[165]. This massacre of refractory chiefs is one of the grand moyens of Eastern state-craft, and it is almost always successful because circumstances require it; popular opinion approves of it and it is planned and carried out with discretion and secrecy. The two familiar instances in our century are the massacre of the Mamelukes by Mohammed Ali Pasha the Great and of the turbulent chiefs of the Omani Arabs by our ancient ally Sayyid Sa’íd, miscalled the “Imám of Maskat.”
[166]. The metaphor (Sabaka) is from horse-racing, the Arabs being, I have said, a horsey people.
[167]. Arab. “Kurdús” = A body of horse.
[168]. Arab. “Ibn ’Irs.” See vol. iii. [147].
[169]. Arab. “Al-Hind-al-Aksá.” The Sanskrit Sindhu (lands on the Indus River) became in Zend “Hendu” and hence in Arabic Sind and Hind, which latter I wish we had preserved instead of the classical “India” or the poetical “Ind.”
[170]. i.e. by geomancy: see vol. iii. [269] for a note on Al-Raml. The passage is not in the Mac. Edit.
[171]. This address gave the boy Wazirial rank. In many parts of Europe, England included, if the Sovereign address a subject with a title not belonging to him, it is a disputed point if the latter can or cannot claim it.
[172]. Koran, chapter of Joseph xii. 28, spoken by Potiphar after Joseph’s innocence had been proved by a witness in Potiphar’s house or according to the Talmud (Sepher Hádjascher) by an infant in the cradle. The texts should have printed this as a quotation (with vowel-points).
[173]. Arab. “Al-’Azíz,” alluding to Joseph the Patriarch entitled in Egypt “Azíz al-Misr” = Magnifico of Misraim (Koran xii. 54). It is generally believed that Ismail Pasha, whose unwise deposition has caused the English Government such a host of troubles and load of obloquy, aspired to be named “’Azíz” by the Porte; but was compelled to be satisfied with Khadív (vulg. written Khedive, and pronounced even “Kédivé”), a Persian title, which simply means prince or Rajah, as Khadív-i-Hind.
[174]. i.e. The Throne room.