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Ferdowsi; Shahnama, (The Book of Kings) (1000) Persia
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This book which is the national epic of all Persian speaking people does not mention East Africa. Among the illustrations in the book however there is one (called Sulayman enthroned) where all people and animals of the world have gathered and which shows a giraffe. The different drawings come from different mss.
Out of his other works the following sayings got extracted:
Do not hope for any good from the ignoble, for the Zangi will not turn white by washing. (from his Satire on Mahmud of Gazne)
The world turned black like the face of the Zangi (became evening)
