578 Examination of some decayed Oriental Works. [No. 115. 



phate of iron is formed in specimens. The specimen upon the table is an 

 instance where this has gone on, and at the contact of the decomposed 

 pyrites, the label is exactly reduced to the state of our books. Another 

 effect, perhaps of this kind, is the discolouration of the leaves of books 

 printed upon ordinary paper, in the making of which, it is said, 

 gypsum is used in considerable quantities to increase the weight. In 

 this case, as gypsum has a tendency to decomposition when in contact 

 with vegetable matter, the sulphuric acid may also be set free? The 

 paper of these books becomes brownish, brittle, and finally crumbles to 

 pieces, so that it is called " the dry rot." 



The practical inference to be drawn from all this, for our use and 

 that of other Societies and collectors, is, 1 think, this ; that in copying 

 MSS. we must prohibit the use of mineral inks — being never certain of 

 their composition — and employ only China ink, which with a little 

 trouble, is well adapted for fine Oriental writing. This being pure 

 sepia or carbonaceous matter, will probably be as lasting as the 

 best paper. I have moreover recommended, that all paper used for 

 copying in the Library, should be well soaked in a solution of alum, 

 which will take off the excess of starchy and gummy matter in the size, 

 and perfectly secure it against damp ; for paper so prepared is crisp 

 in the dampest weather, and no insect will touch it. I should thus 

 hope our MSS. will be placed in safety for a long period ; but T should 

 urge on the Society the prudence of securing copies of all the rare 

 works, in which this discolouration has begun. There is another prac- 

 tical inference, which I also take leave to suggest, and it is the follow- 

 ing : May there not be a great mass of Government records, subject to 

 this cause of decay, through the use of ill-made ink ? 



Museum, 2Qth June, 1841. H. Piddington. 



Note. — This valuable memorandum was prepared by Mr. Piddington, on 

 my shewing him a copy of the " Murrat ool Jinan,'' which had been com- 

 pletely destroyed by the process above remarked on. The MS. is from 

 Egypt, and copies of it very rare. Alarmed at the destructive process to which 

 other valuable MSS. in the Library of the Asiatic Society were subjected by 

 similar decomposition, I at once set copyists to work to make duplicates of 

 all which shewed signs of decay, profiting by the suggestions offered in 

 this paper, for prevention of the injurious effects of bad ink and paper. I 

 may add, that I have procured from Lucnow a copy of the lost MS. which is 

 in course of transcription. 



