مسالك الابصار في ممالك الامصار 2.118

2.118

قال لي الشبلي: حتى أنه لا يوجد بدهلى خمرا بالجملة الكافية، لا ظاهرا ولا مضمرا، لتشديد هذا الرجل فيه، وإنكاره على من يعانيه، قال: مع أن أهل الهند لا رغبة لهم في الخمر ولا في المسكرات استغناء بالتنبول [2] ، وهو حلال طيب لاشية فيه مع ما فيه من أشياء لا يوجد في الخمر بعضها، وهو أنه يطيب النكهة، ويصرف الأطعمة، ويبسط الأنفس بسطا عظيما، ويورثها سرورا زائدا، مع ثبوت العقل، وتصفية الذهن، ولذاذة الطعم، فأما أجزاؤه فهو ورق التنبول والقوقل ونون [3] يعمل خاصة.

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.