Pramāṇa · Search · About · API

تحفة النظار في غرايب الامصار وعجايب الاسفار 16.1

The Travels of Ibn Batūta 16.1

Language
English

16.1.1

Ibn Batuta arrives at the Queen Mothers Palace — His Daughters death and funeral — The Emperors return to Dehli — Appoints Ibn Batuta Judge of Dehli — Character of the Emperor — Quarrels with the Inhabitants of Dehli, and commands them to quit the city for Daulatabad — Emir of Fargana put to death — The Kazi Jalal Oddin and others put to death — Cruelties of the Emperor — Arabic panegyric composed by our traveller for him — In danger of losing his life — Gives up his office, and joins the Religious.

16.1.2

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.

16.1.3

When I had got to the house prepared for me, I found it furnished with every carpet, vessel, couch, and fuel, one could desire. The victuals which they brought us consisted of flour, rice, and flesh, all of which was brought from the mother of the Emperor. Every morning we paid our respects to the Vizier, who on one occasion gave me two thousand dinars, and said: This is to enable you to get your clothes washed. He also gave me a large robe of honour; and to my attendants, who amounted to about forty, he gave two thousand dinars. After this, the Emperor’s allowance was brought to us, which amounted to the weight of one thousand Dehli-Ritls of flour, where every Ritl is equal to five and twenty Ritls of Egypt. We also had one thousand Ritls in the Tijarat Namah : (<ul5 ^ fcXwsh cLwaLi.Cj <L.>- L ** ^ * . &^ ^ ■■ ^ t A4)\j <Li Lc \»i^ itly . LU^jli ijoyo^ u\-i)lj Know that 8 rice grains make 1 red grain, which in the Hindee is called a Ratti : 8 of these grains make 1 Masha ; 3| Mashas, 1 Dram ; 4^ Mashas, 1 Mathkal ; 4 barley corns, 1 Dang ; 12 Mashas a Tola ; 16 Mashas, 1 Dam ; 1 Ritl is equal to half a Ser ; 1 Maund to 1 Ser. See also Shakespear’s Hindustani Dictionary under ^ <Lite , , j-—j , and : and Hamilton’s India. The following are the names and values of measures used in Hindustan, in measuring grain and other heavy substances, as given in the Tijarat Namah.

16.1.4

' ..^*^***^ ^ iiXwjh I ^ _^*****^» 1 ^ J ^1,** -V -*j C ^ i 0 i** ^Ix 4)1^ Lli^V) (X^.mo ^jS o\^ \ iXji) jii ^tCwo tijj J <S^ij obl iXu>j^ <tC.o ^JuJLj tibdjb t)bl jii t5^c..gJS 4ibi..,J ^ tXyjb ^ ’^^***^ cLftilipSTT^ 1**^ C *' ^*^3 t,** ..*.^1 <ijbl*^J^ 4gilliSr^ I,"-.- ■ .'t . i. e. a sixteenth of a ser makes one ch^atank ; two ch^hatanks, half a pao ; three ch/hatanks, a pao, minus one-fourth ; four ch^hatanks, one pao : two paos will be half an athar : three paos will be an athar, minus one-fourth : four paos will be one ser : five athars, one paseri ; eight paseri, one maund, which will contain forty ser. But the ser every where varies, so that in Shah Jahan Abad the ser will be equal to eighty current rupees ; in Akbar Abad, eighty sicca rupees ; in Farakh Abad, it will equal eighty-two sicca rupees in heavy articles ; but in grain, to two and thirty takkas .) In Luknow the ser is equal to ninety-six rupees ; in Mirzapur, to ninety-seven sicca rupees ; in Benares it is equal to seventy-two rupees. In Aazim Abad the ser equals seventy-six sicca rupees ; in Murshed Abad it equals eighty-one rupees, minus one-fourth ; in Dakka eighty-one rupees, minus one-fourth ; and in Calcutta, the ser equals eighty-two sicca rupees. In the South, the ser is, for the most part, equal to eighty sicca rupees. But in country places it is taken as a measure, not as a weight. In the North also it varies in weight, and is also used as a measure.

16.1.5

In the country places of these parts (Farakh Abad) also the weights vary, no one having been established. According to Mr. Shakespear, the Calcutta rupee was by an order of the English government in India, in 1793, fixed to the weight of 179| grains (troy) : but, whether our writer reckons by this standard or not, it is more than I can positively say: it is most likely that he does, as the work was written for a servant of the Company CL^\j j---' Mr. Robert Batiras? perhaps Patterson) in 1806. of flesh; and of fermented liquors, oil, oil-olive, and the betel-nut, many Ritls; and also many of the betel-leaf.

16.1.6

During this time, and in the absence of the Emperor, a daughter of mine happened to die, which the Vizier communicated to him. The Emperor’s distance from Dehli was that of ten stages; nevertheless, the Vizier had an answer from him on the morning of the day, on which the funeral was to take place. His orders were, that what was usually done on the death of any of the children of the nobility, should be done now. On the third day, therefore, the Vizier came with the judges and nobles, who spread a carpet and made the necessary preparations, consisting of incense, rose-water, readers of the koran, and panegyrists. When I proceeded with the funeral, I expected nothing of this; but upon seeing their company I was much gratified. The Vizier, on this occasion, occupied the station of the Emperor, defraying every expense, and distributing victuals to the poor, and others; and giving money to the readers, according to the order which he had received from the Emperor. After this, the Emperor’s mother sent for the mother of the child, and gave her dresses and ornaments, exceeding one thousand dinars in value. She also gave her a thousand dinars in money, and dismissed her on the second day. During the absence of the Emperor, the Vizier shewed me the greatest kindness, on the part of himself, as well as on that of his master. Soon after, the news of the Emperor’s approach was received, stating that he was within seven miles of Dehli, and ordering the Vizier to come and meet him.

16.1.7

He went out, accordingly, accompanied by those who had arrived for the purpose of being presented; each taking his present with him. In this manner we proceeded till we arrived at the gate of the palace in which he then was. At this place the secretaries took account of the several presents, and also brought them before the Emperor. The presents were then taken away, and the travellers were presented, each according to the order in which he had been arranged. When my turn came, I went in and presented my service in the usual manner, and was very graciously received, the Emperor taking my hand, and promising me every kindness. To each of the travellers he gave a dress of honour, embroidered with gold, which had been worn by himself, and one of these he also gave to me. After this, we met without the palace, and viands were handed about for some time. On this occasion the travellers ate, the Vizier, with the great Emirs, standing over them as servants. We then retired. After this, the Emperor sent to each of us one of the horses of his own stud, adorned and caparisoned with a saddle of silver. He then placed us in his front with the Vizier, and rode on till he arrived at his palace in Dehli. On the third day after our arrival, each of the travellers presented himself at the gate of the palace; when the Emperor sent to inquire, whether there were any among us who wished to take office, either as a writer, a judge, or a magistrate; saying, that he would give such appointments.

16.1.8

Each, of course, gave an answer suitable to his wishes. For my own part, I answered, I have no desire either for rule or writership; but the office both of judge and of magistrate, myself and my fathers have filled. These replies were carried to the Emperor, who commanded each person to be brought before him, and he then gave him such appointment as would suit him; bestowing on him, at the same time, a dress of honour, and a horse furnished with an ornamented saddle. He also gave him money, appointing likewise the amount of his salary, which was to be drawn from the treasury. He also appointed a portion of the produce of the villages, which each was to receive annually, according to his rank. When I was called, I went in and did homage. The Vizier said: The Lord of the world appoints you to the office of judge in Dehli. He also gives you a dress of honour with a saddled horse, as also twelve thousand dinars for your present support. He has moreover appointed you a yearly salary of twelve thousand dinars, and a portion of lands in the villages, which will produce annually an equal sum. I then did homage according to their custom, and withdrew.

Linked texts (1)