Archief LJ - Aja'ib al Tabaqat by Muhammad Tahir b. Abul Qasim translated by Sir Legrand Jacob

Identificatie

referentie code

GB 891 LJ

Titel

Aja'ib al Tabaqat by Muhammad Tahir b. Abul Qasim translated by Sir Legrand Jacob

Datum(s)

  • 20th June 1853 (Vervaardig)
  • 1852 (Vervaardig)

Beschrijvingsniveau

Archief

Omvang en medium

1 bound volume handwritten

Context

Naam van de archiefvormer

Biografie

Major General George Legrand Jacob (24 April 1805-1881) was an army officer in the East India Company. At the age of fifteen he began learning languages under Dr John Borthwick Gilchrist. He became fluent in Hindi, Persian, Marathi and Sanksrit. He was in the Grenadier Regiment Bombay Native Infantry and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1823 and to Major General in 1861. He is perhaps most known for suppressing the Indian Rebellion of 1857, involving a mutiny in the 27th Bombay Native Infantry. He was one of the earliest copiers of the Asoka Inscriptions. In addition to publishing many papers on Indian history, archaeology and topography, he wrote a book titled 'Western India before and during the Mutiny' which was published in 1871. He died in London on 27 January 1881 and was buried in Brockwood Cemetery in Surrey.

Geschiedenis van het archief

The volume was sent by Sir Legrand Jacob to the Oriental Translation Committee.

Directe bron van verwerving of overbrenging

The Oriental Translation Committee requested the translation of the Ajaib al Tabaqat from Sir Legrand Jacob who sent his translation contained in this volume to them.

Inhoud en structuur

Bereik en inhoud

The 'Aja'ib al Tabaqat' (Wonders of the Universe) is a Persian text that was purchased by Sir Alexander Burnes in the Bazar of Bukhara 1832. This translation lists the author of the 'Aja'ib al Tabaqat' as 'Muhammad Tahir, son of Abul Qasim.' The 'Aja'ib al Tabaqat' is part of the 'aja'ib' genre in medieval Islamic literature, 'aja'ib' meaning 'marvelous, strange or unusual.' The 'aja'ib' genre consists of discussions on the marvels of the world and often contain cosmographical content. The 'Aja'ib al Tabaqat' includes a creation story, accounts of Islamic prophets and descriptions of various countries and cities. Sir Legrand's translation states the original text by Muhammad Tahir son of Abul Qasim, was written in 1819.

The text consists of one hardbound volume of handwritten text. It is an incomplete manuscript in that Sir Legrand Jacob has omitted various sections in his translation, indicating where he has done so. The pastedowns include text in another language.
The volume contains a pencil drawing of a temple titled 'A temple near […]' At the beginning of the text is a handwritten letter from Sir Legrand Jacob, dated 'Kutch, June 20 1853' which states that in his opinion, the text was not worth translating but he reluctantly complied to the request from the Oriental Translation Committee and translated it. This letter mentions Sir Gore Ouseley.

Waardering, vernietiging en slectie

Aanvullingen

Ordeningstelsel

Voorwaarden voor toegang en gebruik

Voorwaarden voor raadpleging

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Taal van het materiaal

  • Engels

Schrift van het materiaal

    Taal en schrift aantekeningen

    Fysieke eigenschappen en technische eisen

    Toegangen

    Verwante materialen

    Bestaan en verblifplaats van originelen

    Bestaan en verblijfplaats van kopieën

    Related units of description

    The original Persian text purchased by Sir Alexander Burnes and translated by Sir Legrand Jacob is held in the RAS Collections as 'Persian 179.' Details can be found here.

    Related descriptions

    Aantekeningen

    Alternative identifier(s)

    Trefwoorden

    Naam ontsluitingsterm

    Beschrijvingsbeheer

    Identificatie van de beschrijving

    gb891-lj

    Identificatiecode van de instelling

    Toegepaste regels en/of conventies

    Status

    Niveau van detaillering

    Verwijdering van datering archiefvorming

    Taal (talen)

      Schrift(en)

        Bronnen

        Aantekeningen van de archivaris

        These papers archived in July 2022 by Amina Khan, RAS Archive volunteer under the supervision of RAS Archivist, Nancy Charley.

        Voorwaarden voor raadpleging en gebruik