Note 154 — ARAB REFERENCES.1

Sanján.Sanján (Sindán). The two Sanjáns, one in Kachh the other in Thána, complicate the references to Sindán. Sindán in Kachh was one of the earliest gains of Islám in India. Al Biláduri154 (a.d. 892) speaks of Fazl, the son of Máhán, in the reign of the greatest of the Abbási Khalífáhs Al-Mámún (a.d. 813–833), taking Sindán and sending Al Mámún the rare present of “an elephant and the longest and largest sáj or turban or teak spar ever seen.” Fazl built an assembly mosque that was spared by the Hindus on their recapture of the town. Ibni Khurdádbah (a.d. 912) includes this Kachh Sindán with Broach and other places in Gujarát among the cities of Sindh. In his itinerary starting from Bakkar, he places Sindán seventy-two miles155 (18 farsakhs) from Kol. Al Masúdi (a.d. 915–944) states that Indian emeralds from (the Kachh) Sindán and the neighbourhood of Kambáyat (Cambay) approached those of the first water in the intensity of their green and in brilliance. As they found a market in Makkah they were called Makkan emeralds.156 Al Istakhri (a.d. 951) under cities of Hind places the Konkan Sindán five days from Surabáya (Surabára or Surat) and as many from Saimúr157 Appendix V. Arab References, a.d. 851–1350. (Chewal). Ibni Haukal (a.d. 968) mentions (the Kachh) Sindán among the cities of Hind, which have a large Musalmán population and a Jámá Masjid158 or assembly mosque. Al Bírúni (a.d. 970–1031)159 in his itinerary from Debal in Sindh places the Kokan 200 miles (50 farsakhs) from that port and between Broach and Supára. At the end of the eleventh century probably the Kachh Sindán was a large commercial town rich both in exports and imports with an intelligent and warlike, industrious, and rich population. Al Idrísi gives the situation of the Konkan Sindán as a mile and a half from the sea and five days from Saimúr (Cheval).160 Apparently Abul Fida161 (a.d. 1324) confused Sindán with Sindábúr or Goa which Ibni Batúta (a.d. 1340) rightly describes as an island.162