Part 16 (2/2)

[273] _'Ajam_ means, in general, Persia; the Arabs use it in the same sense as the Greeks did the word ”barbarian;” and all who are not Arabs they call _'Ajami_; more especially the Persians.

[274] _Sara,e, sera,i_ or _caravanserai_, are buildings for the accommodation of travellers, merchants, &c., in cities, and on the great roads in Asia. Those in Upper _Hindustan_, built by the emperors of _Dilli_, are grand and costly; they are either of stone or burnt bricks. In Persia, they are mostly of bricks dried in the sun. In Upper _Hindustan_ they are commonly sixteen to twenty miles distant from each other, which is a _manzil_ or stage. They are generally built of a square or quadrangular form with a large open court in the centre, and contain numerous rooms for goods, men, and beasts.

[275] Literally, made excuses from the surface of his heart,” i.e., not serious excuses.

[276] That is, ”completely armed.” Vide note 2, page 87.

[277] On the exact meaning of _dastar-khwan,_ see note, page 104.

[278] The _Musalman_ confession of faith, see note 3, page 156.

[279] The idiom ”_do mahine ek_,” about two months, similar to the phrase, ”_pachas ek baras_,” _v._ note 1, page 161.

[280] Literally, ”began to smack his lips;” denoting his satisfaction.

[281] Tartar, African, and Turkish slaves.

[282] Literally, ”I have not proved false in what you have entrusted to me.”

[283] The coffee and pipe are always presented to visitors in Turkey, Arabia, and Persia, and they are considered as indispensable in good manners.

[284] ”_dant kholne_” is fully explained in my Grammar, page 129. It appears to have sadly puzzled a learned critic, to whom I have occasionally alluded.

[285] Literally, ”middle brother;” as there were three in number, of course the ”second” and ”middle” are identical.

[286] The _Siyum_ are the rites performed for the dead on the third day after demise; it is called the _tija_ in _Hinduwi_.

[287] Alluding to G.o.d.

[288] Or it may mean, ”my blood boiled” [with resentment].

[289] The _Muhammadan_ sabbath is Friday.

[290] A _kafila_ means a company of merchants who a.s.semble and travel together for mutual protection. It is synonymous with caravan.

[291] _Bukhara_ is a celebrated city in Tartary; it was formerly the capital of the province called _Mawaralnahr_, or _Transoxiana_, before the Tartar conquerors fixed on _Samarkand_. It lies to the northward of the river _Oxus_ or _Gihun_, which divides Tartary from Persia, or as the Persian geographers term it, _Iran_, from _Turan_. _Bukhara_ is celebrated by Persian poets for its climate, its fruits, and its beautiful women.

[292] The _boza_ is an intoxicating drink made of spirits, the leaves of the _charas_ plant, _tari_, and opium. _Tari_, erroneously called _todee_, is the juice of the palm tree.

[293] Literally, ale-house, or tippling-house. One is strongly led to believe that this is the origin of our cant word _boozing-ken_, imported from the East by the gipsies some four or five centuries ago.

[294] A grateful and luxurious operation in the warm climate of India, more especially after the fatigue of travelling. _Shampooing_ is a word of uncertain etymology; the French have a better term, _ma.s.ser_. The natives say it has a physical advantage, as it quickens their languid circulation; perhaps they are right.

[295] A _kos_ is nearly two English miles, being about fifteen furlongs.

[296] Literally, ”the fire was kindled in my stomach.”

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