1G2 Ibn HuokuVs account of Khorasan. [No. 2. 



lation, who are breeders of cattle and camels, and also they manu- 

 facture hair numuds. Khorasan is supplied with leather from the 

 districts of Joozjan, which are also very fruitful. 



Shuburghan is one march to the north of Unbar. To reach 

 Tahoodeyah from Shuburghan it is necessary to go to Unbar, thence 

 to Yahoodeyah. From Shuburghan to Undkhod two marches to the 

 north. From Shuburghan to Kundderem, four marches, viz. three 

 to the river and one march beyond it. 



Ghorjestak or Ghobjulsha.r has two towns, Busheer and Soor- 

 meen, both equal in size, but neither constitutes the residence of the 

 Sultan ; the Shar to whom this kingdom belongs, resides in the hills 

 at a place called Gungan, the country has water and gardens in 

 plenty, and much rice is exported from it. Large quantities of rai- 

 sins are produced in Soormeen. Busheer is one march from Duruh of 

 Mervrood. 



Mutlugh is an arrow's flight from the river of Mervrood to the 

 East. From Busheer to Soormeen is one march to the south among 

 the hills. 



Ghoor is a country of infidels, which I include in the country of 

 Eslam, because there live some Mohummudans in it. The country 

 is one of springs, gardens and rivers, very fertile. Towards the east 

 in early days was a tribe which professed Eslam, but were not Mo- 

 hummudans in heart. 



Ghoor is bounded by the districts of Herat, Furruh, Zumeenda- 

 wur, the Eobat Gorwan in the country of Kureeghoon, Ghorgestan, 

 back to Herat ; all of which districts are inhabited by Mohummud- 

 ans, hence have I mentioned Ghoor as in the very centre of Eslam. 



Surukhs is a city between Neeshapoor and Merv — situated on a 

 level plain ; river water only reaches it in particular years, and is 

 not permanent, being the excess of the water of the Herat river. 

 Its cultivation requires no irrigation. The city is about half the 

 size of Merv, populous and salubrious, the neighbourhood consists 

 chiefly of pasture-lands round a few villages, the main wealth being 

 camels. The town is a centre of traffic for the surrounding dis- 

 tricts of Khorasan. The mills are turned by cattle, the water being 

 from wells ; the houses are built of clay. 



Nesa is a town equal in size to Surukhs, cultivated, irrigated and 



