‘The Oriental geography of Ebn Haukal, an Arabian traveller of the tenth century’ [‎251] (304/388)

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The town of Kerin is near the river Jihoon. The people
of Bokhara speak the language of the people of Soghd: they are
ingenious : and in business they use direms r their silvei is
Azerki, or Ghederki ; and the mode of purchasing used
in Maweralnahr does not pass among them. For the greater pait
they wear the tunick Lo and the cap
At Bokhara, within the city, there are bazars, where, on cei-
tain appointed days, the merchants assemble in great numbers,
and transact much business. Bokhara and its territories produce
fine linen. I have heard a peculiar circumstance mentioned,
-concerning the Kohendiz or castle of Bokhara j which is, that
they never have brought out of it the bier or coffin of any prince,
and that any person once confined there is never seen again. " It
" is said that the inhabitants of Bokhara are originally descended
^ from an ancient tribe, which emigrated from Istakhar and
" settled there*." The Samanian princes resided at Bokhara; the
territories of which and jVIaweralnahr were under their jurisdiction :
the people of Bokhara were so obedient, and so observant of their
treaties, that the sovereigns chose to reside among them. The
kings of Khorasan were descended from the race of Saman.
Ismael hen Ahmed resided there: the people
of Khorasan had behaved treacherously towards him; and his
children also resided at Bokhara. , Before that, the governors of
k k 2