[318] The student is of course aware that in most languages a question is frequently equivalent to a negative, as in this sentence. A sapient critic, to whom I have more than once alluded, was pleased to honour me with the following profound remark on the reading given in the original, viz.—"There is a slip here in Forbes's edition, as well as the Calcutta one. The word nahin, 'not,' is omitted, which destroys the whole sense!!!"
[319] The kaliyan (or as the moderns say, kaliyun) is the Persian hukka.
[320] This is, as the vulgate hath it, "coming it a little too strong;" but be it remembered that Oriental story-tellers do not mar the interest of their narrative by a slavish adherence to probability.
[321] Here the king Azad Bakht speaks in his own person, and addresses himself to the four darweshes.
[322] With regard to the essence of bed-mushk vide note 2, page 42.
[323] The image of the Divine power in that country of Pagans.
[324] Vide note 3, page 30, respecting the chilla, or "period of forty."
[325] That is to say, she had never seen a Muhammadan at his prayers.
[326] Lat and Manat were the two great idols of Hindu worship in former times.
[327] In the languages of southern India, Turk is the general appellation for a Musalman.