AN ALCHEMICAL COMPILATION OF THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY, A.D. 
83 
regarding some method for preparing silver. “ The Prince of Poets, Al-Mashidi 
known as KhaqanI/ relates as follows : ‘ Abdu-l-Masih, the Monk, went in before Ja'far 
Al-Asbati and said, f I hear that you are interested in the Art. Have you ever 
succeeded in accomplishing anything?’ ‘Yes,’ he answered, ‘ I melted silver with 
the like quantity of silvery Marqasjntha , etc ” 
XX. The ‘ Ainu-s-San 1 ah wa c Aunu-s-Sana‘ah. (Essence of the Art and Aid to 
the Workers) by Abu-l-Hakim Muhammad ibn c Abdi-l-Malik as-Salihi-al-Khwarazml 
Al-Kathi (Folio 124 r., 1 . 17, to f. 133 v., bottom— end of MS.) 
Begins : “ In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate ! Vouchsafe 
Thy aid, O Gracious One ! 
“The first thing by which speech should be commenced, and the worthiest 
thing by which paper can be ornamented, and the best thing by which one’s object 
may be attained, and the fittest thing with which to receive divine gifts, is the praise 
of God for His past benefits, and thankfulness for His customary favours, etc.” 
Chapter I (Folio 127 v., 1 . 13, to f. 128 v. t 1 . 15). 
Chapter II (Folio 128 v, 1 . 16, to f. 130 r., 1 . 7). 
Chapter III (Folio 130 r., 1 . 7, to f. 130 v., 1 . 14). 
Chapter IV (Folio 130 v., 1 . 15, to f. 131 v ., 1 . 5). 
Chapter V (incomplete. Ends abruptly at Folio 133 v., bottom). 
[ Vide Memoirs, As. Soc. Bengal, Vol. I, No. 4, pp. 51-64). 
XXI. " The Treatise on the making of the ‘ Black Stone,’ copied from the Book 
of Abl ‘Abdillah Al-Bakawl.” 2 
Begins, after the Basmalah: “You take in the name of God, and relying on 
His help and generous aid, some of the ‘ Black Stone,’ and let it be of the ‘ Stone ’ 
of youths. Wash it clean with pure clay, U sknan 3 cooked with water, and soap, cold 
water being used in summer and tepid water in winter. Then dry it on a piece of 
cloth, protecting it from dust. Collect 10 or more ratls of it, and having cut it into 
very small pieces, store it in a jar to protect it from dust.” 
The author describes the treatment of the f Black Stone,’ by which Black Hair 
is apparently meant. It is first broken up by distillation into water, oil and residue. 
“ This is the water which the Sages have named f Spirit.’ The oil they call ‘ Soul,’ 
and the residue ‘ Body.’ The residue is calcined, and the oil coagulated, by the 
application of a gentle heat. The tincture is dissolved from the coagulated oil by 
the c Spirit ’ (the water previously obtained), and the residue then extracted by 
acid waters to remove its unctuosity. 
The different products are separately dissolved by placing them in vessels 
buried in moist dung for 45 days. They are finally mixed, and a substance is 
. Born at SI ™an in the Caucasus A.D, „o6: died ,t Tabriz in A.D. ,.85 (,i* Browne, Liter.,, Hist. 0, 
’ V J9I ' 3 "f 1 0 reference to alchemy appears however to be found in any of KhaqanI’s extant poetry 
No reference can be found elsewhere, either to this author, or his book. 
3 Or rather the ashes of the plant, from which sodium carbonate caii be extracted by water (cf. Mem A S B 
P- S3, note (S). * Cf. supra p. (6). 
4 , 
