Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 18, 1907.djvu/87

Rh as sāsitha emlīha, of "good foundation," or ridshelha chadra ‘alēna, literally "his foot is green over us." The omission of this ceremony is followed by many varieties of misfortune, and in the case of a house which is bought or hired is easily discovered by the consequences which ensue, sickness, death, money-losses, above all barrenness of the women occupants. At the best, however, the evil influence appears to be only mitigated and kept in check, for such is the power of evil about the door-step that a mother must not suckle her infant, nor correct her child, in such neighbourhood. A slap on the eye would cause the little victim to squint, on the head to become stupid, on the mouth to become wry-faced, and so on. Should a mother who had been so overcome by temper as to forget the danger suddenly recollect herself, she would exclaim, bi ’ism alf kūl allāh, hū wāḥid, "A thousand times be the name of God spoken. He is One!" If a child accidentally stumble on the door-step, which is generally very high, as well as uneven and slippery from use, the mother or nurse snatches it up with the usual exclamation, and the smallest injury is immediately treated with incense.

Both in the streets and on country roads one observes at night that almost every passer-by, if alone, which is avoided as far as possible, is singing, more or less loudly, to warn off the spirits who have power in the darkness; and when one lies awake at night, naturally with open windows, the tinkle of the camel-bells or patter of donkeys' feet bearing loads to distant markets, is invariably accompanied by the monotonous drone which passes for singing among Orientals.

The bath, as being generally dark, and often dirty, is a special haunt of the jinn. It is lighted by a central cupola,