[743] The translator tried this treatment with success, but it was difficult to keep the tail-feathers from being stained a green k͟hākī colour.
[744] Anār-i shīrīn, “sweet pomegranate,” is a particular variety.
[745] Ispand-i sabz, “green (or black) ispand,” is the variety used in medicine: ispand-i zard or isfarza-yi zard, “yellow ispand,” is used to keep off the evil-eye. Ispand is, I am told by an authority, the seed of Peganum Harmala, one of the rue family.
[746] Bahla, “hawking glove”: gardānīdan, “carrying.”
[747] In the Booke of Kepinge of Sparhawkes, a cold stone is mentioned as a cure; vide also note [741], p. 174.
CHAPTER LVII
ON PARALYSIS OF A TOE
Sometimes a hawk loses all power in one of its toes and is quite unable to grasp its food with it. Treatment: apply a leech. If this fail, brand the toe lengthways with a needle, taking care that the tendon[748] is not burnt. If these two remedies fail, waste no time in further treatment, and “labour not at beating cold iron.” Many a hawk have I seen with this disease, but seldom a cure. The long-winged hawks are more liable to it than the short-winged. Perhaps the injury arises from a strain, by the hawk grasping her food too tight and straining or tearing a tendon. Now a severed tendon will not join. Should such an accident happen to your hawk, God grant that it fall on one of her small toes, for that is not so serious; but if it happen to one of her “hunting talons”[749] she is ruined; she can do no good at all.
O hawk, if of your hand a tendon break
For evermore you must the hunt forsake.