compounded ink

Ingredients

green myrtle, gallnut, gum, vitriol, soot, honey, molasses, frankincense, sugar

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

The green myrtle is first boiled, dried, and purified. The core recipe consists of one part gallnut, one part gum, and one-fourth part vitriol, all ground to extreme fineness (p. 45). Water of myrtle is then poured over these ingredients and the mixture is rubbed extensively. If equal proportions are desired, one dirham of high-quality soot is added for every dirham of gallnut. The mixture is then combined with two or three dirhams of flowing honey or molasses (p. 46). The text notes that Egyptian ink can be dissolved into the mixture. The ink is shaken repeatedly over several days and left to settle. The final preparation is heated in the sun or over a fire until it reaches the proper viscosity for writing (p. 46).

Evidence

"Description of a compounded ink. The green myrtle is boiled, dried, and purified. Then one part of gallnut, one part of gum, and one-fourth part of vitriol are each brought to an extreme fineness. They are brought together and on them water of myrtle is poured. It is rubbed to the extreme. If they are all equal, for each dirham of gallnut, a dirham of the best soot is taken or some other."

Remarks

The author discusses the role of various additives: soot provides the primary black color, while vitriol and gallnuts create a tannin-iron complex. Honey or molasses are used as humectants and binders, though the text mentions a dispute where Ibn Ghashin suggests sweets may 'spoil the ink and moisten it' (p. 46). Gum is specifically added to 'enhance the lustre' (p. 46).