EARLY ARAB GEOGRAPHERS.
Kankan and Tána; beyond them the country of Malíbár, which from the boundary of Karoha[1] to Kúlam,[2] is 300 parasangs in length. The whole country produces the pán, in consequence of which Indians find it easy to live there, for they are ready to spend their whole wealth upon that leaf. There is much coined gold and silver there, which is not exported to any other place. Part of the territory is inland, and part on the sea shore. They speak a mixed language, like the men of Khabálik,[3] in the direction of Rúm, whom they resemble in many respects. The people are all Samanís (Buddhists), and worship idols. Of the cities on the shore the first is Sindábúr, then Faknúr, then the country of Manjarúr,[4] then the country of Hílí,[5] then the country of Sadarsá,[6] then Janglí, then Kúlam. The men of all these countries are Samanís. After these comes the country of Sawálak, which comprises 125,000 cities and villages. After that comes Málwála,[7] which means 1,893,000 in number. About forty years ago the king of Málwála died, and between his son and the minister a contest arose, and after several
- ↑ [So in the first edition, and so in MS. A. MSS. B. and C. have
and so has Binákítí.]
- ↑ “We next came into the country of Malabár, which is the country of black pepper. Its length is a journey of two months along the shore from the island of Sindábúr to Kúlam. The whole of the way by land lies under the shade of trees, and at the distance of every half mile there is a house made of wood, in which there are chambers fitted up for the reception of comers and goers, whether they be Moslems or infidels.” Ibn Batuta, Lee, p. 166. French version, Vol. IV p. 71.
- ↑ [A. has,
, an evident blunder. C. 
.]
- ↑ [The French version of Ibn Batúta gives the names of Sindábúr, Fákanúr, Manjartúr, Hílí, Júr-fattan, Dih-fattan, and Budd-fattan (Vol. IV. p, 109). Fattan is evidently the Sanskrit pattanam (town), or as now written patam or patnam.] Abú-l Fida notices Sindábúr, Manjarúr, and Kúlam. Manjarúr is the Mangalore of the present day, and the Μαγγαρουνθ of Cosmas Indieopleustes. (Topograph. Chr. p. 337.) Casiri quotes a manuscript in which it is called Mangalore as early as the beginning of the seventh century. See Biblioth. Escurial. Tom II. p. 6.
- ↑ [This is the reading of the first edition of MSS. B. and C., and of Binákítí. MS. A., however, reads
, which may possibly refer to the Mapillas, as the Musulmans of Malabar are called.]
- ↑ [Such is the reading of MSS. A. and B. C. has
, the first edition “Tadarsa,” and Binákítí 
.]
- ↑ [So in A. B. has
, C. has 
as it stood in the first edition, and such appears to be the reading of Binákítí.]
