37. A Hundred Modern Arabic Proverbs. 
By Capt. C. C. R. Murpny, 30th Punjabis. 
Arabic-speaking races, like other Orientals, are extremely 
fond of proverbs, and it is probable that their language con- 
tains a greater number of them than any other. A large 
collection of Arabic sayings generally was made by the writer 
during a stay of six months in Damascus; but in order to 
bring the list down to the limits of this article only those 
proverbs have been included which are actually current in 
Syria at the present day. Common ones, such as have already 
found their way into print, as well as those which might be 
considered either enigmatical or pornographic, have been 
omitted. It has been considered advisable to give trans- 
lations of the Arabic proverbs rather than their equivalents, so 
as to preserve their national character as far as possible. 
Damascus contains a larger Arabic-speaking population 
than any other city in the world. In fact the percentage of its 
270,000 persons who do not speak Arabic is almost negligible. 
Since the days when Straight Street was thronged with Sun- 
worshippers, its inhabitants have loved proverbs. The strange 
thing is that, in a city of such extraordinary antiquity, any- 
thing should become obsolete. Yet many of the proverbs which 
one meets with in the Damascus libraries and bookshops one 
never hears used by the people nowadays. Only a few of these 
proverbs are also current in Egypt. Many of them, if a little 
obscure, are certainly curious. The collection may, therefore, 
prove an interesting one. My thanks are due to Abdo Effendi 
Kahil and Al-Anisah L. Kahil, of Damascus, and also to 
Mr. R. F. Azoo, of Caleutta, for their valuable assistance 
