Malabar and the Maldives Summary and Analysis

Ibn Battuta sets out in 1341 with an entire caravan load of opulent gifts he is to deliver to Toghon Temur, the emperor of the Yuan dynasty of China. They travel by land to the coast city of Cambay, where they board four ships. The caravan is attacked on the way, but is successfully defended by its military escort. Ibn Battuta, however, is captured and robbed and nearly killed before being released. He makes his way back to the caravan and proceeds with his mission.

They sail to Calicut, where they wait for three months for the shipping season and arrange for their cargo to be carried on a Chinese ship called a "junk." As the time to depart nears, the gifts, slaves, and most of Ibn Battuta's traveling companions are boarded on a junk and...