RASHI′DU-D DI′N, FROM AL BI′RU′NI′.
The river Máran[1] waters the land of Kit[2] and flows through deserts. It passes through several countries where the people wear the bark of trees and grass instead of clothes, and are friendly to the brahmans. Then it passes through the desert and flows into the sea of Ajáj.[3]
The river Bakan passes through Námrán,[4] and through several countries where the people have their habitations in the hills,—then it flows on to the Karans and the Barbarans,[5] i.e., people whose ears hang down to their shoulders. Next it touches the country of the Ashmuks,[6] whose faces are like the faces of animals. Then it falls into the sea.
The Lashan-barán is a river with a wide bed. It falls into the sea.
SECTION IV.—Relating to the Countries of Hind, the Cities, some Islands, and their Inhabitants.
It has been mentioned in the beginning of this work that the country of Hind is divided into nine[7] parts. The Indians are of
- ↑ [So in MS. A. MS. C. has
; and Elliot had Máwan.]
- ↑ [
in A. 
in C.]
- ↑ [So in A. C. has احاح, and Elliot had Jáj.]
- ↑ [So in Elliot, MS. A. may be read as “Mámrán” C. has
.]
- ↑ These remind us of some of the tribes enumerated in the Rámáyana, the Karna-právaranas “those who wrap themselves up in their ears,” Ashta-karnakas, “the eight-eared,” or, as Wilson suggests, Oshtha-karnakas,” “having lips extending to their ears.” See Asiatic Researches, Vol. XVII. p. 466. Robertson, Ancient India, p. 34.
- ↑ This is evidently meant for the Sanskrit word Aswa-mukha, the “horse-faced.” They are noticed also in the sequel of the Periplus. They are the attendants of Indra and Kuvera. The tales of those demigods and other monsters, such as the Cynocephali of Ælian and Ctesias are all derived from native originals. See Ælian, Nat: Animal. IV. 46. Ctesiæ Operum Seliguiæ, ed: Bayer, p. 320. Wilson, Notes on Ctesias, p. 36. Plin: Histor. Nat. VII. 2. Vincent, Comm. and Nav. of the Ancients, Vol. II. p. 524. Asiatic Researches, Vol. VIII. p. 338, and Vol. IX. p. 68. Megasthenes, 8, 64, 66, 69.
- ↑ [The Arabic again says “nine,” and the MS. B. agrees. MSS. A. and D. say “three.” See note, page 44.]
