[303]. The text says, “He went on with the caravan to the Pilgrimage,” probably a clerical error. “Hajj” is never applied to the Visitation (Ziyárah) at Al-Medinah.
[304]. Arab. “Jáwar,” that is, he became a mujáwir, one who lives in or near a collegiate mosque. The Egyptian proverb says, “He pilgrimaged: quoth one, Yes, and for his villainy lives (yujawir) at Meccah,” meaning that he found no other place bad enough for him.
[305]. I have often heard of this mysterious art in the East, also of similarly making rubies and branch-coral of the largest size; but, despite all my endeavours, I never was allowed to witness the operation. It was the same with alchemy, which, however, I found very useful to the “smasher.” See my History of Sindh, chapt. vii.
[306]. Elsewhere in The Nights specified as white woollen robes.
[307]. Whilst she was praying the girl could not address her; but the use of the rosary is a kind of “parergon.”
[308]. Arab. “Yá Hájjah” (in Egypt pronounced “Hággeh”), a polite address to an elderly woman, who is thus supposed to have “finished her faith.”
[309]. Arab. “Kanísah” (from Kans = sweeping) a pagan temple, a Jewish synagogue, and especially a Christian church.
[310]. i.e. standeth in prayer or supplication.
[311]. i.e. fell into hysterics, a very common complaint amongst the highly nervous and excitable races of the East.
[312]. Arab. “Kahramánah,” a word which has often occurred in divers senses, nurse, duenna, chamberwoman, stewardess, armed woman defending the Harem, etc.