IBN Battuta: Travels in Asia and Africa 1325-1354

This book Ibn Batutta is an account of the journeys of Abu Abdullah Mohammed (1304-1358) of the family with the name Ibn Battuta. He set out from his home town of Tangier in 1325 on pilgrimage to Mecca. On reaching Egypt, he found the Red Sea crossing from Aidab to Jidda blocked. So he returned to Cairo, from there proceeded to Damascus, thence to Medina and Mecca. This journey engendered in him the lure of traval. During his sojourn to three years in Mecca he heard about the generosity of Sultan Muhammad Tughluk of Delhi. He decided on going to India. He traveled through Egypt, Syria, Asia Minor, the territories of the Mongol Khan of the Golden Horde, Mohammad Uzbeg. At this point he made two detour, one to the city of Bulghar and another to Constantinople in the train of a Greek bride of the Khan. From there he crossed the steppes to Khwarizm and Bukhara, then to Afghanistan through Khurasan, finally arrived in India in 1333. Everything in India, interested him and about a quarter of his book is devoted to India. In 1342, Sultan Muhammad Thugluq sent him an envoy to China. After many adventures he returned home in 1349. In all he seems to have traversed more then 70000 miles by land and sea. His narrative was dictated to a royal Secretary, Ibn Juzayyat Fes. This book mirrors the habits and customs of the people of his age. Though Ibn Battuta was more interested in religion and theology, yet his account is a very valuable source for the study of that period. His remark on Sultan Muhammad Tughluk, "The king is of all men the fondest of making gifts and of shedding blood’ gives an insight into his peonetrating observation and veracity of narration. An excellent boo for historians, researches, sociologists and others interested in travel literature.