FOOTNOTES:
[70] A piece of money worth 16 piasters.
[71] Shaykh Omar ed Dyn was a Turk of the old school; that is, a man rigid in his religious observances, one who knew not the taste of wines or spirits, and of inconceivable cleanliness, in which points the modern Syrians are somewhat remiss.
[72] The sunflower.
[73] Her ladyship appears, from having lived a long time in Downing Street, to have acquired some knowledge on a subject which has lately created such lively discussions in the House of Commons.
[74] The book here meant is M. Lamartine’s “Souvenirs de l’Orient.” What Lady Hester here refers to as incorrect relates to her journey into the Desert with Mr. Lascaris; about which, and about the dispute with Mr. L. it is not likely that M. Lamartine could know the particulars; nor does this in the least deprive M. Lamartine of the just merit accorded to him, of having been the first traveller to give Europe some accurate notions about Lady Hester in her retirement.
[75] A coin of alloyed gold, of the size of a shilling.
[76] The Prince de Joinville, son of Louis Philippe.
[77] During the autumnal months in Syria, the bite of a horsefly, a simple excoriation, even a musquito bite, if scratched, will readily inflame, fester, and sometimes become a wound.
[78] A great philosopher reasoned on this point like Lady Hester. According to him: “La femme et le mari sont bien destinés à vivre ensemble, mais non pas de la même manière; ils doivent agir de concert, sans faire les mêmes choses. La vie qui charmeroit l’un seroit insupportable à l’autre; les inclinations que leur donne la nature sont aussi diverses que les fonctions qu’elle leur impose: leurs amusemens ne différent pas moins que leurs devoirs; en un mot, tous deux concourent au bonheur commun par des chemins differens, et ce partage de travaux et de soins est le plus fort lien de leur union.”—Let. xiv. 3me partie Nouv. Hel.