[426] Lane （M. E. chapt.. iii.） shows by a sketch the position of the worshipper during this 'Salam'which is addressed，some say，to the guardian angels，others suppose to all brother-believers and angels.
[427] i.e.，where the Syrians found him.
[428] i.e.，Dedianus Arabised；a name knightly and plebian.
[429] In such tales the Wazir is usually the sharp-witted man，contrasting with the 'dummy，'or master.
[430] Carrier-pigeons were extensively used at this time. The Caliph Al-Nasir li-Dini 'llah （regn. A.H. 575=1180） was，according to Ibn Khaldun，very fond of them. The moderns of Damascus still affect them. My successor，Mr. Consul Kirby Green，wrote an excellent report on pigeon-fancying at Damascus. The so-called Maundeville or Mandeville in A. D. 1322 speaks of carrier-pigeons in Syria as a well-known mode Of intercourse between lord and lord.
[431] Mohammed who declared 'There is no monkery in Al-Islam，'and who virtually abolished the priest，had an especial aversion to the shaveling （Ruhban）. But the 'Gens aeterna in qua nemo nascitur'（Pliny v. 17） managed to appear even in Al-lslam，as Fakirs，，Dervishes，Sufis，etc. Of this more hereafter.
[432] i.e. her holiness would act like a fascinating talisman.
[433] The 'smoking out'practice is common amongst the Arabs：
hence Marshal Pelissier's so- called 'barbarity.'The Public is apt to forget that on a campaign the general's first duty is to save his own men by any practice which the laws of fair warfare do not absolutely forbid.
[434] i.e. Mohammed，who promised Heaven and threatened Hell.
[435] Arab. 'Ahr'or 'ihr，'fornication or *****ery，i.e.irreligion，infidelity as amongst the Hebrews （Isaiah xxiii.17）.
[436] A sign of defeat.
[437] In English 'last night'：I have already noted that the Moslem day，like the Jewish and the Scandinavian，begins at sundown；and 'layl 'a night，is often used to denote the twenty-four hours between sunset and sunset，whilst 'yaum，'a day，would by us be translated in many cases 'battle-day.'
[438] Iterum the 'Himalayan Brothers.'
[439] Again，Mohammed who promised Good to the Good，and vice versa.
[440] They are sad doggrel like most of the pieces d'occasion inserted in The Nights.
[441] Here 'Kahwah'（coffee） is used in its original sense of strong old wine. The derivation is 'Akha'=fastidire fecit，causing disinclination for food，the Matambre （kill- hunger） of the Iberians. In old days the scrupulous called coffee 'Kihwah'in order to distinguish it from 'Kakwah，'wine.
[442] i.e. Mohammed，a common title.
[443] That is，fatal to the scoffer and the impious.
[444] Equivalent to our 'The Devil was sick，'etc.
[445] i.e. to the enemy：the North American Indians （so called）use similar forms of 'inverted speech'；and the Australian aborigines are in no way behind them.
[446] See Vol. i.，p. 154 （Night xvi.）.
[447] Arab. 'Sauf，'a particle denoting a near future whereas 'Sa-'points to one which may be very remote.
[448] From the root 'Shanh'=having a fascinating eye，terrifying. The Irish call the fascinater 'eybitter'and the victim （who is also rhymed to death） 'eybitten.'
[449] i.e.，not like the noble-born，strong in enduring the stress of fight.
[450] i.e.，of Abraham. For the Well Zemzem and the Place of Abraham see my Pilgrimage （iii. 171-175，etc.），where I described the water as of salt-bitter taste，like that of Epsom （iii. 203）.Sir William Muir （in his excellent life of Mahomet，I. cclviii.）
remarks that 'the flavour of stale water bottled up for months would not be a criterion of the same water freshly drawn；'but soldered tins-full of water drawn a fortnight before are to be had in Calcutta and elsewhere after Pilgrimage time；and analysis would at once detect the salt.
[451] Racing was and is a favourite pastime with those hippomanists，the Arabs；but it contrasts strongly with our civilised form being a trial of endurance rather than of speed. The Prophet is said to have limited betting in these words，'There shall be no wagering save on the Kuff （camel's foot），the Hafir （hoof of horse，ass，etc.） or the Nasal （arrow-pile or lance head）.'
[452] In the Mac. Edit. 'Arman'=Armenia，which has before occurred. The author or scribe here understands by 'Caesarea'not the old Turris Stratonis，Herod's city called after Augustus，but Caesareia the capital of Cappadocia （Pliny，vi. 3），the royal residence before called Mazaca （Strabo）.
[453] An idiom meaning 'a very fool.'
[454] i.e. Kana （was） ma （that which） was （kana）.
[455] A son being 'the lamp of a dark house.'
[456] When the Israelites refused to receive the Law （the souls of all the Prophets even those unborn being present at the Covenant），Allah tore up the mountain （Sinai which is not mentioned） by the roots and shook it over their heads to terrify them，saying，'Receive the Law which we have given you with a resolution to keep it'（Koran chaps. xlx. 170）. Much of this story is from the Talmud （Abodah Sar. 2，2，Tract Sabbath，etc.） whence Al-Islam borrowed so much of its Judaism，as it took Christianity from the Apocryphal New Testament. This tradition is still held by the Israelites，says Mr. Rodwell （p. 333） who refers it to a misunderstanding of Exod. xix. 17，rightly rendered in the E.
version 'at the nether part of the mountain.'
[457] Arab. 'Azghan'= the camel-litters in which women travel.
[458] i.e. to joy foes and dismay friends.
[459] Whose eyes became white （i.e. went blind） with mourning for his son Joseph （Koran，chaps. xii. 84）. He recovered his sight when his face was covered with the shirt which Gabriel had given to the youth after his brethren had thrown him into the well.
[460] 'Poison King'（Persian）；or 'Flower-King'（Arabic）.
[461] A delicate allusion to the size of her hips and back parts，in which volume is，I have said，greatly admired for the best of reasons.