The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c20.451

v3.c20.451

Muhammad took advantage of Ibn Batūtah's desire to leave India and intention of continuing his travels to appoint him his envoy to China. During the expedition into the Himālaya a temple or shrine to which Chinese pilgrims resorted had been destroyed, and the emperor of China had sent a mission seeking leave to rebuild it. Muhammad was prepared to grant this permission on condition that the worshippers paid *jizya*, the poll-tax levied from idolators, and Ibn Batūtah, with a hundred followers, was deputed to accompany the Chinese mission on its return and to deliver this decision. He was accompanied to the port of embarkation by an escort of 1000 horse, without which it would have been unsafe to travel through Muhammad's dominions, and his account of his journey discloses the deplorable condition of the country. The Gangetic Doāb was seething with revolt. The town of Jalālī, near Koil (‘Alīgarh) was besieged by 4000 Hindu rebels, and seventy-eight of the mission’s escort were killed on the way thither. Ibn Batūtah was himself taken prisoner by a band of Hindus, and escaped with great difficulty, after suffering many hardships. It was no unusual thing for Muslim governors to be besieged in their cities by bands of Hindu rebels, and they were sometimes obliged to appeal to Delhi for assistance. Ahmad Khān, governor of Gwalior, offered to entertain Ibn Batūtah with the spectacle of the execution of some Hindus, but the Moor had had his fill of horrors at Delhi, and begged to be excused.