[591]. A gold coin, now become scarce. Its value, I am informed, is about a third of a pound sterling, or rather less.
[592]. “Shóbash” is synonymous with “nukoot,” being an Arabic corruption of the Persian “shábásh,” which also signifies “well done!” “excellent!”
[593]. The phrase was thus written and explained to me by a sheykh; but I suspect it should be, “Ikbál le-’anduh,” which is an expression vulgarly used to signify, “access to him,” and would mean, in this case, “[May we have] access to him!”
[594]. These customs remind us of St. Paul’s advice to the Ephesians, chap. v., ver. 19; which shows the antiquity of social pastimes of this kind. The Egyptians highly enjoy the religious love-songs of the munshids at zikrs.
[595]. The Subooa after the birth of a child is celebrated with more rejoicing; and therefore, in speaking of the Yóm es-Subooa, the seventh day after childbirth is generally understood.
[596]. It was not such a festival as this alone that is alluded to in Genesis xxix. 27, and in Judges xiv. 12. It was, and I believe is still, the custom of wealthy Bedawees (and such was Laban) to feast their friends seven days after marriage (as also after the birth of a male child); and every respectable Muslim, after marriage, if disappointed in the expectations he has been led to form of his wife, abstains from putting her away for about a week, that she may not be disgraced by suspicion; particularly if it be her first marriage.
[597]. See Exodus i. 16.
[598]. Some women add another ingredient; not when it is to be sent to friends; but for a particular purpose, which is, to make them fat: they broil and mash up a number of beetles in the butter; and then add the honey, etc. This has been alluded to in the chapter on the Domestic Life of the Women.
[599]. In a note to the second paragraph of the preceding chapter.
[600]. In like manner, the Jewish law pronounces a woman unclean during forty days after the birth of a male child; but double that time after bearing a female child. See Leviticus xii. 2, 4, 5.