[18]. Arab. “’Iyál-hu,” lit. his family, a decorous circumlocution for his wives and concubines.
[19]. Arab. “Darb,” lit. a road; here a large thoroughfare.
[20]. When Mohammed Ali Pasha (the “Great”) began to rule, he found Cairo “stifled” with filth, and gave orders that each householder, under pain of confiscation, should keep the street before his house perfectly clean. This was done after some examples had been made and the result was that since that time Cairo never knew the plague. I am writing at Tangier where a Mahommed Ali is much wanted.
[21]. i.e. Allah forfend!
[22]. Arab. “Mustauda’” = a strong place where goods are deposited and left in charge.
[23]. Because, if she came to grief, the people of the street, and especially those of the adjoining houses would get into trouble. Hence in Moslem cities, like Damascus and Fez, the Hárát or quarters are closed at night with strong wooden doors, and the guards will not open them except by means of a silver key. Mohammed Ali abolished this inconvenience, but fined and imprisoned all night-walkers who carried no lanterns. See Pilgrimage, vol. i. 173.
[24]. As Kazi of the quarter he was ex-officio guardian of the orphans and their property, and liable to severe punishment (unless he could pay for the luxury) in case of fraud or neglect.
[25]. Altogether six thousand dinars = £3000. This sentence is borrowed from the sequel and necessary to make the sense clear.
[26]. i.e. “I am going at once to complain of thee before the king unless thou give me due satisfaction by restoring the money and finding the thief.”
[27]. The Practice (of the Prophet) and the Holy Law (Koranic): see vols. v. 36, 167, and i. 169.