Taken from : Elliot; The History of India 1

Zoroastrische Studien. Abhandlungen zur Mythologie und Sagengeschichte des alten Iran. Herausg.

www.mehremihan.ir/dadeh/nask/Moj_Tavarikh_Valghesas.pdf

 

P46

The transactions of the kings of Persia, are the only ones which I propose to recount at length, because that country is placed in the center of the universe, because it forms one quarter of the habitable globe, because it is the cradle of the human race, because it is the residence of the kings of the fourth climate, because other portions of the globe, such as China, India, Zanj, Arabia, Greece, and Turkistan are not to be compared to Iran, nor is any other country, whether east, west, north, or south,-because, moreover, in reading the history of Persia, any one can at the same time instruct himself respecting the state, position, peculiarities and marvels of other countries.

P75

(Zohak the ruler of Persia is from the Arab dynasty who had replaced the Indian dynasty.)

Then Zohak (d1980BC - a contemporary of Abraham) got his ‘shoulders illness’ (called mar); and the snakes were fed with the brains of the people, as a remedy for his disease whereby the world was depopulated. Then Gerschasp (2) was sent to the west, in order to subject the kings of these countries. Gerschasp killed some and Menheras (3)was imprisoned at the court. Zohak wanted then to marry the daughter of the Maharadja (24); she was sent to him, however she disappeared at sea, He then ordered Gerschasp (3) to devastate Zengistan and to take its kings prisoners and bring to his court. Then he sent Garschasp (2) to the islands of the Djinn, where a trace of the daughter of the Maharadja had been found; then after that to Semendun in the west, in order to bring him the daughter of the Khengasp, which he brought, lucky for Zohak, after overcoming the kings of the Occident who had gathered to cut of his way back.

P125

…….and Berber and Hindus and Zanzibar are of Ham, and the people of this land are of his race …….

P131

The sons of Ham, ………… and they seized the land Zinjibar, …….they became the Zangian nations, and God Almighty gave them many people and good nature who do not work a lot, and feel no sorrow, and the land gives lots of gold and silver, and ornaments without much human effort ……..

 

P180

And as we have explained, Saqlab (19), Rus, Bartas, Turk, Gog and Magog (20) are the sons of Japheth (21); And the Zanj and the blacks and everything that is created in this way is from the children of Ham. And this was because Noah (peace be upon him) when he was asleep, the wind made his nakedness come out of his clothes, Ham and Japheth passed over him, they laughed, and Sam covered him. Knowing this, Noah prayed to Sam and rebuked the others and send them away.

P441

…… the earth twenty-four thousand miles, including twelve thousand for the Country of the Blacks (18)………

P442

We describe the east, west, south and north, including the inhabitants of the universe and their place on the earth, the Romans and the Turks and Hindus and Zanj and Ethiopia and Slaves and non-Arab and their place in the land and the Great Sea.

 

(we describe) the Supreme Kaaba and the Arabian Peninsula and the island of Turks and Gog and Magog (20) and the limits of Serandyb (11) and China and the source of the Nile and Oxus out of the mountains ……………

P445

………… Ibn Abi Salloum Ben Alys bin Ishaq bin Khalil Ibrahim (4) fled Egypt, and saw the wonders of the Nile, his he swore that he indeed knew the source of the Nile………

P449

………… and the redness was given to Romans and Slaves and Russians, and Blackness to such as Ethiopia and Zanj and Hindus, and the hard-hearted given to the Turks and humility to the Chinese.

 

……and the sea passes the land of the Arabian Peninsula and Yemen and Dhofar (5) and Oman and Medina, Hadramout (6), Aden and Sana'a (7) and Lyalh and Jerash (8), and Ethiopia and the Nile and the Egyptian side of the Red sea passes ……..and the city Zinglih

And the west side is the Sea [of] Berbera……….  

P463

(the Jerusalem Prophet went to Yemen and got two sons Cain and Abel)

It was there that Abel committed adultery and was chased away from his people, and he immigrated to Bilad Zangistan and there he found a mountain of iron and a mountain of gold, and still at that time there was no difference between iron and gold, Allah brought the Zinj, and they intermingled and many children were born, so more than seven hundred thousand came together and after that they built a city. The walls of it were twelve farsang (9) long, and on top of the walls eighty turrets and ten towers. And around the city there was water and gardens and people and Iblis (22) against Allah.

P464

The army, whose number was 5,000 thousand horsemen, came from man whose name was Ghavil, and from the city of Jabulgah (mythical city) he came to the city of Zarrin, they were closing in and fighting for four months continuously. After four months, the army went to Zanzibar, with the Maliki (10), he called his name Khana and Malek al-Dawil with them, and he charged them all and killed many from Zanzibar. Their number is twice as many as a thousand men, and they also took an abundance of loot with them.

P463-469(I abbreviate the story)

Mention of Zarrin (=Golden)  civilization and Ruyin civilization.

These two anecdotes and the mention of this civilization were outside the comprehensive histories, but because it was worthy of it, it was mentioned and written here, so that the book would be complete and useful, and both of these anecdotes would not be empty.

 

Mentioning the Zarrin City narrated by Abdullah Abbas, may God bless him and grant him peace, who said: ………………..

I read that when Cain killed Abel for his sister, Anaqa …. and fled from the children of Adam and went to Yemen. And there came to her from the womb two sons, ……

……and Cain drove him away from the people (one of his sons).  And he fell with his children to the province of Zangistan, and there he found an mountain of iron and a mountain of gold.

 And there was still no difference between iron and gold at that time, except for the cause of the rust. And it is said that they begot many children, more than seven hundred thousand gathered. And there they built a city, a wall of iron twelve miles by twelve miles, and on the wall eighty yards and ten yards of gravel. And in the midst of that city another city was made of pure gold, seven miles by seven miles, and eighty yards above the wall, and ten yards of gravel. And they built running water between the two cities and made gardens and sanctuaries. And Iblis (Satan) (may God curse him) guided them to the jewels of emeralds, rubies, pearls, pearls, and turquoise, until they adorned that golden city with jewels. And in that place they built pavilions and houses, including jewellery. And they used so much jewellery on the wall of Zarrin (=Golden) city that their eyes were staring at its sight and radius. And Satan led them astray, so that they all became idolaters. And God Almighty sent prophets among them. And they destroyed all those prophets, so that the Almighty God would be angry with them and send fire from the sky at night, so that he would burn them all and no creature would be left of them. And for a thousand years that city and its gardens and orchards had been abundant.

A thousand years later there was a kingdom in Egypt, ruled by a conqueror. Someday when the hunt was over; he reached a mountain, where he found a stone, On it was written: This is the way to the city of Zarrin, but seven mountains must be left …….. the king went out with one thousand five hundred thousand men and several thousand craftsmen. …..  And in the middle of the second mountain, several thousand giraffes, each up to thirty yards. ………….

And Malik (=King) Fotuhi left all these ways and repelled them all, until they reached the city of Zarrin and opened it by trickery. And in that place they rested, and built gardens and orchards, and watered them, and began to cultivate and build mansions, until it became, something like paradise. After seven years, he went out one day, and saw an army of five thousand cavalry, with a Lord named Ghavil, and he came from the city of Jabalqa. So Malik Fotuhi ordered the city to close, and they fought continuously for four months. After four months, a large army came from Zanzibar at the request of the city of Zarrin, with a king named Khanas, and King Ghawil fought with them and defeated them all and killed the king of Zanzibar. And after a few days another army came its number was twice a thousand men. …… (finally they beat them; then they built a new city at the coast and attract merchant ships). …………….

 

Mentioning the city of Ruyin, which is called Medina al-Safar. …… Abd al-Mulk sat down and found a book in the treasury, wrote the story of that city there and told the wonders; …….. (He had gone to search for it). Abd al-Mulk Marwan had reached King Hamir, …… he saw a tree, a large palm tree, and a Zanj tied to him with a huge body. And when Malik (=King) Hamir noticed him, he went down and whipped him fifty times with his own hand. ……. What is the reason for tying and chaining him, especially with your own hands. …… So King Hamir said, the hadith of a young Zanj while my father was still alive, made me want to trade because of watching the sea, and I sat in the sea with a lot of money and many merchants. And we spent four months in the wind, until the opposite wind came and threw us in Zanzibar province, in front of a group that they call mukkoi, cannibals. And the fortune teller was very afraid, and after much thought he said: The solution is to blacken the sail and blacken the ship and send a messenger to this province, until we are safe. Otherwise, they will kill and eat everyone. So on the ship and the sail; we blackened it and put it on them; and the Zangians were very welcoming, and we went to trade, and they bought everything we bought for a hundred red dinars (23), and the king of Zanzibar became friends with me.

And there was no salt in his province. I sent some salt to the property and told the kitchen what to use. Welcome to the huge property and a lot of wealth and blessings and gold.

We tried to get the job done as soon as possible and asked for an order. And I went to the property and said, "Serve whatever it is." "You have to bring some maid and a lot of salt," said Malik. I said, "My servant, whatever the king says." And we set sail; And the wind helped, until we returned to our province.

And my father had died, I mourned him. And the merchants dispersed. And I stood up and bought slaves until I bought two hundred and three hundred slaves, all about ten years old and eleven years old (16), and I made it a tradition to teach them. And I brought the masters of the weapons, so that they may have all the manners of a weapon of a man, from shooting arrows and spears, and throwing knives and swords and bullets and swimming, and whatever the men use. And it was about five years ago, and I raised all the slaves so that if I told them all to throw themselves into the burning fire, they would not be afraid. So I ordered the ships to be ready, and the merchants were not invited. Instead of rags, I hid weapons on ships and brought slaves through merchants. And I got on the ship and I was going to Zanzibar. When I got there, I still went to the properties ruler. And I brought some salt, I took it to the property. And when he had asked the handmaid, I said to the translator, "I have brought a handmaid, and she is in the ship. I took the Zanzibar king to the ship with a thousand efforts and tricks, and I made a good house and took good wine, red, yellow and white, with me. As night approached, people left. (He then asks the king to stay). Malik obeyed and returned with ten of his relatives. I threw anesthesia in the wine, and everyone ate and fell. And I made a strong iron band for the ruler, and I put it on his hands and feet. And I ordered the others to be killed and thrown into the sea. …… And I commanded the servants to take up all their weapons, and the sailors to lift up their sails. And we drove, and the wind helped. When day came, we drove fifty miles, and entrusted several slaves to the Zanj, that if something happened, they would kill him. So the Zangians heard the news and came on after us several times, and we fought hard, and in the end it was our victory. And we came out of them safe and sound, and after a while we reached our province. And I tied this Zanj to the tree and vowed that whenever my eye fell on him, I would hit him with fifty sticks. And this is the story of this; And this person is the ruler that is tied to the tree. (17)

 

Taken from: Who is Maha-Raja (24) of Persian Texts by Daryoosh Akbarzadeh

Darkness people reside in Ethiopia, Zang and Hindu territory.

From Sar-andib (11), Qumar (12), Qaysureh (13), Kaolah (14) to Inner India Sulahat (15)….. where the greatest king of Hindus/Indians is called Maha-Raja….

(1) Kaioumors; Gayomard, Keyumars, Kaiomors, Kyumars: first mythological king of Persia.

(2) Gerschasp: is a figure in Persian mythology. He is the fourth king of the heroic age and is described in the tenth book of Shahname, the Persian book of kings by the Persian poet Firdausi (940-1020).

(3) Menheras; literally the hard one.

(4) Repeated by the following authors: Masudi (916): Amran, son of Jabir; Al-Muqaddasi: (985) has Imran; in Dawadari (1335): a man from the son of Al-Ais bin Ishaq bin Ibrahim; Ibn Abd’essalam al-Menoufi (15th): Amran ibn-Folan ibn-al-Aiss ibn-Ishak ibn-Ibrahim; Suyuti (1505): Umran ben ‘Ays; Grandsonn of Muhallib bin Muhammad bin Shadi (1126).

(5) Dhofar: province in Oman.

(6) Hadramout: province in Yemen.

(7) Sana'a: Capital of Yemen.

(8) Jerash: Jerash is a city in Jordan, north of the capital Amman.

(9) Farsang; Parasang: 1 parasangs or farsakhs = 2.8 nautical miles/ about 5km.

(10) Maliki: Malik, literally king.

(11) Sarandib: Sri Lanca.

(12) Qumar: Qamar: Khmer (Cambodia) or Qumr; Madagascar; or Cape Comorin – South India.

(13) Qaysureh: Qaysur: island in the neighborhood  of India.

(14) Kaolah; Kala: very important harbor in Malaysia in those days.

(15) Sulahat: on Sumatra.

(16) Other authors writing on enslaving (children): Tuan Ch'eng-Shih (863); Jahiz: Sudan (869); Abu Zaid al Hassan (916); Hamza ibn-'Ali ibn-Ahmad (1017); Marvazi (1120); Mudjmal al -Tawarikh wa-l-qisas (1126); Al Idrisi (1150); Yahya bin Ahmad Sirhindi (1434); Ibn al Wardi (1456); Al Himyari; (1461).

(17)This story is similar to the story about Affan the tailor in Egypt: The one who bought a Zinj boy: Al-Sakhawi (1497). The same story can be found in Abu Hamid Al-Garnati : Tuhfat al-Albab (The gift of the spirits) (1080-1169). And a not so nice variation of it in Buzurg (955).  It is the ideology of slavery. Through slavery they get in contact with Islam. Similar stories but not connected to justification of slavery are: Bahktyar Nama (end 14th) and an extreme weird and horrible version is found in Mudjmal al -Tawarikh wa-l-qisas (1126). And Athanasius Nikitin (1475) who was actually blown by the wind to the coast of Somalia.

(18)These words are mostly attributed to Qatada (see my webpage: Umayr Ibn Qatadah 'Ubayd b. 'Umayr (d694)); and are repeated by: Ibn al-Fakih al Hamadhani (903); Al Garnati (1169); Abu Nasr Mutahhar al-Maqdisi (966); al Maqrizi (1441); Mudjmal al -Tawarikh (1126); Ibn al Jawzi (d1200) Yakut (1220) and many others.

(19) the Slavic people of Europe.

(20) the wall Alexander the Great build to keep the people of Gog and Magog locked up in the high North of the globe.

(21) Japheth is one of the three sons of Noah in the Book of Genesis.

(22) Iblis: The devil in Islam

(23) Dinars: gold coin of one mithqal (4-5 gr of gold).

(24) for this Maharaja see my note on: The Medieval History of Madagascar as found in the Written Sources.