The Thousand and One Nights, Vol. I.

50. Thus in the Breslau edition, and in the Calcutta edition of the first two hundred nights; but in the edition of Cairo, the cook is merely termed a prodigal.

NOTE 51.--On Adoption. The Mohammadan law allows the adoption of sons, provided that the person to be adopted consents to the act, if of age to judge for himself; also, that he has been deprived of his parents by death or other means; and that there be such a difference of age between the two parties as might subsist between a natural father and his son. The adopted son enjoys the same right of inheritance as the natural son; but the adoptive father is not prevented by this act from marrying any relation of his adopted son.

NOTE 52. In the houses of Arabs of the more wealthy classes, there is usually a chair upon which the turban is placed at night. It is of a large size, but slight make; the bottom and back being generally of cane-work; and sometimes it has a kind of canopy constructed over it. The turban, when placed upon it, is covered with a kerchief of thick silk stuff, often embroidered or interwoven with gold thread.

NOTE 53. "Móṣilee" may be understood as meaning either "of the fashion of El-Móṣil," or "of muslin:" but the former, according to my sheykh, is the signification here intended. I think there is nothing peculiar in the common modern turban of El-Móṣil.

NOTE 54. This is done under the idea that it strengthens the infant's eyes.

NOTE 55. "'Ajeeb" signifies "Wonderful."

NOTE 56. The meaning of this is, that he grew in a day as other children in a month; and in a month, as others in a year.

NOTE 57. The death of the cook is mentioned in the edition of Breslau; but not in that of Cairo.

NOTE 58. This ejaculation is generally uttered at the mention of a deceased Muslim.

NOTE 59. "Ṣáḥeb" is a title given to Wezeers, as mentioned in Note 8 to the Introduction.

NOTE 60. In the original, fifteen. The age of 'Ajeeb has been shewn to have been little more than eleven at this period; therefore I have substituted twelve for fifteen. In page 243 I have made a similar correction, substituting fifteen for eighteen.

NOTE 61. This alludes to a custom common in the East,--that of giving a present of a dress, or some article of clothing, to a person who has brought good news.

NOTE 62. The term "boy" is not used here to imply that the eunuch was a youth; but in the sense in which it is often employed by us; as synonymous with "servant."

NOTE 63. "Er-Reydáneeyeh" is the name of a tract on the north of Cairo, where travellers arriving from Syria generally halted. In the original, by errors in the diacritical points, this name is converted into "Ez-Zebedáneeyeh."

NOTE 64. The word which I translate "a cross," literally signifies "an effigy;" but I suppose this term to be employed merely because a cross bears a rude resemblance to a man with extended arms.

NOTE 65. "The name of Allah encompass thee!" (or, literally, "--be around thee!") is an ejaculation often used, especially by women, agreeing exactly with the expression in the first verse of the twentieth Psalm,--"The name of the God of Jacob defend thee!"--the "name" of God here signifying his power. "The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe." (Proverbs xviii. 10.)

NOTE 66. Here, for a reason given above, I have substituted "twelve" for "ten."

NOTE 67. In the original, the last of these verses is here omitted, but my sheykh has supplied it in the margin of my copy, and it occurs afterwards, in the 75th night, in which the preceding verses, with some slight variations, are repeated.