[17]. MS. vol. iii. pp. 96–121. Scott, “Story of the Three Sharpers and the Sultan,” pp. 7–17; Gauttier, Histoire des trois filous et d’un Sulthan, vi. 165–176.
[18]. Arab. Yasrahú = roaming, especially at early dawn; hence the wolf is called “Sirhán,” and Yaklishu (if I read it aright) is from ✔ Kulsh, and equivalent to “kicking” (their heels).
[19]. Nusf = half a dirham, drachma or franc, see ii. 37; vi. 214, etc.
[20]. Bast, a preparation of Bhang (Cannabis sativa), known in Egypt but not elsewhere: see Lane M. E., chapt. xv. Here it is made synonymous with “Hashísh” = Bhang in general.
[21]. Ghaushah, a Persianism for which “Ghaughá” is a more common form. “Ghaush” is a tree of hard wood whereof musical instruments were made: hence the mod. words “Ghásha” and “Ghawwasha” = he produced a sound, and “Ghaushah” = tumult, quarrel. According to Dr. Steingass, the synon. in the native dicts. are “Khisám,” “Laghat,” “Jalabah,” etc.
[22]. Said ironicè, the jeweller being held to be one of the dishonest classes, like the washerman, the water-carrier, the gardener, etc. In England we may find his representative in the “silversmith,” who will ask a pound sterling for a bit of metal which cost him perhaps five shillings or even less, and who hates to be bought by weight. The Arab. has “Jauhar-ji,” a Turkish form for Jauhari; and here “jauhar” apparently means a pearl, the stone once peculiar to royalty in Persia, but the kind of gem is left undetermined.
[23]. Arab. “Sáza, yasízu,” not a dictionary word. Perhaps it is a clerical error for “Säsa,” he groomed or broke in a horse, hence understood all about horses.
[24]. In the orig. “Shorbah,” Pers. = a mess of pottage: I have altered it for reasons which will presently appear.
[25]. Arab. “Ghabasah,” from Ghabas = obscure, dust-coloured.
[26]. Arab. “Súsah” = a weevil, a moth, a worm. It does not mean simply a flaw, but a live animal (like our toads in the rock); and in the popular version of the tale the lapidary discovers its presence by the stone warming in his hand.