[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Mughals (1526–1857)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal) › [Bābur (1526–1530)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur) › [Bāburnāma](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur.baburnama) › [The Babur-nama in English (A. S. Beveridge)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur.baburnama~en-beveridge) › 903.2.4 # The Memoirs of Bābur 903.2.4 The Bābur-nāma in English (A. S. Beveridge) 903.2.4 - **Language:** English ### [903.2.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur.baburnama~en-beveridge.903.2.4) Samarkand is a wonderfully beautified town. One of its specialities, perhaps found in few other places,\[388\] is that the different trades are not mixed up together in it but each has its own \_bāzār\_, a good sort of plan. Its bakers and its cooks are good. The best paper in the world is made there; the water for the paper-mortars\[389\] all comes from Kān-i-gil,\[390\] a meadow on the banks of the Qarā-sū (Blackwater) or Āb-i-raḥmat (Water of Mercy). \[Sidenote: Fol. 48.\] Another article of Samarkand trade, carried to all sides and quarters, is cramoisy velvet. Excellent meadows lie round Samarkand. One is the famous Kān-i-gil, some 2 miles east and a little north of the town. The Qarā-sū or Āb-i-raḥmat flows through it, a stream (with driving power) for perhaps seven or eight mills. Some say the original name of the meadow must have been Kān-i-ābgīr (Mine of Quagmire) because the river is bordered by quagmire, but the histories all write Kān-i-gil (Mine of clay). It is an excellent meadow. The Samarkand sulṯans always made it their reserve,\[391\] going out to camp in it each year for a month or two. - [Previous: 903.2.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur.baburnama~en-beveridge.903.2.3) - [Next: 903.2.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur.baburnama~en-beveridge.903.2.5) - [Up: 903.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur.baburnama~en-beveridge.903.2) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur.baburnama~en-beveridge.903.2.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur.baburnama~en-beveridge.903.2.4) · Pramāṇa