CHAPTER II
9. L'horoscope. The horoscope is the représentation made of the heavens at the moment of a person's birth, by which the astrologers profess to foretell the events of that person's lifc.
According to the Koran, God has creatcd stars for three uses: (1) as an ornament to the heavens (sura LXVII, 5); (2) to stonc the devil with (ibid.); (3) to direct travelers through the forests and on the sea (XV, 16). Mohammed condemns those who study the stars for any other purpose (Mishkat XXI, III, 3); consequently the science of astrology is really not considered lawful in Islam, though frequently practised.
10. 6-7. Mars . . . Venus . . . Mercure. Mars présides over the destiny of those in the profession of amis. Venus présides
2l6 NOTES
over the love afïairs in hunian existence. Mercury' s influence is particularly strong over men interested in science, in art, and in trade. The child is therefore to be favored in his business career; nothing could be more agreeable to bis l'allier.
9. sequins; the sequin is an obsolète [talian gold coin, which, by the Levant trade, was introduced into Turkey and Egypt. It i> worth about S2.25.
16. quel signe, référence to the twelve signs of the Zodiac. The Zodiac is an imaginary belt in the heavens — 16 or 18 degrees broad — in the middle of which is the ecliptic or sun's path. It comprises twelve constellations, which constitute and are named the twelve signs of the Zodiac: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Léo, Yirgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius, I'isces.
21. le calcul de la valeur numérique des lettres. Each letler of the alphabet bas a corresponding figure found by référence to a table. The numerical value of the names of the new-born, of his parents, of the month or day of birth, is determined, and aller différent complicated manipulations of the figures the final result is used for astrological révélations.
24. le signe de la balance, the French name for the seventh constellation, Libra, of the Zodiac, representing an ordinary pair of si aies. Its principal stars Kilïa Australis and Kiffa borealis iorniing an isosceles triangle with Antares. Libra is represented by the character — which shows the scale beam.
11. 22. un des cinq mystères. They are expressed in this verse of the Koran XXXI, 34: "The knowledge of the hour [of death] is with God. Ile causes the rain to fall from hcavcii. Ile knows what is in the molher's womb [boy or girl]. No man knows what he will earn on the morrow [whelher punishment or reward]. No man knows in what country he is to die."
24. Azraël or Azrail, the ange! who séparâtes the soûl from the body at the moment of death. (Koran XXXII, 11.)
13. 1.3. dérangerait Satan = todisturb Satan, in callinghim up by c\ en al ion.
16. 22. bachi-bouzouk, bachi-bazouk, a volunleer and irregular auxiliary, serving in connection wilh the Turkish army for maintenance, bul withoul pay or uniform. They are generally mounted, and becausc unpaid, resort to pillage. They are sometimes
detailed to accompany travelers or expéditions through the country and then expect to be suitably rewarded with " bakshish," i.e., this peculiar kind of présent, alms, or tribute which the poor Arab believes himself entitled to claim from every respectable-looking person.
