Note (14) — 33.—In which countries silk is grown, and of Persia and of other kingdoms.

(14.) “the kingdom Horoson, and its capital is called Hore.”—As stated by Neumann, these places are intended for Khorasan and Herat. According to Masoudi (Ritter, Die Erdkunde etc., x. 65), there existed at the time of the conquest of Hira near the Euphrates, circa A.D. 637, the negotiator Abd-el-Mesy, a man greatly revered by the Arabs in consequence of his wisdom and great age. He had attained his 350th year, and enjoyed the distinction of being considered, if not a saint, at least a servant of God, that is to say, an Ibadite or Jacobite Christian.