مسالك الابصار في ممالك الامصار 2.2

2.2

This is a kingdom of great importance; no other kingdom on earth can be compared with it, because of the vastness of its territories, the abundance of its wealth and armies, and the splendour of its Sultan when he rides out and when he halts, and in the seat [1] of his rule; its renown and reputation are sufficient [testimony]. I used to hear, from widespread reports and from composed books, things that filled the eye and the ear, yet I could not ascertain the truth of its reports because of its distance from us and the remoteness of its lands from us. When I began composing this book and sought out trustworthy informants, I found more than I used to hear and greater than I used to suppose. Consider a land in whose sea are pearls, in whose soil is gold, in whose mountains are rubies and diamonds, in whose ravines are aloeswood [2] and camphor [3], in whose cities are the thrones of kings, among whose wild beasts are the elephant and the rhinoceros [4], from whose iron come the swords of India, in which are mines of iron, mercury and lead, among whose growing places is that of saffron [5], and in some of whose valleys is crystal. Its good things are plentiful, its prices low, its armies beyond counting,