Note 106 — ARAB REFERENCES.1

Appendix V. Arab References, a.d. 851–1350. Port or Coast Towns. Cheul. Cheul.Cheul (Saimúr). Al Masúdi (a.d. 943) is the first Arab geographer to mention Saimúr.106 He says: On the coast as in Saimúr Subára and Tána the Láriyyah language is spoken. In describing Saimúr Al Masúdi states107 that at the time of his visit (H. 304; a.d. 914) the ruler on behalf of the Balhára was Jhánjha (this is the fifth Siláhára a.d. 916). Nearly ten thousand Musalmáns were settled in Saimúr including some (called Bayásirah) born in the land of Arab parents and others from Síráf and Persian Gulf, Basrah, Baghdád, and other towns. A certain Músa bin Is-hák was appointed Raís or ruler108 by the Balhára or Valabhi, that is the reigning Ráshṭrakúṭa Indra Nityaṃvarsha to adjudicate Muhammadan disputes according to Musalmán law and customs. He describes109 at length the ceremony of self-destruction by a Besar110 youth (a Hindu by religion) to gain a better state in his future life, his scalping himself and putting fire on his head, his cutting out a piece of his heart and sending it to a friend as a souvenir.