IBN HAUKAL  , strictly IBN HAUQAL, a loth century Arabian geographer . Nothing is known of his life . His work on geography, written in 977, is only a revision and extension of the Masdlik ul-Mamalik of al-Istakhri, who wrote in 951 . This itself was a revised edition of the Kitdb ul-Ashkdl or Suwar ul-Agalim of Abu Zaid ul-Balkhi, who wrote about 921 . Ibn Haukal's work was published by M . J. de Goeje (Leiden, 1893) . An anonymous epitome of the book was written in 1233 . See M . J. de Goeje, " Die Istahri-Balhi Frage," in the Zei'schrift der deutschen Morgenlandischen Gesellschaft, 'ow . 42 sqq .