|
He said he would have persisted with the process had he derived any
economic benefit from it. Abu al-Hasan Turunji says that the ibar employed in optical medicaments is not rasas-i-qala'i (tin). Nor is it natural lead; it is a special kind
of lead which is clean and soft. It is known as musa'ih, as it is intermediate between the two kinds. Dross of lead is made from lead. When those who melt silver, refine
calcined copper and humlan-i-fiddah, lead scoria deposits upon the surface like a membrane. White lead or ceruse is made from it. Its foils are suspended in vinegar, and grapes which have been squeezed are kept in the waste left after
the juice has been expressed. Ceruse forms upon the surface in the manner of verdigris. It is then peeled. Although I have not been able to confirm this fact, yet it was narrated to me that a person in Balkh used to make sulphur out of lead, and
the sulphur came out in one out of five parts. The sulphur prepared by him was taken out to different cities. When the members of his household were asked about it, they could not disclose anything more than the fact that he used to make sulphur and to send this sulphur towards gold mines. Since lead is scarce in China, tin is used as a substitute there. It is for
this reason that lead is exported to China together with other goods. The following story has been narrated by a marine trader (who had heard it from one of his companions): We used to take goods from poor and indigent people to earn God's
Blessings and Reward. It so happened that we were at a place called Ubullah and were making preparations for equipping the ship for journey to China. An old man came to us and said: "I have a request to you. Others have refused to honour it. I hope you will not deny it and I have the fullest trust in you." When I asked him what it was, he said he would not disclose it unless I promised to fulfil his request. Upon my having made a promise, he brought an ingot of lead weighing some 100 mannas saying: "I want you to have this kept in the ship by your men, and dropped in the sea at such and such a place." When 1 said I could not do this, he importuned me and reminded me of my promise. When he persisted without providing me any reprieve, I finally yielded, and entered his name, address at Basrah, and his request in my log book. When we reached the place indicated by the old man, I forgot to throw the lead ingot overboard, as there was a storm blowing there. It was willed so by God. When we reached our destination and had sold off our goods, men called upon us to buy lead. I told him we had no lead, whereupon my slave said we had it. I said: "I have no right to sell it, as I have made a promise |
||
|
|
||
|
222
|
||
|
|
||