IBN BATUTA IN MELLE 13S for the soul of Abou el Haen, that the Almighty might have mercy upon him. Prayers were also offered for Mansa Suleiman.

It was after this ceremony that Ibn Batuta was first presented to the sovereign, who received him with a gravity befitting the occasion. A purely formal ** gift of hospitality " was subsequently sent to him, which consisted only of meat and bread, and for two months he had no further private audience of the sovereign. He, however, continued to attend the public audiences, of which he describes the ceremonial in some detail. They were held sometimes in the Hall of Audience, designed by Mansa Musa's Spanish architect ; sometimes outside in the Place of Audience, an enclosed square upon which the palace opened, and which was approached from the town by a wide and long boulevard, planted with trees. Whether they were held indoors or in the open air, a very strict and pompous ceremonial was observed. The boulevard was lined by detachments of soldiers armed with bows and lances, each detachment having its own commandant and military band. The bands were composed of drums and trumpets, horns made of ivory, and other instruments made with reeds and gourds, which gave a **most agreeable sound." The commandants were mounted, and armed with bows and arrows, each bearing a quiver full of arrows at his back, and carrying his bow in his hand. The soldiers were some on foot and some mounted. The general public, and all persons who had business to lay before the Sultan, waited in this boulevard. On occasions when the Sultan held his audience within the hall, the square outside was occupied by 300 servants of the palace, who stood to left and right in double rows, the front row seated on the ground armed with little shields and short spears, the back row standing and armed with bows and arrows.

No one entered the Hall of Audience itself till the curtains of the windows, which were usually kept closed, were, on the entrance of the Sultan, drawn back. At the