Arabic MS 706 (The John Rylands Research Institute and Library, The University of Manchester)

The numbering of the stories was added later, but it shows that this volume contained, when complete, 263 leaves comprising the sections (جزء) V-XII of the Arabian Nights. Before it reached the French owner's hands the fifth section had disappeared and the book then consisted of sections VI-XII with foliation 24-263 (see old Eastern Arabic numerals in pen). A previous French owner supplied the missing leaves of Section V (folios 7-13).

From the style (often half colloquial) used in the book, Mingana deduces that the recension is more Egyptian than Syrian or Mesopotamian, and there are even some words used in it which would hardly be understood in Syria or Iraq.

Marginal notes in pencil and in pen in French throughout.

The division to sections is purely arbitrary and mark no natural pauses.

Contents:

• Folios 7a-29b: Contains the story of Khailakhān's adventures by sea and land related to a king of Persia whose name is given بدرجروان الريان;
• folios 30a-47b: The King of Persia and the two aged shaikhs who tell him stories. This ends with the story of King Iftikhāndār and his children and the marriage of Sitt al-Aqmār;
• folios 48a-264b: The long tale of ʿUmar an-Nuʿmān, King of Baghdad and Khurāsān, and his children and grandchildren. The story breaks off abruptly on folio 264b, where it closes with a battle in which King Rūmazān of Constantinople and the Princess Nuzhat al-Zamān from Baghdad fight against each other.

Folios 1-6: smaller leaves in French by previous French owner include a list of contents and portions of translations.

At the end of Section VIII on folio 127b, there is a colophon by the transcriber Nasīm bin Yūḥannā ibn Abu المساء, who states that he copied it from the most illustrious of maters, the Muʿallim Maṣari (possibly meant to be Miṣri or Maṣri) for the purpose of informing him concerning the events of ancient times. No date is given.

The Muʿallim Miṣri was probably the person who has written the older marginal notes found in the book.