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A History of Agriculture in India v2.c58.s8: Gifts from Foreigners

A History of Agriculture in India v2.c58.s8

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Gifts from Foreigners

v2.c58.s8.1

Foreigners who came to the court of the Sultan for seeking employment always brought some gifts. They had partnership with merchants and as such were not required to make any cash payment. Ibn Battuta states, 'Every person proceeding to the court of this king must needs have a gift ready to present to him, in order to gain his favour. The sultan requites him for it by a gift many times its value. When his subjects grew accustomed to this practice, the merchants in Sind and India began to furnish each newcomer with thousands of dinars as a loan, and to supply him with whatever he might desire to offer as a gift or to use on his own behalf, such as riding animals, camels, and goods. They place both their money and their persons at his service, and stand before him like attendants. When he reaches the Sultan, he receives a magnificent gift from him and pays off his debt to them. This trade of theirs is a flourishing one and brings in vast profits. On reaching Sind I followed this practice and bought horses, camels, white slaves and other goods from the merchants. I had already bought from an 'Iraqi merchant in Ghazna about thirty horses and a camel with a load of arrows, for this is one of the things presented to the Sultan. This merchant went off to Khurasan and on returning to India received his money from me.'⁴

v2.c58.s8.2

⁴ Gibb, H.A.R. Rehla of Ibn Battuta: Travels in Asia and Africa, pp. 184, 185

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