‘The Oriental geography of Ebn Haukal, an Arabian traveller of the tenth century’ [‎245] (298/388)

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( 245 )
Of the other places on the river Jihoon, we shall place
Bokhara in Maweralnahr first: at all times it has been the seat
of government. Bokhara is called BounJieket: it is
situated on a plain; the houses are of wood, and it abounds in
villas, and gardens, and orchards; and the villages are as close
one to another as the groves and gardens, extending for near twelve
farsang bj twelve farsang : all about this space is a wall, and
within it the people dwell winter and summer; and there is not
to be seen one spot uncultivated, or in decay. Outside this there
is another wall, with a small town and a castle, in which the Sa-
manian* family (^UJUU j JT), who were governors of Kho-
rasan, resided. This kohendez, or castle, has ramparts, a mosque,
and bazar.
ons, and abound-
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In all Maweralnahr or Khorasan, there is not any place more
populous and flourishing than Bokhara. The river of Soghd
(O o L m runs through the midst of it, and passes on to the
mills and meadows, and to the borders of OJjClj Beikend ; and
much of it falls into a pond^ or pool near Beikend, at a place
called (j^-^ Sam Kous.
Bokhara has seven gates : one is called the Deri
Sharestan ; the second, Deri Derou; the third >
* For some account of this dynasty, and of Nasser Ahmed, mentioned in page 235,
see the Appendix.