Melon vendor. Samarkand. By S.M. Prokudin-Gorsky, between 1905-1915/Library of Congress
Central Asia, the cradle of ancient traditions and a crossroads of diverse ideologies, cultures, and beliefs, has long captivated the imagination of travelers from both near and far. Through their detailed notes and vivid reflections, they have, for centuries, offered a unique, albeit not always impartial, glimpse into the rich mosaic of life in this region: bustling bazaars, nomadic customs, and enduring cultural heritage. In this series of articles, Qalam presents excerpts from their accounts and memories, spanning different eras and revealing the many facets of Central Asia.
Today, we present notes on the most delicious melon in the world, written by the renowned Maghrebi traveler Ibn Battutai
The question of where the sweetest fruits are grown has been discussed for millennia, and the famous fourteenth-century traveler Ibn Battuta has weighed in as well. He traversed the entirety of Eurasia, from Iberia1
Caravan of pilgrims to Mecca. Illustration from medieval arabic manuscript (13 th century)/Wikimedia commons
His travels took him across the Kipchak steppes and through the cities of Khwarezm2
The melons of Khwarizm have no equal in any country of the world, East or West, except it may be the melons of Bukhārā, and next to them are the melons of Iṣfahān. Their rind is green, and the flesh is red, of extreme sweetness and firm texture. A remarkable thing is that they are cut into strips, dried in the sun, and packed in reed baskets, as is done in our country with dried figs and Malaga figs. They are exported from Khwārizm to the remotest parts of India and China, and of all the dried fruits there are none which excel them in sweetness. During my stay at Dihlīi