IBX BATUTAH IN SOUTHERN INDIA. 39 
Tlie judicious and cliaracteristic reply of Ibn Taghlak 
was worded somewhat as follows : — 
"According to the Muliammadan religion it is not permitted 
us to grant such a request. It is only lawful to allow tiose 
who pay capitation tax to build temples on Muhammadan terri- 
tory. If thou consentest to defray this charge, we authorize thee 
to construct the shrine. Hail to those who follow the right 
way." 
The sultan forwarded with, his reply a number of mag- 
nificent and princely gifts of far greater value than those he 
had received from China, — horses, slaves, tents, basins and 
candelabra of precious metals, countless embroideries, and 
jewelled arms and quivers. 
A large retinue was appointed to accompany the mission, 
and a guard of a thousand cavalry was to escort them to the 
port of embarkation. 
The Chinese ambassadors started on their return journey 
together with the sultan's messengers. 
In those days no doubt vicissitudes on such an expedi- 
tion were to be anticipated, and many were in fact encoun- 
tered. 
On one occasion the troops arrived in time to assist at 
an affray in which the true believers were being pressed by 
the idolaters and rendered valuable assistance ; but Kafiir 
{)f^), a eunuch in charge of the treasure, was killed, and the 
party halted until another agent was sent by the sultan 
to replace him. On another occasion Ibn Batutah strayed 
from the escort and narrowly escaped assassination at the 
hands of the infidels, but he was finally rescued and then 
urged by his companions to return to Delhi, such a mis- 
fortune at the commencement of his mission being taken as 
a bad omen. A trifle of this sort, however, was not calculated 
to make him abandon such congenial employment as he was 
then engaged upon, and he insisted on resuming his jour- 
ney. Meantime, news of his supposed loss had reached the 
