man buys a he-goat, who, in voiding his excrements, hits the buyer's eye with part of it and injures the same. Who has to pay for the damages? "The seller," promptly says Abou Arouba. "And why?" asked the Kalif. "Because he had sold the animal without warning the buyer that it had a catupult in its anus," answered the man. At these words the Kalif began to laugh immoderately, and recited the following verses:
"When the beard of the young man
Has grown down to his navel,
The shortness of his intellect is in my eyes
Proportioned to the length his beard has grown."
It is averred by many authors that amongst proper names there are such as bring luck and others that bring ill luck, according to the meaning they bear.
The names Ahmed, Mohammed, Hamdouna, Hamdoun indicate in encounters and dreams the lucky issue arrived at in a transaction.[1] Ali, Alia indicate the height and elevation of rank.[2] Naserouna, Naseur, Mansour, Naseur Allah, signify triumph over enemies.[3] Salem, Salema Selim, Selimane indicate success in all affairs; also security for him who is in danger.[4] Fetah Allah, Fetah indicate victory, like all the other names which in their meaning speak of lucky things.[5] The names Rad,
- ↑ The root of these names is "hamd," which means to praise, glorify, to bear oneself worthy of praise.
- ↑ The root is "ala," signifying high, elevated both in reality and figuratively.
- ↑ From "neseur," meaning to help, and by extension to carry off the victory. The word God is understood; helped by God is being victorious.
- ↑ From the root "selem," which means to be right and well, to escape from a danger, to be safe.
- ↑ Ahmed, Mohammed, etc.
