[FN#140] Impossible here not to see a sly hit at the Caliph and the Caliphate.

[FN#141] The writer has omitted this incident which occurs in Chavis and Cazotte.

[FN#142] In the text, “Samd” = carpets and pots and pans.

[FN#143] The Kata grouse (Tetrao alchata seu arenarius of Linn.) has often been noticed by me in Pilg.  I. 226 (where my indexer called it “sand goose”) and in The Nights (vols. i. 131; iv. 111).  De Sacy (Chrestom.  Arab. iii pp. 416, 507-509) offers a good literary account of it:  of course he cannot speak from personal experience.  He begins with the Ajaib al-Makhlukat by Al-Kazwini (ob.  A.H. 674 = A.D. 1274) who tells us that the bird builds in the desert a very small nest (whence the Hadis, “Whoso shall build to Allah a mosque, be it only the bigness of a Kata’s nest, the Lord shall edify for him a palace in Paradise"); that it abandons its eggs which are sometimes buried in sand, and presently returns to them (hence the saying, “A better guide than the Kata"); that it watches at night (?) and that it frequents highways to reconnoitre travellers (? ?), an interpretation confirmed by the Persian translator.  Its short and graceful steps gave rise to the saying, “She hath the gait of a Kata,” and makes De Sacy confound the bird with the Pers.  Kahu or Kabk-i-dari (partridge of the valley), which is simply the francolin, the Ital. francolino, a perdrix.  The latter in Arab.  Is “Durraj” (Al-Mas’udi, vii. 347):  see an affecting story connected with it in the Suppl.  Nights (ii. 4O-43).  In the xxiiid Ass. of Al-Hariri the sagacity of the Kata is alluded to, “I crossed rocky places, to which the Kata would not find its way.”  See also Ass. viii.  But Mr. Chenery repeats a mistake when he says (p. 339) that the bird is “never found save where there is good pasturage and water:”  it haunts the wildest parts of Sind and Arabia, although it seldom strays further than 60 miles from water which it must drink every evening.  I have never shot the Kata since he saved my party from a death by thirst on a return-ride from Harar (First Footsteps in E. Africa, p. 388).  The bird is very swift, with a skurrying flight like a frightened Pigeon; and it comes to water regularly about dusk when it is easily “potted.”

[FN#144] In text “Samman” for “Samman”:  Dozy gives the form “Summun” (Hondas).  The literary name is “Salwa.”

[FN#145] For Wali (at one time a Civil Governor and in other ages a Master of Police) see vol. i. 259.

[FN#146] Prob. a corruption of the Pers.  “Nazuk,” adj. delicate, nice.

[FN#147] In text “Jaftawat,” which is, I presume, the Arab. plur. of the Turk.  “Chifut” a Jew, a mean fellow.  M. Hondas refers to Dozy s.v.  “Jaftah.” [The Turkish word referred to by Dozy is “Chifte” from the Persian “Juft” = a pair, any two things coupled together.  “Masha’iliyah jaftawat wa fanusin” in the text would therefore be “(cresset-) bearers of double torches and lanterns,” where the plural fanusin is remarkable as a vulgarism, instead of the Dictionary form “Fawanis.”—­St.]