Muhammad ibn Da'ud Shadiyabadi: Miftah al-Fuzala (15th century) A glossary of rare words and proper names occurring in Persian poetry found in Mandu (Shadiabad), India.
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Taken from : www.imagesonline.bl.uk
He describes the Zarafar (a giraffe) and the 'Kurkadan' (Rhinoceros) among many others, and gives drawings
The Zarafar as found in the manuscript.
(I redrew it by hand) The Kurkadan (Rhinoceros) is to much damaged to do this
It comes as no surprise that the book was written in Mandu. In the second half of the 15th century Mandu was a big trading partner for east Africa, the trade had off course started much earlier.
I searched the manuscripts made or copied in the city during that period for any, even faint traces of East Africa. This is one of the two faint traces I found.
Other proofs of the Africa connection of Mandu are :
-During the reign of Mahamud Khilaji, 1436-1469 AD the Adansonia Digitata (baobab) a tree of the
East Coast of Africa was introduced at Mandu and is still doing well there, they can grow several
thousand year old.
-In the mid-15th century emissaries from the Khalifa of Egypt and Timur's grandson arrived in the court
of Mahmud Khilji.
-Mandu, whose sultan, Shah Khalji (Ghiyas al-Din) (1469-1500) reportedly had "five hundred
Abyssinian slave girls dressed in male attire". Known as the Habiwash band, they were armed with
swords and shields. (the source of this information is however outside the time-span we are
investigating)
The website of the British Library mentioned above also allows us a rare glimpse into the every day live at Mandu. Also the life of the black people living there. Several of the miniatures show black people. Strange fact to notice is that none are employed as domestic servants, all are lower range professionals.
-'Karra' or 'garra' (a cupper or blood-letter).
-Crew member in :'Nakhuda' (captain on a ship). 'Allah' on ship's flag.
-Field worker :'Chubakin' or 'chublin' (a wooden instrument for separating cotton from the pod).
-Hunters in 'Para' (game brought up in a circle Mongol style as in a jarga).
-Call to Prayer 'Naqus'(a long wooden tube used in the time of the fire-worshippers to call Christians to prayer)
-Musicians playing a tune (nava).