[571]. It is also called “’Eed el-Kurbán” (or the Festival of the Sacrifice), and by the Turks, “Kurbán Beyrám.”
[572]. I believe that this period has been called by all European writers who have mentioned it, excepting myself, “El-Khamseen,” or by the same term differently expressed, signifying the Fifty; i.e. the Fifty days; but it is always termed by the Arabs “el-Khamáseen,” which signifies the Fifties, being a vulgar plural of Khamseen. In like manner, the Arabs call the corresponding period of the Jewish calendar by a term exactly agreeing with “el-Khamáseen;” namely “el-Khamseenát;” only its last day being termed “el-Khamseen.” See De Sacy’s “Chrestomathie Arabe,” 2nde éd., tome i., p. 98 of the Arabic text, and pp. 292 and 320 of his translation and notes. This eminent scholar, however, appears to have had no authority but that of Europeans for the name of the above-mentioned period of the Coptic calendar; for he has followed the travellers, and written it “Khamsin.”
[573]. “Kishk” (as the word is commonly pronounced, but properly “keshik”) is prepared from wheat, first moistened, then dried, trodden in a vessel to separate the husks, and coarsely ground with a hand-mill: the meal is mixed with milk, and about six hours afterwards is spooned out upon a little straw or bran, and then left for two or three days to dry. When required for use, it is either soaked or pounded, and put into a sieve, over a vessel; and then boiling water is poured on it. What remains in the sieve is thrown away; what passes through is generally poured into a saucepan of boiled meat or fowl, over the fire. Some leaves of white beet, fried in butter, are usually added to each plate of it.
[574]. Beans soaked in water until they begin to sprout, and then boiled.
[575]. Chap. ii., ver. 244.
[576]. That is, to his tomb.
[577]. He would be guilty of a sin if he did not do this when desired.
[578]. This present year (1834), the river having risen with unusual rapidity, the dam was cut on the 5th of August. Fears were entertained lest it should overflow the dam before it was cut: which would have been regarded as an evil omen.
[579]. The words thus translated, the boys pronounce “O′fa-lléh,” for “Owfa-lláh.”
[580]. This is an old building between the aqueduct and Masr el-’Ateekah, where the Sultáns and Governors of Egypt used to alight, and inspect the state of the river, previously to the cutting of the dam of the canal.