[156]. “Akhraja min Kuláhi-hi (Kulah?) búsah.”
[157]. “Akhaza min-há ’ala ma’ lakati ’l-Hilál shay misl al-Jinnah.”
[I have no doubt that “Kuláh” is meant for “Kuláh,” a Dervish’s cap. “Búsah” puzzles me. I am inclined to take it for a reed used as a case or sheath, as we shall see p. 263 of the MS. prince Yúsuf use a “Kasabah” or reed to enclose a letter in it. “Mí’lakat (popular corruption for ’Mil’akat’) al-Hilál” may be the spoon or hollow part of an ear-picker, Hilál being given by Bocthor as equivalent for “cure-oreille.” Lastly for “al-Jinnah” I would read “al-Habbah” = grain. The article before the word may indicate that a particular grain is meant perhaps “al-Habbat al-halwah” = anise seed, or that it stands for “al-Hubbah,” according to Lemprière (A Tour to Marocco, London 1791, p. 383) a powder employed by the ladies of Marocco to produce embonpoint.—St.]
[158]. So even in our day Mustafà bin Ism’aíl who succeeded “General Khayru ’l-Dín” as Prime Minister to “His Highness Mohammed al-Sádik, Bey of Tunis,” began life as apprentice to a barber, became the varlet of an officer, rose to high dignity and received decorations from most of the European powers.
[159]. In text “Wiják,” a stove, a portable hearth.
[160]. [In the text: “Wa sára kulla-má tastarí nafsuhu yak’ad kuddáma ’l-Darwísh,” which I would translate: and each time his heart chose (8th form of “Sarw”) he used to sit before the Darwaysh, etc.—St.]
[161]. In text “Darín” for “Zarín” = what is powdered, collyrium.
[162]. The King failed because his “Niyat” or intention was not pure; that is, he worked for wealth and not, as the Darwaysh had done, for the good of his brother man.
[163]. For the importance attached to this sign of sovereignty see in my Pilgrimage (ii. 218–19) the trouble caused by the loss of the Prophet’s seal-ring (Khátim) at Al-Madinah.
[164]. The text is somewhat doubtful—“Min kuddám-ak.” [Perhaps it means only “from before thee,” i.e. in thy presence, without letting him out of sight and thereby giving him a chance of escape.—St.]