Christian Topography: Comprehensive of the Whole World
[11.0] Account XI: A Record of İndikes Animals and Trees and of the Island of Tambäpämni.
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[11.20] But, in the direction of the notable seats of commerce, already mentioned, there are numerous others (of less importance), both coastal and inland, and a country of great extent. Higher up, that is, farther to the North in İndike, are the White Xuna. The one called (Mızra)ğul, who sent out to war, it is said, no fewer than two thousand elephants and a great force of cavalry. And he seized İndike, oppressing the people, forcing them to pay tribute. This king, at some point, would lay siege to an inland city of the İndikes, which was on every side protected by water. (After) sitting for a good few days, (while) his elephants, his horses, and his soldiers used up all the water, he then crossed over to the city over land and took it.
[11.21] These people love the emerald stone and wear it set in a crown. The Ethiopians, who trade for this stone with the Blemmyes in Ethiopia, take it to India and, with the price it fetches, they invest in wares of great value. All these matters I have described and explained partly from personal observation and partly from accurate inquiries which I made when in the vicinity of different places.
[11.22] The kings of various places in India keep elephants, such as the Kings of Orothä, Kälyaɳä, Sindhu, Sibor, and Mälä. They may each have six or five hundred, some more, some less. As for the King of Sihälädivä, he gives a good price for both the elephants and for the horses that he has. The elephants, he pays for by cubit measurement. The height is measured from the ground, and the price is determined at so many coins per cubit, fifty it may be, or a hundred, or even more. They bring horses to him from Persis, and he buys them, exempting their importers from paying customs. The kings of the continent tame their elephants, which are caught wild, and employ them in war.
[11.23] They often set elephants to fight with each other as a spectacle for the king. They keep the two combatants apart by means of a great cross beam of wood fastened to two upright beams that reach up to their chests. A number of men are stationed on either side to prevent the animals from meeting at close quarters, but at the same time to instigate them to fight one another. Then the beasts thrash each other with their trunks until one of them gives in. The İndikes elephant does not have large tusks, but in the event that it does, the İndikes saw them off so that their weight may not encumber them in action. The Ethiopians do not understand the art of taming elephants, but should the king wish to have one or two for show, they capture them when young and subject them to training. Now, the country has a multitude of them, and they have large tusks which arc exported by sea from Ethiopia into İndike, into Persis, into the Himyär country, and into Romäniä. These, I have derived from what I have heard.
[11.24] The river Phison separates all the countries of İndike (lying along its course) from the country of the Xuna. In scripture, the land of İndike is called "Xäviläh"...
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