In the original Flashman story our anti-hero tells how he learned Hindi from a girl named Fetnab whom he bought for that, and other, purposes. He makes a comment that goes somethng like this (I am going by memory): “She knew the 107 ways of making love that the Hindus set such store by, though mind you it is all gammon, because the 97th turns out to be the same as the 74th, only with your fingers crossed.”

…who didn’t want to pay for her pizza.

Some people have all the luck. Never happened to me, though.

And re Hamasniks: no, Fabian said it all, and I know when to stop, don’t I?

:)

I’m thinking that was a figure of speech, kind of like hollering out “My God!”

You can read The Perfumed Garden online here. Note that site is called “Sacred Texts”. Uh-huh.