al-Tabsira bi al-Tijara fi Wasf ma Yustazraf fi al-Buldan min al-Amtiya al-Rafia wa al-Alaq al-Nafisa wa al-Jawahir al-Thamina
- Author died
- 255 AH
- Editions
- Maktabat al-Khānjī
al-Tabsira bi al-Tijara fi Wasf ma Yustazraf fi al-Buldan min al-Amtiya al-Rafia wa al-Alaq al-Nafisa wa al-Jawahir al-Thamina (Insight into Commerce in Describing Choice Goods, Precious Rarities, and Costly Gems Found Across Lands) is an economic and commercial treatise attributed to the Abbasid scholar Abu Uthman Amr ibn Bahr al-Jahiz (d. 255 AH / 869 CE) . The work serves as a practical guide to merchandise, outlining the characteristics, appraisal methods, counterfeiting tests, and geographic origins of luxury trade commodities, precious stones, textiles, scents, and animals circulating in the markets of the Abbasid Caliphate .
Composition and Purpose
In the opening of the treatise, the author notes that he composed the text in response to an inquiry asking for descriptions of choice goods, precious heirlooms, and valuable gems found in various lands . His stated aim was to compile a reference work for seasoned merchants and a guide for individuals pursuing livelihoods and commercial ventures, giving the book the title al-Tabsir (or al-Tabsira) .
The introduction records practical maxims from different traditions on commerce and travel, including Byzantine sayings advising travel if one is not granted sustenance in a land, Indian adages noting that everything depreciates when abundant except intellect, Persian counsels on withdrawing from unprofitable ventures, and Arab advice on commerce .
Structure and Content
Precious Metals and Gemstones
The initial chapters focus on the identification, grading, and testing of monetary metals and gems:
- Gold and Silver: Explains criteria for testing coins, noting that genuine gold retains its luster over time and does not diminish with touch or burial . It describes methods for distinguishing pure gold (iqyan) and silver (lujayn) from counterfeit (nabahrij) coins by weight, resonance of sound, and taste .
- Pearls and Jewels: Discusses methods for identifying genuine pearls (lu'lu'), distinguishing freshwater Omani pearls from salty Qulzum pearls, and spotting artificial stones . It describes traditional methods used by pearl divers to restore luster using heat, dough, camphor, bone marrow, or melon juice . It mentions extraordinary pearls, such as the three-mithqal "Unique Pearl" (al-Durra al-Yatima) .
- Corundum and Other Stones: Details the varieties of rubies and sapphires (yaqut), preferring the crimson bahramani followed by rose-red, yellow, sky-blue (asmanjuni), and white, originating from Sarandib (Sri Lanka) . It lists diagnostic tests for genuine stones—such as coldness in the mouth, density, and resistance to filing—and records renowned historical gems like the al-Jabal ruby and the al-Bahr chrysolite (zabarjad), both acquired by the Abbasid caliph Abu Ja'far al-Mansur . The chapter also treats turquoise (fayruzaj), Yemeni carnelian (aqiq), garnet (bijadhi), rock crystal (billawr), glass, and diamonds (mas) .
Scents, Textiles, and Furs
The treatise turns to aromatic substances and high-grade materials:
- Perfumes: Covers Indian aloeswood (ud mandali), judging quality by weight, density (sinking in water), and aromatic sharpness; Tibetan musk (misk tibti), warning against common adulterants such as lead and dragon's blood; and ambergris (anbar ashhab) .
- Garments and Fabrics: Classifies embroidered clothing (washi), including Sabiri, Kufan, Alexandrian linen, and Yemeni embroidered gowns . It surveys carpets, silk brocades (dibaj), Armenian kermes-dyed weaves, Egyptian wool mantles, Persian cloths from Shiraz and Isfahan, Tabari shawls (tayalisa), Chinese and Maghribi felts (lubud), and the iridescent Byzantine fabric known as abu qalamun .
- Pelts and Natural Products: Evaluates furs from squirrels (sinjab), sables (sammur), ermines (qaqum), Khazar black foxes, and Berber leopard skins (numur) . It notes origins for dyes and plant derivatives, including kermes dye insects (qirmiz) from al-Andalus, Tarim, and Fars, and Egyptian balsam oil (balsan) .
Regional Imports and Commodities
A dedicated chapter enumerates the signature exports of lands and cities across the known world :
- India: Tigers, panthers, elephants, leopard pelts, red rubies, white sandalwood, ebony, and coconuts .
- China: Fine silks, porcelain/earthenware (ghada'ir), paper, ink, peacocks, swift workhorses, saddles, felts, and cinnamon .
- Byzantium (al-Rum): Gold and silver vessels, imperial dinars, medicines, brocade, horses, slave girls, brass curiosities, sturdy locks, hydraulic engineers, agricultural experts, marble masons, and eunuchs .
- Arabian Peninsula, Yemen, and Egypt: Arabian horses, ostriches, and hides from Arabia; striped cloaks (burud), hides, giraffes, buffaloes, carnelian, frankincense, and wars from Yemen; ambling donkeys, fine linen garments, papyrus (qaratis), and balsam oil from Egypt .
- Central Asia, the Steppe, and Islamic Provinces: Slaves, coats of mail, helmets, and mail coifs from the Khazars; musk and furs (sable, ermine, miniver) from Khwarazm; paper from Samarkand; pearls from Oman; sugar and silk fabrics from Ahwaz; citrus and violet oil from Susa; and carpets and woolens from Armenia and Azerbaijan .
Birds of Prey and Concluding Maxims
The final sections describe the selection criteria for hunting birds, such as white falcons (buza) from the Turkish borderlands to Gilan, black sea-peregrines (shawahin), and sparrowhawks (bawashiq) . The book closes with general guidelines on testing commercial goods through the five senses, observations on human temperament and physiognomy (firasa), and counsels on commercial dealings and ethics .
Publication
The epistle was printed in modern times in the journal of the Arab Scientific Academy (Majallat al-Majma' al-'Ilmi al-'Arabi) in Damascus .
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