When Ibn Jubayr visited Kufa, he found it "big and old-fashioned, most of it has been destroyed" because of time antiquating and because of the constant attacks of Khafaja tribe on it. Then, he went to Hillah and described it as "well-built, high population density, palm gardens interconnected inside and outside." When he arrived Baghdad, he found that "most if its magnificence has gone, and just its name's reputation remains."