[189] Literally a Djin. The belief in the Djintin seems to be a relic of Pantheism, or some older faith than that of Mohammed.
[190] After he had gone a doubt occurred to me whether he had left the place at all, and had not merely hidden himself, and came back to amuse us with a comedy. But I consoled myself by thinking that even if this were so, I had paid more money to see worse acting in a theatre.
[193] Sidi originally meant Lord in Arabic. To-day, in Morocco at any rate, it has, like Esquire, fallen from its proud estate, and now about answers to “Mr.” It is used in addressing anyone who has good clothes, the chief class distinction in Morocco, where all are socially equal to an extent unknown in Europe, except in Spain. Sidi was the word from which the Cid took his title.
[195a] Christian is official in Morocco. If you are not a Mohammedan or a Jew, you are a Christian.
[195b] Ighir means a castle or fortified place, in Shillah.
[196] Kief is hemp mixed with some other herbs and cut up fine and smoked in little pipes about the size of those used for smoking opium. It does not produce torpor as the Turkish Hashish does, but if too much indulged in destroys the health and gives a curious livid look and glaziness of the eyes to the habitual smoker. Taken in moderation it has the sustaining qualities of the Coca of the Andes and the Betel Root of Java and the Far East. A slight headache is all that I have ever experienced on smoking it.
[197] Ajemi is the Arab term applied to any foreigner as distinct from themselves. As at the inception of Islam the Persians were almost the first foreign nation they met, the term has become used exclusively to designate them.
[201] Mr. Fitzmaurice Kelly is confident that Rojas threw off the Celestina in a fortnight’s holiday, but if so, I cannot help wondering why he threw off no more, as writers, ancient or modern, seldom know the force of the American adage, “When you strike ile, stop boring.”
[202] A district a little north-east of Morocco city in which the tribes are in constant rebellion.
[205] For the yacht Tourmaline see Appendix.