[FN#61] Arab.  “Tin"=clay, mud, which would be used with the Tob (adobe, sun-dried brick) forming the walls of Egypt and Assyria.  M.G.  Maspero, in his excellent booklet “L’Archeologie Egyptienne” (p. 7.  Paris, Quantin, 1887), illustrates this ancient industry which endures with all its gear to the present day.  The average measured 22 X 11 X 14 cm.; the larger was 38 X 18 X 14 cm., with intermediate sizes.  These formed the cores of temple walls, and, being revetted with granite, syenite, alabaster and other stones, made a grand show; but when the outer coat was removed they were presently weathered to the external semblance of mud-piles.  Such was mostly the condition of the ruins of grand Bubastis ("Pi-Pasht”) hod.  Zagazig, where excavations are still being pushed on.

[FN#62] The old version has “Masser, Grand Cairo (in the days of the Pharaohs!); so called from having been built by Misraim, the son of Cham.”

[FN#63] In Chavis, “Abicam, a Chaldaean astrologer;” in Gauttier “Abimacam.”

[FN#64] In Al-Hariri (p. 409) we read, “Hospitality is three days;” and a Hadis of the Prophet confirms the liberal practice of The Ignorance:—­“The entertainment of a guest is three days, and the viaticum ("Jaizah”) is a day and a night, and whatso exceedeth is an alms-gift.”  On the first day is shown largesse and courtesy; on the second and third the stranger is treated after the usual custom of the household, and then he is provided with rations for a day and a night.  See Lane:  A. Nights, i. 486; also The Nights, vol. i. 3.

[FN#65] i.e.  Not standing astraddle, or in other such indecorous attitude.

[FN#66] Chavis, “Bilelsanam, the oracle of Bel, the chief God of the Assyrian:  “Gauttier, Une idole Bil.  Bel (or Ba’al or Belus, the Phoenician and Canaanite head-god) may here represent Hobal the biggest idol in the Meccan Pantheon, which used to be borne on raids and expeditions to give plunder a religious significance.  Tabari iii. 17.  Evidently the author holds it to be an idol.

[FN#67] The Syro-solar month=April; much celebrated by poets and fictionists:  rain falling at such time into shells becomes pearls and upon serpents poison.

[FN#68] The text has “Baybunah,” prop.  Babunaj in Arab., and in Pers.  “Babuk,” or “Babunak"=the white camomile-flower.  See vol. iii. 58.

[FN#69] “Khabata"="He (the camel) pawed the ground.”  The prim. sig. is to beat, secondly, it is applied to a purblind camel which beats or strikes the ground and so stumbles, or to him who bashes a tree for its leaves; and lastly to him who gets alms by begging.  See Chenery’s Al-Hariri, p. 447.

[FN#70] Arab.  “Karz"=moneys lent in interest and without fixed term of payment, as opp. to “Dayn.”