History of Hindu Mathematics: A Source Book v1.c7.s17.t5.14

v1.c7.s17.t5.14

In his commentary of the *Talkhis* of Ibn Albanna, Abul Hasan Ali Alkalasâdî states: “These nine signs, called the signs of the *ghobâr* (dust), are those that are employed very frequently in our Spanish provinces and in the countries of Maghrib and of Africa. Their origin is said to have been attributed by tradition to a man of the Indian nation. This man is said to have taken some fine dust, spread it upon a table and taught the people multiplication, division and other operations.”¹