Ibn Battuta reaches Mogadishu.
Item
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Title
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Ibn Battuta reaches Mogadishu.
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Description
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“...we sailed for fifteen days and came to Maqdashaw [Mogadishu], which is an enormous town. Its inhabitants are merchants and have many camels, of which they slaughter hundreds every day [for food]. When a vessel reaches the port, it is met by sumbuqs, which are small boats, in each of which are a number of young men, each carrying a covered dish containing food. He presents this to one of the merchants on the ship saying ‘This is my guest,’ and all the others do the same. Each merchant on disembarking goes only to the house of the young man who is his host, except those who have made frequent journeys to the town and know its people well; these live where they please. The host then sells his goods for him and buys for him, and if anyone buys anything from him at too low a price or sells to him in the absence of his host, the sale is regarded by them as invalid. This practice is of great advantage to them. When these young men came on board our vessel, one of them approached me. My companions said ‘This man is not a merchant, but a theologian,’ whereupon the young man called out to his friends ‘This is the qadi’s guest.’ Amongst them was one of the qadi’s men, who went to tell him of this, so he came down to the beach with a number of students, and sent one of them to me. When I disembarked with my party, I saluted him and his party, and he said ‘In the name of God, let us go and salute the Shaykh.’ Thereupon I said ‘And who is this Shaykh?’ He answered ‘The sultan,’ for they call the sultan ‘the Shaykh.’ I said to him ‘When I have settled down I shall go to him,’ and he replied ‘It is the custom that whenever a theologian, or sharif, or man of religion comes here, he must see the sultan before taking his lodging.’ So I went to him as they asked. The sultan, whose name is Abu Bakr, is of Berberah origin, and he talks in the Maqdishi language, though he knows Arabic. When we reached the palace and news of my arrival was sent in, a eunuch came out with a plate containing betel leaves and areca nuts. He gave me ten leaves and a few nuts, the same to the qadi, and the rest to my companions and the qadi’s students, and then said ‘Our master commands that he be lodged in the students’ house.’ Later on the same eunuch brought food from the ‘Shaykh’s’ palace. With him came one of the wazirs, whose duty it was to look after the guests, and who said ‘Our master greets you and bids you welcome.’ We stayed there three days, food being brought to us three times a day, and on the fourth, a Friday, the qadi and one of the wazirs brought me a set of garments. We then went to the mosque and prayed behind the [sultan’s] screen. When the ‘Shaykh’ came out I greeted him and he bade me welcome. He put on his sandals, ordering the qadi and myself to do the same, and set out for his palace on foot. All the other people walked barefooted. Over his head were carried four canopies of coloured silk, each surmounted by a golden bird. After the palace ceremonies were over, all those present saluted and retired.”
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Subject
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Travel
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Source
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Gibb 110-112.
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Date
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1330
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Bibliographic Citation
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Ibn Batuta, Gibb, H. A. R. S., Sanguinetti, B. R., & Defremery, C. (1958). Travels of Ibn Battuta, A.D. 1325-1354. Cambridge: Published for the Hakluyt Society at the University Press.
