"الجغرافيا الشرقية لابن حوقل، رحّالة عربي من القرن العاشر" [‎٢‎٣] (٣٨٨/٧٦)

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reaches to near the Nubians ; then to the desert in the vicinity of
Zinghar. Whatsoever they get, comes to them from
the western side, because of the difficulty of entering their country
from any other quarter.
Now we proceed to speak of the West, and begin with an
account of Andalus, or Spain. Andalus is an extensive
and considerable country, with many large and flourishing cities,
the chief of which is called AxLyJ Cortubah (Cordova), situated in
the midst of the country. The ocean is on one side of Andalus,
and the Sea of Roum (the Mediterranean) on the
other, as far as the L-Cy Land of the Franks (France.)
The first of the cities is Serin; then Husiniah,
Asebiliah (or Sebilah, Seville), ajjc X xm Sedounah, Sido-
nia, a JUL o Malaca, to the country of Molds ah, and to
Tolsah, andA^j-J^L Tartousah ; where there is
Baris, a town on the sea-side. Thence along the sea, belongs to
the land of the Franks; and on the dry side belongs to the country
of Aljekes. This country is inhabited by a race of
Christians, and as far as the land of Biscounes belongs
to the Christians, as likewise the territories of (^UUL^ Jalehan.
There are two boundaries to Andalus ; one, the land of the Infi
dels (or Christians); the other, the sea: and all those towns
which we have spoken of, as being situated on the sea-coast, are
considerable places, and well-inhabited.