[274]. Before noticed as the Moslem St. Peter (as far as the keys go).
[275]. Arab “Munkasir” = broken, frail, languishing—the only form of the maladive allowed. Here again we have masculine for feminine: the eyelids show love-desire, but, etc.
[276]. The river of Paradise.
[277]. See Night xii, “The Second Kalandar’s Tale;” vol. i. 113.
[278]. Lane (ii. 472) refers for specimens of calligraphy to Herbin’s “Développements, etc.” There are many more than seven styles of writing as I have shown in Night xiii.; vol. i. 129.
[279]. Amongst good Moslems this would be a claim upon a man.
[280]. These lines have occurred twice already: and first appear in Night xxii. I have borrowed from Mr. Payne (iv. 46).
[281]. Arab. “Ya Nasráni”; the address is not intrinsically slighting but it may easily be made so. I have elsewhere noted that when Julian (is said to have) exclaimed “Vicisti Nazarene!” he was probably thinking in Eastern phrase “Nasarta, yá Nasráni!”
[282]. Thirst is the strongest of all pleas to an Eastern, especially to a Persian who never forgets the sufferings of his Imam, Husayn, at Kerbela: he would hardly withhold it from the murderer of his father. There is also a Hadis, “Thou shalt not refuse water to him who thirsteth in the desert.”
[283]. Arab. “Zimmi” which Lane (ii. 474) aptly translates a “tributary.” The Koran (chapt. ix.) orders Unbelievers to Islamize or to “pay tribute by right of subjection” (lit. an yadin = out of hand, an expression much debated). The least tribute is one dinar per annum which goes to the poor-rate; and for this the Kafir enjoys protection and almost all the civil rights of Moslems. As it is a question of “loaves and fishes” there is much to say on the subject; “loaves and fishes” being the main base and foundation of all religious establishments.