Masudi, born at Bagdad 870, died at Cairo in 959, is Linde's
great authority. Linde quotes or deduces from him the
following:
"Die alten Hindus wohlten einen Konig uber sich Burahman
Dieser regierte, bis er starb, 366 (sic) Jahre, Seine Nackkommen,
heisen Brahminen Sein Sohn et Bahbud unter dessen Regierung
das Nerdspiel (Gildermeister ubersetzt duodecim scriptorum ludus)
ein bloss auf Zufall und nicht auf Scharfsinn beruhendes
Gluckspiel erfinden wurde regierte loo Jahre, Andere sagen, dass
Azdeshir ibn Balek das Nerdspiel erfund."
Again "Ardashirer Ibn Balek, der Stammvater der letzten
persischen Dynastie, erfund das Nerdspiel, das daher nerdashir,
(also nerd Ardashirer) genanut wurde."
The copious Index of Linde's work of 4,098 items, also refers
Nerdspiel to page 6, but the word does not appear there and the
above is all he tells us about his Nerdspiel.
Among the 540 diagrams contained in his work of 1,118 pages,
as already observed, there is no representation of Nerdspiel.
The writer hopes to submit an analysis of these diagrams, and
of the contents and conclusions of Linde's work in a supplemental
pamphlet of 64 pages, price one shilling, in order to notice the
manifold inconsistencies contained in it, as well as the wholesale
aspersions upon the English historians.
Linde's Book. It includes notice of Hoyle's games, Complete
Gamesters, Magazines and trifling publications, down to A.B.C.
for a Lady and whatever we may think of the connexion of events
and lucidity of his arguments, it may be pronounced an
extraordinary monument and memorial of industry.
------