religion
Out of context: Reply #921
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They say no one has been able to ascertain the source of the Nile, and I heard that the Sultan of Egypt sent some people who went along the Nile banks for a year investigating but were unable to discover the source. It is said however that it comes from a mountain in the south called Jabal al-Qamar (mountain of the moon)
....Following the coastline from Jar, you will come to the Yemen and the coast of Aden; continuing in that direction, you will eventually wind up in India and China. Continuing southwards from Aden and slightly westward, you will come to Zanzibar and Ethiopia, which will be described presently. Going south from Egypt through Nubia, you come to the province of the Masmudis, which is a land of broad pasturelands, many animals, and heavy set, strong-limbed, squat, black skinned men, there are many soldiers of this sort in Egypt....
One group are called Kitamis. They came from Qayrawan in the service of al Mu'izz li-Din Allah. They are said to number 20,000 horsemen. Another group are called Batilis, said to be men from North Africa who came to Egypt before the arrival of al-Mu'izz. They are said to number 15,000 horsemen. Another group is called Masmudis. They are blacks from the land of the Masmudis and are said to number 20,000 men. Another group are called the Easterners, consisting of Turks and Persians. They are so-called because they are not of Arab origin. Though most of them were born in Egypt, their name derives from their origin. They are said to number 10,000 powerfully built men. Another group are called the slaves by purchase. They are slaves bought for money and are said to number 30,000 men. Another group are called Bedouin. They are from Hijaz and are all armed with spears. They are said to number 50,000 horsemen. Another group are called Ustads. These are servants black and white bought for service. They number 30,000 horsemen. Another group are called palace men. They are foot soldiers coming from all countries. They have their own separate commander who looks after them. Each race fights with the weapons of its own country. They number 10,000 men. Another group are called Zanj. They all fight with saber and are said to number 30,000 men. All these troops are maintained by the Sultan, and each man is assigned fixed monthly pay, according to his rank.....
Note: this and some remarks from Ibn Battuta, give evidence of East-Africans as man of arms, worldwide, not as slaves, but as highly paid volunteers.
- and who here gives a fuck about the source of the Nile?pango
- lol...when people look back, you're going to be considered a fucking stalker...you have NO life********
- every post, you are following me...lol...you love me that much...lol********
- You are misinterpreting it like many other thing. I despise you.pango