J882.] IBN BATUTA IN THE MALDIVES AND CEYLON. 33 



Mm. Although they are far removed from him, they fear him 

 much in their hearts. 



When the Grand Vizier had returned to his house, he sent 

 the deposed Kazi> an eloquent speaker, who addressed me as 

 follows: — -"Our master requires to know why you have violated, 

 in the presence of witnesses, the respect which is due to him, 

 and why you have not rendered him homage ?" I replied, " I 

 saluted him only when my heart was satisfied with him; but now 

 that dissatisfaction has supervened, I have renounced the usage, 

 The salutation of Musalmans consists only of the word asselam, 

 (Peace ~be with you! ) and that I have pronounced." The Vizier 

 sent this person a second time, and he then said, " You have no 

 other aim but that of leaving us; pay the dowries of your wives, 

 and what you owe to the men, and go when you will." At this 

 speech I bowed and went to my house and paid such debts as I 

 had contracted: Up to this time the Vizier had given me carpets 

 and a suite of furniture, consisting of copper vessels, and other 

 things. He used to grant me everything I asked ; he loved me 

 and treated me with consideration ; but his disposition changed and 

 he became inspired with fear ofmej 



When he heard that I bad paid my debts and that I was 

 intending to depart, he repented of what he had said, and put 

 off granting me permission to go. I adjured him by the strongest 

 oaths that I was under necessity to resume my voyage. I re- 

 moved my belongings to a mosque upon the beach, and repudiated 

 one of my wives. Another was with child, to her I gave a term 

 of nine months, within which I might return, or in default thereof 

 she was to be mistress of her own actions. I took with me that 

 one of my wives who had been married to the Sultan Chihdb 

 eddin in order to restore her to her father who dwelt in 

 the island of Molouc, and my first wife,, whose daughter was 

 half-sister to the Sultana. I agreed with the Vizier 'Omar 

 Deherd ( or General of the army, v. s, p. 22) and the Vizier 



E 



