A hujjah from 1808

The works of the Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt (1784-1817) were published after his death, by the African Association. The book in which this hujjah is found, Notes on the Bedouins and Wahábys, was the last of his books to be published, in 1831.

The subject of the hujjah is a Saqlawi colt, out of a famous white Saqlawiyah, sired by a bay Kuhaylan stallion.

“GOD.

“Enoch.

“In the name of the most merciful God, the Lord of all creatures, peace and prayers be with our Lord Mohammed and his family and his followers until the day of judgment; and peace be with all those who read this writing, and understand its meaning.

“The present deed relates to the grayish brown colt, with four white feet and a white mark on the forehead, of the true breed of Sakláwye, called Obeyán, whose skin is as bright and unsullied as milk, resembling those horses of which the Prophet said, ‘True riches are a noble and pure breed of horses;’ and of which God said, ‘The war horses, those which rushed on the enemy with full blowing nostrils,—those which plunge into the battle early in the morning.’ And God spoke the truth in his incomparable book. This Sakláwy gray colt was bought by Khoshrún, the son of Emheyt, of the tribe of Zebaa, an Aeneze Arab. The sire of this colt is the excellent bay horse called Merdján, of the breed of Koheylán; its dam is the famous white Sakláwy mare known by the name of Djeroua. According to what we have seen, we attest here, upon our hopes of felicity and upon our girdles, O Sheiks of Wisdom and Possessors of Horses! this gray colt, above mentioned, is more noble even than his sire and dam. And this we attest, according to our best knowledge, by this valid and perfect deed. Thanks be to God, the Lord of all creatures!

“Written on the 16th of Safar, in the year 1223.

“Witnesses, &c., &c.,”

16 Safar 1223 is (I believe) 13 April 1808.