772 Translation of-the Mohit, [Sept. 



The second tablet or plate is one isbd more than the first and so on, 

 until the ninth. Through the middle of this tablet passes a thread so 

 that it increases from the first to the second table half an isbd, and so 

 on to the ninth ; by this the elevation of the stars is taken*. Be it 

 known that the measurement of the ninth table is according with the 

 first plan. Capricornus having the smallest elevationf, it will be found 

 there to be 12 isbd. In the 8th table, 1 1 isbd, and so farther on 

 till the first, where its elevation is four isbd. In the same way the 

 calves, the four stars of the square of Ursa minor and the elevations of 

 the other stars are calculated. The method of taking the measure is 

 as follows :— You take the table with the left hand and the thread that 

 passes through their middle in the right ; you stretch your left hand firm 

 and take the elevation which gives four isbd for that of Juddi (^J^). 

 The moderns use to the same purpose a bar J, three or four 

 spans long, which they divide in five parts ; one part forms a tablet J 



the breadth of which is the half of its length, that is to say, the fifth part 

 of the half ; a thread passes through the middle. The bar is divided in 

 twelve parts and where it cuts off six parts a knot (or division) is made. 

 The pilots begin their measurement from this knot, Juddi having the 

 smallest elevation. The distance between the circle of the horizon is twelve 

 isbd and at this time the stations Isarfa, (# in the lion,) Awwa, (Pvy^ 

 in the virgin,) and Semak Spica ; are near, that is to say, in the 

 zenith ; at this time Juddi is two isbds below the pole of the world ; 

 the measure of an isbd is If degrees (1° 43') ; at that place the ele- 

 vation of the pole of the world is 14 isbd or 24 degrees which is the 

 greatest milej. The greatest elevation of Juddi, is that in the lunar 

 stations fir a el-mokaddam, (a £ in Pegasus, J and moakhkhar, ( y in 

 Pegasus and a in Andromeda ; ) and Resha, ( # in Andromeda : J there 

 are according to this calculation six isbd : they call this measure, the 

 original or fundamental measure ; that is to say, two isbd above the 

 pole of the world. You divide then this bar in eleven parts, throw five 

 of them away and make a knot at the sixth, then remain 1 1 isbd for 

 the elevation of Juddi. You divide again the bar in ten parts, throw 

 away four and make a knot at the sixth which gives the elevation of 

 ten isbd. Then you divide it in nine parts, throw away three and 

 make a knot at the sixth so that nine isbd remain for the elevation. 

 Again you divide it in eight parts, throw away two, make a knot at the 



* See the subjoined note. — Ed. 



f For ' smallest' I should here desire to read • greatest' — the meaning being, tha^ 

 according to the estimated elevation is the loh to be selected. — Ed. 

 J Perhaps the extremity of the scale should be understood by this expression. 



