Marco Polo in Central Asia: 24: The people of Badascian

Badascian is a large province whose people adore Mohammed.  They have a language of their own. It is governed by kings descended from Alexander and the daughter of Darius of Persia, and all the kings are called Saracen Zulcarnem. [1] In this country occur precious stones called balasiu, [2] which are very beautiful and valuable.  They are found in the rocks of a mountain called Lighinan,[3] and are cut out of very deep caverns, as is done by those who work in silver mines.  Know that king works out them for himself, and no other man may cut out balasiu on that mountain for fear of death.  His majesty sends them as presents to other princes and great lords, either as homage, or in token of friendship, and he likewise sells them for gold and silver.  This prohibition is enforced to prevent its exhaustion.  You must likewise know, that in other mountains of the same country are found the stones of which ultramarine is made, and it is the finest and best in the world.  There are also lofty hills containing veins yielding silver in abundance.  The country is extremely cold, but it breeds very good horses, which run with great speed over these wild tracts without being shod with iron.  There are falcons called sacri, which fly well and swiftly, also those called lanier, and abundant beasts and birds for hunting.  Wheat and barley are in plenty.  There are no olives, and so no olive oil.  Oil is obtained from sesamum nuts. This kingdom has many narrow passes, and a strong post to secure it against the enemies, and the cities and castles are strongly built on high mountains. The people are good archers and hunters, and mostly clad in the skin of beasts, on account of scarcity of cloth.  The great ladies, however, wear sixty to hundred yards of bombasine (a fabric originally made of silk or silk and wool) wrapped round their body in order that they may appear very fat, because took delight in such a shape.

On the summits of mountains the air is so pure and healthy, that inhabitants of towns and valleys, when attacked by fever or other inflammatory complaints go up here and in three or four days recover their health.

Notes:-

1. Descendants of Alexander: A narrative by many of the mountain chiefs to gain legitimacy.  Alexander the great did conquer the region of Bactria (which include modern day Badakshan) in the 4th century BCE. After his death his generals including Seleucus I Nicator went on to found the Greco Bactrian kingdom which lasted for several centuries.  There must have been marriages between the members of Greco Bactrian kingdom and the local Persian nobility and the legend is based on this.
Zulcarnem or Dul-Quarnayn is equal to Alexander in his account.
2. A kind of Ruby stone, only found in that area.
3. Probably it may refer to Hindu Kush mountains.
End of the Section 


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