[FN#104] Arab. "Kámah," a measure of length, a fathom, also called "Bá'a." Both are omitted in that sadly superficial book, Lane's Modern Egyptians, App. B. [FN#105] Names of her slave-girls which mean (in order), Garden-bloom, Dawn (or Beautiful), Tree o' Pearl (P. N. of Saladin's wife), Light of (right) Direction, Star o' the Morn, Lewdness (= Shahwah, I suppose this is a chaff), Delight, Sweetmeat and Miss Pretty. [FN#106] This mode of disposing of a rival was very common in Harems. But it had its difficulties and on the whole the river was (and is) preferred. [FN#107] An Eastern dislikes nothing more than drinking in a dim dingy place: the brightest lights seem to add to his "drinkitite." [FN#108] He did not sleep with her because he suspected some palace-mystery which suggested prudence, she also had her reasons. [FN#109] This as called in Egypt "Allah." (Lane M. E. chaps. i.) [FN#110] It would be a broad ribbon-like band upon which the letters could be worked. [FN#111] In the Arab. "he cried." These "Yes, Yes! and No! No!" trifles are very common amongst the Arabs. [FN#112] Arab. "Maragha" lit. rubbed his face on them like a fawning dog. Ghanim is another "softy" lover, a favourite character in Arab tales; and by way of contrast, the girl is masterful enough. [FN#113] Because the Abbaside Caliphs descend from Al-Abbas, paternal uncle of Mohammed, text means more explicitly, "O descendant of the Prophet's uncle!" [FN#114] The most terrible part of a belle passion in the East is that the beloved will not allow her lover leave of absence for an hour. [FN#115] It is hard to preserve these wretched puns. In the original we have "O spray (or branch) of capparis-shrub (aráki) which has been thinned of leaf and fruit (tujna, i.e., whose fruit, the hymen, has been plucked before and not by me) I see thee (aráka) against me sinning (tajní). [FN#116] Apparently the writer forgets that the Abbaside banners and dress were black, originally a badge of mourning for the Imám Ibrahim bin Mohammed put to death by the Ommiade Caliph Al-Marwan. The modern Egyptian mourning, like the old Persian, is indigo-blue of the darkest; but, as before noted, the custom is by no means universal. [FN#117] Koran, chaps. iv. In the East as elsewhere the Devil quotes Scripture. [FN#118] A servant returning from a journey shows his master due honour by appearing before him in travelling suit and uncleaned. [FN#119] The first name means "Rattan", the second "Willow-wand," from the "Bán" or "Khiláf" the Egyptian willow (Salix Ægyptiaca Linn.) vulgarly called "Safsáf." Forskal holds the "Bán" to be a different variety. [FN#120] Arab. "Ta'ám," which has many meanings: in mod. parlance it would signify millet, holcus-seed. [FN#121] i.e. "I well know how to deal with him." [FN#122] The Pen (title of the Koranic chaps. Ixviii.) and the Preserved Tablet (before explained).