It consisted of the Parthian vassal kingdom of Characene and reached north along the Shatt al-Arab river and then the lower Tigris to Madhar and possibly further.

The province was very fertile, the best place for barley according to Strabo, and contained many date palms.

According to a fragmentary Manichean account found in Turfan, Mihr-šāh, a brother of the Sasnian king Shapur I (r. 240–270), ruled as the vassal-king of Meshan.

According to this Manichean account, Mihr-šāh was visited and converted by Mani himself – some scholars, however, doubt the accuracy of this source.

Other Indian[clarification needed] groups such as the Malays may also have been deported to Meshan, either as captives or recruited sailors.