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THE ORIGINS OF THE ISLAMIC STATE
fifths [?] of the produce, with the understanding that after holding their share for fifty years, they should yield as tax one-half of its produce. This stipulation is still in force.[1]
Al-Amîr. As regards Nahr al-Amîr, it was ascribed to ʿÎsa ibn-ʿAli and lay in his fief.
Mashraʿat al-Fîl. We were informed by Muḥammad ibn-Khâlid that Muḥammad ibn-al-Ḳâsim presented to al-Ḥajjâj an elephant from as-Sind[2] which was transported through al-Baṭâʾiḥ [the great swamp] on a ship and was landed at a watering place, which has since been called Mashraʿat al-Fîl[3] or Furḍat al-Fîl.