Wine and Beer in the Daily Life and Religion of the Ancient Orientals. 151 



(cups) , my mirjar draws lines (in the sand) and in <jenerosity 

 I let my pail follow its puUing-rope," 



, '* 



Also A'sha makes mention of his early walks to the tavern, 

 stating- that he is followed b>' a zealous, quick and active 

 cook (de Sacy, Ckrest. Arab., [). iof~, verse ro). A'sha was buried 

 in Manfnha in Yamama. Revellers were accustomed to meet 

 at his grave and to pour wine over it (Nicholson, R. H., A Lite- 

 rary History of Arabs, New York, 1907. p. 124). 'Antara, m. 37 

 speaks of the time of the midday-heat: "And I quaffed after 

 the midda)'-heat had abated, old wine bought with bright 

 and well-stamped coin". Fortunes were squandered in the 

 tavern, on account of the great expense of wine '. "When 

 I have drunk", says 'Antara -, "verily, I am the squanderer of 

 my property, but nn- fame remains great and unsullied". The 

 generous host is praised even though wine has overcome him 

 (Lebid XII, 21). Liberality was a characteristic trait of the 

 host. "And if you meet my drinking companions they will 

 tell you that I am the string of a ])urse, from which 1 never 

 took refuge in poverty (i. e., b\' pleading poverty)", Kais ibn 

 al-IJatim, ^r, v, r; 



Kais ibn al-Hatim probably reviles the Band Harita in the 

 following verses: "But there are in a-Saut some servants 

 from Yathrib, whose price will perish in wine. The al-'Aus 

 consider their price despiceable, when one of their drunkards 

 staggers at evening" (III, 16, 17) 



.' ^^ 0"' " ' ' ' ^P}^ ". ' 7 '^ " 



1) Tlie price of a wine-skin lilled witii wine was a tliree-year old camel ; 

 see reference in Jacob, Georg, Stiuiien in arahischen DIchtern, Heft III, p. 104. 

 Jacob also cites a passage in wliich it is said tliat also mares, stallions and 

 slaves were spent in (hinking. 



2) 'Antara, m. 39. 



