The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 02 (of 10)
General
The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 02 (of 10)
Fairy tales; Tales -- Arab countries
[FN#123] These plunderings were sanctioned by custom. But a few years ago, when
the Turkish soldiers mutinied about arrears of pay (often delayed for years)
the governing Pasha would set fire to the town and allow the men to loot what
they pleased during a stated time. Rochet (soi-disant D'Héricourt) amusingly
describes this manoeuvre of the Turkish Governor of Al-Hodaydah in the last
generation. (Pilgrimage iii. 381.)
[FN#124] Another cenotaph whose use was to enable women to indulge in their pet
pastime of weeping and wailing in company.
[FN#125] The lodging of pauper travellers, as the chapel in Iceland is of the
wealthy. I have often taken benefit of the mosque, but as a rule it is
unpleasant, the matting being not only torn but over-populous. Juvenal seems to
allude to the Jewish Synagogue similarly used: "in quâ te quæro proseuchâ"?
(iii. 296) and in Acts iii. we find the lame, blind and impotent in the
Temple-porch.
[FN#126] This foul sort of vermin is supposed to be bred by perspiration. It is
an epoch in the civilised traveller's life when he catches his first louse.
[FN#127] The Moslem peasant is a kind-hearted man and will make many sacrifices
for a sick stranger even of another creed. It is a manner of "pundonor" with
the village.
[FN#128] Such treatment of innocent women was only too common under the
Caliphate and in contemporary Europe.
[FN#129] This may also mean, "And Heaven will reward thee," but camel-men do
not usually accept any drafts upon futurity.
[FN#130] He felt that he was being treated like a corpse.
[FN#131] This hatred of the Hospital extends throughout Southern
Europe, even in places where it is not justified.
[FN#132] The importance of the pillow (wisádah or makhaddah) to the sick man is
often recognised in The Nights. "He took to his pillow" is = took to his bed.
[FN#133] i.e in order that the reverend men, who do not render such suit and
service gratis, might pray for him.
[FN#134] The reader will notice in The Nights the frequent mention of these
physical prognostications, with which mesmerists are familiar.
[FN#135] The Pers. name of the planet Saturn in the Seventh
Heaven. Arab. "Zuhal"; the Kiun or Chiun of Amos vi. 26.
[FN#136] i.e. "Pardon me if I injured thee"— a popular phrase.
[FN#137] A "seduction," a charmer. The double-entendre has before been noticed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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