tm BAtfi^TAH IJj SOUTHERN INDIA. 
41 
attack by pirates or others. The ships were propelled by 
sixty oars, and the sultan's son set sail with the embassy as 
a mark of respect to the high authority they represented. 
Nothing specially worthy of note occiuTed till the town of 
Hinur (jJ-^) "^as reached. A supply of water was shipped 
at Bairam, a desert island^ and at Kukah {'^ f), Ibn Battitah 
with some difficulty was carried ashore to perform his devo- 
tions in a mosque and have a glimpse of the town then under 
the governorship of Sultan Dankul (Jy^'^), an idolater, who 
professed fealty to the Sultan of the Indies, but was at heart 
a rebel. 
At Hinur, where a halt was made, Ibn Battitah found 
much to admire in the character of the Sultan J amal-ad-din 
Muhammad (e)^'^^^), who gave up his entire day, from 
dawn to sunset, to reading the koran in mosques, and who 
moreover entertained him at a banquet, of which he has left 
a detailed account, interesting in so far as it shows how little 
changed are the manners and customs of oriental people 
through many generations. 
A beautiful slave, robed in a silken garment, placed 
before the prince dishes containing various preparations of 
food, and taking a large brass ladle in her hand drew out 
on to a plate a quantity of rice, over which ghee was then 
poured, pepper corns and green ginger were added, and a pre- 
serve of lime and mangoes (evidently chutney), and the first 
course was then ready. The ladle full of rice was followed 
by a seoondj portions of cooked fowl (pillau) being served with 
it. This was followed by several varieties of dressed poultry. 
Next came fish (always accompanied by the inevitable rice) 
and vegetables cooked in milk or butter. To indicate the 
close of the banquet each guest was presented with a portion 
of sour milk. The beverage on this occasion was hot wafers 
as when cold it was considered a somewhat unwholesome 
drink during the period of the rains. It is curious to find 
history repeating itself, and a similar drink being in our 
6 
