Growth of Muslim Population in Medieval India, A.D. 1000–1800 c10.47

c10.47

There is therefore no wonder if Ibn Battuta was impressed by India's towns and cities. However, he had not failed to notice those agencies of affliction which adversely affected the population of the country. Because of the shifting of the capital, he noted that Delhi, "the greatest city in the world had the fewest inhabitants."⁴⁷ In Sivistan he saw large number of skins of people flayed alive. He witnessed famines.⁴⁸ He came across deserted villages.⁴⁹ He witnessed the cruel executions by the king,⁵⁰ and saw Indian slaves being taken out of the country.⁵¹ Why the mountains on the north-west are called 'Hindu Kush' (Hindu killer) is because thousands and thousands of Indian captives perished on them while being carried away out of the country. If Ibn Battuta does not specifically mention any demographic set-back, his narrative nevertheless contains indirect reference to it.