REFERENCES.--Klaproth, “La Boussole,” Paris, 1834, pp. 9, 10, 66; Azuni, “Boussole,” Paris, 1809, p. 30; “English Cycl.”--Arts and Sciences--Vol. V. p. 420; Humboldt, “Cosmos,” 1848, Vol. II. p. 628; John Francis Davis, “The Chinese,” London, 1836, Vol. II. pp. 221, etc., or the 1844 edition, Vol. III. p. 12; Geo. Adams, “Essay ...” 1785, p. 428. =A.D. 218.=--Salmasius, in his Commentary upon Solinus, asserts that, at this date, amber was known among the Arabs as _Karabe_, or _Kahrubá_, a word which, Avicenna states, is of Persian origin and signifies the power of attracting straws; the magnet being called _Ahang-rubá_, or attractor of iron. REFERENCES.--“Encycl. Met.,” Vol. IV. p. 41; Fahie, “Hist. of Elec. Teleg.,” p. 29. =A.D. 232–290.=--Africanus (Sextus Julius), an eminent Christian historical writer, author of a chronicle extending from the date of the creation to A.D. 221, as well as of an extensive work entitled “Kestoi,” states that the Roman generals perfected a system for readily communicating intelligence by means of fires made of different substances. REFERENCES.--Shaffner, “Teleg. Man.,” 1859, p. 19; Appleton’s “Cyclopædia,” 1871, Vol. XV. p. 333. =A.D. 235.=--It is related that one Makium, who was ordered by the Chinese emperor to construct “a car which would show the South” succeeded in doing so, and thus recovered the secret of manufacture which had for some time been lost. The “Amer. Journ. of Science and the Arts” (Vol. XL. p. 249) adds that, from this date, the construction of a magnetic car seems to have been a puzzle ... and the knowledge of the invention appears to have been confined within very narrow limits. Humboldt says that the magnetic wagon was used as late as the fifteenth century of our era; the “American Journal” states that it cannot be traced later than 1609. =A.D. 265–419.=--What is by many believed to be the earliest reliable, distinct mention or actually printed record of the use of the magnet for navigation, appears in the justly prominent Chinese dictionary or rather encyclopædia, “Poei-wen-yun-fou,” wherein it is mentioned that there were during this period (that of the second Tsin dynasty) ships directed to the South by the _ching_ or needle. It is likewise therein stated that the figure then placed upon the magnetic cars represented “a genius in a feather dress” and that, when the emperor went out upon state occasions this car “always led the way and served to indicate the four points of the compass.” REFERENCES.--Homer at B.C. 1000–907; Davis, “The Chinese,” Vol. III. p. 12; Klaproth, “Boussole,” pp. 66, 67; Johnson, “Univ. Cycl.,” Vol. I. p. 927. ed. 1877; Miller, “Hist. Phil. Illust.,” London, 1849, Vol. I. p. 180.