they exported in the shape of lingots, each
five ounces in weight, used as current money
in that country. This is all that Ibn-Batutah
has to say about the people which has since
spread its power like an inundation to the
east, to the west, and to the south.

Ten days farther on, the queen Beialoun, in
her progress, came to Sondak, situated on the
shores of the sea amidst gardens, and with a
fine and well-frequented port. It was
inhabited partly by Turks, partly by Greek
artisans living under their protection. Not
long before, a violent insurrection of the
Christians had led to the massacre or expulsion
of the greater number. The next station
was Baba-Salthouk, the last city belonging to
the Turks, between which and the commencement
of the Greek empire was a desert
eighteen days across, a great portion without
water. It is difficult to adapt this account
to modern geography; and we do not exactly
recognise the fortress Mahtouly, situated at
the other extremity of the desert on the
limit of the Christian territory. Here Beialoun
was received with great honours by her
people, and the Turkish escort returned by
the way it had come. The poor princess
breathed more freely. Thenceforward, the
custom of praying was abolished. " Among
the provisions brought to her," says
Ibn-Batutah, "were intoxicating drinks, of which
she partook, and hogs, of which one of her
people told me she ate. No one remained
with her who prayed, except a Turk, who
performed his devotions with us. Her secret
sentiments thus manifested themselves as
soon as we had reached the country of the
infidels; but she requested the Greek Emir,
Nicholas, to treat me with due honour; and
on one particular occasion that officer beat a
slave who had made fun at our prayers."
How strangely does all this read now!

The brother of the princess came to escort
her with an army, part of which consisted of
a body-guard composed of men in complete
coats of mail. Their gilded lances were
adorned witli pennons, and altogether a
wonderful display of riches and splendour was
made. Thus they proceeded across the
Danube and the plains of Eoumelia; until, after
a long journey, they reached a spot within
ten miles of Constantinople, where they
halted for the night. " Next day," says the
traveller, " the population of that city—men,
women and children—came out to meet the
princess; some on foot; some on horseback; all
dressed in their best array. From the earliest
dawn the cymbals, and the clarions, and the
trumpets sounded. The Sultan (Emperor),
with his wife, mother of the Khatoun, and all
the great personages of the empire and the
courtiers, surrounded by horse-soldiers, issued
forth. Over the head of the Emperor was
carried a vast canopy, supported by horsemen
and footmen. The meeting of this procession
and our party was tumultuous. I could not
penetrate through the crowd, but am told
that when the princess approached her
parents, she put foot to ground and kissed the
eartli at their feet, and the hoofs of their
horses, as did likewise her chief officers.
We entered Constantinople the Great,
towards midday. The inhabitants were ringing
their bells in full peal, so that the heavens
were shaken by the noise. When we reached
the first gate of the palace, we found there a
guard of a hundred men upon a platform. I
heard them saying ' The Saracens! the
Saracens! ' a word by which they designate the
Muslims and they prevented us from entering."
This difficulty, however, was subsequently
removed; and Ibn-Batutah was not
only lodged in the palace, but received
presents of flour, bread, sheep, fowls, butter,
fruits, and fish, with money and carpets.

Ibn-Batutah calls the Emperor of
Constantinople Takfour, a corruption of the
Armenian word Tagavor, which means king.
He was the son of the previous Emperor,
George, who had abdicated and become a
monk. The traveller visited the monarch on
the invitation of the Khatoun. As he entered
the palace he was searched, to see that he
had no weapon about him, according to an
ancient custom rigidly complied with. This
done, he was admitted, whilst four people
surrounded him, two holding his sleeves and
two his shoulders. Thus attended, he reached
a great hall, the walls oi which were adorned
with mosaics representing natural productions,
animal and mineral. In the midst of
the hall was a piece of water, with trees
bordering it. Men stood upon the right and on
the left, without speaking. Three of them
received him from his guides, and likewise
took hold of his clothes. A Syrian Jew,
acting as interpreter, told him to fear nothing,
for strangers were always received thus. He
asked how he was to salute, and was
answered, " With the words Salam Alaykoum."

The Emperor was sitting on his throne,
with his wife and her brothers at its foot.
Armed men stood by his side and behind
him. He signed to the stranger to sit down
and rest awhile, and recover his presence of
mind, after which he questioned him
conerning Jerusalem, and the Rock of Jacob,
and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre; on
the Cradle of Jesus, on Bethlehem and
Hebron, on Damascus, Cairo, Persia, and
Asia Minor. Ibn-Batutah was astonished at
the interest the monarch took in these things,
and answered copiously. He was treated
with great respect, and received a dress of
honour, with a horse saddled and bridled,
and one of the king's own parasols, as a
mark of protection. He asked for a guide
to show him the wonders of the city, and
thus accompanied, went forth to satiate his
curiosity.

Ibn-Batutah describes the city of Constantinople
as situated on two sides of a river, by
which he means the Golden Horn. One
portion was called Esthamboul, inhabited by the