(iii. 142) are fair specimens of long broad vowels supplanting
the short, a peculiarity known in classical Arab., e.g. Miftah
(for Miftah) = a key. Here, however, it is exaggerated, e.g.
Ba'id (for ba'id) = far (iv. 167); Kam (for kam) = how many? Kum
(for kum) = you (v. 118); Kul-ha (for kul-ha) = tell it (iv 58);
Min (for man) = who? (iii. 89); Mirwad (for Mirwad)= a branding
iron; Natanashshad (for natanashshad) = we seek tidings (v. 211);
Rajal (pron. Ragil, for Rajul) = a man (iv. 118 and passim);
Sahal (for sahal) = easy, facile (iv. 7I); Sir (for sir) = go, be
off! (v. 199); Shil (for shil) =carry away (i. 111); and Zahab
(for zahab) = gold (v. 186). This broad Doric or Caledonian
articulation is not musical to unaccustomed organs. As in popular
parlance the Dal supplants the Zal; e.g. Dahaba (for zahaba) = he
went (v. 277 and passim); also T takes the place of Th, as Tult
for thulth = one third (iii. 348) and Tamrat (for thamrat) =
fruit (v. 260), thus generally ignoring the sibilant Th after the
fashion of the modern Egyptians who say Tumm (for thumma) =
again; "Kattir (for kaththir) Khayrak" = God increase thy weal,
and Lattama (for laththama) = he veiled. Also a general ignoring
of the dual, e.g. Haza 'usfurayn (for 'Usfurani) = these be birds
(vi. 121); Nazalu al-Wazirayn (do) = the two Wazirs went down
(vii. 123); and lastly Al-Wuzara al-itnayn (for Al-Wazirani) =
the two Wazirs (vii. 121). Again a fine contempt for numbers, as
Nanzur ana (for Anzur) = I (we) see (v. 198) and Inni (for inna)
naruhu = indeed I (we) go (iii. 190). Also an equally
conscientious disregard for cases, as Min mal abu-ha (for abi-ha)
= out of the moneys of her sire (iv. 190); and this is apparently
the rule of the writer.

Of Egyptianisms and vulgarisms we have Ant, ma ghibtshayy = thou,