大唐西域記 11.43

11.43

波剌斯國，周數萬里。國大都城號蘇剌薩儻那，周四十餘里。川土既多，氣序亦異，大抵溫也。引水為田，人戶富饒。出金、鍮石、頗胝、水精、奇珍異寶，工織大錦、細褐、氍毺之類，多善馬、槖駝。貨用大銀錢。人性躁暴，俗無禮義。文字、語言異於諸國。無學藝，多工技，凡諸造作，隣境所重。婚姻雜亂，死多棄屍。其形偉大，齊髮露頭，衣皮褐，服錦㲲。戶課賦稅，人四銀錢。天祠甚多，提那跋外道之徒為所宗也。伽藍二三，僧徒數百，並學小乘教說一切有部法。釋迦佛鉢在此王宮。

This kingdom is several myriad of lis in circuit. Its chief town, called Su-la-sa-t'ang-na (Surasthana), is about 40 li in circuit. The valleys are extensive, and so the climate differs in character, but in general it is warm.
They draw the water up to irrigate the fields. The people are rich and affluent. The country produces gold, silver, copper, rock-crystal (sphatika), rare pearls, and various precious substances. Their artists know how to weave fine brocaded silks, woollen stuffs, carpets, and so on. They have many shen horses and camels. In commerce they use large silver pieces. They are by nature violent and impulsive, and in their behaviour they practise neither decorum nor justice. Their writing and their language are different from other countries. They care not for learning, but give themselves entirely to works of art. All that they make the neighbouring countries value very much. Their marriage-customs are merely promiscuous intercourse. When dead their corpses are mostly abandoned. In stature they are tall: they tie up their hair (arrange their head-dress) and go uncovered. Their robes are either of skin, or wool, or felt, or figured silk. Each family is subject to a tax of four pieces of silver per man. The Deva temples are very numerous. Dinava (Ti-na-po) is principally worshipped by the heretics. There are two or three sangharamas, with several hundred priests, who principally study the teaching of the Little Vehicle according to the Sarvastavadin school. The patra of Sakya Buddha is in this [country], in the king's palace.
On the eastern frontiers of the country is the town of Ho-mo (Ormus ?). The city inside is not great, but the external walls are in circuit about 60 li or so. The people who inhabit it are all very rich. To the north-west this country borders on the kingdom of Fo-lin, which resembles the kingdom of Persia in point of soil, and manners, and customs; but they differ in point of language and appearance of the inhabitants. These also possess a quantity of valuable gems, and are very rich.
To the south-west of Fo-lin, in an island of the sea, is the kingdom of the western women: where there are only women, with no men; they possess a large quantity of gems and precious stones, which they exchange in Fo-lin. Therefore the king of Fo-lin sends certain men to live with them for a time. If they should have male children, they are not allowed to bring them up.
On leaving the kingdom of 'O-tin-p'o-chi-lo, and going north 700 li or so, we come to the country of Pi-to-shi-lo.