South India and her Muhammadan Invaders c15.s7: How We Were Despoiled by the Hindus
South India and her Muhammadan Invaders c15.s7
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How We Were Despoiled by the Hindus
c15.s7.1
When we reached the little island situated between Hinaour (Honawar) and Facannaour, infidels attacked us with ten men-of-war, and after a lively engagement defeated us. They took verything I possessed—the store I held in reserve for a rainy day—pearls, precious stones given me by the king of Ceylon, clothes and provisions given me by wealthy men and holy persons. They left me no garment but a pair of drawers. They also seized all that belonged to every passenger and sailor, and made us go ashore. I returned to Calicut and entered one of the mosques. A lawyer sent me a dress, the Kadhi (Kazi) a turban, and a certain merchant another dress. Here I had news of the marriage of the vizir Abd Allah (Abdulla) with the Sultana Khadidjah, after the death of the vizir Djemal-eddin (Jamalu-d-din), and I also heard that the woman I left behind had given birth to a boy. I thought of going to the Maldive islands, but I remembered the enmity which had existed between me and the vizir Abd Allah. In consequence, I opened the Koran and these words came before my eyes ‘Angels will descend and say to them “fear not and be not sad.”’ I implored the blessings of God, and set sail. After ten days I arrived at the Maldives and landed on the isle of Cannalous. The Governor of this isle, Abd Al’aziz Almakdachaouy, welcomed me kindly, treated me and gave me a boat fully equipped. I afterwards arrived at Hololy, the island where the Sultana and her sisters go for a holiday and for bathing. The natives call these amusements ‘tetdjer’, and indulge in these games on their ships. The viziers and chiefs sent the Sultana presents and gifts whilst she remained on the isle. I met the sister of the Sultana there, her husband, the preacher Muhammad, son of the vizier Djemaleddin, and his mother who had been my wife. The preacher visited me and had food with me.
c15.s7.2
In the meanwhile, some of the inhabitants of the island went to the vizier Abd Allah and announced my arrival to him. He questioned me regarding my position and the persons who had accompanied me. I then informed him that I had come in order to fetch my son, aged about two years. The mother of the child went to the vizier to complain to him about my intention; but he said to her: ‘I will not prevent him from taking his son.’ He forced me to go to the island (of Mahal) and lodged me in a house opposite the tower of his palace in order to know all about me. He sent me a full robe, betel, and rose water according to their custom. I took him two pieces of silk in order to throw them before him the moment I saluted him. They were accepted and the vizier did not come to entertain me that day. They introduced my son to me and it struck me that his stay with the islanders had done him much good. I then sent him back again to them and remained five days in the island. It seemed to me I ought to hasten my departure and I asked leave to do so. The vizier having called me, I went to him. They brought me the two pieces of stuff they had taken from me, and I threw them down while saluting the vizier as is the custom. He made me sit beside him and put me questions regarding myself. I ate in his company and washed my hands in the same basin with him—this is what he does with nobody. Afterwards betel was brought and I returned. The vizier sent me cotton drawers and hundreds of thousands of cowries, and behaved perfectly.
c15.s7.3
In the meanwhile I departed. We were forty-three days on sea after which we reached Bengal, a large country producing an abundance of rice. I have not seen any place in the world where goods are cheaper than here; but it is a foggy country and people coming there from Khorasan call it ‘douzakhas pouri ni met’ which means, in Arabic, ‘a hell full of good things.’