[FN#454] Arab.  “Bid’ah,” lit. = an innovation, a new thing, an invention, any change from the custom of the Prophet and the universal practice of the Faith, where it be in the cut of the beard or a question of state policy.  Popularly the word = heterodoxy, heresy; but theologically it is not necessarily used in a bad sense.  See vol. v. 167.

[FN#455] About three parts of this sentence have been supplied by Mr. Payne, the careless scribe having evidently omitted it.

[FN#456] Here, as in the Introduction (vol. i. 24), the king consummates his marriage in presence of his virgin sister-in-law, a process which decency forbids amongst Moslems.

[FN#457] Al-Mas’udi (vol. iv. 213) uses this term to signify viceroy in “Shahryar Sajastan.”

[FN#458] i.e. his indifference to the principles of right and wrong, which is a manner of moral intoxication.

[FN#459] i.e. hath mentioned the office of Wazir (in Koran xx. 30).

[FN#460] i.e.  Moslems, who practice the Religion of Resignation.

[FN#461] Koran xxxiii. 35.  This is a proemium to the “revelation” concerning Zayd and Zaynab.

[FN#462] i.e.  I have an embarras de richesse in my repertory.

[FN#463] The title is from the Bresl.  Edit. (vol. xii. pp. 398- 402).  Mr. Payne calls it “The Favourite and her Lover.”

[FN#464] The practice of fumigating gugglets is universal in Egypt (Lane, M. E., chapt. v.); but I never heard of musk being so used.

[FN#465] Arab.  “Laysa fi ’l-diyari dayyar”—­a favourite jingle.

[FN#466] Arab.  “Khayr Kathir” (pron.  Katir) which also means “abundant kindness.”

[FN#467] Dozy says of “Hunayni” (Haini), Il semble etre le nom d’un vetement.  On which we may remark, Connu!

[FN#468] Arab.  Harisah:  see vol. i. 131.  Westerns make a sad mess of this dish when they describe it as une sorte d’olla podrida (the hotch-pot), une patee de viandes, de froment et de legumes secs (Al-Mas’udi viii. 438).  Whenever I have eaten it, it was always a meat-pudding, for which see vol. i. 131.

[FN#469] Evidently one escaped because she was sleeping with the Caliph, and a second because she had kept her assignation.

[FN#470] Mr. Payne entitles it, “The Merchant of Cairo and the Favourite of the Khalif el Mamoun el Hakim bi Amrillah.”

[FN#471] See my Pilgrimage (i. 100):  the seat would be on the same bit of boarding where the master sits or on a stool or bench in the street.

[FN#472] This is true Cairene chaff, give and take; and the stranger must accustom himself to it before he can be at home with the people.

[FN#473] i.e.  In Rauzah-Island:  see vol. v. 169.