AL ISTAKHRI′.
to Sijistán was translated into Italian by Signer Madini, and published at Milan in 1842.[1]
EXTRACTS.
The country of Sind and the bordering lands are inserted in one map, which thus contains the country of Sind and portions of Hind, Kirmán, Túrán, and Budha.
CITIES OF SIND.—Mansúra, Debal, Nírúr[2] [Nírún], Kálwi [Kallarí], Annarí, Balwí [Ballarí], Maswáhí, Nahraj, Bániya, Manhánari [Manjábari], Sadúsán, and Al Rúz [Alor].
CITIES OF HIND.—Amhal,[3] Kambáya, Súbára, Sindán, Saimúr, Multán, Jandrúd, and Basmand.
From Kambáya to Saimúr is the land of the Balhará, and in it there are several Indian kings. It is a land of infidels, but there are Musalmáns in its cities, and none but Musalmáns rule over them on the part of the Balhará. There are Jama’ masjids in them. The city in which the Balhará dwells is Mánkír, which has an extensive territory.
Mansúra is about a mile long and a mile broad, and is surrounded by a branch of the Mihrán. The inhabitants are Musalmáns. The date tree and the sugar cane grow here. The land of Mansúra also produces a fruit of the size of the apple, which is called Laimún, and is exceedingly sour. The land also produces a fruit called Ambaj (mango), which is like the peach. The price of them is low, and they are plentiful. The dress of the people is like that of the people of ’Irák, but the dress of their kings resembles that of the kings of India in respect of the hair[4] and the tunic.
Multán is a city about half the size of Mansúra. There is an idol there held in great veneration by the Hindus, and every year people from the most distant parts undertake pilgrimages to it, and bring to it vast sums of money, which they expend upon the temple and on
