[347]. Such an execution would be contrary to Moslem law: but people would look leniently upon the peccadillo of beheading or sacking a faithless wife. Moreover the youth was of the blood royal and A quoi bon être prince? as was said by a boy of viceroyal family in Egypt to his tutor who reproached him for unnecessarily shooting down a poor old man.
[348]. Arab. "Shirk," partnership, evening or associating gods with God; polytheism: especially levelled at the Hindu triadism, Guebre dualism and Christian Trinitarianism.
[349]. Arab. "Shatm"=abuse, generally couched in foulest language with especial reference to the privy parts of female relatives.
[350]. When a woman is bastinadoed in the East they leave her some portion of dress and pour over her sundry buckets of water for a delicate consideration. When the hands are beaten they are passed through holes in the curtain separating the sufferer from mankind, and made fast to a "falakah" or pole.
[351]. Arab. "Khalifah," Caliph. The word is also used for the successor of a Santon or holy man.
[352]. Arab. "Sár;" here the Koranic word for carrying out the venerable and undying lex talionis, the original basis of all criminal jurisprudence. Its main fault is that justice repeats the offence.
[353]. Both these sons of Harun became Caliphs, as we shall see in The Nights.
THE TALE OF THE THREE APPLES.
They relate, O King of the age and lord of the time and of these days, that the Caliph Harun al-Rashid summoned his Wazir Ja'afar one night and said to him, "I desire to go down into the city and question the common folk concerning the conduct of those charged with its governance; and those of whom they complain we will depose from office and those whom they commend we will promote." Quoth Ja'afar, "Hearkening and obedience!" So the Caliph went down with Ja'afar and Eunuch Masrur to the town and walked about the streets and markets and, as they were threading a narrow alley, they came upon a very old man with a fishing-net and crate to carry small fish on his head, and in his hand a staff; and, as he walked at a leisurely pace, he repeated these lines:—
They say me:—Thou shinest a light to mankind ✿ With thy lore as the night which the Moon doth uplight!