IBN BATUTAH IN SOUTHERN INDIA. 
47 
Altiravari ((^))^^) was himself an idolater, and more- 
over a rigid martinet, witness a story recounted by Ibn 
Batiitah, The sultan on one occasion, when riding out 
accompanied by his daughter's husband, observed the latter 
appropriate a mango that had fallen from an overhanging 
branch and lay on the groimd. Upon this his wrath being 
kindled, be had both, his son-in-law and the fruit be had 
taken cut in half and fixed on to a couple of posts by way 
of caution to passers-by, who no doubt became sufficiently 
circumspect in their conduct to avoid similar penalties. 
At Kulam, Ibn Batutah came across the Chinese en- 
voys wbo bad travelled down from Delhi with the embassy. 
It appears that their ships also had been wrecked, but they 
obtained a supply of clothing from their fellow country- 
men and returned to their own land where he subsequently 
met them. 
Ibn Batutah had some thought of returning to the 
Emperor of Delhi; but fearing that monarch's reproaches, 
relinquished the idea, more especially as be was strongly 
advised not on any account to go back thither by an agent 
of tbe emperor, whom be found on his return to Calicut 
employed in enKstiag as many Arab recruits as he could 
find for the king's army. He accompanied this man by sea 
to Hinaur, where he became the guest of the sultan, and 
here it was his religious exercises assumed such formidable 
proportions. At that ruler's request he recited prayers in his 
■company and spent the entire day in a mosque, sometimes 
reading tbe koran twice through between sunrise and sunset. 
A proposed expedition to attack and capture the island 
of Sindabur offered an agreeable escape from this some- 
1 what monotonous existence, and it is not surprising to learn 
I that Ibn Batutah proposed to accompany the invading 
I force ; and after duly consulting the koran and obtaining a 
favourable reply, he not only went himself but persuaded 
: I the sultan to go also and to command the troops in person. 
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