‘The Oriental geography of Ebn Haukal, an Arabian traveller of the tenth century’ [‎66] (119/388)

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Heirah enjoys a pure air, and is one farsang distant from Cufa.
At Cufa is situated the tomb or meshed of the Commander of the
Faithful, ^ en Taleh, on "w^om
be peace ! Some say it is in the cloister at the entrance of the chief
mosque; and others say it is at a distance of two farsang.
<3uy^lj5 Cadesiah is situated on the border of the desert: it has
running water, and cultivated lands. From Cadesiah, on the con
fines of Trak, until you come to Medinah Medi-
nah Alssalam, the city of Islam), there is not any running
"water.
Baghdad is a celebrated city, erected since the intro
duction of Islam. It was built by Ahou Jaffer
Mansour*. At first the western quarter was built, and everyone
settled himself there in any manner he thought fit. Afterwards
it became populous; and when C^Oyc Mohdi succeeded to the
khalifat f, he encamped his troops on the eastern side. Buildings
weie then erected, and that quarter also became thickly inhabited.
The villas and palaces extended for near two farsang from
Baghdad to the river, and this city became the residence of the
khalifs. The buildings were continued from the river to the
district of kJj IVaset, and from above the Dejleh to
* This Khahf (of the House of Abbas) began to reign A. H. 136, A. D. 754.}
The foundation of Baghdad was laid in the year of the Hegira 145.
t He beg^n to reign A. H. 158, (A. D. 775.)