[FN#61] Parturition and death in warm climates, especially the damp-hot like Egypt are easy compared with both processes in the temperates of Europe.  This is noticed by every traveller.  Hence probably Easterns have never studied the artificial Euthanasia which is now appearing in literature.  See p. 143 “My Path to Atheism,” by Annie Besant, London:  Freethought Publishing Company, 28, Stonecutter Street, E. C., 1877, based upon the Utopia of the highly religious Thomas Moore.  Also “Essay on Euthanasia,” by P. D. Williams, Jun., and Mr. Tollemache in the “Nineteenth Century.”

[FN#62] i.e. he whose turn it is to sit on the bench outside the police office in readiness for emergencies.

[FN#63] Arab. “’Udul” (plur. of ’Adil), gen. men of good repute, qualified as witnesses in the law court, see vol. iv. 271.  It is also used (as below) for the Kazi’s Assessors.

[FN#64] About L80.

[FN#65] Arab.  “Kitab"=book, written bond.  This officiousness of the neighbours is thoroughly justified by Moslem custom; and the same scene would take place in this our day.  Like the Hindu’s, but in a minor degree, the Moslem’s neighbours form a volunteer police which oversees his every action.  In the case of the Hindu this is required by the exigencies of caste, an admirable institution much bedevilled by ignorant Mlenchbas, and if “dynamiting” become the fashion in England, as it threatens to become, we shall be obliged to establish “Vigilance Committees” which will be as inquisitorial as caste

[FN#66] e.g. writing The contract of A. with B., daughter of Such-an-one, etc.

[FN#67] Arab.  “Hujjat,” which may also mean an excuse.

[FN#68] The last clause is supplied by Mr. Payne to stop a gap in the broken text.

[FN#69] The text idiotically says “To the King.”

[FN#70] In the text “Nahnu"=we, for I, a common vulgarism in Egypt and Syria.

[FN#71] This clause has required extensive trimming; the text making the Notary write out the contract (which was already written) in the woman’s house.

[FN#72] Arab.  “Husn tadbir"=lit. “beauty of his contrivance.”  Husn, like pulcher, beau and bello, is applied to moral intellectual qualities as well as to physical and material.  Hence the {Greek} or old gentleman which in Romaic becomes Calogero, a monk.

[FN#73] i.e. that some one told me the following tale.

[FN#74] Arab.  “Mutawalli”:  see vol. i. 259.

[FN#75] i.e. his Moslem neighbours.

[FN#76] In the text is a fearful confusion of genders.

[FN#77] Her object was to sue him for the loss of the pledge and to demand fabulous damages.

[FN#78] Arab.  “Ya’tamiduna huda-hum"=purpose the right direction, a skit at the devotees of her age and sex; and an impudent comment upon the Prefect’s address “O she-devil!”

[FN#79] The trick has often been played in modern times at fairs, shows, etc.  Witness the old joe Miller of the “Moving Multitude.”