376 Dr, Dork's Description of an Arabic Celestial Globe, 



who was born in 1393, at Siiltania, near Kazvin, and died in 141.4.. He 

 was thoroughly acquainted with the mathematical sciences, and caused 

 a magnificent academy to be erected at Samarkand, whither the most 

 learned men of tlie time floclced to partake of his patronage. Ulugh Beg's 

 name has acquired perpetual lustre by the compilation of astronomical 

 tables, which, to this day, are held in high esteem. 



That such application to astronomy did not fail to produce many learned 

 works upon that science, as well as various instruments connected with 

 its study, may be inferred from what has been ah-eady said ; and it has 

 been clearly ascertained that the construction of astronomical instru- 

 ments at tliat period was brought to a higii degree of perfection. Not only 

 astrolabes, but also celestial globes were made ; and many astronomers are 

 expressly recorded as having been particularly expert in the construction of 

 them.* Ebn Alnabdi, who was himself an extremely clever mechanic, 

 mentions two globes which he had examined, and admired for the excellence 

 of their execution, in the public library at Kahira in 1043. One of them 

 he describes to have been made of brass by Ptolemy himself, which, of 

 course, cannot be adduced as a proof of Mohammedan skill ; but the second, 

 made of silver, was constructed by Abul Hassan Alsufi, for the immediate 



* Of the many individuals recorded as having added to a knowledge of astronomy that of 

 constructing instruments, I think it not improper to give here a short list ; such a one, to my 

 knowledge, having never yet heen published. Amongst those whom Almamun invited to Bag- 

 dad for the cultivation of this science we may name the following, viz. Abbas ben Said Algiou- 

 hari ; Send ben Ali ; Yahya ben Abi, Monsur Almamuni (or astronomer to Almamun), &c. 

 Besides whom may be mentioned, Abu Jafar ben Ahmed Habush ; Ali Abul Hassan ben 

 Isniael Giouhari, at Bagdad; Alhassan ben Alhassan ben Alhaitham Abul Ali Albasri, who 

 wrote on almost every branch of mathematics and astronomy ; Fath ben Nagiaba, surnamed 

 Al-Astralabi (died A.H. 1058) ; Mohammed ben Isa ben Ali , Harun ben Ali ben Yahya ben 

 Mansur, who flourished at Bagdad, under the government of the Uilemides ; and Habbat Allah 

 ben Alhossain Abu! Kasem, who also flourished at Bagdad, in the time of the khalif IMostarshed. 

 The most skilful mechanic, however, according to the testimony of the Mohammedan authors, 

 was Ahmed ben Mohammed, a Persian, who not only made the hnest instruments, but invented 

 several new ones, to the great advantage of the science. 



Amongst those above mentioned, are some who n rote also on the construction and use of in- 

 struments : for instance, Jafar ben Ahmed ben Habush ; Mohammed ben Isa ben Ali, and others. 

 The following Mohammedans published treatises on the astrolabe, viz. Thabetben Korra,. about 

 8W; Abu Ali Hussain ben Ahmed ben ^laz Alaslemi, about 1274; Ahmed ben Alsophar, cf 

 Cordova; Mohammed Sebth, of Maredin ; Moslama ben Ahmed Almagrebi, of Spain ; Ali ben 

 Isa Alashbili, of Seville ; Mohammed ben Omar ben Alfarkan ; Abu Bir Fadhl Mashalla, &c. 



