Donovan Pasha, and Some People of Egypt Part 37

GLOSSARY

Aiwa, effendi----Yea, n.o.ble sir. Allah----G.o.d. Allah-haly 'm alla-haly----A singsong of river-workers. Allah Kerim----G.o.d is bountiful. Allshu Akbar----G.o.d is most Great. A'l'meh----Female professional singers Antichi----Antiquities.

Backsheesh----Tip, douceur, bribe. Bala.s.s----Earthen vessel for carrying water. Basha----Pasha. Bersim----Gra.s.s. Bimbas.h.i.+----Major. Bishareen----A native tribe. Bismillah----In the name of G.o.d. Bowab----A doorkeeper.

Corvee----Forced labour.

Dahabeah----A Nile houseboat with large lateen sails.

Darabukkeh----A drum made of a skin stretched over an earthenware funnel.

Doash----(Literally) Treading. A ceremony performed on the return of the Holy Carpet from Mecca.

Dourha----Maize.

Effendina----Highness. El aadah----The ordinary. El Azhar----The Arab University at Cairo. Fantasia----Celebration with music, dancing, and processions. Farshoot----The name of a native tribe. Fatihah----The opening chapter of the Koran, recited at weddings, etc.

Feddan----The most common measure of land--a little less than an acre.

Also dried hay.

Fellah (plu. fellaheen)----The Egyptian peasant.

Felucca----A small boat, propelled by oars or sails.

Fessikh----Salted fish.

Ghaffirs----Humble village officials.

Ghawdzee----The tribe of public dancing-girls. A female of this tribe is called "Ghazeeyeh," and a man "Ghazee," but the plural Ghawazee is generally understood as applying to the female.

Ghimah----The Mahommedan Sunday.

Gippy----Colloquial name for an Egyptian soldier.

Goolah----Porous water-jar of Nile mud.

Hakim----Doctor.

Hanouti----Funeral attendants.

Hari-kari----An Oriental form of suicide.

Has.h.i.+sh----Leaves of hemp.

Inshallah----G.o.d willing.

Jibbeh----Long coat or smock, worn by dervishes.

Kava.s.s----An orderly.

Kemengeh----A cocoanut fiddle.

Khamsin----A hot wind of Egypt and the Soudan.

Khedive----The t.i.tle granted in 1867 by the Sultan of Turkey to the ruler of Egypt.

Khia.s.sa----Small boat.

Khowagah----Gentleman.

Koran----The Scriptures of the Mahommedans.

Kourbash----A stick, a whip.

La ilaha illa-llah----There is no G.o.d but G.o.d. Mafish----Nothing.

Magnoon----Fool. Malaish----No matter. Mamour----A magistrate.

Mankalah----A game. Mastaba----A bench. Mejidieh----A Turkish Order.

Mirkaz----District. Mogha.s.sils----Washers of the dead. Moufetish----High steward. Mudir----A Governor of a Mudirieh or province. Muezzin----The sheikh of the mosque who calls to prayer. Mushrabieh----Lattice window.

Naboot----Quarter staff. Narghileh----The Oriental tobacco-pipe. Nehar-ak koom said----Greeting to you. Omdah----The head of a village.

Ooster----One of the best sort.

Ramadan----The Mahommedan season of fasting. Reis----Pilot.

Saadat el basha----Excellency.

Sais----Groom.

Sakkia----Persian water-wheel.

Salaam----A salutation of the East; an obeisance, performed by bowing very low and placing the right palm on the forehead and on the breast.

Sarraf----An accountant.

Shadoof----Bucket and pole used by natives for lifting water.

Sha'er----A reciter. (The singular of Sho'ara, properly signifying a poet.) Sheikh-el-beled----Head of a village.

s.h.i.+ntiyan----Very wide trousers, worn by the women of the middle and higher orders.

Sitt----"The Lady."

Tarboosh----Fez or native turban. Tarah----A veil for the head.

Ulema----Learned men.

Waled----A boy. Wekeel----A deputy. Welee----A favourite of Heaven; colloquially a saint.

Yashmak----A veil for the lower part of the face. Yelek----A long vest or smock, worn over the s.h.i.+rt and s.h.i.+ntiyan.

Zeriba----A palisade.

ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS FOR THE ENTIRE "DONOVAN PASHA":

A look too bright for joy, too intense for despair All the world's mad but thee and me Anger was the least injurious of all grounds for separation As if our penalties were only paid by ourselves!

Credulity, easily trans.m.u.table into superst.i.tion Dangerous man, as all enthusiasts are He had tasted freedom; he was near to license His gift for lying was inexpressible One favour is always the promise of another Oriental would think not less of him for dissimulation Paradoxes which make for laughter--and for tears The friends.h.i.+p of man is like the shade of the acacia Vanity of successful labour What is crime in one country, is virtue in another Women only admitted to Heaven by the intercession of husbands