156 Ibn HuokuVs account of Khorasan. [No. 2. 



all the above-mentioned canals irrigating the lands, it is called the 

 Morghab or waters of Merv, some think the name is taken from 

 that of the spring where the river rises, named Morghab ; others, 

 that the derivation is from Murgh Ajmuh, the pasture of reeds. 



This river flows to Merv rood and its villages and then enters 

 Merv Shahjuhan at Goo Geen between Khoozan and Kurshee — the 

 bunds are placed at the village of Zoruk where the water is thrown 

 off into the canals — by boards having holes equalizing the division 

 of the water to all parties, so that if any person takes more or less 

 than his right destruction overtakes his crops. There is an officer 

 placed in charge of the water who is even a greater man than the 

 Walee of Muoonuh. 



I have understood that ten thousand men find employment on 

 this river. Merv was the cantonment of a large force in the early 

 days of Eslam ; and the district was the place which determined the 

 possession of Persia, to the followers of Mohummud, for Tezdegerd 

 the last king of Persia was killed in a mill on the canal of Zoruk. 

 From this quarter arose the call to the Khulufut of the Abbas 

 family. In the house of the children of Aboo Lukhum Olmoeet was 

 this celebrated call, written round a dome ; but now hardly to be 

 read. From this city went forth Mamoon to contend for the Khu- 

 lufut with his brother Mohummud bin Zobueduh. Many bestowers 

 of the Khulufut resided in this city. 



The best penmen of Erak and Khorasan, the most celebrated 

 theological lawyers and masters of ethics are of Merv, I have de- 

 termined that my book should be a mere abstract, and hence have 

 excluded those celebrated men, whose histories may be found in 

 works on the subject. I have not detailed men and things which 

 perhaps should have been mentioned. 



In the days of the Persian dynasty, the most renowned of phy- 

 sicians and of accomplished performers came from Eranshuhr ; as 

 Burzooyuh, the first of doctors, and Barbod, the chief of singers and 

 of musical performers. 



The provisions are better than in any other portion of Khorasan, 

 the bread in particular is finer and better tasted — while of its dried 

 fruits and raisins, a large exportation takes place to other countries. 

 Much is said of the productions of Herat and the plenty in other 



