[349]. Probably the Caliph had attendants, but the text afterwards speaks of them as two. Mac. Edit. iv. p. 558, line 2; and a few lines below, “the Caliph and the man with him.”
[350]. Arab. “Naysábúr,” the famous town in Khorasan where Omar-i-Khayyám (whom our people will call Omar Khayyám) was buried and where his tomb is still a place of pious visitation. A sketch of it has lately appeared in the illustrated papers. For an affecting tale concerning the astronomer-poet’s tomb, borrowed from the Nigáristán see the Preface by the late Mr. Fitzgerald whose admirable excerpts from the Rubaiyat (101 out of 820 quatrains) have made the poem popular among all the English-speaking races.
[351]. Arab. “A-Sharíf anta?” (with the Hamzah-sign of interrogation) = Art thou a Sharíf (or descendant of the Apostle)?
[352]. Tenth Abbaside (A.H. 234–247 = 848–861), grandson of Al-Rashid and born of a slave-concubine. He was famous for his hatred of the Alides (he destroyed the tomb of Al-Husayn) and claimed the pardon of Allah for having revised orthodox traditionary doctrines. He compelled the Christians to wear collars of wood or leather and was assassinated by five Turks.
[353]. His father was Al-Mu’ tasim bi’llah (A.H. 218–227 = 833–842) the son of Al-Rashid by Máridah a slave-concubine of foreign origin. He was brave and of high spirit, but destitute of education; and his personal strength was such that he could break a man’s elbow between his fingers. He imitated the apparatus of Persian kings; and he was called the “Octonary” because he was the 8th Abbaside; the 8th in descent from Abbas; the 8th son of Al-Rashid; he began his reign in A.H. 218; lived 48 years; was born under Scorpio (8th Zodiacal sign); was victorious in 8 expeditions; slew 8 important foes and left 8 male and 8 female children. For his introducing Turks see vol. iii. [81].
[354]. i.e. as if it were given away in charity.
[355]. Arab. “Shukkah,” a word much used in the Zanzibar trade where it means a piece of longcloth one fathom long. See my “Lake Regions of Central Africa,” vol. i. [147], etc.
[356]. He is afterwards called in two places “Khádim” = eunuch.
[357]. A courteous way of saying, “Never mind my name: I wish to keep it hidden.” The formula is still popular.
[358]. Arab. “Bakhkharaní” i.e. fumigated me with burning aloes-wood, Calumba or similar material.