This most unusual miniature is difficult precisely to place and date. The only figure is the diminutive Zal who, while he has definitely Mongol features, is not large enough for any attribution. What stands out immediately is the strength of the central tree dominating the composition. A very similar tree can be seen in a Herat miniature of Moses crossing the Red Sea (Robinson, B.W. et al.: Islamic Painting and the Arts of the Book, London 1976, no.III.72, p.149 and pl.21.). However that example is free of any surrounding rocks while the present tree appears to grow through the mountain. This is a feature that is occasionally found on Jalayrid paitings of the 14th century (O'Kane,B., 'Rock faces and rock figures in Persian painting', in Islamic Art IV, Genoa and New York 1991, Col.pl.XIVa and e and fig.13 p.238). The rocks in Jalayrid paintings owe much to Chinese influence, pl.XIVe in particular demonstrating the same rectilinear rock 'blocks' that are found in our manuscript, together with a number of the 'faces' which typify the present painting. However, the simurgh and figural drawing make a 15th century date certain.