حبر

Ingredients

ماء

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

The ink is maintained in local Najdi inkwells (Mihbara) often carved from Athl wood (Tamarisk). To preserve the ink and prevent it from being absorbed by the wood, the interior of the cavity is treated with an insulating coating or lined with a small ceramic vessel or metal sheet (p. 187). Additionally, a piece of cloth or cotton, known locally as 'Thumla' (ثملة), is placed at the bottom. This serves two purposes: protecting the pen nib from the hard surface of the inkwell and keeping the ink liquid for a longer duration. When the ink level decreases, a small amount of water is added to renew it (p. 187).

Evidence

"فكثيرًا ما تعالج هذه الحفرة التي يوضع بها الحبر، إما بطلاء باطنها بمادة عازلة بحيث لا تسمح بتسرب الحبر إلى خشب الأثل، أو يوضع وعاء خزفي صغير أو صفيحة معدنية لتبطينها"

Remarks

The text highlights the adaptation to the desert environment of Najd. Local craftsmen utilized the Athl tree due to its availability. The term 'Thumla' is a specific regional term for the ink-saturated padding used to control the flow and preservation of the ink (p. 187). The chapter also notes that poetic descriptions like 'Ghabbat al-Habr' (غبة الحبر) refer to the depth and abundance of ink in the well (p. 189).