"الجغرافيا الشرقية لابن حوقل، رحّالة عربي من القرن العاشر" [‎٦‎٥] (٣٨٨/١١٨)

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,San gfom^
ition (o^W.
^ ere a re seveui
h as the tomj) of
Lrn ed men, % t
c % interspersed
)lace, and palm,
r of the sea rises
ick amongst tiie
he water of the
0 their channels,
ihleh is situated
iHawerAbleb,
1 well guarded,
town, but well
one side being
ed) comes from
ian. The soil
his district are,
iall towns, situ-
bleb.
( C3 )
In the territories of Basrah are Ahmd and BetciicLh*
Boats or vessels are moved here by the strength of men, Near this
place are great gulphs or abysses: one would imagine that the
land had been dry at some former time; and it is possible that
the water, making its way from the rivers of Basrah, had settled
wherever it found a deep furrow or pit.
JVaset is situated on the two banks of the Dejleh. It has
been built since the introduction of Islam. The foundation was
laid by Hejaje Yusuf. It is strongly built; and
tJie castle of Hejaje is there, on the western side, with a few fields
belonging to it. Waset is a populous town, and well supplied
with provisions—of a purer air than Basrah: the vicinity of it is
planted with gardens, and well cultivated.
Cufa is smaller than Basrah, but resembles it in some
respects. The air and water of Cufa are better than those ot
Basrah. It is situated near the river Forat. The suburbs of Cufa
were built by Sacid hen TF^uhas.
cw.j \3 Cadesiah, and Heir ah, and Khawr-
nak, are situated on the skirts of the desert, towards the west;
the river (Euphrates) running by them on the east: they afford
dates, and have some cultivated lands. From Cufa to these places
is a distance of one merhileh. Heirah is an ancient city, and large;
vbut when Cufa was built, Heirah was drained of its inhabitants.
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