THE MERCHANT SULAIMA′N
small state. The women are white, and the most beautiful in India. The king lives at peace with his neighbours, because his soldiers are so few. He esteems the Arabs as highly as the Balhará does.
These three states border on a kingdom called Ruhmi,[1] which is at war with that of Jurz. The king is not held in very high estimation. He is at war with the Balhará as he is with the king of Jurz. His troops are more numerous than those of the Balhará, the king of Jurz; or the king of Táfak. It is said that when he goes out to battle he is followed by about 50,000 elephants. He takes the field only in winter, because elephants cannot endure thirst, and can only go out in the cold season. It is stated that there are from ten to fifteen thousand men in his army who are employed in fulling and washing cloths. There is a stuff made in his country which is not to be found elsewhere; so fine and delicate is this material that a dress made of it may be passed through a signet-ring. It is made of cotton, and we have seen a piece of it. Trade is carried on by means of kauris, which are the current money of the country. They have gold and silver in the country, aloes, and the stuff called samara, of which madabs are made. The striped bushán or karkaddan is found in this country. It is an animal which has a single horn in the middle of his forehead, and in this horn there is a figure like unto that of a man.[2]◌◌◌◌◌
After this kingdom there is another situated in the interior of the country, away from the sea. It is called Káshbin. The people are white, and pierce their ears. They are handsome, and dwell in the wilds and mountains.
Afterwards comes a sea; on the shores of which there is a kingdom called Kíranj.[3] Its king is poor and proud. He collects large
- ↑ [
The position of these kingdoms is discussed in note A in Appendix.]
- ↑ [Mas’údí gives these passages with a few verbal alterations. The translation of the Paris edition says, “They export from this country the hair called Samara, from which fly-whisks are made, with handles of ivory and silver. These are hold over the heads of princes when they give audience. It is in this country that the animal called an nishán, ‘the marked,’ or vulgarly karkaddan, is found. It has one horn in the middle of its forehead.” Maçoudi, vol. i., 385.]
- ↑ [Mas’údí writes “Firanj,” see post, page 25. Reinaud says “the coast of Coromandel;” perhaps it is the country of Kalinga on that coast.]
