[FN#101] Arab. Al-Jazírah, “the Island;” name of the region and the capital.
[FN#102] i.e. “Repairer of the Slips of the Generous,” an evasive reply, which of course did not deceive the questioner.
[FN#103] Arab. “Falastín,” now obsolete. The word has echoed far west and the name of the noble race has been degraded to “Philister,” a bourgeois, a greasy burgher.
[FN#104] Saying, “The Peace be with thee, O Prince of True
Believers!”
[FN#105] Arab. “Mutanakkir,” which may also mean proud or in disguise.
[FN#106] On appointment as viceroy. See vol. iii., 307.
[FN#107] The custom with outgoing Governors. It was adopted by the Spaniards and Portuguese especially in America. The generosity of Ikrimah without the slightest regard to justice or common honesty is characteristic of the Arab in story-books.
[FN#108] The celebrated half-way house between Jaffa and
Jerusalem.
[FN#109] Alias the Kohistan or mountain region, Susiana (Khuzistan) whose capital was Susa; and the head quarters of fire-worship. Azar (fire) was the name of Abraham’s father whom Eusebius calls “Athar.” (Pilgrimage iii. 336.)
[FN#110] Tenth Ommiade A.H. 105-125 (=724-743), a wise and discreet ruler with an inclination to avarice and asceticism. According to some, the Ommiades produced only three statesmen, Mu’awayah, Abd al-Malik and Hisham; and the reign of the latter was the end of sage government and wise administration.