مسالك الابصار في ممالك الامصار 2.30

2.30

There are countless grazing animals — water buffaloes, cattle, sheep and goats — and domestic fowl: chickens, local pigeons and geese, the last being the scarcest kind. The Indian chicken is almost as big as a goose. All this is sold at the cheapest rates and lowest prices. Clarified butter and milk of every kind are plentiful, taken no account of and of no value. In its markets are sold varied foods — roasts, rice, pan-cooked and fried dishes, assorted dishes, and sweets of sixty-five kinds — and beer (fuqqāʿ) and drinks such as are hardly seen in any other city. There are countless craftsmen: makers of swords, bows, lances and kinds of lances, and mail, goldsmiths, gold-embroiderers, saddlers, and other masters of every craft pertaining to men and women, to men of the sword and of the pen, and to the common people. Camels are few and belong only to the Sultan and the khāns, amīrs, viziers and great men of state with him. Horses are numerous and of two kinds: Arab horses and pack-horses (birdhawn), most of which do not perform well; for this reason