1844.] Notice of the Ajaib-al-Mukhlukat. 635 



Cazvini wrote in the 13th century. His work is divided into two 

 mukdlehs, or discourses. The first treats of sublime or heavenly things, 

 (Alwiat i " A j Jig), and contains thirteen nazrs, sub- divided into 

 chapters. The first eight nazrs describe the arrangement of the 

 heavens, the sun, moon, their eclipses, &c. ; the planets, their move- 

 ments and periods of revolution ; their retrograding and becoming sta- 

 tionary. 



The ninth nazr comprises an account of the fixed stars, constellations, 

 &c. The tenth nazr treats of the zodiacal signs ; and the eleventh of 

 the empyrean heavens, the primum mobile — Falek-i-Aflak u-S'UilCXU 

 In the twelfth nazr, we find a description of the lunar mansions ; the 

 north and south poles ; the zodiacal signs ; angels ; genii and devils, &c. ; 

 and in the thirteenth, one of the divisions of time among different na- 

 tions ; the four seasons, &c. 



The second mukdleh treats of lower, or sublunary things, {Sifflidt, 

 i " .LJLLu>) and is divided into five nazrs, subdivided into chapters. 



They treat of the elements ; falling stars ; air ; clouds ; rain ; the 

 winds ; halos, {halah, *Jl^ j thunder and lightning ; water compris- 

 ing the ocean ; its ebb and flow ; the seven seas ; the earth and its 

 divisions ; earthquakes ; mountains ; plains ; streams ; springs and wells ; 

 things compounded of the elements such as minerals ; meteoric stones, 

 vegetables, animals, man, angels, genii, ghouls, devils, beasts, birds, 

 and reptiles ; concluding with an account of strange animals. 



Summary of the First Mukdleh. 



I shall now proceed to a summary of the contents of the Is* mukdleh, 

 scattering a few remarks here and there, as they occurred to me during 

 perusal. 



The universe is considered to be an assemblage of spheres or orbits, 

 {Aflak, \^ m J\iu concentrically arranged "like the coats of an onion," 



\jWjtf"** &5^*^ Hamchun Kasher-i-piyaz), and similarly conti- 

 guous. 



The author gives an illustrative diagram of the mundane system, of 

 which the subjoined is an exact copy. The concentric red lines are to 

 represent the orbits in which the sun, planets and fixed stars are sup- 

 posed to revolve round the earth. 



4 R 



