[225]. This is done only by the very pious: if they see a bit of bread they kiss it, place it upon their heads and deposit it upon a wall or some place where it will not be trodden on. She also removed the stones lest haply they prove stumbling-blocks to some Moslem foot.
[226]. Arab. “Ashjár,” which may mean either the door-posts or the wooden bolts. Lane (iii. 174) translates it “among the trees”—in a room!
[227]. Koran (ix. 51), when Mohammed reproaches the unbelievers for not accompanying him to victory or martyrdom.
[228]. Arab. “Kiná’,” a true veil, not the “Burka’” or “nose-bag” with the peepholes. It is opposed to the “Tarkah” or “head-veil.” Europeans inveigh against the veil which represents the loup of Louis Quatorze’s day: it is on the contrary the most coquettish of contrivances, hiding coarse skins, fleshy noses, wide mouths and vanishing chins; and showing only lustrous and liquid black eyes. Moreover a pretty woman, when she wishes, will always let you see something under the veil. (Pilgrimage i. 337).
[229]. A yellow-flowered artemisia or absinthe whose wood burns like holm-oak. (Unexplored Syria ii. 43). See vol. ii. 24 for further details.
[230]. The Farz or obligatory prayers, I have noted, must be recited (if necessary) in the most impure place; not so the other orisons. Hence the use of the “Sajjádah” or prayer-rug, an article too well known to require description.
[231]. Anglicè a stomach-ache, a colic.
[232]. Arab. Al-Háfizah which has two meanings. Properly it signifies the third order of Traditionists out of a total of five, or those who know 300,000 traditions and their ascriptions. Popularly “one who can recite the Koran by rote.” There are six great Traditionists whose words are held to be prime authorities; (1) Al-Bokhári; (2) Muslim; and these are entitled Al-Sahíhayn, The (two true) authorities. After them (3) Al-Tirmidi; and (4) Abu Dáud: these four being the authors of the “Four Sunan;” the others are (5) Al-Nasái and (6) Ibn Májah (see Jarrett’s Al-Siyuti pp. 2, 6; and, for modern Arab studies. Pilgrimage i. 154 et seq.)
[233]. Lane (iii. 176) marries the amorous couple, thus making the story highly proper and robbing it of all its point.
[234]. Arab. “Sabbahat,” i.e. Sabbah-ak’ Allah bi’l khayr = Allah give thee good morning: still the popular phrase.