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IBN HAUKAL.

37

Basmad is a small city, situated like Multán and Chandráwár, on the east of the river Mihrán. This river is at the distance of a parasang from each of the places mentioned. The inhabitants use well water for drink. Basmad has a fort.
The country [city] of Alrúr[1] is as extensive as Multán. It has two walls, is situated near the Mihrán, and is on the borders of Mansúra.
The city of Debal is to the west[2] of the Mihrán, towards the sea. It is a large mart, and the port not only of this but neighbouring regions. Debal is remarkable for the richness of its grain cultivation, but it is not over-abundant in large trees or the date tree. It is famous for the manufacture of swords.[3] The inhabitants generally maintain themselves by their commerce.
The country of Nírún is between Debal and Mansúra, but rather nearer to the latter. Manjabari is to the west of the Mihrán, and there any one who proceeds from Debal to Mansúra will have to pass the river, the latter place being opposite to Manjábarí.
Maswáhí, Harj, and Sadúsán,[4] are also situated to the west of the Mihrán.[5] On the road between Mansúra and Multán, and on the east of the Mihrán, but distant from it, are two places called Ibrí and Labí [Annarí and Kállarí].[6]
Máíldí [Ballarí] is also near the Mihrán, and on the western bank, near the branch which issues from the river and encircles Mansúra.
Bilha [Baniá] is a small city, the residence of ’Umar, the son of ’Abdu-l ’Aziz Habbári, of the tribe of Kuraish, and the ancestor of those who reduced Mansúra.

  1. [Alor. See Note A. in Appx.]
  2. Ibn Haukal says to the east. The text of the Ashkálu-l Bilád is plain on this point, and the Map also represents Dehal to the west.
  3. M. Gildemeister translates this “locus sterilis est,” which is scarcely consistent with the previous assertion about the cultivation, in which also his copy does not concur—“Agros non hahet irriguos.”
  4. [See Note A. in Appx.]
  5. [Ibn Haukal adds, “These cities are about equal to each other.”]
  6. [Abú-l Fidá, refers to this passage (p. 347 Text), in speaking of Annarí and Kállarí.