(The Arabic GHATRÄN has almost by all been translated to black pitch; but I have preferred, TAR for the translation. TAR is a natural substance with a very old historical record. It is a black, oily, sticky, material formed by heating organic substances; such as wood, coal, or petroleum. This word is found in very old literatures too including that of Arabs whom they call it GHATRÄN. Therefore, TAR should not be confused with the black pitch which is now-a-days used in the construction of asphalt, and it is a remaining after the distillation of TAR, derived from various sources.
TRANSLATOR'S NOTE)