An important early translation of a manuscript in the tradition of Ibn Hawqal. It was the first time a seminal work of tenth-century Arab geography was translated into English, and therefore presented British readers with their first opportunity to engage with the travelogues of Istakhri (Masalik al-Mamalik) and Ibn Hawqal (Surat al-Ard).
Sir William Ouseley (1767-1842) was an authority on Iran and the Persian language, having travelled there with the British Embassy in 1810 as Secretary to his brother Gore. He made several significant translations from Persian manuscripts, often making use of his extensive private collection. The present translation was made from a manuscript in his ownership, which was then compared and contrasted with another Persian copy of the same text at Eton College (Eton Pote 418, Eton College Library).
The manuscript at Eton is now believed to be closer to the text of Istakhri’s Masalik al-Mamalik, which Ibn Hawqal used as the basis for his geographical work, Surat al-Arad. It is understood that the two travellers met and Istakhri, the older man, encouraged Ibn Hawqal to make corrections and additions to his geography: “[Ibn Hawqal] did not misappropriate his elder contemporary’s book, however; he simply considered the compiling of the “Islamic atlas” a common aim, to which every future geographer would be obliged to make his contribution.” (Encyclopaedia Iranica).
Despite its somewhat opaque authorship, the source for Ouseley’s translation is very much of the Istakhri/Ibn Hawqal tradition, and provides a good account of their remarkable travels across the Islamic World, from the Maghreb to Uzbekistan. It contains fine descriptions of Egypt, Syria and Iraq (divided into ‘Jezireh’ and ‘Irak Arabi’), and extensive coverage of Iran. The latter abounds in information, with rivers, cities, fortresses and fire-temples described, along with advice on routes between principal conurbations. The account of Fars is particularly detailed, extending into climate, commodities, important families and “extraordinary edifices” (p.xxxiv).
Diba, p.154; Wilson, p.104.
