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Ahmed ibn Othman al Turkmani: Wakwak (1343)

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Taken from: Annali musulmani di Gio. B. Rampoldi. Volume primo [-duodecimo]: 11, Volume 10  Gio. B. Rampoldi.

He also composed a geographical treatise, which he named Vakuak (1), a name taken from the country he wanted to describe, and which, according to him, borders with the Sofalat al tibr (2), that is, the plain and the valley in which the gold in dust is found. In that region there is a city called Sofalat al Dheheb (3), which means low place, where gold is found, that is a mine; it is on the coast of the Zengi or Zenguebar of the Ethiopian ocean, also called Cafreria (4). That city, located beyond the equator, took its name from the gold and iron mines that are in its territory.

Note: More recent authors having checked the work of this author had to decide that no such kind of book exists.

(1) Vakuak: Waqwaq here in south-east Africa.

(2) Sofalat al tibr: Sofala of gold dust.

(3) Sofalat al Dheheb: Sofala the golden.

(4) Cafreria: land of the kaffirs here East Africa.