16 
OBSERVATIONS ON ARABIC. 
translators of the ~New Testament in describing the 
torments of the lost, " Weeping and wailing" &c. 
Of the term " chaste," Yusuf observed, " There 
is no such expression in these languages ; all the 
women are alike, and equally accessible when danger 
is absent." It is also true that the men place no 
bounds to their sensual appetites, and are restrained 
only by inability. It may be, however, that the 
more religious would have some scruples about 
intriguing with their neighbours' wives. 
When we came to the word " school," Yusuf 
pretended there was not such a word in Kailouee. 
He asked, " Where in Tintalous is there a school?" 
The question, unfortunately, is put with too much 
truth. The Kailouees hereabouts seem entirely to 
neglect education. 
I myself observe that the Arabic booss answers 
exactly to the vulgar word in English for kiss.* 
The name of a raven is one of many remarkable 
examples of a word being chosen to imitate in 
sound some peculiarity of the thing signified. In 
this case, kcik irresistibly reminds one of the raven's 
croaking voice ; which we describe by caw. Kass, 
scissors, is also an imitation of the sound produced 
by this instrument in cutting. 
* A good many similarities of this kind, accidental or otherwise, 
might be pointed out: ydrub is " to drub Jcaab would be trans- 
lated, in old English, " kibe ;" yJcattah is "to cut ;" kotta," a cat ;" 
bate, " a bug;" stabl, " a stable," &c. &c. I have noticed, also, 
some similarities with French words, e. g. yJcassar, " casser." — Ed. 
