The Rev, Mr. Lei^s Translation of a Ciific Inscription. 547 



In the beginning of the seventh line we have only the letter ijj" 

 with a space ; which I have translated by supposing the word ^jJJ},\ to 

 have been originally there, although there is still a shght anomaly, as 

 Jj-. not Jjj should have preceded : yet, as the word ^].y^ Mtrnzanwal 

 follows, I do not see what other word could have occupied this space. 

 Again <uc would be more consistent with the idiom of the language 

 than Ax^ at the end of the seventh line ; but as ^^^ is more agreeable 

 to the Cufic copy of the inscription than i^, I have been content to allow this 

 deviation, until we have better means of ascertaining what the inscription 

 really is. In the next line, ijyj and ^-^ would be more grammatical than 

 i"^; and j^ ; but, as before, I can see my way no clearer, until I see a bet- 

 ter copy of the inscription itself. At the end of the eightli line we seem to have 

 a defect, which I would thus supply, jc~i\ favour, grace, ^c. the last two 

 letters of which may liave been written at the commencement of the follow- 

 ing line, for which there is manifestly a space left. At the end of the next 

 line there is also a defect, which seems only to want one letter, viz. alef. At 

 the beginning of the next, i. e. the tenth line, there is again a space and 

 the letter ^ is wanting, which I have supplied in the translation. Of the 

 remainder of this line, I think, there can be no doubt ; and the same, 

 perhaps, may be said of the greater part of the next. Of the last word 

 but one of the twelftli line I think there can hardly be two opinions, the first 

 letter being evidently one of the j- class, though the rest are a little obscure : 

 and, if this be the case, a considerable difficulty as to the first date will 

 vanish. There now can remain only cne difficulty of any importance, and 

 that is, as to the second date. Of the form and signification of the last two 

 words in the thirteenth line, I think there cannot be much doubt ; and if so 

 we may be sui'e that reference is made to some event independent of that 

 mentioned in the first date. The three first words of the next line I have 

 decj'phered and translated as being Issr,. ^ j ^*<T "A security of (ox for) reU- 



gion, with conveniences." If this be the real purport of the passage, the erection 

 of a religious house, with offices, gardens, &c., is meant, and the circumstance 

 perhaps been recorded here, as being the work of piety* alluded to above, 

 and which it is tlie wish of the wi'iter should remain. This passage however 



* The woTiHy, from w liicli the word in the inscription is derived, is often used by Mohamme- 

 dan writers in the sense of legacies for religious purposes. 



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