تحفة النظار في غرايب الامصار وعجايب الاسفار 13.108.5

13.108.5

ومر بعض أهل الجزيرة إلى الوزير عبد الله فأعلموه بقدومي، فسأل عن حالي وعمن قدم معي، وأخبر أني جئت برسم حمل ولدي، وكانت سنه نحو عامين وأتته أمه تشكو من ذلك، فقال لها: أنا لا أمنعه من حمل ولده، وأذن لي في دخول الجزيرة، وأنزلني بدار تقابل برج قصره ليتطلع على حالي، وبعث إلي بكسوة كاملة وبالتنبول وماء الورد على عادتهم، وجئت بثوبي حرير للرمى عند السلام فأخذوهما، ولم يخرج الوزير إلي ذلك اليوم، وأتي إلي بولدي فظهر لي أن تعجيل السفر أولى، فطلبت الإذن في ذلك فاستدعاني الوزير ودخلت عليه وأتوني بالثوبين الذين أخذوهما مني فرميتهما عند السلام على العادة، وأجلسني إلى جانبه، وسألني عن حالي، وأكلت معه الطعام وغسلت يدي معه في الطست، وذلك شيء لا يفعله مع أحد، وأتوا بالتنبول، وانصرفت، وبعث إلي بأثواب وبساتي من الودع، وأحسن في افعاله وأجمل.

Some of the islanders went to the vizier ʿAbd Allāh and informed him of my arrival. He asked about my circumstances and about who had come with me, and was told that I had come to take my son, who was about two years old. The boy's mother came to him complaining of this, and he said to her: "I will not prevent him from taking his son." He gave me permission to enter the island and lodged me in a house facing the tower of his palace so that he could keep watch on me. He sent me a complete suit of clothes, betel and rosewater, according to their custom. I had brought two silk garments to throw down on greeting, and they took them; the vizier did not come out to me that day. My son was brought to me, and it seemed to me best to hasten my departure, so I asked permission for that. The vizier summoned me and I went in to him; they brought me the two garments they had taken from me and I threw them down on greeting, as is the custom. He seated me beside him and asked about my circumstances; I ate food with him and washed my hands with him in the basin, something he does with no one. They brought betel and I took my leave. He sent me garments and bustūs of cowries, and acted generously and handsomely towards me.