673

ACQUISITIONS OF 1996-9 (Or. 23.663, cont., 23.665)

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Cod.Or. 23.665 Ferraciye jujsJ ji An undated, but clearly late 19th- to early 20th-century, copy of a treatise on alchemy, particularly its religious and mystical implications, by es-Seyyid Mehmed Fabruddïn b. Tablb Ahmed Bosnavï. The title is mentioned in f. 4a:5; the author in f. 3a:4-5. Both work and author seem to be undocumented. It is preceded by an introduction (lb-4a), in which the author, among other things, points out the dangers of the science and its practice which can easily lead man astray. In the past, the basis for a sound practice of the craft, in accordance with the priciples of Islamic law, was laid down by Cabir (Jabir b. Hayyan, cf. P. Krauss & M. Plessner in El 2 ), so much so that even a son of Müsa was called KTmiya (‘Alchemy’) and the practitioners of the science were styled ‘philosophers’ (2a). The author, despite his eagerness to learn more about the science, had not been able to find anything documented in writing. Inspired by something he overheard from Prizrenevf [? jjj] ‘Ömer Efendi, who was studying a work of medicine, he began studying many books on that subject as well as works on philosophy (3a). Finally the author decided to write the treatise in order to guide those who were seeking true knowledge (salikler, 4a) on the right path. The work consists of four chapters (bab) and is concluded by a poem in gazellkaside format by the author (17a-b). It is followed in turn by two text fragments on alchemy in the hand of the copyist: one being quotations from Jabir b. Hayyan’s Idahat (17b) and, the other, from a work entitled Ke$f el-hakayik (18a-b). A few marginal additions. Bound on boards covered in grey-black cloth; light brown paper without watermarks; (1)+18+1=(1) folios; 193x133 mm and 150x85 mm, varying; 19