting on this wise the words of children." (Lady's XXth Tale.) [FN#142] MS. iii. 219-220. For some unaccountable reason it is omitted by Scott (vi. 76), who has written English words in the margin of the W. M. Codex. [FN#143] In text "Kádúm," for "Kudúm," a Syrian form. [FN#144] Arab. "Hidyah," which in Egypt means a falcon; see vol. iii. 138. [FN#145] Arab. "Sifah," = lit. a quality. [FN#146] Arab. "Istiláh" = specific dialect, idiom. See De Sacy, Chrestomathie, i. 443, where the learned Frenchman shows abundant learning, but does very little for the learner. [FN#147] In the text "Kattán" = linen, flax. [FN#148] Arab. "Fí Jífán ka'l-Jawábí!" which, I suppose, means small things (or men) and great.