A., B., C., D., G. are the Mss. that represent in chronological order the extant portions of the Jawámi‘u’l-Ḥikáyát in the oldest 14th century A. D. texts, upon which the accompanying Index is based. The underlined letter indicates the Ms. used as the basis of the text for that particular Part. A. and D. being the basis of a projected text of Pt. I and II—IV respectively, other Mss. are subordinated, and corresponding folio numbers of the beginning of each chapter are arranged in vertical columns underneath the letter of the alphabet representing the Ms.
Grand Chapter Numeral: The entire work consists originally of four parts or Qisms, each divided into 25 chapters or Bábs; for standardising this Index and the Table of Contents it is regarded as a single whole divided into 100 chapters, each of which is denoted by a grand chapter numeral (e. g. LXVI would signify the 16th chapter in Pt. III), although such numeration is not given by the author.
Serial Numbers of Anecdotes: In order to standardise the reference to a particular anecdote occuring in any of the hundred chapters of the Jawámi‘, this serial number of anecdotes is maintained throughout the entire work, irrespective of the division of the work into parts and chapters. Nearly 20 Mss. were utilised for this purpose, but that Ms. alone is recognised for the order of succession and numbers of the anecdotes, which forms the basis of the text for that Part. Thus for example A., the oldest Ms., and the basis of the text for Pt. I, contains about 175 additional anecdotes: although some of these occur in other parts with slight variation, yet, for the sake of preserving a full and complete text and for the convenience of reference to each individual Ms., these anecdotes are included in the grand serial number, and the recurring anecdotes are pointed out in the Table of Contents.
Number of Anecdotes in each Chapter: This is the total number of anecdotes in each separate chapter according to the Ms. used as the basis for that particular chapter.
Chapter Number: This is the ordinary divisional number into which each Part is divided; it is denoted by small Roman numerals. In the present work the grand chapter numeral is not referred to, but only this ordinary chapter-number, which is always preceded by the number of the part also. For method of reference to a particular anecdote, see above, p. 3, n. 7.
Short Headings of the Chapters:* These are the abbreviated and translated headings of the hundred chapters, which represent essentially the subject-wise division adopted by the author and almost correspond with the list of chapters given in any old and authentic Ms. of the Jawámi‘.
Part | Grand Chapter Numbers. |
No. of Anecs. in each Part. |
Grand Serial Nos. of Anecs. |
I | I—XXV | 1182 | 1—1182 |
II | XXVI—L | 358 | 1183—1540 |
III | LI—LXXV | 249 | 1541—1789 |
IV | LXXVI—C | 324 | 1790—2113 |
A.* fol. |
B.* fol. |
C.* fol. |
G.* fol. |
Grand Ch. Numeral |
Serial Nos. of Anecs. |
No. of Anecs. in Ch. |
Ch. No. |
Short Headings of the Chapters. | |
19b | 1b | — | 1b | Preface. List of 100 chapters. | |||||
1 | 21b | 6a | — | 5b | I | 1—38 | 38 | i | Knowledge of the Creator. |
2 | 28a | 11a | — | 10a | II | 39—78 | 40 | ii | Miracles of the Prophets. |
3 | 38b | 18b | — | 18b | III | 79—118 | 40 | iii | Anecdotes about Saints. |
4 | 46b | 24b | 99a | 26a | IV | 119—195 | 77 | iv | Ancient Kings of Persia and Rúm. |
5 | 82a | 49b | 122b | 52a | V | 196—362 | 167 | v | History of the Caliphs. |
6 | 118b | 70b | 161b | 76a | VI | 363—400 | 38 | vi | Justice and Just Kings. |
7 | 127a | 76a | 171b | 83a | VII | 401—443 | 43 | vii | Memorable Traits of Righteous Kings. |
8 | 135b | 80b | 181a | 90a | VIII | 444—482 | 39 | viii | Witty sayings of Kings. |
9 | 140a | 83a | 186b | 94a | IX | 483—522 | 40 | ix | On the Punitive System of Kings. |
10 | 145b | 87a | 193a | 98b | X | 523—564 | 42 | x | Answers to Petitions and Mandates. |
11 | 151b | 90a | 198b- 204b |
102a | XI | 565—612 | 48 | xi | On the Sagacity of Eminent Persons. |
12 | 160a | 96b | 205a, 2a |
109b | XII | 613—675 | 63 | xii | Sound Judgments enhancing the Success of Kings. |
13 | 174a | 108a | 16b | 122b | XIII | 676—735 | 54 + 6 | xiii | Wiles and Stratagems in Statecraft. |
14 | 187a | 117b | 31b | 134b | XIV | 736—787 | 43 + 9 | xiv | Efficient Wazirs and their Diplomacy. |
15 | 196b | 123a | 40b | 141a | XV | 788—837 | 47 + 3 | xv | Advice of Sages and Holy Men to Rulers. |
16 | 202a | 127a | 47a | 146b | XVI | 838—920 | 71 + 12 | xvi | Pithy and Judicious Answers. |
17 | 209a | 131b | 54a | 151b | XVII | 921—986 | 40 + 26 | xvii | Anecdotes about Eminent Qádhís. |
18 | 215b | 135b | 59b | 155b | XVIII | 987—1023 | 14 + 23 | xviii | Anecdotes about Secretaries. |
19 | 224b | 139a | 64b | 159b | XIX | 6 + 11 | xix | Anecdotes about Favourites and Courtiers. | |
20 | 228b | 140b | 66b | 161b | XX | 1041—1055 | 9 + 6 | xx | Physicians and Wonderful Cures. |
21 | 230b | 141b | 68a | 162b | XXI | 1056—1089 | xxi | Anecdotes about Oneiromancers. | |
22 | 237a | 143b | 70a | 165a | XXII | 1090—1106 | 8 + 9 | xxii | Astrologers and Wonderful Predictions. |
23 | 239b | 144b | 72a | 166b | XXIII | 1107—1125 | 7 + 12 | xxiii | Anecdotes about Poets, and Extempore Verses. |
24 | 242b | 145b | 73b | 168a | XXIV | 1126—1140 | 3 + 12 | xxiv | Musicians and Influence of Music. |
25 | 246b | 146b | 74b | 169a | XXV | 1141—1182 | 13 + 29 | xxv | Wits and Geniuses. |
Pt. I ends |
255b | 149a | 79b | 172b | Add. 175 |
+ indicates the number of Additional Anecdotes in A. (See above, pp. 112-3).