History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c13.s1.23

c13.s1.23

³³ *Khazain*, p. 106. Khusrau does not exaggerate. Both Vassāf and Marco Polo bear testimony to the fact that from places like Qatif, Lahsa, Bahrin and Hormuz, a very large number of horses were imported into M'abar. Since the southerners did not give them proper diet, but dressed gram and milk, they died soon, and new ones were imported (Vassāf p. 302). Marco says about M'abar: "Here are no horses bred; and thus a great part of the wealth of the country is wasted in purchasing horses……merchants of Kis and Hormuz……and Aden collect great number of destriers and other horses" and bring them to M'abar (Yule: *Ser Marco Polo*, II, p. 324). The Hindus did not know cross-breeding which had been a secret art of the Arabs. That is why they had always to import good-breed horses.