EARLY ARAB GEOGRAPHERS.
of which weighs a dirham and a half of the coinage of the king. They are dated from the year in which the dynasty acquired the throne. They do not, like the Arabs, use the Hijra of the prophet, but date their eras from the beginning of their kings' reigns; and their kings live long, frequently reigning for fifty years. The inhabitants of the Balhará's country say that if their kings reign and live for a long time, it is solely in consequence of the favour shown to the Arabs. In fact, among all the kings there is no one to be found who is so partial to the Arabs as the Balhará; and his subjects follow his example.
Balhará is the title borne by all the kings of this dynasty. It is similar to the Cosroes (of the Persians), and is not a proper name. The kingdom of the Balhará commences on the sea side, at the country of Komkam [Konkan], on the tongue of land which stretches to China. The Balhará has around him several kings with whom he is at war, but whom he greatly excels. Among them is the king of Jurz.[2] This king maintains numerous forces, and no other Indian prince has so fine a cavalry. He is unfriendly to the Arabs, still he acknowledges that the king of the Arabs is the greatest of kings. Among the princes of India there is no greater foe of the Muhammadan faith than he. His territories form a tongue of land. He has great riches, and his camels and horses are numerous. Exchanges are carried on in his states with silver (and gold) in dust, and there are said to be mines (of these metals) in the country. There is no country in India more safe from robbers.
By the side of this kingdom lies that of Táfak, which is but a
- ↑ [This agrees with Ibn Khrúdádba and Idrísí, but differs from Ibn Haukal; see post.]
- ↑ [Ibn Khurdádba concurs in this reading, but Mas’údí has “Juzr,” a near approach to “Guzerat.” Reinaud suggests Kanauj as the seat of this monarchy (Rel. des Voy., xcv.), but Mas’údí places the Bauüra or Bodha there at the same period. The question is discussed in note A in Appendix.]
and 162). Reinaud suggests that the term is intended to represent “statére,” and that the coins were tetradrachmas. (Mem. sur l’Inde, p. 235; Rel. des Voy., ii., 16; Thomas's Prinsep, i., 86.) In the Paris edition of Mas’údí they are called “Táhiriya,” and Prof. Cowell states that the same word is used in the Oxford MS. of Ibn Khurdádba. This reading gives weight to a suggestion made by Mr. Thomas, that these dirhams were coins of the Tahirides, who were reigning in Khurásán, and exercised authority over Sistán in the time of our author Sulaimán.]
