It is situated in the second climate. Its length from Burhánpur to Jagat* is 302 kos; its breadth from Jálór to the post of Daman* 260 kos, and from Edar* to Kambháyat (Cambay) 70 kos. On the east lies Khándés; to the north Jálór and Edar; to the south, the port of Daman and Kambháyat, and on the west, Jagat which is on the seashore. Mountains rise towards the south. Is is watered by noble rivers. Besides the ocean, there are the Sábarmaṭṭi (Savarnamati), the Bátrak, the Mahendri, the Narbadah, the Tapti, the Saraswati, and two springs called Gangah and Jamnah. The climate is temperate and the sandy character of the soil prevents it from turning into mud in the rainy season. The staple crops are Jowári, and Bájrah,* which form the principal food of the people. The spring harvest is inconsiderable. Wheat and some food grains* are imported from Málwah and Ajmer, and rice from the Deccan. Assessment is chiefly by valuation of crops, survey being seldom resorted to. The prickly pear is planted round fields and about gardens and makes a goodly fence, for this reason the country is difficult to traverse. From the numerous groves of mango and other trees it may be said to resemble a garden. From Pattan* to Baródah which is a distance of a 100 kos, groves of mango yield ripe and sweet fruit. Some kinds are sweet even when unripe. Fine figs grow here and musk-melons are delicious in flavour both in summer and winter, and are abundant during two months in both seasons. The grapes are only moderate in quantity: flowers and fruit in great plenty. From the thick growth of forest sport is not satisfactory. Leopards* abound in the wilds.
The roofs of houses are usually of tiles and the walls of burnt brick and lime. Some prudently prepare the foundations of stone, and of considerable breadth, while the walls have hollow spaces between, to which they have secret access. The usual vehicles are two-wheeled drawn by two oxen. Painters, seal-engravers and other handicraftsmen are countless. They inlay mother-o'-pearl with great skill and make beautiful boxes and inkstands. Stuffs worked with gold thread and of the kinds Chírah, Fóṭah,* Jámahwár, Khárá, and velvets and brocades are here skilfully manufactured. Imitations of stuffs from Turkey, Europe, and Persia are also produced. They make likewise excellent swords and daggers of the kinds Jamdhar* and Khapwah, and bows and arrows. There is a brisk trade in jewelry and silver is imported from Turkey and Iráḳ.
At first Pattan* was the capital of the province, next Champánér and at the present day, Aḥmadábád. The latter is a noble city in a high state of prosperity, situated on the banks of the Sábarmaṭṭi. It lies in latitude 25°.* For the pleasantness of its climate and its display of the choicest productions of the whole globe it is almost unrivalled. It has two forts, outside of which are 360 quarters of a special kind which they call Porah,* in each of which all the requisites of a city are to be found. At the present time only 84 of these are flourishing. The city contains 1,000 stone mosques, each having two minarets and rare inscriptions. In the Rasúlábád Porah is the tomb of Sháh Aálam Bokhári.* Batwah* is a village 3 kos from Aḥmadábád where are the tombs of Ḳuṭb-i-Aálam father of Sháh Aâlam, and of other eminent personages. In the vicinity are fine gardens. Over the tomb is suspended a covering of about the measure of a cubit, partly of wood, partly of stone and a part also of iron, regarding which they relate wonderful stories. At a distance of three kos is the village of Sarkhech (Sarkhej) where repose Shaikh Aḥmad Khaṭṭú,* Sulṭán Aḥmad after whom Aḥmadábád is named, and many other princes. Indigo of good quality is here grown and exported to Turkey and other countries.
Twelve kos from Aḥmadábád is Maḥmúdábád a city founded by Sulṭan Maḥmúd in which are beautiful buildings extending to an area of 4 kos square. The whole is surrounded by a wall and at every half kos is a pleasure house and a preserve in which deer and other kinds of game are at large.
The chief of Edar is a Zamíndár named Naráin Dás, and of such austere life that he first feeds his cattle with corn and then picks up the grains from their dung and makes this his food, a sustenance held in much esteem by the Bráhmans. He is regarded as the head of the Ráthór tribe and has a following of 500 horse and 10,000 foot.
The ports of Ghogah* and Kambháyat (Cambay) are included in this Sarkár. The latter is a large city where merchants of divers kinds reside and wherein are fine buildings and much merchandise. Vessels sail from and trade to Ghogah. The cargoes* are put into small ships called Táwari which transport them to Kambháyat.
In Kari are fine oxen, a pair being worth 300 rupees, and according to their shapeliness, strength and speed fetching even a larger price.
Jhálwárah* was formerly a separate priucipality containing 1200 villages. Its length is 70 kos aud its breadth 40. It furnished 10,000 horse and the same number of infantry. Now it possesses but 2,000 horse and 3,000 foot. Its ruler was subject to the king of Gujarát. It formed four divisions, the inhabitants mostly of the Jhálah tribe of Rájpúts. At the present day it is accounted a Parganah of Aḥmadábád, and its villages and districts are summarized in the following table.
Great Jhálwárah contains Bírámgáoṇ* residence of the chief, Halód, Badhwán, Kóha, Darang Darah,* Bijáná, Pátri which has a salt-pit, Sahálá. Barodah, Jhinjhúwárá, Sanján,* Dhúlhar, Manḍal.
Parganahs of Machhúkhanṭá contain Morbi,* Rámpúr, Tankárá,* Khanjariá, Malía*, Kazór,* in the vicinity of which pearls are found, Dhansar, Amról.
Parganahs of Jámbúji contain Jámbú Límri, Siáni.
Parganahs of Jómbasi,* chief seat of the Parmár* tribe contain Mórbi, with 36 villages and Chótilá with 55* villages. Now Morbi with 7 districts is included in Sorath.
Pattan has two forts, one of stone and one of brick. It lies in long 117° 10', lat. 23° 30'.* It produces fine oxen that will travel 50 kos in half a day. Good cotton cloths are here woven and are taken to distant parts as gifts of value.
Sidhpúr* is a town on the Sarsuti and a great place of pilgrimage.
Baṛnagar is a large and ancient city and containing 3000 pagodas, near each of which is a tank; it is chiefly inhabited by Bráhmans.
Chámpánér is a finely situated fort on a crag of great height;* the approach to it for two kos and a half is extremely difficult. Gates have been posted at intervals. At one place a cutting about 60 yards long has been made across which planks are laid which can be removed when necessity arises. Fine fruits abound.
Súrat is a celebrated port. The river Tapti runs by it and at a distance of 7 kos thence, falls into the sea.
Ránér* on the opposite side of the Tapti is a port dependent on Súrat; it was formerly a large city. The ports of Khandéwi and Balsár also are a part of the Surat division. Numerous fruits abound especially the pine apple, and oils of all kinds and rare perfumes are obtainable. The followers of Zoroaster coming from Persia, settled here. They follow the teaching of the Zend and the Pázend, and erect funeral structures.* Thus through the wide tolerance of His Majesty every sect enjoys freedom. Through the negligence of the ministers of state and the commanders of the frontier provinces, many of these Sarkárs are in the possession of European nations, such as Daman, Sanján,* Tárápúr, Máhim and Basé (Bassein) that are both cities and ports.
Bharój (Broach) has a fine fort. The Narbadah flows past it in its course to the ocean. It is accounted a maritime town of first rate importance, and the ports of Káwi, Ghandhár, Bhábhút and Bhankórá* are its dependencies.
Near the town of Hánsót is a game preserve 8 kos in length by 4 in breadth, full of deer and other animals. The cover is rich and fresh with verdure, being situated on the banks of Narbadah and is perfectly level.
The Sarkar of Sórath* was an independent territory, having a force of 50,000 cavalry and 100,000 infantry, the ruling tribe being Ghelót. Its length from the port of Ghogah (Gogo) to that of Arámráe* is 125 kos; its breadth from Sardhár to the seaport of Diu, 72 kos. On the east it is bounded by Ahmadábád; on the north by the State of Kachh (Cutch); on the south and west by the (Indian) Ocean. Its climate is healthy, its fruits and flowers numerous and grapes and melons grow here. This territory is divided into 9 districts each inhabited by a different tribe, as follows:—