burned rests, ground gall nuts

Ingredients

burned papyrus, gum arabic solution, ground gall nuts, albumen, extract of chard

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

Deal with the papyrus and burn it (p. 129). Mix the burned rests with the solution and put it in the shadow to dry (p. 130). Take one dirham of this mixture, one dirham of gum arabic solution, and half a dirham of ground gall nuts (p. 130). Mash these ingredients with albumen (p. 130). Form the mixture into small balls (referred to as nuts) and allow them to dry (p. 130). When ready to use, place these balls in an inkwell and dissolve them with extract of chard, which is noted as the best solvent for this type of ink (p. 130).

Evidence

"when you need it, you fill the inkwell with this nuts with extract of chard, that is the best solvent for it."

Remarks

This recipe is presented as part of a secondary procedure involving the carbonization of papyrus to create an ink base (p. 129-130). The use of chard extract as a solvent is a specific technical detail for re-liquefying the dried ink balls (p. 130).