‘The Oriental geography of Ebn Haukal, an Arabian traveller of the tenth century’ [‎297] (350/388)

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APPENDIX, No. III.
207
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On the next day Samar brought out four thousand chests, and
put into each two men completely armed; and when the night
became dark, he placed each chest on the back of an ass, and to
each he appointed a man as a superintendant, likewise completely
armed: thus there were to the amount of twelve thousand men.
These he sent on into Samarcand, and told them that he would place
his army in proper disposition, and station them all round the
castle; and he directed them, that when they should be within
the city, they might open the lids of the chests, and come out,
and ring bells (for he had given a bell to every man), so that he
might know how matters went; and then they were to open the
gate and let him enter with the army. When it was midnight, a
messenger came from the damsel, saying, " The gate of the city
" is opened; let some of the chests be now sent/' Samar placed
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