- Hackney-coaches and public gardens—Manufacture of porcelain—Returns
to Italy—The Polos are forgotten by their relatives—Curious
mode of proving their identity—Marco taken prisoner by the Genoese—Writes
his travels in captivity—Returns to Venice—Dies 30
IBN BATŪTA.
Born about 1300.—Died after 1353.
Commences his travels—Romantic character—Arrives in Egypt—Kalenders—Sweetness
of the Nile—Anecdote of an Arabian poet—Prophecy—Visits
Palestine—Mount Lebanon—Visits Mecca—Miracles—Gratitude
of Ibn Batūta—Patron of Mariners—Visits Yemen—Fish-eating
cattle—Use of the Betel-leaf—Pearl-divers—Curious brotherhood—Crim
Tartary—Land of darkness—Greek sultana—Mawaradnahr—Enters
India—Arrives at Delhi—Loses a daughter, and is made
a judge—Is extravagant in prosperity—Falls into disgrace, and is
near losing his head—Becomes a fakeer—Is restored to favour—Sent
upon an embassy to China—Is taken prisoner—Escapes—Mysterious
adventure—Travels to Malabar—Is reduced to beggary—Turn of
fortune—Visits the Maldive Islands—Marries four wives—New version
of the story of Andromeda—Sees a spectre ship—Visits Ceylon—Adam's
Peak—Wonderful rose, with the name of God upon it—Sails
for Maabar—Is taken by pirates—Visits his son in the Maldives—Sails
for Sumatra, and China—Paper-money—Meets with an old
friend—The desire of revisiting home awakened—Returns to Tanjiers—Visits
Spain—Crosses the desert of Sahara—Visits Timbuctoo—Settles
at Fez 69
LEO AFRICANUS.
Born about 1486.—Died after 1540.
Born at Grenada—Educated at Fez—Visits Timbuctoo—Anecdote of a
Mohammedan general—Adventures among the snowy wilds of Mount
Atlas—Visits the Bedouins of Northern Africa—Resides in the kingdom
of Morocco—People living in baskets—Unknown ruins in Mount
Dedes—Troglodytes—Travels with a Moorish chief—Visits the city
of Murderers—Adventure with lions—Clouds of locusts—Is nearly
stung to death by fleas—Beautiful scenery—Tradition concerning the
prophet Jonah—Is engaged in a whimsical adventure among the
mountains—Jew artisans—Hospitality—Witnesses a bloody battle—Delightful
solitude—Romantic lake—Fishing and hunting—Arabic
poetry—Excursions through Fez—Ruins of Rabat—Visits Telemsan
and Algiers—Desert—Antelopes—Elegant little city—City of Telemsan—History
of a Mohammedan saint—Description of Algiers—Barbarossa
and Charles V.—City of Kosantina—Ancient ruins and gardens—City
mentioned in Paradise Lost—Carthage—Sigilmessa—Crosses
the Great Desert—Tremendous desolation—Story of two
merchants—Description of Timbuctoo—Women—Costume—Course
of the Niger—Bornou—Nubia—Curious poison—Egypt—Ruins of
Thebes—Cairo—Crime of a Mohammedan saint—Dancing camels and
asses—Curious anecdote of a mountebank—Ladies of Cairo—Is taken
by pirates, and sold as a slave—Pope Leo X.—Is converted to Christianity—Resides
in Italy, and writes his "Description of Africa"—Date
of his death unknown 109
