546 Account of the Mohit, a Nautical [Nor. 



days of Moharrsmcf the year 962, (December, 1554,) while the present 

 copy was finished in the town of Anted or Diarbeker, in the first days of 

 Rabi ul awal of the year 966, (December, 1558.) The manuscript con- 

 sists of 1 34 leaves or 238 pages, large octavo. 



SIdi Ali Capuda'n's (Captain) work, according to the announcement 

 in its preface, has been compiled out of no less than ten Arabic works 

 on the Geography and Navigation of Iudia, three ancient, and seven 

 modern ones. 



The ancient ones : 1. The work of Leis Ben Kahla'n ; 2, of Ma- 

 hammad Ben Shadan ; 3, of Sahl Ben Aba'n. The modern : 4, the 

 work of Jolfar Ben Ahmed Ben Ma'jed, a native of Ommdn ; then 

 the five works of Suleima'n Ben Ahmed, a native of the town of 

 Sheher*, viz. 5, the Fewaid\ ; 6, the Hauw(e\ ; 7, the Tohfetelfohul% ; 

 8, the Omdet\\ ; 9, the Minhdffi ; 10, the Kilddet ul-shomus**. 



The interest of its contents may be fairly estimated from the titles of 

 its chapters and sections. 



First Chapter. — Of the names of the skies and the stars, of the elements 

 and what, belongs to them : 1, of the skies, stars, and elements ; 2, of the division 

 of the circles of the skies ; 3, of the astronomical measures called Essabeft, 

 (inches,) and of the cardinal points of the compass, (Ahnun)^ ; 4, of the in- 

 struments serving to measure the distance of the stars ; 5, of the making of 

 these instruments ; 6, of the calculation necessary to take the height of the 

 stars. 



Second Chapter. — Of the Oss§§ (the foundation) of all astronomical cal- 

 culations : 1, of the solar and lunar years ; 2, of the foundation of the calcu- 

 lation of solar and lunar years ; 3, of the foundation of the Roman and 

 Coptic solar year ; 4, of the mode of finding the lunar year ; .5, of the mode 

 of finding the Roman year; 6, of the mode of finding the Coptic year ; 7, 

 of the mode of finding the Persian year. 



Third Chapter. — Of the divisions and subdivisions of the compass, rhumbs 

 (jSrwtim HID and points (Tarfat%^) ; 1, ofiherhumbs lying between the 

 cardinal points (AhnunJ, 2, of the subdivisions of the rhumbs called Tar. 

 fat : 3, of the true circles of the compass. 



Fourth Chapter. — Of the Indian Islands above and below the wind, and 

 of America : I, of the islands situated above the wind, 2, of the absolute cir- 

 cles ; 3, of the circles situated below the wind ; 4, of the circles of the is. 

 lands ; 5, of America. 



A 9 



* „ s -<* in the country of . . (near Aden), t J^l»i useful applications. 



J JJ- -r - 



+ rfj.ta* the comprehending. Ls A/ I*5s J P«'esent for classic men. 



<*> § C/v 



II i\Uc the column. ^ ?r V"* the true road - 



** ^^.fcJlSJB the collar of suns. ' || ^^ } 



