'The lands of the Eastern Caliphate Mesopotamia, Persia, and Central Asia from the Moslem conquest to the time of Timur' [‎147] (182/586)

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(or Samslin, the Greek Amysos) is described by Mustawfl as a
great harbour for ships, and already by the latter part of the 8th
(14th) century it was growing rich on the trade diverted to it from
the older port of Santib or Sinub (Sinope) 1 .
Niksar (or Nakisar, the Greek Neo-Csesarea) had been an
important place under the Saljilks, and is frequently mentioned
by Ibn Bibi; Mustawfl describes it as a medium-sized town, with
many gardens producing much fruit. Tukat (also spelt Dukat)
lies to the west of Niksar on the road to Amasiyah, and was one
of the great governments under the Saljuks; further west again
lies Zilah, mentioned by Ibn Bibi and later authorities. The city
of Sivas (Sebastia), on the Kizil Irmak (Halys), had been rebuilt
by Sultan 'Ala-ad-Din, who used hewn stone for all the new masonry.
Mustawfl reports that the place was famous for its woollen stuffs,
which were largely exported; it had a cold climate, but cotton
was grown here, as well as much grain. Ibn Batdtah speaks of
Sivas as the largest city in the province ruled by the Sultan of
Mesopotamia. Here were a Government House, fine streets and
excellent markets, and a great Madrasah or college.
Mustawfi gives an account of the high road which went west
from Sivas to Persia; two stages led to Zarah, a town of some
importance, and two more to Ak Shahr (White Town), a place
frequently mentioned in the Saljuk chronicle. North-west of
Ak Shahr lies Kara Hisar (the Black Fortress) which is often
referred to by Ibn Bibi, who calls it Kara Hisar Dawlah—'of
the State'—to distinguish this fortress, which is referred to also
by Mustawfi, from other places of like name. In the
Numa it is called Kara Hisar Shabin, from the alum (Shab)
mines that lie near it. From Ak Shahr the high road to Persia
went on in three stages to Arzanjan, and thence it was the like
distance to Arzan-ar-Rilm. From here the way went south in
three stages to Khanus (or Khunas as Ibn Bibi writes the name,
Khinis being the modern form), whence it was 10 leagues to
Malasjird (Manzikart), this being eight leagues distant from Arjish
on the lake of Van 2 .
1 Kaz. ii. 371. i. B. ii. 287, 289, 292. Ibn Bibi, 26, 308. Mst. 162, 163,
164, 202. A. Y. ii. 270, 416, 417. J. N. 599, 615, 620, 622, 623.
2 Ibn Bibi, 26, 292, 308. I. B. ii. 289. Mst. 163, 164, 199. J. N.
424, 622, 623.