South India and her Muhammadan Invaders c15.s3.1

c15.s3.1

When we approached the neighbourhood of his camp, he sent one of his chamberlains to meet us. The Sultan was seated in a wooden tower. . . . It is the custom throughout India, for nobody to enter the presence of the Sovereign bare-footed. Now, I had no boots, but an idolater gave me a pair, though there were a certain number of Mussalmans in this place. I was surprised that idolaters showed greater generosity than they (Mussalmans). I then presented myself before the Sultan who ordered me to sit down, sent for the kadhi (Kazi) and pilgrim Sadr Azzeman Beha-eddin (Sadru-l-Zaman Bahau-d-din) and lodged me in three tents pitched in the neighbourhood of his. The people of this country called these tents ‘Khiyam’ (plural of ‘Khaimah’). The Sultan sent me carpets as well as the viands used in the country, that is to say, rice and meat (curry). The custom in this country, as in our own, is to serve sour milk after the meal.