12G 



Meynard's Ibn Khordcidheh. 



[No. 2, 



the grain and the weights, calculated by the number of grains which 

 they contain, had, in some parts of the empire, and at one time, a 

 greater or lesser value than in other parts and at other periods. 

 There is a grain of which 72 make a Mithqal, there is a grain (^fc*-*) 

 of which 100 make a Mithqal, one of which 96 make a Mithqal, one 

 of which 68f make a Mithqal, and one of which 60 make a Mithqal, 

 but this grain is called ifabba and not Shayra. The fact seems to 

 be that the Persians, and after them the Mohommedans, found that 

 the Roman Aurei are more equal in weight than any other coin, and 

 for this reason they used it as standard, calculating the value of their 

 own weight by Aurei. In some cases, slight alterations in the value 

 of their own weights seem to have been made in order to adapt them 

 better to this foreign standard. The apothecaries' weight, as we learn 

 from Avicenna, was Greek, but not without some alteration, 



According to the Dictionaiy of Techn. Terms, p. 176, there existed 

 in the early ages of the Islam the same system as was in later times 

 preserved at Samarqand. It may be expressed as follows : 



Mithqal. Daneq. STassuj. iZabba. Grain (Shayra.) 



1 6 24 48 96 



14 8 16 



12 4 



1 2 



1 



Another system or ^anja we find in the Qamus under Makkdk, it 

 Hiay be expressed as follows : 



ithqa! 



Dirhem. 



Daneq. 



Qyrat. 



Tassiij. 



JTabba 

 (grain.) 



1 



n 



H 



17| 



34f 



68 f 





i 



6 



12 



24 



48 







1 



2 



4 



8 









1 



2 

 1 



4 



2 

 1 



This system is in the Qamus continued beyond the Mithqal, as 

 follows J 



