[216]. For the curious street-cries of old Cairo see Lane (M. E. chapt. xiv.) and my Pilgrimage (i. 120): here the rhymes are of Zabíb (raisins), habíb (lover) and labíb (man of sense).
[217]. The Mac. and Bul. Edits. give two silly couplets of moral advice:—
Strike with thy stubborn steel, and never fear ✿ Aught save the Godhead of Almighty Might;
And shun ill practices and never show ✿ Through life but generous gifts to human sight.
The above is from the Bresl. Edit. ix. 247.
[218]. Arab. “Al-Khanakah” now more usually termed a Takíyah (Pilgrim. i. 124).
[219]. Arab. “Ka’b al-ba’íd” (Bresl. Edit. ix. 255) = heel or ankle, metaph. for fortune, reputation: so the Arabs say the “Ka’b of the tribe is gone!” Here “the far one” = the caravan-leader.
[220]. Arab. “Sharít,” from Sharata = he Scarified; “Mishrat” = a lancet and “Sharítah” = a mason’s rule. Mr. Payne renders “Sharít” by whinyard: it must be a chopper-like weapon, with a pin or screw (laulab) to keep the blade open like the snap of the Spaniard’s cuchillo. Dozy explains it = epée, synonyme de Sayf.
[221]. Text “Dimágh,” a Persianism when used for the head: the word properly means brain or meninx.
[222]. They were afraid even to stand and answer this remarkable ruffian.