EARLY ARAB GEOGRAPHERS.
the backs of fishes. The inhabitants do not eat fish, nor do they slaughter animals, but they eat carrion. They manufacture clay vessels, which are sold in our cities like those of China, but they are not the same, because the clay of China is harder than that of Kúlam, and bears the fire better. The vessels of Kúlam are blackish, but those of China are whiter than all others. There are places here where the teak tree grows to a very great height, exceeding even a hundred cubits. Brazil wood, ratans, and kaná also grow here in abundance. Rhubarb grows here, the leaves of which are the Sázaju-l Hindí, Indian leaf, and are held in high esteem as a medicine for the eyes. They bring here various sorts of aloe wood, camphor, and frankincense. Aloe wood is also brought hither from the islands beyond the equator, where no one has ever gone and seen the tree. Water comes into it from the north. There is a mine of yellow sulphur here, and a mine of
copper, the condensed smoke of which makes excellent vitriol.
MULTÁN.—[Kazwíní quotes Istakhrí at some length, but gives additional particulars from other writers.] Mis’ar bin Muhalhil says that it is the last city of India bordering on China.[1] It is a large fortified and impregnable city, and is held in high esteem by the Hindus and Chinese, for it contains a temple which is for them a place of worship and pilgrimage, as Mecca is for the Muhammadans. The inhabitants are Musulmans and infidels, but the government is in the hands of the former. The infidels have a large temple there and a great idol (budd). The chief mosque is near this temple. Islám prevails there, and its orders and interdicts are obeyed. All this is related by Mis’ar bin Muhalhil◌◌◌The same author says that the summit of the temple is 300 cubits [zará’], and the height of the idol is 20 cubits. The houses of the servants and devotees are around the temple, and there are no idol worshippers in Multán besides those who dwell in these precincts [kasr]◌◌◌The ruler of Multán does not abolish this idol, because he takes the large offerings which are brought to it, and disburses certain sums
- ↑ [The translator in the Sairu-1 bilád very rarely departs from his text, but he observes in this article that a good deal has been written in many books about Multán which is not accurate, and that Multán is not near China, unless there be some other than the well-known town of that name.]
