Chapter XX: Part 20

[FN#549] A proof of his extreme simplicity and bonhomie.

[FN#550] Arab. "Dárfíl"=the Gr. {delphís} later {delphín}, suggesting that the writer had read of Arion in Herodotus i. 23.

[FN#551] 'Aúj; I can only suggest, with due diffidence, that this is intended for Kúch the well-known Baloch city in Persian Carmania (Kirmán) and meant by Richardson's "Koch ü buloch." But as the writer borrows so much from Al-Mas'udi it may possibly be Aúk in Sístán where stood the heretical city "Shádrak," chapt. cxxii.

[FN#552] i.e. The excellent (or surpassing) Religious. Shaykhah, the fem. of Shaykh, is a she-chief, even the head of the dancing- girls will be entitled "Shaykhah."

[FN#553] The curtain would screen her from the sight of men- invalids and probably hung across the single room of the "Záwiyah" or hermit's cell. The curtain is noticed in the tales of two other reverend women; vols. {v.} 155 and v. 257.

[FN#554] Abdullah met his wife on Thursday, the night of which would amongst Moslems be Friday night.

[FN#555] i.e. with Sa'idah.