[7] Solomon Solomon (Suleiman) is a name, than which none is more famous in eastern tales. He is renowned not only on account of his wisdom, but also for his magnificence and supernatural power. His dominion extended over every living creature that inhabited the earth. The Creator placed under his obedience the whole race of fairies, spirits, demons and genii, good and bad, among all of which the oath by Suleiman is inviolable.
[8] zakkūm The zakkūm is a tree which grows in hell: its branches and leaves are of flaming fire, and the fruits which it bears are heads of devils and loathsome serpents. Thus in the sacred text (Koran. sur. xxxvii, 65, etc.): “This tree is planted in the bottom of hell; and its fruits are heads of devils, and verily the damned shall eat thereof.”
[9] Where is our king, and where are we? Meaning, “the king is far hence, and shall know nothing of the matter.”
[10] we have eaten salt together Among the Arabs, this formed the strongest pledge of amity.
[11] Kulzum According to Muntakhib-ul-Loghat, Kulzum is a name given to part of the Red Sea.
[12] Zulmât The regions of darkness, which are said to contain also the water of immortality.
[13] the two loaves which you used to cast into the river... “Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days.”—Eccl. xi. 1.
BOOK III NOTES.
[1] you shall have no other wife than myself As this injunction may appear a little unreasonable in a country where polygamy is lawful, the translator avails himself of the following remark on the subject by a very eminent Orientalist, M. Garcin de Tassy. In that learned author’s work, entitled, “Exposition de la Foi Musulmane” (Paris 1822), he states, in a note to the preface, page 3: “La polygamie n’est pas chez les Musulmans aussi commune qu’on pourrait la croire. D’abord il faut avoir une certaine aisance pour entretenir plus d’une femme; et quand on a cette aisance, il faut encore vaincre la repugnance qu’ont en général les parens de donner une fille à un homme déjà marié; ou qui ne leur promet pas de n’avoir qu’elle seule pour épouse.”