[506]. Maryam al-Husn containing a double entendre, “O place of the white doe (Rím) of beauty!” The girl’s name was Maryam the Arab. form of Mary, also applied to the B.V. by Eastern Christians. Hence a common name of Syrian women is “Husn Maryam” = (one endowed with the spiritual beauties of Mary: vol. iv. [87]). I do not think that the name was “manufactured by the Arab story-tellers after the pattern of their own names (e.g. Nur al-Din or Noureddin, light of the faith, Tajeddin, crown of faith, etc.) for the use of their imaginary Christian female characters.”
[507]. I may here remind readers that the Bán, which some Orientalists will write “Ben,” is a straight and graceful species of Moringa with plentiful and intensely green foliage.
[508]. Arab. “Amúd al-Sawári” = the Pillar of Masts, which is still the local name of Diocletian’s column absurdly named by Europeans “Pompey’s Pillar.”
[509]. Arab. “Batiyah,” also used as a wine-jar (amphora), a flagon.
[510]. Arab. “Al-Kursán,” evidently from the Ital. “Corsaro,” a runner. So the Port. “Cabo Corso,” which we have corrupted to “Cape Coast Castle” (Gulf of Guinea), means the Cape of Tacking.
[511]. Arab. “Ghuráb,” which Europeans turn to “Grab.”
[512]. Arab. “Sayyib” (Thayyib) a rare word: it mostly applies to a woman who leaves her husband after lying once with him.
[513]. Arab. “Batárikah:” here meaning knights, leaders of armed men as in Night dccclxii., supra p. [256], it means “monks.”
[514]. i.e. for the service of a temporal monarch.
[515]. Arab. “Sayr” = a broad strip of leather still used by way of girdle amongst certain Christian religions in the East.