تحفة النظار في غرايب الامصار وعجايب الاسفار 13.21.3-6

13.21.3

ولنعد لما قصدناه فنقول: ولما انصرفنا عن دار السلطان خرج الوزير ونحن معه إلى باب الصرف وهم يسمونه باب الحرم، وهنالك سكنى المخدومة جهان، فلما وصلنا بابها نزلنا عن الدواب وكل واحد منا قد أتى بهدية على قدر حاله، ودخل معنا قاضي قضاة المماليك كمال الدين بن البرهان، فخدم الوزير والقاضي عند بابها، وخدمنا كخدمتهم، وكتب كاتب بابها هدايانا، ثم خرج من الفتيان جماعة وتقدم كبارهم إلى الوزير فكلموه سرا ثم

Let us return to our purpose and say: when we left the Sultan's palace, the vizier went out, and we with him, to the Bāb al-Ṣarf, which they call the Bāb al-Ḥaram, where al-Makhdūma Jahān resides. When we reached her gate we dismounted, each of us having brought a gift according to his means. The chief qāḍī of the mamlūks, Kamāl al-Dīn b. al-Burhān, entered with us. The vizier and the qāḍī made obeisance at her gate, and we made obeisance as they did. The secretary of her gate wrote down our gifts. Then a group of the eunuchs came out, and their senior ones went up to the vizier and spoke with him privately; then

Let us now return to the description of our arrival at Dehli. When we arrived at this place, the Vizier having previously met us, we came to the door of the Sultan’s haram, to the place in which his mother, El Makhduma Jahan resides, the Vizier, as also the Kazi of the place, being still with us. These paid their respects at the entrance, and we all followed their example. We also, each of us, sent his present to her, which was proportionate to his circumstances. The Queen’s secretaries then registered these presents, and informed her of them. The presents were accepted, and we were ordered to be seated. Her viands were then brought in; we received the greatest respect and attention in their odd way. After this, dresses of honour were put upon us, and we were ordered to withdraw to such places as had been prepared for each of us. We made our obeisance and retired accordingly. This service is presented, by one’s bowing the head, placing one of the hands on the earth, and then retiring.

13.21.4

عادوا إلى القصر ثم رجعوا إلى الوزير ثم عادوا إلى القصر ونحن وقوف ثم أمرنا بالجلوس في سقيف هنالك، ثم أتوا بالطعام واتو بقلال من الذهب يسمونها السين، بضم السين والياء آخر الحروف، وهي مثل القدور، ولها مرافع من الذهب تجلس عليها، يسمونها السبك، بضم السين وبضم الباء الموحدة، وأتوا بأقداح وطسوت وأباريق كلها ذهب، وجعلوا الطعام سماطين، وعلى كل سماط صفان، ويكون في رأس الصف كبير القوم الواردين.

they went back to the palace, then returned to the vizier, then went back to the palace again, while we stood waiting. Then we were ordered to sit in a portico there. Then they brought the food, and they brought golden vessels which they call sīn (with u after the s and the letter y), which are like cooking-pots, with golden stands on which they rest, which they call subuk (with u after the s and u after the b). They brought cups, basins and ewers, all of gold. They laid out the food in two banquets, with two rows at each banquet, and at the head of each row sits the most senior of the arriving guests.

13.21.5

ولما تقدمنا للطعام خدم الحجاب والنقباء، وخدمنا لخدمتهم، ثم أتوا بالشربة فشربنا، وقال الحجاب: بسم الله، ثم أكلنا واتوا بالفقاع ثم بالتنبول، ثم قال الحجاب: بسم الله، فخدمنا جميعا، ثم دعينا إلى موضع هنالك فخلع علينا خلع الحرير المذهبة، ثم أتوا بنا إلى باب القصر فخدمنا عنده، وقال الحجاب: بسم الله، ووقف الوزير ووقفنا معه، ثم أخرج من داخل القصر تخت ثياب غير مخيطة من حرير وكتان وقطن، فأعطى كل واحد منا نصيبه منها، ثم أتوا بطيفور ذهب فيه الفاكهة اليابسة، وبطيفور مثله فيه الجلاب وطيفور ثالث فيه التنبول.

When we came forward to the food, the chamberlains and the heralds made obeisance, and we made obeisance as they did. Then they brought sherbet and we drank, and the chamberlains said, "In the name of God." Then we ate, and they brought fuqqāʿ (barley beer) and then betel. Then the chamberlains said, "In the name of God," and we all made obeisance. Then we were called to a place there and were given robes of honour of gold-embroidered silk. Then they brought us to the gate of the palace and we made obeisance there, and the chamberlains said, "In the name of God." The vizier stood and we stood with him. Then a chest of unsewn cloth of silk, linen and cotton was brought out from inside the palace, and each of us was given his share of it. Then they brought a golden platter with dried fruit, a similar platter with julep, and a third platter with betel.

13.21.6

ومن عادتهم ان الذي يخرج له ذلك يأخذ الطيفور بيده ويجعله على كاهله ثم يخدم بيده الأخرى إلى الأرض، فأخذ الوزير الطيفور بيده قصد أن يعلمني كيف أفعل إيناسا منه وتواضعا ومبرة، جزاه الله خيرا، ففعلت كفعله، ثم انصرفنا إلى الدار المعدة لنزولنا بمدينة دهلي، وبمقربة من دروازة بالم منها ، وبعثت لنا الضيافة.

It is their custom that the one for whom this is brought out takes the platter in his hand and places it on his shoulder, then makes obeisance to the ground with his other hand. The vizier took the platter in his hand, intending to show me how to do it, out of friendliness, humility and kindness — may God reward him well — and I did as he did. Then we went off to the house prepared for our lodging in the city of Dihlī, near its Pālam gate (darwāza), and the hospitality allowance was sent to us.