[24]. Arab. “Makán mahjúb,” which Lane renders by “a private closet,” and Payne by a “privy place,” suggesting that the Caliph slept in a numéro cent. So, when starting for the “Trakki Campaign,” Sir Charles Napier (of Sind), in his zeal for lightening officers’ baggage, inadvertently chose a water-closet tent for his head-quarters—magno cum risu not of the staff, who had a strange fear of him, but of the multitude who had not.
[25]. Arab. “Dar al-Salam,” one of the seven “Gardens” into which the Mohammedan Paradise is divided. Man’s fabled happiness began in a Garden (Eden) and the suggestion came naturally that it would continue there. For the seven Heavens, see vol. viii., 111.
[26]. Branch of Pearl, see vol. ii. 57.
[27]. Arab. “Kahbah,” the lowest word (vol. i. 70), effectively used in contrast with the speaker’s surroundings.
[28]. Arab. “Yá kabírí,” = mon brave, my good man.
[29]. This exaggeration has now become familiar to English speech.
[30]. Like an Eastern he goes to the water-closet the first thing in the morning, or rather dawn, and then washes ceremonially before saying the first prayer. In Europe he would probably wait till after breakfast. See vol. iii. 242.
[31]. I have explained why an Eastern does not wash in the basin as Europeans do in vol. i. p. 241.
[32]. i.e. He was so confused that he forgot. All Moslems know how to pray, whether they pray or not.
[33]. The dawn-prayer consists of only four inclinations (raka’át); two “Farz” (divinely appointed), and two Sunnah (the custom of the Apostle). For the Raka’áh see Lane, M.E. chapt. iii.; it cannot be explained without illustrations.