Part 18 (1/2)

[347] The _Muhammadans_ believe that on the day of judgment all who have died will a.s.semble on a vast plain, to hear their sentences from the mouth of G.o.d; so the reader may naturally conceive the size of the plain.

[348] The _surma_ is a black powder made of antimony, which the Asiatic women use on their eyelids, to give a superior l.u.s.tre to their black or hazel eyes; when applied with taste, it certainly has that effect. It is likewise used for sore eyes, but I cannot say with what success.

[349] _Chummak_ is the Turkish name for a kind of _baton_ set with precious stones, and used by some of the officers of the palace as an insignia of state, like our rods, wands, &c.

[350] This ludicrous idea is to be found in the veracious ”Voiage and Travaile” of Sir John Maundevile, Kt. Speaking of the ”Yles abouten Ynde,” he says, ”men fynden there an Ile that is clept Crues,” where ”for the grete distresse of the hete, mennes ballokkes hangen down to their knees, for the grete dissolucioun of the body.”

[351] The _Hur_ are celestial females, and the _Ghilman_ beautiful youths, who are to attend upon all good Mahometans in Paradise.

[352] The _nakkar-khana_ is the place at the portico of a temple or palace where drums are beaten at stated intervals. It is somewhat akin to the ”belfry,” of a Romish church, the childish and everlasting noise of which is supposed to const.i.tute an important part of Christianity.

[353] _Padmini_, the highest and most excellent of the four cla.s.ses of women among the _Hindus_.

[354] The prime minister, or first officers of state, under the _Mughal_ emperors.

[355] Literally, ”instant of an instant.” With regard to this idiomatic use of the genitive case, vide ”Grammar,” page 96, paragraph _b_.

[356] Here the _khwaja_ resumes his own story to _Azad Bakht_.

[357] The king, _Azad Bakht_, speaks in his own person.

[358] The son of a _khwaja_ or merchant of the highest grade.

[359] When _Musalmans_ go on pilgrimage to _Mecca_, they shave their heads on their arrival there; the ridicule is, to have incurred the shaving without the merit of the pilgrimage.

[360] Called the _khil'at sarafrazi_, i.e. of exaltation.

[361] The _farsh_ is the carpet or cloth which is spread in the room, where company is received, or the king's audience is held; for the king to advance to the end of the _farsh_ to receive the _wazir_, is a mark of respect, which Asiatic princes seldom pay, even to their equals.

[362] The insignia of the _wazir's_ office in India and Persia, is the _kalumdan._

[363] The abode of a _fakir_ is called a _takiya_.

[364] The phrase _kot bundh baithna_ signifies to squat down as a person does when easing nature, the two hands being clasped together round the legs a little below the knees.

[365] _Chaupar_ is a very ancient Indian game of the nature of backgammon, played by four people, each having four men or pieces. A full description of it is given in the Ayeeni Akbary, London, 1800, vol. 1st, page 253.

[366] _Azur_, the father of Abraham, was a famous statuary and idol-wors.h.i.+pper, according to the ideas of _Muhammadans_.

[367] Alluding to the _Hindu_ custom of the wife's burning herself with the corpse of her husband; in these cases, perhaps, fear of the priesthood, &c., is a stronger motive than love for the defunct.

[368] By the Island of the Franks, it is most probable that the author means Britain. The description of the capital is more adapted to London sixty years ago than to any other European city. This, _Mir Amman_ might have learned from some of the resident Europeans, while he filled up the rest from his own luxuriant imagination.

[369] The ”eunuch” is of course out of place in a Christian city; at least he does not hold the same rank as in the East.

[370] In the original it is water; the meaning is obvious enough.

[371] Most probably the name of some famous armourer.

[372] A Persian proverb.