The journey to Constantinople was made entirely by land, and consumed more than two months.  It is rather difficult to locate the precise route traversed by the caravan, except that it must have skirted the shore of the Black Sea; for I find mention of three great canals, which must refer to the three arms of the Danube.  At the frontier of the Greek empire, they were received by the brothers of the princess, with a mounted guard.  Ibn Batuta’s chronology is a little confused, and we can only guess that the reigning emperor at that time was Andronicus H. Palaeologus.  The description of the entry into Constantinople, and the interview with the emperor, are among the most curious and interesting passages in the work.

’We encamped at the distance of ten miles from Constantinople, and on the following morning the population of the city came forth—­men, women, and children, on foot and on horseback, in their most beautiful costumes and most magnificent vestments.  From daybreak the cymbals, clarions, and trumpets sounded; the soldiers mounted their horses, and the emperor, with his wife, the mother of the princess, the great men of the empire, and the courtiers, issued from the city.  Over the head of the emperor there was a canopy, carried by a certain number of cavaliers and foot-soldiers, holding in their hands long staves, terminated at the top by a sort of leather ball, with which they upheld the canopy.  In the centre thereof was a dais, supported on staves by the cavaliers.  When the emperor had advanced, the troops mixed together, and the noise became great.  I was not able to penetrate into the middle of the crowd, and remained near the baggage of the princess and her companions, fearing for my safety.  It was related to me that when the princess approached her parents, she alighted and kissed the ground before them; then she kissed their shoes, and her principal officers did the same.  Our entry into Constantinople the Great took place towards noon, or a little after.  Meanwhile the inhabitants caused the bells to sound, in such measure that the heavens were shattered with the mixed uproar of their noise.

’When we had arrived at the outer gate of the palace, we there found about a hundred men, accompanied by their chief, who was stationed on a platform.  I heard them saying, “The Saracens, the Saracens”—­a term by which they designate the Mussulmans,—­and they prevented us from entering.  The companions of the princess said to them.  “These people belong to our suite;” but they answered, “They shall not enter here without permission.”  We therefore waited at the gate, and one of the officers sent some one to inform her of this incident.  She was then with her father, to whom she spoke concerning us.  The emperor ordered us to be admitted, and assigned us a house near that of the princess.  Furthermore, he wrote, in our favor, an order prohibiting any one from interrupting us in whatever part of the city we might go, and this was proclaimed in the markets.  We remained three days in our residence, whither they sent us provisions, namely, flour, bread, sheep, fowls, butter, fish and fruits, also money and carpets.