Which of the following were features of the postal system of India as described by Ibn Battuta ?
- 1. The foot post carries a ringing bell in one hand.
- 2. The horse post is called uluq, stationed at a distance of every four miles.
- 3. The foot post or dawa has one station at every four kos of distance.
- 4. The foot post is quicker than horse post.
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
1, 2 and 4
1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1, 3 and 4
Answer is Right!
Answer is Wrong!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2024
Statement 1: He noted that the runner carrying the foot-post carried a bell to announce his arrival and clear the way. This is correct.
Statement 2: He mentioned that the horse-post stations (uluq) were located at intervals of every four miles. This is correct.
Statement 3: He described the foot-post (dawa) stations as being at a distance of one-third of a mile, allowing for very rapid transit. Four kos is approximately 8-10 miles, so this statement is incorrect.
Statement 4: Ibn Battuta explicitly stated that the foot-post was faster than the horse-post for carrying mail, especially for urgent items like fruits, as the runners could pass the mail from one to another without delay. This is correct.
Therefore, statements 1, 2, and 4 are correct.
– Ibn Battuta described two types of postal systems: horse-post (uluq) and foot-post (dawa).
– The foot-post was quicker than the horse-post according to Ibn Battuta.
– The foot-post runners carried bells.
– Horse-post stations were at 4-mile intervals; foot-post stations were at much shorter intervals (1/3 mile).