400 headwords 4247726 Ibn Battuta fp indd 1

rhinoceros
.
We journeyed to the city home of the 
Sultan
of Delhi – 
Muhammad Tughluq. I knew a lot about this man before 
I arrived. He liked judges from different countries. You see, 
Ahmed, sultans often need people from other countries to 
help them.
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I soon learnt 
more about the Sultan. It is 
very
important to arrive in Delhi with expensive 
gifts
for him. He then gives you back better gifts 
and lots of money. And in the end, you’re richer 
than before! So, I got thirty beautiful horses and 
three camels for the Sultan. Remember that, Ahmed: 
when you meet a new ruler, always arrive with gifts!
When we first came to Delhi, the Sultan was away. But 
when he heard about me, he made me one of his judges. 
I was now a rich and important man! I was, of course, 
excited to meet him when he arrived home. His house was 
very big, and I needed to walk through door after door to 
find his room. He sat there on a 
gold
chair with 
soldiers
all about him. He took my hand, and spoke warmly to me 
for some time. 
The next day, I went by horse with the Sultan and his 
soldiers through the streets of Delhi. Lots of men on 
elephants
came after us. They left gold money on the 
road behind them when they went past, and people ran 
here and there to find it!
gift
something 
that you give to 
someone
gold
expensive 
yellow metal
soldier
a person 
in an army
elephant
a very 
big animal with a 
long nose
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