|
divided into two Discourses, Maqala-I (pp. 31 — 228) and Maqala-II
(pp. 228 — 267). Here the text of Kitab al-Jamahir ends with the attestation of Ahmad b. Siddiq who transcribed it in the year 626 A.H. Thereafter, is placed a 'Supplement' (Mulhaq) on 'The Mines of Yarnan' (pp. 268 — 271) by some one who composed it from the various manuscripts of Al-Hamadani's AL-IKLJL (Book-VIII). Its date of transcription is 1112 A.H. (though it might have been added at an earlier date?). Page 272 contains editor's references to the manuscripts used by him, and page 273 a note by the publishers (Majlis Da'irat al-Ma'arif). Then in eleven pages, numbered separately (pp. 1—11), is reproduced a part of the text of Kitab al-Jamahir which was mistakenly left out in the print (after line 14, page 141 of the Arabic text). This is followed by editor Krenkow's khatimah or epilogue (1—4 pages in Arabic), and finally the index of personal and place names (pp. 1—41). The above sequence has been re-adjusted in this edition. In main, the
mistakenly left out part has been put in its proper place (in this ed., p. 116 line 25 — p. 1 25 line 28); and thus after reconstructing the complete text of Kitab al-Jamahir (pp. 1 — 227), is placed the Supplement (Mulhaq) on 'The Mines of Yarnan' (pp. 227—231) which is followed by three appendices. An Evaluation of Kitab al-Jamahir by Prof. Sami Hamarneh constitutes Appendix-I, which is followed by Appendix-II and AppendixIll contributed by Hakim Mohammad Sa'id to show how gemstones. pearls, minerals and metals are utilized as effective ingredients in the Tibb System of Medicine. The multidimensional merit of this work as well as the versatile
genius of Beruni have been underlined both in the 'Foreword' to the text and in the 'Evaluation' that follows it. Beside much of common sense, philosophy, anthropology, evolution, history, geography, lore and literature, the specifically scientific content (physics, geo-chemistry, botany, marine biology, mineralogy, metallurgy) is writ large in the text of Kitab al-Jamaliir. In different contexts, Beruni has often made observations of scientific import. For example: — The crystal in its pristine state was liquid in motion (p. 163). The
crystal is congealed water (p. 160). — Milk, a liquid, forms bones, and the harder fruit stones are formed
by water (p. 1 67). — The magnet piece which is in direct contact with the air and the
sun loses its (magnetic) force (p. 184). — The capacity of the lightening to melt solid objects that can be
melted, argues for the fact that air accompanies lightening and thunder bolt (p. 215). — The alchemists' (al-kimya'un) claim that they can make better
gold than the natural gold . . . can remain a claim only. Their |
||
|
|
||
|
xiv
|
||
|
|
||