[FN#224] Arab. "Sátúr," a kind of chopper which here would be used for the purpose of splitting and cleaning and scaling the fish. [FN#225] And, consequently, that the prayer he is about to make will find ready acceptance. [FN#226] Arab. "Ruh bilá Fuzúl" (lit. excess, exceeding) still a popular phrase. [FN#227] i.e. better give the fish than have my head broken. [FN#228] Said ironicč, a favourite figure of speech with the Fellah: the day began badly and threatened to end unluckily. [FN#229] The penalty of Theft. See vol. i. 274. [FN#230] This is the model of a courtly compliment; and it would still be admired wherever Arabs are not "frankified." [FN#231] Arab. "Shibábah;" Lane makes it a kind of reed- flageolet. [FN#232] These lines occur in vol. i. 76: I quote Mr. Payne. [FN#233] The instinctive way of juggling with Heaven like our sanding the sugar and going to church. [FN#234] Arab. "Yá Shukayr," from Shakar, being red (clay, etc.): Shukár is an anemone or a tulip and Shukayr is its dim. Form. Lane's Shaykh made it a dim. of "Ashkar" = tawny, ruddy (of complexion), so the former writes, "O Shukeyr." Mr. Payne prefers "O Rosy cheeks." [FN#235] For "Sandal," see vol. ii. {55}. Sandalí properly means an Eunuch clean rasé, but here Sandal is a P.N. = Sandal-wood. [FN#236] Arab. "Yá mumátil," one who retards payment. [FN#237] Arab. "Kirsh al-Nukhál" = Guts of bran, a term little fitted for the handsome and distinguished Persian. But Khalifah is a Fellah-grazioso of normal assurance shrewd withal; he blunders like an Irishman of the last generation and he uses the first epithet that comes to his tongue. See Night dcccxliii. for the sudden change in Khalifah. [FN#238] So the Persian "May your shadow never be less" means, I have said, the shadow which you throw over your servant. Shade, cold water and fresh breezes are the joys of life in arid Arabia. [FN#239] When a Fellah demanded money due to him by the Government of Egypt, he was a once imprisoned for arrears of taxes and thus prevented from being troublesome. I am told that matters have improved under English rule, but I "doubt the fact." [FN#240] This freak is of course not historical. The tale- teller introduces it to enhance the grandeur and majesty of Harun al-Rashid, and the vulgar would regard it as a right kingly diversion. Westerns only wonder that such things could be. [FN#241] Uncle of the Prophet: for his death see Pilgrimage ii. 248. [FN#242] First cousin of the Prophet, son of Abú Tálib, a brother of Al-Abbas from whom the Abbasides claimed descent. [FN#243] i.e. I hope thou hast or Allah grant thou have good tidings to tell me. [FN#244] Arab. "Nákhúzah Zulayt." The former, from the Persian Nákhodá or ship-captain which is also used in a playful sense "a godless wight," one owning no (ná) God (Khudá). Zulayt = a low fellow, blackguard. [FN#245] Yásamín and Narjis, names of slave-girls or eunuchs.