مسالك الابصار في ممالك الامصار 2.150

2.150

This Sultan sent an army to lands adjoining Dawākīr at the far end of its borders, whose people are infidels, each of their kings being called the Rā. When the Sultan's armies besieged him, he sent word to them: 'Tell the Sultan to leave us alone, and whatever wealth he wants, let him send me whatever beasts of burden he wishes and I will load it for him.' The commander of the army sent to inform [the Sultan] of what he had said, and he replied that he would cease fighting them and grant him safe-conduct to come to court with him. When he came before the Sultan, he honoured him greatly and said to him: 'I have never heard the like of what you said. How much wealth do you have, that you said we should send you whatever beasts we wished for you to load?' He said: 'Seven Rās preceded me in this kingdom,