197 ([return])
[ We see that "China" was in those days the normal Oriental "despotism tempered by assassination.">[
198 ([return])
[ In the H. V. Alaeddin promises, "if I fail to find and fetch the Princess, I will myself cut off my head and cast it before the throne." Hindus are adepts in suicide and this self- decapitation, which sounds absurd further West, is quite possible to them.]
199 ([return])
[ In Galland Alaeddin unconsciously rubbed the ring against un petit roc, to which he clung in order to prevent falling into the stream. In the H. V. "The bank was high and difficult of descent and the youth would have rolled down headlong had he not struck upon a rock two paces from the bottom and remained hanging over the water. This mishap was of the happiest for during his fall he struck the stone and rubbed his ring against it," etc.]
200 ([return])
[ In the H. V. he said, "First save me that I fall not into the stream and then tell me where is the pavilion thou builtest for her and who hath removed it.">[
201 ([return])
[ Alluding to the preparatory washing, a mere matter of cleanliness which precedes the formal Wuzú-ablution.]