Note 228 — ARAB REFERENCES.1

Al Bírúni (a.d. 1031) notices that its import of horses from Mekran and the islands of the Persian Gulf was a leading portion of Cambay trade.228 According to Al Idrísi (a.d. 1100) the people of Mámhal229 (Anhilwára) had many horses and camels.230 One of the peculiarities of Appendix V. Arab References, a.d. 851–1350. Products. the Nahrwála country was that all journeys were made and all merchandise was carried in bullock waggons. Kambáyah was rich in wheat and rice and its mountains yielded the Indian kaná or bamboo. At Subára231 (Sopára) they fished for pearls and Bára a small island close to Subára produced the cocoanut and the costus. Sindán according to Al Idrísi produced the cocoa palm, the ratan, and the bamboo. Saimúr had many cocoa palms, much henna (Lawsonia inermis), and a number of aromatic plants.232 The hills of Thána yielded the bamboo and tabáshír233 or bamboo pith. From Saimúr according to Al Kazwíni (a.d. 1236, but from tenth century materials) came aloes. Rashíd-ud-dín (a.d. 1310) states that in Kambáyah, Somnáth, Kankan, and Tána the vines yield twice a year and such is the strength of the soil that cotton-plants grow like willow or plane trees and yield produce for ten years. He refers to the betel leaf, to which he and other Arab writers and physicians ascribe strange virtues as the produce of the whole country of Malabár. The exports from the Gujarát coasts are said to be sugar (the staple product of Málwa), bádrúd that is bezoar, and haldi that is turmeric.234