NASIR-I KHUSRAW

It has no equal in any other country, and one finds there rare and precious objects from all parts of the world. I saw objects made of tortoise shell, such as caskets, combs, knife handles, etc. I also discovered rock crystal of great beauty, artistically worked by artisans of surpassing taste. It has been brought from the Maghrib, but some was said to have recently arrived from the Sea of Qulzum [Red Sea] that was even more lovely and transparent than the Maghribi crystal. I saw elephant tusks from Zanzibar. There was also the hide of an ox from Abyssinia that resembles leopard skin and is used to make slippers. From this same country there also came a very large domestic bird…I saw copper vases from Damascus that can hold thirty minas of water each…

Looking at the town of Misr from a distance, one has the impression of a mountain. There are houses fourteen stories high, while others are limited to seven.

Looking at the town of Misr from a distance, one has the impression of a mountain. There are houses fourteen stories high, while others are limited to seven.

It has no equal in any other country, and one finds there rare and precious objects from all parts of the world. I saw objects made of tortoise shell, such as caskets, combs, knife handles, etc. I also discovered rock crystal of great beauty, artistically worked by artisans of surpassing taste. It has been brought from the Maghrib, but some was said to have recently arrived from the Sea of Qulzum [Red Sea] that was even more lovely and transparent than the Maghribi crystal. I saw elephant tusks from Zanzibar. There was also the hide of an ox from Abyssinia that resembles leopard skin and is used to make slippers. From this same country there also came a very large domestic bird…I saw copper vases from Damascus that can hold thirty minas of water each…