GLOSSARY
Aiwa——Yes.
Allah hu Achbar——God is most Great.
Al'mah——Female professional singers, signifying "a learned female."
Ardab——A measure equivalent to five English bushels.
Backsheesh——Tip, douceur.
Balass——Earthen vessel for carrying water.
Bdsha——Pasha.
Bersim——Clover.
Bismillah——In the name of God.
Bowdb——A doorkeeper.
Dahabieh——A Nile houseboat with large lateen sails.
Darabukkeh——A drum made of a skin stretched over an earthenware funnel.
Dourha——Maize.
Effendina——Most noble.
El Azhar——The Arab University at Cairo.
Fedddn——A measure of land representing about an acre.
Fellah——The Egyptian peasant.
Ghiassa——Small boat.
Hakim——Doctor.
Hasheesh——Leaves of hemp.
Inshallah——God willing.
Kdnoon——A musical instrument like a dulcimer.
Kavass——An orderly.
Kemengeh——A cocoanut fiddle.
Khamsin——A hot wind of Egypt and the Soudan.
Kourbash——A whip, often made of rhinoceros hide.
La ilaha illa-llah——There is no deity but God.
Malaish——No matter.
Malboos——Demented.
Mastaba——A bench.
Medjidie——A Turkish Order.
Mooshrabieh——Lattice window.
Moufettish——High Steward.
Mudir——The Governor of a
Mudirieh, or province.
Muezzin——The sheikh of the mosque who calls to prayer.
Narghileh——A Persian pipe.
Nebool——A quarter-staff.
Ramadan——The Mahommedan season of fasting.
Saadat-el-bdsha——Excellency Pasha.
Sdis——Groom.
Sakkia——The Persian water-wheel.
Salaam——Eastern salutation.
Sheikh-el-beled——Head of a village.
Tarboosh——A Turkish turban.
Ulema——Learned men.
Wakf——Mahommedan Court dealing with succession, etc.
Welee——A holy man or saint.
Yashmak——A veil for the lower part of the face.
Yelek——A long vest or smock.