The oriental geography of Ebn Haukal. An Arabian traveller of the tenth century / Translated from a manuscript in his own possession, collated with one preserved in the library of Eton College, by Sir William Ouseley.

  • al-Iṣṭakhrī, active 10th century.
Date:
1800
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The oriental geography of Ebn Haukal. An Arabian traveller of the tenth century / Translated from a manuscript in his own possession, collated with one preserved in the library of Eton College, by Sir William Ouseley. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Hamayritick inscription was fixed, to have been that which the avaricious princess opened to the wily Samar; and it is probable that this inscription commemorated in the language of that Arab, the success of his stratagem, although we only learn from Ebn Haukal that it mentioned the distance from Samar to Samarcand. See page 254—287, and Preface, p. ix, x, xi. The paper of Samarcand, to the manufacture of which Tabari alludes in the preceding extract, is celebrated by various writers. Although the Arabians do not pretend to have known the inven- tion of it before the eighty-eighth year of the Hegira (A. D. 706), yet the use of paper was universal among the Persians and Chi- nese in ages of more remote antiquity *. According to Ali ben Mohammed (quoted by the learned Casiri) the art of making paper was introduced at Samarcand in the thirtieth year of the Hegira (A. D. 65o) ; and he adds* “ heretofore the use of paper was only known at Samarcand and “ among the Chinese.” And Casiri f thinks it most probable that the Arabians learned it from the Persians or Chinese. “ Unde “ verisimile profecto est Arabes hujusmodi usum a Persis et * Biblioth. Arabico-Hisp. Casiri, Torn. II. p. 9. 1 Bibl. Arab. Hisp. Tom. II. p. 9.