RSPA 115 (Oriental Manuscripts, British Library)
India Office Library
Jones Collection
Royal Society Arabic and Persian
Contents
1 copy of Mūqiẓ al-Ghāfilīn min Qiblat al-ʿĀrifīn by ʿAlī Ḍāmin al-Muntaẓir
Language(s): Arabic
A treatise on the geographical positions of certain towns and, in particular, Murshidabad in Bengal, compsed in answer to the criticisms levelled at the author's previous work Qiblat al-ʿĀrifīn wa Kaʿbat al-Māhirīn, in which he had pointed out the errors made in ascertaining the points of the compass. This volume is a
It is divided into a preface, an introduction, nine short chapters and a conclusion. The textblock ends on f.37v and ff.38v-45r are composed of fourteen different tables describing the position of different towns in relation to each other.
There is a large diagram on f.13r depicting the poles and the orientation of finding one's way.
Physical Description
European numerals in pencil.
Condition
Generally the manuscript is in good condition. There is some minor worm damage which has largely been repaired with tape and the folios are all well supported with their guards.
Layout
Neat and uniform layout of nine lines in one column per page.
Hand(s)
Very neat black ink nastaʿlīq with frequent rubrications. Tables are a mixture of red and black ink.
Decoration
Frequent scribal marginalia commenting on and adding to the textblock. Catchwords present on every folio.
Binding
Standard India Office half-leather maroon/brown coloured binding with wine-coloured marbled endpapers.
Accompanying Material
History
Provenance and Acquisition
RSPA 1-118 were presented to the Royal Society in January 1792 by Sir William and Lady Jones.
The Royal Society's collection of 280 Persian and Arabic, and 86 Sanskrit manuscripts were transferred to the India Office Library in 1876.
1876
India Office Library
Record Sources
Availability
Entry to read in the Library is permitted only on presentation of a valid reader's card for admissions procedures contact British Library, Registering for a Reader Pass. Contact apac-enquiries@bl.uk for further information on the availability of this manuscript. For information on catalogues and ordering manuscripts see Finding and ordering Persian manuscripts in the British Library.
Funding of Cataloguing
BL
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