大唐西域記 4.48

4.48

此國境北大雪山中，有蘇伐剌拏瞿呾羅國（唐言金氏）。出上黃金，故以名焉。東西長，南北狹，即東女國也。世以女稱國。夫亦為王，不知政事，丈夫唯征伐，田種而已。土宜宿麥，多畜羊、馬。氣候寒烈，人性躁暴。東接吐蕃國，北接于闐國，西接三波訶國。

This kingdom is about 4000 li in circuit, and surrounded on all sides by mountains. The chief town is about 20 li round. It is thickly populated, and the householders are rich. The soil is rich and fertile; the lands are sown and reaped in their seasons. The country produces teou-shih (native copper) and rock crystal. The climate is rather cold; the people are hardy and uncultivated. Few of the people attend to literature — most of them are engaged in commerce.
The disposition of the men is of a savage kind. There are heretics mixed with believers in Buddha. There are five sanghârâmas, which contain a few priests. There are ten Deva temples, in which persons of different opinions dwell together.
This country is bounded on the north by the great Snowy Mountains, in the midst of which is the country called Su-fa-la-na-kiu-ta-lo (Suvarnagotra). From this country comes a superior sort of gold, and hence the name. It is extended from east to west, and contracted from north to south. It is the same as the country of the "eastern women." For ages a woman has been the ruler, and so it is called the kingdom of the women. The husband of the reigning woman is called king, but he knows nothing about the affairs of the state. The men manage the wars and sow the land, and that is all. The land produces winter wheat and much cattle, sheep, and horses. The climate is extremely cold (icy). The people are hasty and impetuous.
On the eastern side this country is bordered by the T'u-fan (Tibet), on the west by San-po-ho (Sampaha or Malasa?), on the north by Khotan.
Going south-east from Ma-ti-pu-lo 400 li or so, we come to the country of Kiu-pi-shwong-na.