The Essence of the Coral
MARJAN: It is said that the word, marjan, is derived from the
Yemenite word, marajat (that which has been mixed) as its essence is a
mixture. But the same thing could, more or less, be said about the pearl.
In common parlance, coral is designated as bussad which is a marine
plant. Those who equate marjan with bussad have no other argument
except that of the custom and idiom All their armamentarium consists
in a far-fetched educing and quotes. In Oribasius' book it has been
stated that the musk is effective against melancholia, depression and
cardiac pains, when unbored pearl, coral-stone, opium, honey and
saffron are added to it. It is quite possible that Oribasius did not write
the word, marjan, in his own language but wrote bussad, whereas the
translator, according to his habit, wrote marjan in its place.
Marjans are small pearls. Some verses bear witness to our claim and
some are contrary to our view. Some of the verses are superb and edify
the mind. Abu al-'Ala' al-Sarawi says:
'When she desired that we should weep, our eyes first began to rain
tears and then shower blood.
Just as pearls and coral stones are strung always in necklaces.'
if the pearl and the coral stone are to be compared to tears and blood,
perhaps the word bussad would not be appropriate. It is quite imaginable that Abu al 'Ala' has evoked this simile not on account of the colour
but dripping. Abu al-Malik al-Harithi says:
When they strung coral stones among pearls in their necklaces, they
presented the sight of embers among the pellets of hail in their necks,
if we take marjans to be small pearls, we would not be able to arrive at
the poet's real purpose, since there is not much distance between the
small and large pearls in a necklace. If anyone does this, the whole thing
would present an awkward sight. The smaller pearls are inferior and
would argue to the fact that the larger ones have not been strung. Large
pearls are strung with the smaller ones for achieving proper spacing,
while the smaller ones are threaded with the-larger ones so that the sight
first rests upon the larger ones. Sanawbari says:
As if its trees have put on green robes and the crowns of pearls and
coral stones have been put upon their heads.
A white blossom may have a tinge of redness or its bud may be a little
reddish, therefore, the mind moves to the suspicion that the poet has
taken marjan to be bussad. Abu Hayyah says:
While she is talking to some young man, coral stones seem to be
dropping out of the hands of the threader.
Bussad is a stone and, therefore, it is correct to designate it as hasa
(gravel). But this word cannot be used for the pearl, as it is not a stone,
although a pearl can be called hasa on account of its proximity, as jewels
