IBN HAUKAL.
A.H. (943 A.D.), and after passing through the various lands under Musulmán rule, he returned to that city in 358 A.H. (968 A.D). The following year he was in Africa, and he seems to have finished his work in 366 A.H. (976 A.D.). His book received the same title as that of Ibn Khúrdádba, or “Book of Roads and Kingdoms,” and he says that his predecessor's work was his constant companion.[1] His obligations to Istakhrí have been already mentioned. M. Uylenbroek translated part of the work in his “Iracæ persicæ descriptio,” and Gildemeister has given the “Descriptio Sindiæ” in his “Scriptorum Arabum de Rebus Indicis,” etc. Part of the Ashkálu-l Bilád relating to Khurásán has been translated by Col. Anderson, and was published in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, vol. xii.]
EXTRACTS.
From the sea to Tibet is four months' journey, and from the sea of Fárs to the country of Kanauj is three months’ journey.
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I have placed the country of Sind and its dependencies in one map, which exhibits the entire country of Sind, part of Hind, and Túrán and Budha.[2] On the entire east of this tract there lies the sea of Fárs, and on the west, Kirmán and the desert of Sijistán, and the countries subject to it. To the north are the countries of Hind, and to the south is the desert lying between Makrán and Kufs,[3] beyond which is the sea of Fárs. This sea is to the east of the above-mentioned territories, and to the south of the said desert, for it extends from Saimúr on the east to
Tíz,[4] of Makrán ; it then bends round the desert, and encircles Kirmán and Fárs.
The chief cities of this tract are the following: In Makrán,—
- ↑ [Reinaud's Aboulfèda, Introd., p. Ixxxii.]
- ↑ Gildemeister, in his edition of Ibn Haukal, reads this Bodha. See note A in the Appx.
- ↑ [Mountains in Kirmán, near the coast.]
- ↑ [This name is not to be found in Sir H. Elliot’s text, but it was given in the translation, and it is also in Ibn Haukal, so that it is right without doubt.]
