[FN#364] This falling backwards in laughter commonly occurs during the earlier tales; it is, however, very rare amongst the Badawin.

[FN#365] i.e. as he were a flying Jinni, swooping down and pouncing falcon-like upon a mortal from the upper air.

[FN#366] This may be (reading Imraan = man, for Amran = matter) “a masterful man”; but I can hardly accept it.

[FN#367] Arab.  “Bunduki,” the adj. of Bunduk, which the Moslems evidently learned from Slav sources; Venedik being the Dalmatian corruption of Venezia.  See Dubrovenedik in vol. ii. 219.

[FN#368] i.e. the castle’s square.

[FN#369] In sign of quitting possession.  Chess in Europe is rarely played for money, with the exception of public matches:  this, however, is not the case amongst Easterns, who are also for the most part as tricky as an old lady at cribbage rightly named.

[FN#370] i.e, he was as eloquent and courtly as he could be.

[FN#371] Arab.  “Ya Zinat al-Nisa,” which may either be a P.N. or a polite address as Bella fe (Handsome woman) is to any feminine in Southern Italy.

[FN#372] Arab.  “Raas Ghanam”:  this form of expressing singularity is common to Arabic and the Eastern languages, which it has influenced.

[FN#373] This most wearisome form of politeness is common in the Moslem world, where men fondly think that the more you see of them the more you like of them.  Yet their Proverbial Philosophy ("the wisdom of many and the wit of one”) strongly protests against the practice:  I have already quoted Mohammed’s saying, “Zur ghibban, tazid Hibban”—­visits rare keep friendship fair.

[FN#374] This clause in the text is evidently misplaced (vol. xii.144).

[FN#375] Arab.  Dara’ or Dira’=armour, whether of leather or metal; here the coat worn under the mail.

[FN#376] Called from Rustak, a quarter of Baghdad.  For Rustak town see vol. vi. 289.

[FN#377] From Damietta comes our “dimity.”  The classical name was Tamiathis apparently Coptic graecised:  the old town on the shore famed in Crusading times was destroyed in A.H. 648 = 1251.

[FN#378] Easterns are always startled by sudden summons to the presence either of King or Kazi:  here the messenger gives the youth to understand that it is in kindness, not in anger.

[FN#379] i.e. in not sending for thee to court instead of allowing thee to live in the city without guest-rite.

[FN#380] In sign of agitation:  the phrase has often been used in this sense and we find it also in Al-Mas’udi.

[FN#381] I would remind the reader that the “Dawat” (ink-case) contains the reed-pens.

[FN#382] Two well-known lovers.

[FN#383] On such occasions the old woman (and Easterns are hard de dolo vetularum) always assents to the sayings of her prey, well knowing what the doings will inevitably be.

[FN#384] Travellers, Nomads, Wild Arabs.