مسالك الابصار في ممالك الامصار 2.100

2.100

قال: ومنار الشرع عنده قائم، وسوق أهل العلم لديه رائج، يشار إليهم بالتوقير والإجلال، وهم في غاية المحافظة على ما ينقام به ناموسهم من اصطلاح الظاهر والباطن والمداومة على قراءة العلم (المخطوط ص 28) ، وإقرائه، والتحري في كل أمورهم، والاقتصاد في جميع أحوالهم، وهذا السلطان لا يتأنى عن الاجتهاد في الجهاد برا وبحرا، لا يثنى عنه عنانه ولا سنانه، ولا يزال هذا دأبه، نصب عينه، ودبر أذنه، وقد بلغ مبلغا عظيما في إعلاء كلمة الإيمان، ونشر الإسلام في تلك

The Sultan never ceases to show the greatest zeal in making war upon the infidels, both by sea and land. ***** Every day thousands of slaves are sold at a very low price, so great is the number of prisoners. According to the unanimous statements of the travellers I have cited, the value, at Dehli, of a young slave girl, for domestic service, does not exceed eight tankas. Those who are deemed fit to fill the parts of domestic and concubine sell for about fifteen tankas. In other cities the prices are still lower. Abu-s Safa 'Umar bin Is'hak Shabali assured me that he bought a young slave in the flower of his youth for four dirhams. The rest may be understood from this. But still, in spite of the low price of slaves, 20,000 tankas, and even more, are paid for young Indian girls. I inquired the reason, and was told that these young girls are remarkable for their beauty, and the grace of their manners. According to what I heard from Shabali, the smallest quantity of wine is not to be found either in shops or in private houses : so great is the Sultan's aversion to it and so severe the punishments with which he visits its votaries. Besides, the inhabitants of India have little taste for wine and intoxicating drinks, but content themselves with betel, an agreeable drug, the use of which is permitted without the slightest objection.