Italian paper, imported from the north

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

The text explains that paper was never produced locally in West Africa and was initially imported from Islamic states (Fez, Tlemcen, Kairouan, Cairo) and later from European producers starting in the mid-16th century (p. 294).

Evidence

"the date of the mid-sixteenth century (of one part of the manuscript) has been suggested by Michaelle Biddle based on the watermark (personal communication, March 2015)."

Remarks

The manuscript Mukhtaባar al-Khalĩl (Paden/417) held in the Herskovits Library was dated to the mid-sixteenth century via watermark analysis (p. 294). Paper was considered an expensive commodity in the region (p. 295).