lighted coals to burn ber withal."—-This condemning of Alia to be burnt, and her rescue by Abu Zeyd, compares closely with medizval practice in Europe, as when Guinevere is condemned to be burnt by King Arthur and is rescued by Launcelot in Mallory's version of the " Morte d'Arthur." |
Pace 88. " We will make thee a fair sepulchre."—-Holy men among the North African Arabs are commonly buried in conspicuous whited sepulchres, and yearly festivals, "' mowlids," are held at them, when sheep and camels are sacrificed and their intercession is invoked.
Pace 89. " Burn not, O noble frre." —He bears witness against the fire as a descendant of the Prophet.
Pace go. " A wely," i.é., a saint.
PacE 92. " Bedr itn Saleh er Ramal.""'—The sand-diviner. Omens in Arabia are often asked on doubtful occasions by means of lines marked on the sand, and crossed out according to certain rules of calculation. Men skilled in. this science are called "' Ramal," from the root "raml," sand. All such divination is, however, forbidden by the law of the Koran, as witchcraft was forbidden to the Jews. Bedr ibn Saleh seems, however, to have been more than a " ramal," and his work is that of a true magician, such as are still to be found in Morocco, and perhaps in Egypt.
Pace 100. "' 4s it were in handfuls of cotton."—An Egyptian simile.
Pace 106. "Even by the Valley of Barhut."—Barhut, or Barahut, a valley of Hadramant, the abode of infidels after death.
Pace 107. " A Mogrebbin..—From the Mogreb, the West, ie., Marocco.
Pace 113. " Lead forth the mare, the Hamameh."—The Hamameh, the dove, a name often given to mares or she-camels.
Pace 114. " Thou hast done us a service, for this one refused to do according to our counsels."—The Sheykh of an Arabian tribe or town is no absolute ruler. He governs by the advice of a Council of Elders, who limit his authority.
