The Madjmu’a of Travnik

Abstract

Among many madjmu'as in the manuscript collection of the Oriental Institute in Sarajevo, a madjmu'a called the Madjmu'a of Travnik, because it was found in the city of Travnik, is kept. The name of its collector, or the exact time when it was put together is not known. Judging by its contents, and the age of the paper on which it was written, it is supposed that it dates back to the second half of the XVIIth or the beginning of the XVIIIth century.

Unfortunately, the Madjmu'a is not complete. Thirty five leaves are missing and the book is poorer for it. Nevertheless, in 123 existing leaves, plenty of material which shows a broad scope of interest of its author, have been preserved.

The greatest part of the written material of the Madjmu'a consists of poetry. A great number of poets are represented. Some of them, both Turkish and Persian, as well as our local poets, are known all over the world as excellent poets (Baki, Sadi, Dervishpasha Bajezidagić), other are not quite as well known, or are already forgotten.

When talking about the poets and their poetry preserved in the present Madjmu'a, special attention must be paid to those writers from these parts, who were writing in oriental languages, and who have been unknown until now. This is true, first of all, of the two poets from' Jajce - Keyfi and Fezai, whose verses have been encountered for the first time. They, of course, are not the only ones mentioned for the first time in this Madjmu'a.

Studying the Madjmu'a more carefully, one is bound to find in it still more local poets in oriental languages, and thereby enrich our knowledge about the literary activity of our people two, three, four or five centuries ago.