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Art. IV.—Sachau's Albirúní1
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 March 2011
Extract
In the Notes of the Quarter for October last it was stated that, owing to the exceptional character of two recent publications, a critical notice of them would be deferred to the January number of the Royal Asiatic Society's Journal. These were Dr. Sachau's edition of Al Beruni's India in the Arabic original, and the Introduction and second fasciculus, Part I. of Howell's Arabic Grammar. Neither issue could be dismissed with a hasty line of approval, however unqualified, nor were the names of the authors, however distinguished, and abstract of title-pages, sufficient—in respect of the particular volumes under reference—to convey, to the world without, a clear notion of the long and continuous labour the result of which had been placed at the disposal of Orientalists in Europe. Further consideration led to the conclusion that a separate article might with propriety be devoted to the first of the two works named—both important additions to the library of Arabic scholars.
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References
page 130 note 1 Dr. Sachau writes of the Persian birún: “The vowel of the first syllable is a yâi-majhûl, which means that in more ancient times it was pronounced bêrûn (or bayroon)” But in vol. ii. of Dr. Rieu's Catalogue of Persian MSS. at the British Museum, p. 451, the quotation from Sam'ání is 
… 
which rules the application of the Kasr, converting bê into bî.
page 131 note 1 The reading would therefore be “Book of Instruction in the Principles of Astrology,” instead of “Book of Instruction in the Principles of the Science of Astrology.”
page 132 note 1 See Preface to the translation of the Chronology of Ancient Nations (Allen, 1879).
page 139 note 1 A distinguished Italian critic holds that such sentiments as those expressed in Albirúní's “Indica,” coming f rom a Musalman of Khiva in the eleventh century of our era, may, as a matter of wonder, be compared to the discovery of lions' and elephants' bones in the Northern regions of the earth. “A vedere spuntar così fatti pensieri, verso i principii dell' XI. secolo dell' era volgare, nella mente di un Musalmano di quello che oggido chiamano il khanato di Khiva, si sente maraviglia non minore che alio scoprir ossa di leoni e d'elefanti nelle regioni settentrionali della Terra.” [M. Amari.]
page 141 note 1 One meaning of many to be found in dictionaries. I had originally written “scarf.” The word used is 
táilasán, evidently borrowed from the Persian 
talshán or ta sán “a kind of coif wrapped round the head, with a lappet or sash hanging down” (Johnson). Mr. H. C. Kay, who has kindly revised the whole translation of the above extract, calls attention to the fact that De Sacy renders it by manteau, the same interpretation given by Baron de Slane; and I find the following in Freytag: “
et 
pl. 
(plurimi ex Persico 
et 
, alii ex 
ortum esse dicunt voeem). Amiculum, fere ex pilis caprinis vel camelinis contextum, quod humero injectum dependet de dorso, vel etiam capiti impositum deorsum promittitur: quale philosophi et religiosi, imprimis apud Persas, usurpare velut pro insigni soient. Inde Arabes convicii causa dicunt 
i.e Persa et Barbare!”
page 141 note 2 I have translated 
, muzaffar literally: it may simply imply an Arabic equivalent for the common designation of “the Great.”
page 142 note 1 Wisdom, , chap. v. 9. 10. 12.Google Scholar