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From the Court of Al-Zahir; Ta’rikh al-Yaman
(History of
Yemen).(1439) (Ann. Rasulid Chronicle.)
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The unique manuscript is at the BNF; MS Arabe 4609, f8b-74b. Seen the contents of the MS the author needs to have been employed at the court of al Malik al Zahir. The date of finishing this work is found in the manuscript. This manuscript covers the period from 1048AD till 1436AD, and is divided into ten chapters each of which coincides with the years of one sultan’s reign. The importance of this MS for East Africa: it talks of several embassies arriving in Yemen carrying gifts that might have come from East Africa. One mission actually did came from the Zanj itself.
Taken from: Kyushu University Institutional Repository
ラスール朝史料における東アフリカ馬場, 多聞九州大学大学院人文科学研究院歴史学部門
Yajima, Hikoichi: A chronicle of the Rasulid Dynasty (ar.), Tokyo 1976, (page numbers from this book)
L’Arabie marchande: État et commerce sous les sultans rasūlides du Yémen ...By Éric Vallet
Also called: Ann. Rasulid Chronicle
P37-38 (f20a)
From Bahr Al Ajam (Somalia) from Sheikh Mismar gifts arrived; among them elephants, giraffes and many raqiq (=wild) slaves. That was in Jumada (1) 780 (Aug-Sept 1378).
P43 (f22a)
The arrival of the gift of the ruler of Dahlak Island (2)(Sahib Dahlak) to the Rasulid sultan of Yemen, consisting of elephants (fil), lions (asad), slaves (abid), musk cats (zabad). (18) That was in Raj 787 (1385-6).(4)
P47 (f23b)
A gift arrived from the land of Zanj. Among them were astonishing things that have never been to Yemen. It was on 28 Shawaru (3) of the year 790 (7th November 1388)
P49 (f24a)
In the month of Rajab (4) 791 (jan. 1389) valuable gifts were received from the ruler of Sawakin (5). Among them were elephants, amber, spices, valuables etc….
P65 (f38a)
The master of Dahlak (2) arrived at the noble court to seek help from our master Sultan al-Malik al-Nasir (6) - God sanctifies his soul - against his brothers who had driven him from his territory, while the power (al-hukm ) belonged to him alone before that. He arrived with slaves (raqiq) as a gift and other things. Our master the Sultan promised him [his help], accepted his present and treated it in the best way (ahsana ilay-hi) this was on Tuesday 20 Safar (7) 815.
p105 (f44a)
Arrival of Dragon-ships (8) in the protected harbour city (Aden) and with them the messengers of the ruler of China with brilliant gifts for his Majesty, the Sultan al-Malik an-Nasir (6) in the month of l’Higga (9) in the year 821 (January 1419). His Majesty, the Sultan al-Malik al-Nasir's (6) in the Protected Dar al-Gund (10) send the victorious al-Mahatta to accept the brilliant gifts of the ruler of China. And many among the gifts were rare (tuhaf), proud, magnificent, gilded robes, ( al-thiyab al-kamkhat al-mudhahhabah) precious musk, fresh Aloe wood (al-ud al-ratb) and Chinese dishes of many varieties. The value of the gifts was 20 000 Mitqal (11)(93.6 kg gold). It was accompanied by the Qadi Wagih-Din Abd al-Rahman b. Gumai. And this was on 26 Muharram in the year 822 (March 19, 1419) His majesty, the Sultan al-Malik al-Nasir (6) ordered that the Envoy of the ruler of China returned with gifts of his own, including many rare, with frankincense wrapped coral trees, wild animals such as Oryx, wild ass (these might have been zebra as donkeys would not do as present to the emperor), thousands of wild lion and tamed cheetahs. And they travelled in the company of Qadi Wagih al-Din Abd al-Rahman b. Gumai out of the sheltered harbour of Aden in the month of Safar (7) of the year 822 (March 1419)
P????
The news came of his majesty, the Sultan al-Malik an-Nasir, of the arrival of the junks and with them the envoy of the ruler of China. In the wake he had brilliant gifts from the king and emperor [aqan] to his eminence, the Sultan al-Malik an-Nasir (6). And an order was issued from His Majesty, the Sultan al-Malik an-Nasir to the Qadi Gamal ad-Din b. Ishaq, he and the eunuch, the emissary of the ruler of China, were to travel on to Bab as-Sarif (12) from the protected port city [Aden]. And they arrived, and with them the presents. These included special treasures such as musk deer, civet liquid, colored pearls, Chinese aloe wood, magnificent Chinese dishes, clothes, carpets, wonderful bed linen, valuable aloes and other such things. An order was issued to the victorious soldiers that they should be received and to the emirs as well. This happened on the 18th day of the month Safar (7) of the year 826 [31. January 1423] ... And the Qadi Gamal ad-Din Muhammad b. Abi Bakr b. Ishaq and the eunuch Gamal ad-Din, the envoy of the ruler of China came to the protected Ta’izz (13) in the month of Rab’ al-awwal (14) of the year 826 [February 1423]
P145 (f60b)
The Nahuda (15) of the junks arrived in Lahig (16), he was the servant of the ruler of China, with gifts for his majesty, the Sultan Nasrallah - he be exalted. And as his companions came the exalted Lord Wazir Shihab ad-Din Ahmad b. Ibrahim al-Muhalibi and Sheikh Gamal ad-Din Muhammad abu Gayan on Thursday, the 25th of the month Gumada al-Ahir (17) of the year 835 [8. March 1432] (this refers to the 7th expedition of Cheng He)
(1) Jumada: The first Jumada is the fifth month in the Islamic calendar.
(2) Dahlak Island: island off the Eritrean coast.
(3) Shawaru: Shawwal is the tenth month of the lunar based Islamic calendar.
(4) Rajab: is the seventh month of the Islamic calendar.
(5) Sawakin; Suakin: or Sawakin is a port city in northeastern Sudan, on the west coast of the Red Sea. It was formerly the region's chief port.
(6) Sultan al-Malik al-Nasir: Sultan al-Malik an-Nasir Farag: Al-Malik al-Nasir Zayn al-Din Abu l-Saʿadat Faraj (1389–1412), was the twenty-sixth Mamluk sultan of Egypt.
(7) Safar: is the second month in the Islamic Calendar.
(8) Dragon-ships: Here is meaned the Chinese treasure fleet of admiral Zheng He.
(9) Higga: Dhu al-Hijjah also spelled Zu al-Hijjah, is the twelfth and final month in the Islamic calendar.
(10) Dar al-Gund: Palace.
(11) Mitqal: about 5gr of gold
(12) Bab as-Sarif: literally the gate of the noble.
(13) 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.
(14) Rab’ al-awwal: Rabiʽ al-Awwal is the third month in the Islamic calendar.
(15) Nahuda; Nakhuda; nakoda: Ship owner
(16) Lahig: Town to the north of Aden.
(17) Gumada al-Ahir: Jumada al-Akhir is the sixth month in the Islamic Calendar.
(18) 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); Joseph ibn Abraham (1137); Yakut al Hamawi (1220); Al-Saghani (1252); Nur al-ma'arif (1295); al-Watwat (1318); Friar Jordanus; (1329); Ibn Battuta and the African Diaspora (1331); Cowar el-aqalim (1347); From the Court of Al-Zahir (1439); Ibn al-Ahdal (1451); Ibn Madjid: As-Sufaliyya (1470); Ibn al-Dayba (1496).
