[125]. Arab. “Tafazzal,” a most useful word employed upon almost all occasions of invitation and mostly equivalent to “Have the kindness,” etc. See vol. ii. 103.
[126]. The Shaykh for humility sits at the side, not at the “Sadr,” or top of the room; but he does not rise before the temporal power. The Sultan is equally courteous and the Shaykh honours him by not keeping silence.
[127]. Arab. “Miat Mamlúk kitábí,” the latter word meaning “one of the Book, a Jew” (especially), or a Christian.
[128]. This MS. prefers the rare form “Al-Jánn” for the singular.
[129]. These flags, I have noticed, are an unfailing accompaniment of a Jinn army.
[130]. MS. vol. iii. pp. 203–210; Scott, “Night Adventure of the Sultan,” pp. 68–71. Gauttier, Aventure nocturne du Sulthan, vi. 214.
[131]. Arab. “Mashrút shadak.” Ashdak is usually applied to a wide-chapped face, like that of Margaret Maultasch or Mickle-mouthed Meg. Here, however, it alludes to an accidental deformity which will presently be described.
[132]. Arab. “Amsik lisána-k”: the former word is a standing “chaff” with the Turks, as in their tongue it means cunnus-penis and nothing else. I ever found it advisable when speaking Arabic before Osmanlis, to use some such equivalent as Khuz = take thou.
[133]. This is the familiar incident in “Ali Baba”: Supplem. vol. iii. 384, etc.
[134]. MS. iii. 210–214. Scott’s “Story of the broken-backed Schoolmaster,” vi. pp. 72–75, and Gauttier, “Histoire du Maitre d’école éreinté,” vi. 217. The Arabic is “Muaddib al-Atfál” = one who teacheth children. I have before noted that amongst Moslems the Schoolmaster is always a fool. So in Europe of the 16th century probably no less than one-third of the current jests turned upon the Romish clergy and its phenomenal ignorance compared with that of the pagan augur. The Story of the First Schoolmaster is one of the most humorous in this MS.