Caliph) and "genie" ( = Jinn) a mere Gallic corruption not so
terrible, however, as "a Bedouin" ( = Badawi).). As little too
would I follow Mr. Lane in foisting upon the public such Arabisms
as "Khuff" (a riding boot), "Mikra'ah" (a palm rod) and a host of
others for which we have good English equivalents. On the other
hand I would use, but use sparingly, certain Arabic exclamations,
as "Bismillah" ( = in the name of Allah!) and "Inshallah" ( = if
Allah please!), (= which have special applications and which have
been made familiar to English ears by the genius of Fraser and
Morier.

I here end these desultory but necessary details to address the
reader in a few final words. He will not think lightly of my work
when I repeat to him that with the aid of my annotations
supplementing Lane's, the student will readily and pleasantly
learn more of the Moslem's manners and customs, laws and religion
than is known to the average Orientalist; and, if my labours
induce him to attack the text of The Nights he will become master
of much more Arabic than the ordinary Arab owns. This book is
indeed a legacy which I bequeath to my fellow countrymen in their
hour of need. Over devotion to Hindu, and especially to Sanskrit
literature, has led them astray from those (so called) "Semitic"
studies, which are the more requisite for us as they teach us to
deal successfully with a race more powerful than any pagans--the
Moslem. Apparently England is ever forgetting that she is at
present the greatest Mohammedan empire in the world. Of late
years she has systematically neglected Arabism and, indeed,
actively discouraged it in examinations for the Indian Civil
Service, where it is incomparably more valuable than Greek and
Latin. Hence, when suddenly compelled to assume the reins of