AL IDRÍSÍ.
bahár weighs 333 minas[1]) concealed there in a house. Farkh and Bahár have the same signification. The environs of this city are watered by a little river which falls into the Mihrán of Sind.
At one mile from Multán is Jandúr [Jand-rúd]—a collection of forts strongly built, very high, and well supplied with fresh water. The governor passes the spring time and his holidays here. Ibn Haukal states that in his time the governor used to go every Friday from these castles to Multan mounted upon an elephant, according to an ancient usage. The greater part of the population is Musulmán, so also is the judicial authority and the civil administration.
Sandúr is situated three days’ journey south of Multán. It is famous for its trade, wealth, sumptuous apparel, and the abundance which prevails on the tables of the inhabitants. It is considered to form part of India, and is situated on the banks of a river which falls into the Mihrán above Samand. Going from Multan towards the north there is a desert which extends as far as the eastern boundary of Túbarán. From Multan to the vicinity of Mansúra the country is occupied by a warlike race, called Nadha. It consists of a number of tribes scattered about between Túbarán Makrán, Multán, and Mansúra, like the Berber nomads. The Nadhas have peculiar dwellings, and marshes in which they take refuge, on the west of the Mihrán. They possess excellent camels, and, particularly, a sort which they breed, called Karah. This is held in high esteem in Khúrasán and the rest of Persia. It resembles the camel of Balkh and the female camel of Samarkand, for it is of good temper and has two humps; not like the camels of our countries, which have only one. From Mansúra to the confines of Nadha six days. From the confines of Nadha to the city of Kír [Kíz] about ten days. From Nadha to Tíz, at the
extremity of Makrán, sixteen days. The town which the Nadhas most frequent for buying, selling, and other matters, is Kandáïl. Kír Káyán is a district known by the name of Aïl,[2] inhabited by Musulmans and other people dependant on the Nadhas of whom
- ↑ [“The mina is a weight of about two pounds. Our author in order to explain the meaning of farkh, employs the term bahár, the value of which it is unfortunately difficult to determine."—Jaubert.]
- ↑ [“Not Abil. Our two MSS. agree in the orthography of this name, which seems to be of Turkish origin.”—Jaubert.]
