It is also, as a matter of abbreviation, called ni'i and copper is not
called ru 7. It, therefore, began to be called mis. There does not exist in
it the homogeneity that characterises copper and tin, between lead and
copper, since, if a mixture of the two is placed on fire, especially together
with fat, lead begins to flow out and copper remains.
Alchemists associate lead with Saturn, as it is ugly and old. A slender
and beautiful maid holds it in aversion and dislikes its proximity. It,
therefore, drives it away from her presence and does not meet her.
taliqun144
We come across the description of taltqun in books, but its characteristics have not been enlarged upon. I have neither seen it nor heard
about it from any reliable person. It has been stated that if hair are
pulled out by the tweezers made of it, they will never grow afterwards
and also that if one sees his reflection in a mirror that has been made
from it, he would be seized by conjunctivities and impaired vision.
In the Kitab al-Nukhab it has been said it is made from shibh. The
Lapidary says it is a species of copper, but that it was acquired through
poisonous medicines and, therefore, harms blood and flesh.
Now that we have arrived here, the intention with which we started
has reached its fruition and we have fulfilled what we had promised.
We now end the book with thanksgiving to God and prayer. We had
begun this work with thanksgiving and prayer. It is the Beneficence of
God that He has blessed His creatures who are under the shadow of the
munificence of Amir Sayyid Malik Mu'yyad Sultan Mu'azzum Shihab alDawlah, the axis and pride of the uinmah. May Allah keep his country
and his Kingship forever, as He is Almighty and accepts the prayers.
(Here ends Beruni's text)
The manuscript ends with the following colophone:
The Book is now complete. Praised be God, the One, the Just,
and blessings upon the lord of the Prophets, Muhammad, his
offspring and Companions. For himself and for others Ahmad
bin Siddiq bin Muhammad, the physician, wrote the glosses to
this manuscript at the end of the month of Safar in 626 A.H.
SUPPLEMENT
I included this description occurring in the Kitab al-Aklil'l Hamadani
(volume eighth) when I found in it a description of the mines of Yemen.
