[376]. Called from Rustak, a quarter of Baghdad. For Rusták town see vol. vi. 289.
[377]. From Damietta comes our “dimity.” The classical name was Tamiáthis apparently Coptic græcised: the old town on the shore famed in Crusading times was destroyed in A.H. 648 = 1251.
[378]. Easterns are always startled by a sudden summons to the presence either of King or Kazi: here the messenger gives the youth to understand that it is in kindness, not in anger.
[379]. i.e. in not sending for thee to court instead of allowing thee to live in the city without guest-rite.
[380]. In sign of agitation: the phrase has often been used in this sense and we find it also in Al-Mas’udi.
[381]. I would remind the reader that the “Dawát” (ink-case) contains the reed-pens.
[382]. Two well-known lovers.
[383]. On such occasions the old woman (and Easterns are hard de dolo vetularum) always assents to the sayings of her prey, well knowing what the doings will inevitably be.
[384]. Travellers, Nomads, Wild Arabs.
[385]. Whither they bear thee back dead with the women crying and keening.