1848.] Ibn QotaybaKs Adab al K&tib* on Arabic Astronomy. 677 



5. Haq'ah (race-course, j^*-* 1 <3^ e^ %?■>}*) three small nebular 

 stars called the jalha (fire-place of three stones disposed like a horse- 

 shoe). 



6. Han' ah (curved), five stars resembling a club with a hook at the 

 top called Asr-j^e. Three form a straight line. The third is called the 

 bow of the Gemini 'j^'l u»j'*, the fifth is turned back (forms the hook) 

 by about one space towards the south. Astronomers place the han'ah 

 in the foot of the gemini ; some call it the bow of the gemini, with 

 which they shoot at the arm of the lion, and give to it eight stars 

 which have the shape of a bow, and of which the two stars which form 

 the han'ah in its more limited sense, form the place where it is held. 

 Others say the han'ah consists of two stars which are very close to 

 each other, and the northern of which is brighter and called the pearl, 



jd and the southern is called &[~*i-JL Sometimes the moon takes up 

 her quarters in three stars called <V^ ', which are opposite the han'ah. 

 Here the moon crosses the northern galaxy. 



7. Dzira' (arm), two stars, one bright the other dark, distant from 

 each other the length of a horse-whip. There are several small stars 

 between them called the nails jIa&M. This is the southern of the two 

 arms of a lion and also called Hcj&o (shut), the other arm is called 

 i'Jsj-a* (expand), they are like each other. Astronomers place the 

 latter in the canis minor. The Bedouins say 



vir^i 6jjh fl*&% ub^L^ ^*»>h t l ^' u**^' ey~*» ^\j^\ ^i-kiii 



" When the dzira' rises the sun takes off her veil, the coal is lighted 

 on earth, everywhere shines the mirage, and the gazelles and lions go 

 into their dens." 



8. Nathrah is a nebula resembling a portion of a cloud. Astro- 

 nomers place it into the hut of the crab. This star is called nathrah 

 (bridge of the nose), because on either side there are two small stars 

 called the nostrils of the lion, and before them is his forehead **■**.. 

 Some however say that this mansion is mouth of the lion b^ip* some 

 call it the ft*ty. 



9. Tarf (the eye of the lion), two small stars close to each other, be- 

 fore them are six small stars called by the Bedouins y&»\ (traveller ; 

 this is probably an error instead of j^l eye-lashes) ; two of these stars 



