[66]. e.g. writing The contract of A. with B., daughter of Such-an-one, etc.
[67]. Arab. “Hujjat,” which may also mean an excuse.
[68]. The last clause is supplied by Mr. Payne to stop a gap in the broken text.
[69]. The text idiotically says “To the King.”
[70]. In the text “Nahnu” = we, for I; a common vulgarism in Egypt and Syria.
[71]. This clause has required extensive trimming; the text making the Notary write out the contract (which was already written) in the woman’s house.
[72]. Arab. “Husn tadbír” = lit. “beauty of his contrivance.” Husn, like καλὸς, pulcher, beau and bello, is applied to moral and intellectual qualities as well as to physical and material. Hence the καλὸ γέρων, or old gentleman which in Romaic becomes Calogero, a monk.
[73]. i.e. that some one told me the following tale.
[74]. Arab. “Mutawallí”: see vol. i. 259.
[75]. i.e. his Moslem neighbours.