'A Dictionary, Persian, Arabic, and English; with a Dissertation on the Languages, Literature, and Manners of Eastern Nations' [‎47v] (99/1826)

xxvin
PROOFS AND ILLUSTRATIONS.
of plumed helmets.—This prince was surnamed Baniavand,
armed at all points; and Dlw-bandj chainer of Dives. Marjun
signifies a pearl.
See Shdh-namah Kh’dn-i
shashum, tea kushtani Rustam Ai'jang Dlzo, the sixth adventure,
and the slaughter of the Dtzo Arjatig by Rustam. In the next
is his combat with the Diic-iSaped(whxie Dew). Fir-
dazcsl, who may be called the Homer of Persia, employed thirty
years in the composition of this work. He died at an advanced
age, in the year 1018. See also Gazophylaciuin Ling. Pers.
p. 127.
P. xlviii. P. xlix. ^See Dissertations prefixed to the
Rev. Mr. A\ arton’s History of English Poetry ; and Observations
on the Faery Queen, p. 63.—In the Persian Romances, we find
nations with the heads of fish, dragons, &c. as sar-i
mdhi, sar-i ajdahd. We have also the j~* nim-sar,
the half-heads; and i^\j jJ'yJ duzedl-pat/, the leather-strap legs.
Put one of the most singular creatures is the nim-juzah
or jif' ftr 1 ntm-chihr; which is supposed to be the human figure
split in two ; the male being the right half, and the female the
left: they have, of consequence, half a face, one eye, one arm,
and one foot, on which they run with incredible swiftness; and
are imagined to be ver\' dangerous and cruel tinnin
su^ban, and other Arabic words used to denote dragons,
are only, radically, large serpents. Ui£ ^aiikd, signifies an
eagle, length of neck, &c. from the root (Jjs. ^unk, a neck.
tjfrtt, a cruel or dangerous man, from the root jic.
t°fr; hence a giant, genie, demon, &c.—Jyi Ghul, any thing
terrifying, which suddenly deprives people of their senses.
a demon, a spirit. This root signifies, inter alia,
covering, being concealed, interior, dark. See jdn and
junun.
P* x hx. J2 See Dictionary aL mah.
P. xhx. 93 P. 1 . 94 Father Angelo observes that magic is
an art publicly taught by the Persians and Arabians. He knew
a rich enchanter of Bassora, a man much respected; whose
scholars were so numerous, that they possessed one entire quarter
of the city. At the sound of a certain drum, accompanied by a
kind of chant, they became, like demoniacs, suddenly inspired
with a real or affected phrenzy ; during which they devoured
fire publicly in the streets. This is a trick not uncommon with
European jugglers. These magicians, by way of distinction,
wore their hair very long. See Gazophylacium Lingua) Persa-
rum, p. 155. Angelo went missionary to the East in 1663 See
also Hyde’s Religio Veteran, Versa,cap. ,s and 19
P. b. 95 The words expressive of talismans, amulets, fascina
tion, and spells, are very numerous both in Persian and Arabic.
I shall mention a few; nushrat, an amulet for preventing or
curing insanity, or other malady; iLi kabalah, a philtre by which
necromancers pretend to reconcile enemies ; jliji ghajgharo or
ghajghaw, tufts made of the hair of sea-cows, and hung
round the necks of horses, to defend them from fascination, v . 1 . *.
UJ.
shabdrik, a tree of which they make amulets for the same pur
pose. uizimat, an amulet, incantation, or spell against
serpents, disease, or other evil. sulzcdnat, shells, rings, or
beads used as amulets. sulwdn, denotes water poured from
a kind of shell or upon earth taken from the grave of a dead man
which they drink to the health of a person, as a cure for love, or
any severe affliction. ^atfat, small beads hung by women
round their necks, as a charm to gain the affections of their lovers,
iyic ^cikurat, a spherical amulet, worn by some women round
their waists, to prevent pregnancy ; and by others to favour a
conception. i’Asi-l ukhzat, an amulet in form of a knot, which
women wear to keep their husbands faithful. ^'j;} nirang,
nirak, JjU>- hum ail, ta^wiz, jUjcc mi^kdd,
mutammim, Jz. ghat, jkharaz, kahdl, wajihat,
kirzahlat, ma^wiz, signify amulets
made of shells, beads, tufts of wool or hair, dead men’s bones
&c * f 1 ? naju, far hast, raki, sJ* shuh, lufat,
'ijzj nazrat, &c. imply fascination, or malignant eyes.
kharchdrah, is an ass’s head placed upon a pole in a garden, &c.
to guard it against fascination.
The following account of the discovery of hidden treasure is
given by the vazlr Nazam. A prince, named Amir Ismael, in
the beginning of the tenth century, having defeated another
chief, called Ainru Lays, who was supposed to be very rich,
search was made for his treasure, but in vain. One of the Amir’s
female slaves accidentally undressing to bathe on the terrace of
the palace, having laid down her girdle, set with large rubies,
on a white cloth; a hungry kite observing it, and supposing the
red stones to be bits of meat, pounced upon the girdle and
carried it off. The damsel instantly gave the alarm to the guard;
and a number of horsemen were despatched to keep the kite in
view, who dropt it after a long pursuit, when it fell into a well.
A man was immediately let down, who discovered in the side of
it a laige cavity, where a vast number of chests had been
lodged, which proved to have been the very treasure the Amir
had been so long in quest of, to the amount of about 4 , 000 , 000 /.
sterling. Buiying treasure is also common among the Tartars;
and sheets ofgold, jewels, and rich moveables, are often interred
along with the chiefs and their wives. See Abu’l ghazl Khan’s
History ; also Archaeologia of the Society of Antiquaries, Vol. II.
p. 222 .
P 1’ mi •
ne ancient Persians durst not, by their religion,
cxtin 0 uish fire with water, but endeavoured to smother it with
t urth, stones, or any thing similar. This method would not soon
extinguish a blazing forest.—The Parsls of Guzerat are still