Facsimile · p. 18
Thirteen stages from there to the city of Tajo, which is the base of the merchants, who are Magus and do not believe in anything. Their land is connected to the land of Nubia. From their land comes Semna, and this city of Semna is a small city. Some travelers to the land of Kunnar narrated that the ruler of Kunnar went to Semna, and he was a prince from the King of Nubia. He conquered it, destroyed it, and their unity is scattered across the horizons. It is now in ruins. From the city of Tajo to it is nine stages. From the city of Tajo to the city of Nawabiya is eighteen stages. Nubia is attributed to it, and they are known by it. It is a small city, and its people are prosperous. Their clothing is tanned hides and wool robes. From there to the Nile is four days. Most of them drink from wells. Their staple grains are millet and barley. Dates and milk are brought to them. They have a leavened bread. Among their women are those with superior beauty. Some of them are circumcised. They have customs that are not at all like the customs of the Sudan. In all the land of Nubia, their women possess beauty and perfection of features. Their eyes are large, their mouths are small, their smiles are bright, and their hair is straight. There is no one in all the land of Sudan, neither among the Makareza, nor among the Ghanbiya, nor among the Kanbiya, nor among the Bija, nor among the Abyssinians and the Nerej, whose women's hair is straight and flowing, except for those among them who are from the women of Nubia. Nor are there any better for intercourse than them. The trade in them can reach a price of three hundred dinars, or a little less. Because of these qualities they possess, the kings of Egypt desire them and compete for them, trusting in their fidelity and taking them as mothers of their children for the pleasure of their company and the excellence of their beauty. Some narrators mentioned that in Al-Andalus there was a slave girl from these aforementioned slave girls, who was with the vizier Abu Al-Hasan Al-Mu'taz bi Al-Musahfi. His eyes had never seen anyone more perfect in fragrance, more beautiful in cheeks, or more graceful in gait.