An ornate woodcut headpiece featuring symmetrical decorative elements: foliage, two birds (resembling eagles or griffins) at the far ends, and two humanoid figures flanking a central urn-like vessel.

BY EDWARD POCOCKE, S.T.D. Doctor of Sacred Theology

Preface to the READER by the Professor of the Hebrew and Arabic Languages in the Academy of Oxford.

Since this Book has been translated from Arabic into the Latin language original: "in linguam Latinam ex Arabica" at my persuasion and encouragement, and is now published in both languages together, it seemed appropriate to preface a few words regarding both the Author and the work, so that the reason for this plan might be made clear. The name of the Author which our Arabic manuscript Codex; a handwritten book, particularly an ancient or medieval one displays is Abu Jaafar Ibn Tufail original: "Abu Jaafar Ebn Tophail". He is, however, designated as Abu Bakr original: "Abu Becr" both in the Hebrew version and in the Commentary of Moses of Narbonne original: "Mosis Narbonensis", as well as by Mordecai Comtino original: "Mardochæum Comtino", a Jew who praises him more than once.

But this is not at all surprising, since those who have taken their surnames from their sons This refers to the Arabic naming convention called the kunya, where a man is called "Father of [his first son]" not infrequently enjoy two or even more names for this reason. Thus Muhammad original: "Mohanimedes" himself, who is commonly called Abu’l-Qasim original: "Abulkaſem"—according to the custom of the Arabs who generally add the name of the firstborn to the father's titles—that is, Father of Qasim, was also addressed at other times as Abu Ibrahim original: "Abu Abrahim", that is, Father of Abraham, from the name of another son, as witnessed by Al-Jannabi where he discusses his names. So too the fifth Caliph Khalifa; the civil and religious leader of a Muslim state of the Abbasids, namely Harun al-Rashid original: "AlRaſhid Harun", was called both Abu Jaafar and Abu Muhammad; the sixth, Al-Amin, was called Abu Abdallah and Abu Musa, and even Abu’l-Abbas, as reported by...