A look at Aden in 1875

Back to Table of Contents (5)
To next page
Written for Sultan al-Muzaffar: Nur al-ma'arif
(Light of Knowledge) (1295) Yemen
----------------------------------------------------

The Nur al-ma’arif (the title chosen by Muhammad Jazim)  was compiled at the end of Muzaffar’s rule in the 1290s. Two vols of Arabic text (pp.695 and pp.274). The Nur al-ma’arif provides us with detailed information about Yemen’s main products: cotton, wars, madder, indigo, incense, swords, paper, books etc.; the country’s major imports: pepper, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, wood, and iron; and its export of horses, to Persia and India. The book quotes the prices, taxes and destinations. It also contains chapters on weights and measures in Yemen, Mekka, Cairo, Constantinople, Abyssinia and Gujarat. The products coming from East Africa and their taxes are mentioned here.

 

Taken from : www.aiys.org

Taken from: hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/docs/00/27/40/01/PDF/Vallet_-_Produits_du_commerce_egyptien.pdf –

 

Full title: Nur al-ma’arif fi nuzum wa- qawanin wa-a’raf al-Yaman fi al-‘ahd al-muzaffari al-warif .

Also called: Al-Daftar al-Muzaffari.

 

These are recently discovered archival records from the reign of al-Malik al-Muzaffar

Here you will find customs and tax data, production figures, transport costs and scribal "intelligence" for insider and outsider trading, silk, cotton and flax clothing, leather goods, shoes and headgear, exotic woods and rope, carpets, pottery, glass and brass, weapons, soap, candles, foods and oils, medicinal herbs, perfumes, dyes and spices, precious stones, musical instruments and, sad to say, human slaves. The text describes the trade in commodities coming from such places as Venice, Iraq, Zafar, India, and China. The Daftar explains the method by which slaves were bought and sold in Aden and how the Rasulid governors were eager to select the best slaves, probably as palace guards and royal servants. It states that as the ships arrived with their cargoes, the slaves were taken to be inspected and, out of them, a group of servants was chosen. Whoever could be useful to the Diwan, (7) was bought.

 

Taken from: Kuriyama Yasuyuki: The Indian Ocean Trading Port of Aden during the 13th Century: An Analysis of its Trade Items.

Taken from: Pouvoir, commerce et marchands dans le Yémen rasulide by Eric Vallet.

Taken from: Yemen under the Rasulids during the 13th Century; An Analysis of the Supply Origin of Court Cooking Ingredients by Tamon Baba.

Taken from: 13世紀の紅海交易--エジプトからイエメンへ輸出された商品の分析を中心として  [in Japanese] The Red Sea trade in the thirteenth century: an analysis of exports from Egypt to Yemen  by kuriyama yasuyuki 東洋学報 = The Toyo Gakuho   90(2) 199-224   Sep 2008

Taken from: ADEN PORT CUSTOMS IN RASULID YEMEN: WITH A FOCUS ON IMPORT AND EXPORT CUSTOMS CLEARANCE by Yasuyuki KURIYAMA

 

Presentation of the conditions of exchanges with Mecca and Abyssinia

(p 358 – 367)

…………………………………

The bahar (1) of ivory can reach 100 ounces (of money) (2), 80 or 70 and every thing is bought according to its value.

……………………………..

The eunuchs : a eunuch can be worth up to 100 ounces. Certain things are worth 70, 50 or 40 everything has his price that is evaluated in textiles.

……………………………….

……………………………………

The eunuch has also different prices.

The one who is from very superior quality is paid 70 or 80 ounces (2) of silver.     

If he is traded, he is exchanged for 100 or 90 (ounces) and he is evaluated in silver coins at 50 or 60 ounces. A slave of superior quality can reach maximum 100 ounces (2) of coins, but that is rare.

The cost of a slave is 21 (dinars), of which the usur (tax) at Zabid (5) is 5 (dinars)(3) and a half, the transport for 2 or 3 dinars, the rest is in food, because he eats meat and clarified butter and that is what you have to spend on. It can be that for the eunuchs one spends a bit more then that. The usur of Aden on the eunuchs is 4 and a half.

The average eunuch is 50 to 60 ounces.   

The normal eunuch is 40 ounces.

All have the same expenses.

 

Male slaves not castrated.

A young adult slave of excellent quality, Abyssinian, without fault, from al Gizli, from al-Amhara or from the Sahara, or from any other ethnic origin, from the moment he is without faults, then his price in Abyssinia is 20 ounces. The less quality slave is 15 or 14 ounces. Low quality slaves are of 12, 11 or 10 (ounces)      

 

Female slaves:

Those of good quality: young adults, of superior quality; they are 20 ounces. Lower quality slaves 15 or 16 ounces. Low quality slaves are 12 to 10 .

The expenses for a slave male or female are 10 dinars (3) between Abyssinia and Zabid (5), in which is included usur which is 3 dinar a head, the rest is food during the trip.

……………………………

 

The Civet: 1 ounce (4) is at 3 ounces (2) of silver kamili in Kalgur.(6) This is the normal price for most of the time. When it goes up, it is only slightly one or two dirhams.(3) There are no taxes on it at Aden but when it is bought for the diwan,(7) the trader diminishes the price with 1 dirham for 10 ounces on the market. If it is not bought for the diwan, the market does not have to give anything back nor give lower prices. At Zabid (5) there is a tax on civet of one dirham for an ounce.

 

Ivory: it is sold by the bahar (1). E.g. one bahar is 80, 90 or 100 depending on the quality of the ivory: excellent or normal. Ivory of excellent quality is a big tusk smooth and without roughness, this as difference with normal ivory. The maximum that the bahar can reach is 100 ounces and not more. The charges that weight on it cost little – I want to speak about the excellent quality because the charges for one himl that is two bahar are three ounces from Kalgur  (6)to Zayla (8) with overland transport and the transport by sea from Zayla (8) to Aden is 4 dinar. The usur is 6 dinar for a bahar (1) at Aden. At Zabid (5) it is hardly imported.

As to the gain in all that, it is not stable, but depends on what God has attributed to the merchant. God knows all.

 

Another version

……………………..

The eunuchs : The eunuch in most of the cases, is worth 60, 70 to 80 ounces. The one who is of excellent quality reaches (100?) ounces, and even more. For an eunuch of Abyssinia and an eunuch of Zang the expenses incurred between Abyssinia and Zayla, (8) that is the transport, outside buying and feeding him, (and the payment to) the protection in Abyssinia , is up to three ounces. The tax (giba) is usually 2 dinars + ¼ + 6 fils.

Up to Muhayn, the transport is one dinar, Muhayn is at Dubhan (9), up to the fortress of Munil, transport costs 2 dirhams (3) and to al-Samadan is two dirhams.

Up to the fortress of al-Sawa (10) is one dinar, up to al-Nasma, one dinar, up to al-Sanna (11) one dinar; up to Gaba one dinar and up to the city of Ta’izz (12) one dinar.

 

Not castrated male slaves and female slaves: the expenses are half that of eunuchs. For the protection it is 1 dinar (3) and ¼ a head.

 

The price of ivory can differ: there is the kind that costs 50 ounces for a bahar (1); the average quality that is worth 70 or 75 ounces, and the superior quality that is worth 100 or 110 (ounces). One has to pay a tax (giba) to the protectors in Abyssinia, of 5 ounces (2) of silver for one bahar. (For transport) of a himl up to Zayla, one needs 3 mahabis – le himl equivalent of two bahar and from Zayla (8) to Aden, two dinar. The tax at Aden is a tenth of the dirhams of the sale: they are paid by the seller.

 

Civet: from 10 ounces of silver, 15, 20 up to 30 at maximum, this amount is rare. The ounce of civet (4) is at 25, 26 and 27 dirhams (3). The tax in Abyssinia is a half dirham for the protector.

 

(List of taxes from about 1250AD)

Rules concerning the tenths (ushr) for the benefit of the border of the well-guarded port of Aden, let God prolong the reign of its ruler, arranged in alphabetical order. In God be Glory and Help.    

(p409-454)

Ushr: the 10% tax / Dilala: the brokerage tax / Shawani: galleys tax

Galley tax: the fleet of the Sultan patrolled the sea towards India.

d = dinar (3) / q = qirat / f = fals

…………………….

Abnus (ebony): for import:  for 10 bahar: Ushr: 5 and 1/3 dinar. Dilala: 1/2 and 1/4 dinar; Shawani: ½ dinar and 1qirat. 

…………………….

Abanus: for export for 10 bahar: Ushr: 6 dinar (3) and 2qirat and 2 fals. (no other taxes).

 …………….……..

Adam naqid (Heavy animal leather); 1 bahar; Ushr: 3d+1/2d+1/4d+1/8d Dilala 2fals

………………

Adam khafif (Light animal leather); 1 subra; Ushr: 1/2d

………………

Adam Hurr (Animal raw leather); 1 bahar; Ushr: 3d+1/3d+1/8d+3f

.................

Gulud numuriyya; (leopard skin); for 10; Ushr: 4d +2q + 3f

…………………

raqiq al Habasha khadim (Ethiopian slave as servant or eunuch(?)) A person; Ushr: 4 dinar.

raqiq al Habasha abd al fahl (Strong male Ethiopian slave) A person; Ushr: 2 dinar. 

raqiq al Habasha jariya (Ethiopian slave girl) A person; Ushr: 2 dinar.

abd al fahl min al Habasha (Strong male from Ethiopia) A person; Ushr: 1 dinar.

al raqiq al zunuy al abd (male slave from the Zanj) A person; Ushr: 2 and ¼ dinar.

al raqiq al zunuy al jariya (slave girl from the Zanj) A person; Ushr: 2 and ¼ dinar.

al uluj al zunuj (wild slave from the zanj) ; for one: Ushr: 1 and ¼ dinar. (3)

(note: uluj or ulug can also mean wild ass).

Sandarus Singari; (Copal from Zanzibar); bahar; Ushr: 4d + 2/3d + 1/4d; Dilala: 1/4d

Sandarus Singari mulabbas; (Copal from Zanzibar); bahar; Ushr: 4d + 1/2d + 1/8d; Dilala: 1/8d

…………..……….

 sandal(wood) Daquqi; for 10 buhar: Ushr: 7 and ¼ and 1/6 dinar. Dilala: 2/3 and 1/4 dinar; Shawani: ½ and ¼ dinar.

sandal Malindi; for 10 buhar: Ushr: 9 dinar. Dilala: 1 and 1/2 dinar; Shawani:  ½ and ¼ and 1/8 dinar and 3 fals.

(Note: because of the galleys tax here: Eric Vallet does not consider this to be Malindi but translates Mandal. The Galleys patrolled the ocean towards India not towards Africa) 

sandal Maqasiri (13); for 10 buhar: Ushr 2 and ¼ and 2 fals. Dilala: 1 and 6 fals; Shawani: 5 qirat and 2fals.

sandal Balandi; for export; for 10 buhar: Ushr 1 and ¼ and 1/8 dinar.(3) (no other taxes).

……………….…..

Subbab; (unknown but from Africa according to Eric Vallet); bahar; Ushr: 2d + 1/3d + 1/8d; Dilala: 1/6d + 1/8d

…………………………………

ag gill (ivory of elephant); 1buhar: Ushr: 5 dinar and 1/3 and 2 fals. Dilala: ¼ and 1/6 dinar;  Shawani: ¼ and 1/6 and 1/8 dinar: Shawani only if imported from India.  

ag gill (ivory) for export: 1 buhar: Ushr: 1 dinar and ¼ and 1/8 dinar;

aj daqq (cut ivory); 1 buhar: Ushr: 5 dinar and 1/8 and 2 fals. Dilala: 1/3 dinar; Shawani: ½ dinar and 2 fals: Shawani only if imported from India.  

………

anbar: Al-bay’a (= 8 mitqal) (19); Ushr: ½ dinar. (3)

………

ghanam Barabir from Mayt (14), Margawwiya, or Zayla (8) (sheep); for one: Ushr: ¼ dinar. (3)

...............

……..

fufal (betelnut) Mulaybari (15); 1bag (literally for 10000) habb (seeds) Ushr: 10 and 1/6 and 1/8 dinar. Dilala: 1/8 dinar 1 fals; 

fufal Muqadishi; 1(bag) habb Ushr: 10 and 1/6 and 1/8 dinar. Dilala: 1/8 dinar 1 fals; 

fufal Zufari (16); 1(bag) habb Ushr: 10 and 1/6 and 1/8 dinar. Dilala: 1/8dinar 1 fals; 

fufal Sila; 10 (bags) habb Ushr: 9 and 1/4 dinar. Shawani: 2/3 and 1/4 dinar 1 fals .

fufal: for export; for a bag (100000); Ushr: 2d + 1/2d + 1/4d

……………………

Qust Habashi (Costus); 1bahar Ushr 1 and 1/2 and 1/3 dinar and 2fals. Dilala; 1/3dinar (3)

Qust (Costus); 1bahar Ushr: 1/4 and 1/6dinar

Qisr al luban; (=incense extracted from bark) ; bahar ; Ushr:1/6d + 1/8d  + 3f; Dilala: 5f

Luban ; (incense) bahar ; Ushr: 1/2d + 2f ; 1/4d

Luban nasih; bahar; Ushr: 1d + 1/3d + 1f; 1/4d 

…………………….

Murr (Myrrh); bahar; from the Ocean; Ushr: 1d + ½ +1/8d; Dilala: 1/8d; Shawani: 1/6d

…………………….

Murr; bahar; for export; Ushr: 1/4d; 1/6d

 

(List of taxes B from about 1200AD)

Rules concerning the tenths (ushr) taken by the diwan (7)–May God prolong the rule of its ruler- of the border of the well-guarded port of Aden, fixed by the customs by import and export; not arranged in alphabetical order.   

(p470-473)

………………………………..

Anbar (ambergris): 1 bay’a (=8 mitqal)(19); 1/2d

………………………….

Kuda  (kauris); 1 mudd (17)(= 800 ratl); Ushr: 6d + 1/2d + 1/3d

(Kuda); 1 marba’a; Ushr: 7d; 1/2d + 1/3d

(Kuda); 1 bahar; Ushr: 5d + 1/6 + 2f; Dilala: 1/6d +1/8d + 2f; Shawani: 1/2d + 2f

Sandarus zingibari (Copal of Zanzibar); 1 bahar; Ushr: 4d + 2/3d + 1/4d; Dilala: 1/4d

Sandarus mulabbas (Copal mulabbas); 1 bahar; Ushr : 4d + 1/2d + 1/8d + 2f; Dilala : 1/8d

……………………………..

Sandal Malandi (Sandalwood of Mandal) ;10 bahar; Ushr: 7d; 1d + 1/2d; Dilala: 1/2d + 1/4d + 1/8d + 3f

Abanus (Ebony); 10 bahar; Ushr: 5d + 1/3d; Dilalal: 1/2d + 1/4d; Shawani: 1/4d + 1/6d + 1/8d

Luban salim (Incense salim); 1 bahar; Ushr: 1d + 1/2d + 2f; Dilala: 1/4d

Luban nasih (Incense nasih); 1 bahar; Ushr: 1d + 1/3d + 3f; Dilala: 1/4d

Luban sabik (Incense sabik); 1 bahar; Ushr: half of the former ; Dilala: half of the former 

Qisr al luban; (=incense extracted from bark) ;1 bahar ; Ushr: 1/6d + 1/8d  + 3f; Dilala: 5f

………………………………

Duhn al qird (fat of apes); 1 bahar; Ushr: 6d + 1/2d + 1/3d + 1/8d; Dilala: 1/2d + 1/3d

………………………………

Gulud mumutiyya (leopard skins); Ushr: 10?; 4d + 2q + 2f;   ; Dilala: 1/2d + 1/6d

 

Export taxes on the merchandises of the Karim send to India

(p478)

Adam taqil wa hafif (Leader thick and fine); 1 bahar; 1/2d+1/4d+2f

………………………

Qust (Costus); 1 bahar; ¼ + 1/6d

Murr (Myrrh); 1 bahar; ¼ d+ 1/6d

………………………

Ag (Ivory); 1 bahar (1); 1d + 1/4d + 1/8d

…………………………

Adam (Leader); 1 bahar; 1/4d+2f

 

Goods arriving from the Regions of Egypt.

(p483)

………………….

al ama’im al Sufali (sic) (Turbans of Sofala); for 10 pieces; Ushr 4d +1/2+1/4;   ; Dilala; ¼+1/6

Note: Kuriyama added in the text specifically that it is Sofala in Africa. As it is not possible that turbans produced in Sofala were exported from Egypt he adds: (sic). For this page (p483) Kuriyama had to add (sic) seven times. As for p482 he had to add (sic) for nearly all entries.

Maybe it is just the name for this type of turban.

 

Export taxes on the merchandises leaving for Egypt and the Karim

(p485)

……………………..

Kuda (kauris); 10 bahar; 11d

……………………

Sandarus Zingibari (Copal of Zanzibar); 10 bahar; 11d

Sandarus mulahhas (Copal mulahhas); 10 bahar; 11d

………………………

Ag (ivory); 1 bahar (1); 1d + 1/4d + 1/8d

………………………..

Subbub; (??) 1 bahar; ¼ + 1/6 +1/8d + 1f

……………………….

Fawfal; (betelnut); 100000; 2d +1/2 + ¼

…………………………

Luban; (Encens); 1 bahar; 1/3d + 1/8d + 2f

Abanus; (Ebony); 10 bahar; 1d + 2q + 2f

………………………………

 

(P497-498)

Sandalwood: There is the following convention. Sandalwood must not be taken out from customs until it has been cut and the pieces are 1 sibr (=20cm) or close to this.  Also, the length of the sandalwood should not exceed 1 sibr so that it is not given as a gift item.

 

Indian rugs (al-busut al hindiyya), especially processed products (amal) made in Kanbaya,(18) except those of less than 10 dira (=70cm) should not be carried out from customs. Also, those of more than 10 dira should not be carried out together. This does not apply to those made in Sumani. (=Gujarat)  Pearls (lu’lu) the weight of which is 25-27 mitqal (19) should not be carried out (from customs)…. Chinese porcelain (sini), for example, four-legged porcelain (hawafiq) platters [whose diameter is] more than 1 dira, and rather large-sized porcelain (al-qita al-kibar) like a harafiyyya, should not be carried out [from customs]. Similarly, a type of Chinese clothing (siqaq), should also not be carried out [from customs] without orders. Egyptian glass vessels inlaid with gold (al-zugag al misr al-mudahhab) should not be made freely available to those who want to travel to Ethiopia, nor should it be made freely available as a gift for rulers in India, in particular Sahib Tana and others.

 

Rules on the Administration of Aden

…………………………

(p514)

Ambergris, of which you learn that it exists (in the city) and on which you have to take advice: if it is already used: the ushr is not to be paid anymore. If the administration finds ambergris with someone that has been bought in the city or somewhere else; the ushr is imposed on the buyer because it has been introduced in the city without taxes.

 

Rules on the farming of the warehouses of the sultan in Aden.

(p521 – 524)

………the date of the farming is the year 1281-2……….

…………………………

Brokerage fees of the warehouses

………………………..

Betel nut, on a qita: ½ and ¼ (dinar) (3)

Myrrh, on a qita: ¼ (dinar)

….. brazilwood, ivory, … cauris….: 1 dinar 1/6 for 100

….. aloeswood… musk…abanus(ebony)….copal, sandalwood…: on all that is sold 2 dinar for 100

 

What is due for the use of the balance….

……………………………………

That what goes by the qita

……………………..

…Spiral Ginger from Mogadiscio, molasses, clarified butter from Maqdisu, cotton seeds

All that for one qita ½ + 1/8 dinar (3)

The farmer: 1/8

The weigher: 1/8             

………………………………

 

….. soap, 1 batta (20) of sesame oil of Maqdisu…..

On each use of the balance: ¼

The farmer: 1/8

The weigher: 1/8

……………………………..

 

Supplied products to the Rasulid court

………………………………

(p543,548)

From Adan: civet(zabad) and to be used in al-Ta'kar (21)

(p552)

From Mihlaf Ga'far (22) and Adan : civet(zabad)

(Part II p19)

From Adan: honey(asal) and to be used in Adan

From Adan: maqdisi sugar(sukkar: maqdisi) and to be used in Adan

(Part II p83)

From Adan: barabir sheep(ganam: barabir)

……………………..

 

Taken from: Avorio d’ogni ragione: the supply of elephant ivory to northern Europe in the Gothic era

 

Daftar al Muzaffari records 6 different types of ivory. Ivory was differentiated based on destination: India, Egypt, the Dahlak archipelago and inland Yemen. Ivory going to India was measured and changed based on the bahar (1), which equalled 217.8 kg and was charged between 3 5/6 dinar and 1 15/24 dinar 2 fils per 20 rati depending on export location. The larger unit of measure of the India trade (bahar versus ratl) implies that the volume of trade with India far surpassed that with the Red Sea, a fact also reflected in the relative amount of taxes; tariffs levied on ivory bound for India were one tenth of that destined for the Red Sea. 

 

 Taken from: Thomas Vernet: Slave trade and slavery on the Swahili Coast, 1500-1750

 

E. Vallet in his study on the Rasulid administrative documentation has shown that the port town of Zayla, was the coastal terminus of major slave routes from the Ethiopian highland. Slaves, including eunuchs, were then shipped to Aden on small ships. This maritime route between Zayla (8) and Aden was very prosperous between the thirteenth and the fifteenth centuries. Conversely the Rasulid documentation tells very few about Zanj slaves. (E. Vallet, Pouvoir, commerce et marchands dans le Yémen Rasulide p341-353, p467-468.)

 

 

al-Malik al-Muzaffar: al-Mu‘tamad fī al-Adwiya al-Mufrada (Approved single Drugs) (1295)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Taken from: http://hawaj.khayma.com/books/mohtamedbook/

 

Index

Abanus (Ebony): The tree of al Zabid (5) in Yemen.

……

Red sandalwood: It is called Zanji, it is in the mountain of Melan, and they call it in their language, the burnt one, and we

saw its shortcomings, except where it is red, it tends to be medium yellowish. And this tree is like the pomegranate, and his

leaves are like Arak, in all its cases.

……

Beans from the Sudan: it is the al Kashind.

……

Merdasa-saj (23): Like burned ebony.

 

Letter Alf

 …….

Abanus (Ebony): is well-known wood, and in its taste it is pungent, and it is soothing and clear, clearing the blurring from the

eye, benefiting from the effects and whiteness of it, welding the surgeries, and benefiting against sores and rotten old surgeries,

 it is crushed and sprayed on them hot. This extract costs a dirham. It is a trustworthy medicine when preheated like the dry figwood.

 

Letter Be

…….

Baqam (24): It is a bone tree, which grows in the land of India and the Zanj, and its leaves are like green almond leaf, its legs and its

ends are red, and its dye is cooked out of the wood, it welds the surgeries, cuts the blood from any organ, and dries the sores.

If you drink too much of it; it will kill you. It is a dry wood, second class.

 

Letter Ha

…..

Hub al Zalma (Painful Love):  It is a creamy, burning love, slightly larger than chickpeas, the visible is yellow, white interior, deliciously

tasty, brought from Bilad al Barbar, it is called bean pepper of Sudan, and other Sudanese pepper, it is called dear love, It is hot in the second, wet in the first place, and increases semen and a valid increase,……..

 

Letter Ean

…..

The normal Zanj: is a common name for the Fawania, and it is said in Egypt of the small type with zero veins, which is the Mamiran,

which was mentioned earlier. It is also said of the barberry tree. Which is called Argis. It is called so because on how it looks like…..

(1) Bahar: for ivory the ‘small bahar’ was used: 176 kg – 183.6kg. The bahar of pepper, cloves, ginger: is the great Bahar: about 216kg. We do not know if the same definition of the bahar was in use in Yemen in those days.

(2) Ounces (of money): 40 dirham

(3) dirhams: silver coin of the Arab world (3 gr of silver)./ dinar: gold coin of one mithqal (4-5 gr of gold).

(4) Civet ounce: 27.4 gram

Civet: Note: other works mentioning the civet from Africa are (see my webpage:) Al-Jahiz Al-Fakhar al-Sudan (869); Shah Mardan Ibn Abi al-Khayr (11th); Yakut al Hamawi (1220); Nur al-ma'arif (1295); al-Watwat (1318); Ibn Battuta and the African Diaspora (1331); Joseph ibn Abraham (1137); Al-Saghani (1252); Nur al-ma'arif (1295); Friar Jordanus; (1329); Cowar el-aqalim (1347); From the Court of Al-Zahir (1439); Ibn al-Ahdal (1451); Ibn Madjid: As-Sufaliyya (1470); Ibn al-Dayba (1496);

(5) Zabid: town on Yemen's western coastal plain. It is one of the oldest towns in Yemen

(6) Kalgur: in Ethiopia.

(7) Diwan: a Middle Eastern title used for high officials.

(8) Zayla: Zeila in N Somalia close to Djibouti.

(9) Dubhan: is a town near the coast of the Red Sea in Taiz Governorate.

(10) fortress of al-Sawa: located in the city of Al-Sawa, 30 kilometers south of the city of Taiz

(11) al-Sanna: Sanaʽa is the capital of Yemen.

(12) Ta’izz: Taiz is a city in southwestern Yemen. It is located in the Yemeni Highlands, near the port city of Mocha on the Red Sea.

(13) Maqasiri: Sandal-i maqasiri – tawny, fawn-colored white sandal wood is a medical treasury traded in the Islamic world.

(14) Mayt: port in Somaliland.

(15) Mulaybari: Malabar, India.

(16) Zufari: Dhofar: province in Oman

(17) mudd (= 800 ratl); ratl: standard ratl of 440 grams in Umayyad Egypt.

(18) Kanbaya: Cambay in the Indian state of Gujarat.

(19) mitqal: about 5gr of gold

(20) batta: 27 liters

(21) al-Ta'kar: fortress on the mountain al-Ta'kar, close to Aden.

(22) Mihlaf Ga'far: Mihlaf Ja'far where the sultan had a palace.

(23) saj: teak-wood from East Africa

(24) the often mentioned Brazil-wood.