RASHI′DU-D DI′N, FROM AL BI′RU′NI′.
Twelve parasangs from that place, in an eastern direction, lies Kahkand, which is the mountain of monkeys.[1]
[Here follows an account of these monkeys, of some of the eastern Islands, and of the rainy season.]
Multan[2] and U′ch are subject to Dehli, and the son of the Súltán of Dehli is the governor. There is a road from hence by land as well as by the shore of the sea to Guzerát, which is a large country, within which are Kambáya, Somnát, Kankan, Tána, and several other cities and towns. It is said that Guzerát comprises 80,000 flourishing cities, villages, and hamlets. The inhabitants are rich and happy, and during the four seasons no less than seventy different sorts of roses blow in this country. The crops which grow in the cold season derive their vigour from the dew. When that dries, the hot season commences, and that is succeeded by the rainy season, which makes the earth moist and verdant. Grapes are produced twice during the year, and the strength of the soil is such, that cotton plants grow like willows and plane-trees, and yield produce ten years running. The people are idolaters, and have a king of their own. Somnát, which is the name of the idol of that place, is a temple and place of worship for the people of all parts of Hind, and Hindú idolaters come to it from great distances. Many of the more deluded devotees, in performance of their vows, pass the last stage crawling along the ground upon their sides, some approach walking upon their ankles and never touch the ground with the soles of their feet,[3] others go before the idol upon their heads. The men of Kambáya bring tribute from the chiefs of the island of Kís. Sugar from Malwa, bádru (balm),[4] and baladí are exported in ships from the coasts of Guzerát to all countries and cities. Beyond Guzerát are
- ↑ [“Kahankand” in MS. D.] This appears to he the Kanhar of Dr. Lee, and its description as being a mountain of monkeys shows that his conjectures about the estuary of Búzúta is correct. Ibn Batuta, p. 187.
- ↑ Rashídu-d Dín here evidently leaves Abú Ríhán, and writes from information obtained independently. [The remainder of this chapter is left out of MS. D., which enters abruptly on another subject; the continuation of this being lost or misplaced.]
- ↑ [This sentence is found in the Arabic version only.]
- ↑ [Jádar in B. See note in p. 66.]
