to be noted by placing a tamarind stone on the square which marks the product.

As the reason for the invention of Chess, we have in chapter 4 the usual story, that an Indian king desired his wise men to arrange a game representing the tactics of war, and that when all others were at a loss, Sísah (x) ben Dáhir al Hindi invented Chess and presented the board; after which the reward was claimed in grain, &c. Another story is, that fourteen Indian sages, after great trouble, invented it for the monarch of that time; another, that it was first arranged in the time of Edrís the Prophet. The geometrical progression of the sixtyfour squares, on the plan of the grain already alluded to, is computed here at full length, commencing with a Dirhem on the first square, and amounting to two thousand four hundred times the size of the whole globe in gold.

Chapter 5th quotes Shatranj as written either with S or Sh, and with i, or a, and says that Jurairi writes it with i.

Various etymologies are also proposed for the word Shatranj or Satranj; Satrán, two rows (of men), or Shatrán, the two sides or halves (of the board), white and red; Shash rang, the six kinds of men ; Sad ranj (a hundred cares), from its great anxiety and difficulty; Sad ranj (or properly, Saddi ranj), "dispelling grief," and because it was invented to console the queen who lost her son (p. 14), and hence, we are told, the Ferzín is placed by the King's side for the purpose of advising him.

There follows a long digression, in which Ferzín is said to be the Hinduwi for Queen. The remainder of the chapter describes the position of the pieces, and the reason for so placing them. Among others, the origin of the Rukh is given, which will be better quoted in another place; also the value of the pieces, which it might be well to compare with the same subject in other Eastern treatises.

Ch. 5th. "On the rules of politeness in Chess," which are here laid down with very great exactness, commencing even at the placing of the board and men. "He who is lowest in rank is to spread the board and pour out the men on it, and then wait patiently till his superior has made his choice; then, he who is inferior may take his own men and place all of them except the King, and when the senior in rank has placed his own King, he may also place his, opposite to it. If of equal rank, whichever first gets the men may place them," &c.

The stronger player is recommended to give fair odds, so as to make the game equal, without which there would be no pleasure.

and answer, and in reproof, and to avoid all foolish talk and ribaldry.

4. Enjoins any third person present to keep silence while looking on, and to abstain from remarks on the state of the game, or from advice to the players.

5. Cautions an inferior, or servant playing with a superior in rank, or with his master, not wilfully to neglect the game, make his moves carelessly, nor underplay himself that his senior may win, and gives anecdotes of the Khalifs Mámún and Walid Abdul Malik Merwán severely reproving their courtiers for such ill-placed obsequiousness.

"They say, the Khalif Mámún was one day playing with one of his courtiers, who moved negligently and in a careless manner. The Khalif perceived it and got wroth, and turned over the board and men, and said, 'He wants to deceive me and to practise on my understanding;' and he vowed an oath that this person should never play with him again." In like manner, it is related of Walid ben Abdúl Malik ben Merwán, that on an occasion when one of his courtiers, who used to play with him negligently at chess, omitted to follow the proper rules of the game, the Khalif struck him a blow with the Ferzín (or Queen) which broke his head, saying, "Woe unto thee! art thou playing chess, and art thou in thy senses?"

Chapter 7th gives advice to players in the conduct of their game, which may be reduced to the following rules, commencing by a recommendation not to play when the mind is engaged with other objects, nor when the stomach is full after a meal, neither when overcome by hunger; nor on the day of taking a bath; nor, in general, while suffering under any pain, bodily or mental. Of the rules which follow, on the practical conduct of the game, some apply peculiarly to the tactics of Eastern Chess, but others are similar to our own. A few of those in the original are omitted, being of little importance, and others condensed, to avoid repetition.

The usual advice is given to play with care; to avoid hurried moves; to look well over the pieces; to be on guard against "check by discovery" (Irá), and to beware of the Bishop's range'; to keep the King always on the Queen's 2nd, and to take great care of your own Bishops, especially the King's, for that is the Fíli Caïm2.

1

.Verse, probably a quotation در عرا منشین در سیر فیل هم

J Apparently one of the Bishops of greater value in drawing the

"Be careful in playing the Pawns at the commencement, that your adversary may not pass them and complete his opening.

"Open the game on the King's side and not on the Queen's. If possible, do not advance the King's Pawn more than one square, unless the Queen's Pawn be with it, in order that it may go to queen at the end.

"Endeavour to effect even exchanges.

A rule here states at some length the best and worst places for each piece to stand on. "The corner is the worst for all the pieces,

as affording least range, except for the Rook."

"Avoid choking up your King, and be cautious of exposing him to a discovered check. Beware also of his being approached by any of your adversary's strong pieces, as the Knight or the Rook.

"Should you be able to exchange a Bishop for two Pawns, do not fear to do so, though a Bishop is better than one Pawn, unless the Pawn be able to queen. Next to the centre Pawns, the best is the King's Knight's Pawn.

"Commence as your adversary does, and if he plays his King's Rook's Pawn, play the same; and by all means take care of your King's and Queen's Pawns, for these two are better than a Knight, as some say, and by all are allowed to be better than a Queen.

"Avoid equally stinginess and too great generosity in your game (in exchanging), and use caution and foresight; neither be alarmed, should your adversary take a man gratis, but rather consider how the game may still be won, or drawn."

Directions are given, some unimportant and some not very plain, describing the best mode of clearing a crowded board, and of freeing the King when blocked up, and concluding with the following among others from Al Súli, respecting the best side to open and to finish the game, viz., to commence the opening on the sides, and to finish the game from the King's side, and that towards the end the best play is that of the Rook. "It is related, that in India there was a player who during forty years never had a Pawn taken from him gratis;" but the author observes, "we have never beheld success like this."

Chapter 8th is on the relative force of combined pieces, and of those which, when opposed to each other, produce a drawn game. The instructions are rather complicated, calculating the equivalent even of four Queens at once, and in our imperfect state of knowledge respecting the manner of carrying out the Eastern system, do not present much utility.

and on the different kinds of Tâbíahs which professors have invented," the subject of Chapter 9, was intended to be illustrated by diagrams, of which eight are sketched in the MS. Six, however, are blank, and the only two which are filled up and accompanied by description, do not seem properly to be openings. These Tâbíahs, or openings, are said to be named after the players who invented them, but none of the names are given.

The "Amusing Games" contained in the 10th Chapter, are similar to the contents of a chapter in another treatise described p. 30.

Chapter 11th, on Mansúbahs, or Positions, gives forty-two diagrams, each, with the explanation, occupying a page. There are examples of all kinds, games won and drawn, &c. Amongst them appears the celebrated position called Dilaram's Mate.

"Red plays and wins."

"Red gives check with his Rook, on the Black King's Rook's square. King takes the Rook. Red removes Bishop' to his 5th and discovers check from Rook. Black King to his Knight's square. Rook gives check on Black Rook's square. King takes the Rook. The Pawn advances and checks. King to his Knight's square. Red Knight to Black King's Rook's 3rd, mates." (See pl. III. fig. 1.) These directions were more concisely given by Dilaram herself in two lines of verse:

"O King, sacrifice your two Rooks and not Dilárám;

Advance the Bishop and Pawn, and checkmate with the Knight." Chapter 12th and last, is on the art of playing without seeing the board, a degree of skill once considered the exclusive acquirement of the celebrated Philidor, but since exercised by the most distinguished French player of modern times, M. de la Bourdonnais, and now frequently exhibited, and even taught on system by many professors of the game. Similar instances of skill in Arabian players are

1 Jumping over the Knight, according to the Eastern game. Dilaram's Mate has been published by Mr. G. Walker in the Palamède, and in some other Chess periodicals, but I am unable to state from what original Persian source.

By making the mask with the Knight on the Rook's 2nd, the Bishop being already placed on his own 5th, this game may be accommodated to the European system; the play will then be (2nd move) Kn. to his 4th, disc. ch.; the remaining moves as before. Another piece or pawn, of either colour, must also be placed on Black K's 3d, otherwise there would be Mate on the move.

quoted by Hyde, but none that can at all compete with those related in this Persian work, though all of them far exceed the highest degree of perfection to which that branch of the art has yet arrived in modern European chess-play; thus verifying the proverb so often exemplified, that "there is nothing new under the sun," and showing that whatever wonders have been produced by mechanical science in the civilization or demoralization of mankind, mere intellectual powers have accomplished in other nations, and in earlier times, almost every degree of skill which the supposed improvement of the present age seems to claim as an undivided right.

Practical directions for the blindfold game are given in this chapter, which commence by instructing the player in the names of the squares of the board, so as to be able to understand what may be announced to him as his adversary's play, and to direct the movement of his own pieces. He is therefore to picture to himself the board as divided first into two opposite sides, and then each side into halves, those of the King and the Queen, so that when his Náïb, or deputy, announces that "such a Knight has been played to the 2nd of the Queen's Rook," or "the Queen to the King's Bishop's 3rd," he may immediately understand its effect on the position of the game. This mode of playing, however, is not recommended to those who do not possess a powerful memory with great reflection and perseverance, "without which no man can play blindfold." Then follow more detailed instructions for calling the moves and playing them, and there is a diagram to assist the study, numbered according to the names of the pieces and squares. There is also another diagram, blank, said to be for "the ending of the game," but in its state in this MS. it of course admits of no explanation.

The chapter is concluded by the author's observation, that some have arrived to such a degree of perfection as to have played blindfold at four or five boards at a time, nor to have made a mistake in any of the games, and to have recited poetry during the match; and he adds, "I have seen it written in a book, that a certain person played in this manner at ten boards at once, and gained all the games, and even corrected his adversaries when a mistake was made."

The MS. was copied in Rabíâ, of the year 1021 (=A.D. 1612), by one Asahh al Kirmáni.

The term Gháïb, or Gháïbánah, to express playing blindfold, or without looking at the board, in distinction from Házir, or Háziránah, the usual mode of play, restores the text in the passage of Arabshah,