MPRINTLAMU-PATE-001

The primary text is spaced to allow for commentary to be noted between the lines, appearing upside down below the selection commented on. Decorative inscriptions are seen in some places within the text. Prominent use of catchwords as the ordering system for the quires.

Simple link stitch sewing technique is observed from the bare spine of the book, though much of the threading has come looose from much of the quires. Repair work can be noted to have been done along the edges of the paper Physical characteristics height (cm) : 18.5 Physical characteristics width (cm) : 13 Physical characteristics (folios) : 261 State of completion : Complete Primary Language of object : Arabic Script of object : Arabic Keywords : Tawḥīd,Sermons Location of original material : PATE Location where copied : PATE Collection description The MPRINTLAMU shelf mark introduces a broad range of manuscript texts (and one printed book) from the Lamu archipelago.

Each group is named after the village, town, or island where it is found. The island of Ndau, at the northern end of the Lamu archipelago, Pate and Siyu villages on Pate Island, and Matondoni, a village on Lamu Island, are included in this list. The texts date from the late 18th century to the early 20th century and cover a wide range of subjects, including medicine and science, magic, poetry, agriculture, law, genealogy, and Sufism, among others.

Some of the manuscripts are held in mosque libraries, while others are in private homes. Among the unique objects in this collection are Quranic manuscripts produced in Siyu and mawlid texts from 18th-century Pate. These texts increase the Swahili corpus available from this early time period.

TIFF files High-quality TIFF images are available for researchers upon request. Please send an e-mail to manuscript-cultures@uni-hamburg.de , include your name, institution and specify which MPRINT images you need and indicate their intended purpose. Your request will be reviewed as quickly as possible.

TIFF files High-quality TIFF images are available for researchers upon request. Please send an e-mail to manuscript-cultures@uni-hamburg.de , include your name, institution and specify which MPRINT images you need and indicate their intended purpose. Your request will be reviewed as quickly as possible.