The Institutes of Akbar 65.3.5

65.3.5

45. The San flower (hemp) looks like a nosegay. The leaves of the plant resemble those of the Chand. Of the bark of the plant strong ropes are made. One kind of this plant bears a flower like the cotton tree, and is called Patsan. It makes a very soft rope. It is really too difficult for me, ignorant as I am, to give a description of the flowers of this country: I have mentioned a few for those who wish to know something about them. There are also found many flowers of Irán and Túrán, as the Gul i Surkh, the Nargis, the violet, the Yásaman i kabúd, the Súsan, the Raihán, the Ra'ná, the Zébá, the Shaqáiq, the Táj i khurús, the Qalghah, the Náfarmán, the Khatmí, &c. Garden and flower beds are everywhere to be found. Formerly people used to plant their gardens without any order, but since the time of the arrival in India of the emperor Bábar, a more methodical arrangement of the gardens has obtained; and travellers now-a-days admire the beauty of the palaces and their murmuring fountains.