To judge by the dictum of al-Ja~i?: (d. A.D. 869), 'Wisdom has descended upon these three: the brain of the Byzantine, the hands of the Chinese, and the tongue of the Arab', in the great age of the

I Introduction.- 1. Al-Jazar? - his life and environment.- 2. The Manuscripts.- 3. Translation and Illustrations.- 4. Modern works on al-Jazar?.- 5. Islamic technology up to al-Jazar?.- The Ban? M?sà.- 'Archimedes'.- Al-Khuw?rizm?.- Ri?w?n.- 6. Arabic translations of earlier works.- II The Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices Al-Jazar?'s complete work translated into English, together with reproductions of all the original illustrations Al-Jazar?'s Introduction.- Category I - Clocks.- 1 The castle water-clock.- Section 1 Introduction; its appearance and method of working.- Section 2 The water reservoir.- Section 3 Construction of the flow regulator.- Section 4 Installation of the instruments.- Section 5 Division of the circle for the outflow of water.- Section 6 On the place in which the apparatus is installed and the functioning of its instruments.- Section 7 On the means for imparting motion to all the things mentioned so far.- Section 8 On the means for imparting movements to the hands of the drummers and the cymbalist, and the sound for the trumpeters.- Section 9 Construction of the spheres of the zodiac, the sun, and the moon.- Section 10 On the place where the spheres are erected, and their functioning.- 2 The water-clock of the drummers.- Section 1 Its outside appearance and operation.- Section 2 On the water-instruments, and the functioning of the bucket which fills and empties every hour.- Section 3 Operation of the time-recording devices.- Section 4 On the construction of the men.- Section 5 On the means for imparting motion to the hands of the drummers and cymbalists, and the instrument from which the sound of the trumpeters issues.- 3 The water-clock of the boat.- Section 1 On its outside appearance and functioning.- Section 2 On the construction of the boat, the dome, the stanchions and the serpent, the castle and the cupola.- Section 3 On the construction of the equipment which is inside the trough.- Section 4 On the construction of the scribe and what is connected to him.- Section 5 On the construction of the falcon, the place for the balls in the castle, and the channel for discharging each ball into the falcon's head.- Section 6 On the connection of the chain on the float to the emplacement of the balls, the fixing of the mouthpiece to the hole in the float. The completion of the water-clock and its method of operation.- 4 The elephant water-clock.- Section 1 Its outside appearance.- Section 2 On what is seen from the working of this clock.- Section 3 Construction of the elephant and the dais.- Section 4 On what is fitted inside the elephant, and its method of operation.- Section 5 On the construction of the dome above the floor of the dais, the platform above the dome, the scribe above the platform and his movement.- Section 6 On the construction of the mahout and that which moves his hands.- Section 7 On the construction of the four pillars.- Section 8 On the construction of the castle.- Section 9 On the construction of the channel in which the balls move.- Section 10 Construction of the trough into which the balls fall.- Section 11 Construction of the ring, which is half white and half black, and which covers the apertures; construction of its movement; construction of the wheel upon which the bird on the castle's dome rotates; completion of the channel for the balls.- Section 12 Construction of the balcony and the man sitting thereon.- Section 13 Construction of the two serpents upon an axle.- Section 14 Construction of the instrument which whistles.- Section 15 On the construction of the two vases on the shoulders of the elephant, the hanging cymbal, and the preparation of the water-clock.- 5 The beaker water-clock.- Section 1 Its outside appearance and function.- Section 2 Construction of the lid for the beaker, and the movement for the scribe.- Section 3 Construction of the scribe.- 6 The water-clock of the peacocks.- Section 1 Description of the exterior of the clock and its operation.- Section 2 On the construction of the water apparatus.- Section 3 On the construction of the peacock and the movement which causes him to make a display every half hour.- Section 4 On the construction of the two chicks.- Section 5 On the construction of the peahen.- Section 6 On the construction of the roundels.- 7 The candle-clock of the swordsman.- Section 1 Introduction; its appearance and working principle.- Section 2 On the construction of the channel which carries the balls and of the falcon.- Section 3 On the construction of the bracket, of the slave, and of the movement for the sword-hand.- 8 The candle-clock of the scribe.- Section 1 Its outside appearance and functioning.- Section 2 On the construction of the sheath, the weight, and the place for the balls.- Section 3 On the construction of the scribe.- 9 The monkey candle-clock.- Section 1 Description of the outside of the clock and its functioning.- Section 2 On the construction of the monkey's keeper and the post and the lifting mechanism.- 10 The candle-clock of the doors.- Section 1 Its outside appearance and functioning.- Section 2 On the construction of the doors and the figures which emerge from the doors.- Category II - Vessels and figures suitable for drinking sessions.- 1 A goblet which arbitrates at drinking parties.- Section 1 Description of the goblet and its functioning.- Section 2 Construction of the goblet and its mechanisms.- 2 A goblet which arbitrates at drinking parties.- 3 An arbiter for drinking parties (the castle wine dispenser).- Section 1 Its outside appearance and functioning.- Section 2 On the construction of the dais and the columns on it; the slave-girl, her hand, the bottle and the goblet.- Section 3 Construction of the shells of the two castles, the dancer, the man in the second castle, the horseman and the horse.- Section 4 Construction of the wine reservoir and its float, which moves the standing man; and the door leaves; construction of the tipping-bucket into which the wine discharges; of the mechanisms for the horse and rider, the dancer, and the hands of the slave-girls.- Section 5 On the construction of the flute and the production of the sound from the sleeve of the flute-player.- 4 A boat which is placed on a pool during a drinking party.- Section 1 Its outside appearance and functioning.- Section 2 Construction of the boat and the water-instruments fitted in the boat for producing the movements of the slave-girls' hands and the sound of the flute.- Section 3 Construction of the slave-girls on top of the platform, and the movements for their hands.- 5 A pitcher for dispensing different liquids.- Section 1 Its outside appearance and functioning.- Section 2 Construction of the pitcher.- Section 3 Construction of the valve.- 6 The figure of a boon-companion who drinks the king's leavings.- Section 1 Its outside appearance and purpose.- Section 2 Construction of the boon-companion.- 7 A standing slave holding a fish and a goblet.- Section 1 Its outside appearance and functioning.- Section 2 On the construction of the figure.- Section 3 Construction of the slave's hands and their mechanism, of the fish, and of the palm of the slave's hand.- 8 A man holding a goblet and a bottle.- Section 1 Its outside appearance and functioning.- Section 2 Construction of the left hand holding the bottle, of the wine reservoir and the tipping-bucket.- 9 A dais upon which are two shaykhs, each holding a goblet and a bottle.- Section 1 Its outside appearance and functioning.- Section 2 Construction of the reservoir for the water, and its discharge.- 10 A slave-girl who emerges from a cupboard at intervals, holding a glass which contains wine.- Section 1 Its outside appearance and functioning.- Section 2 On the construc…