Ibn Battuta described the coconut and the paan, two kinds of plant produce unfamiliar to his audience. Which of the following pairs is correctly matched?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Coconut - its fibre was made into cords used to sew up ships
Option (1) Betel - it was grown mainly for the sake of its fruit — Incorrect. The betel has no fruit. It was grown only for its leaves, which were chewed with areca nut and a little chalk.
Option (2) Coconut - its fibre was made into cords used to sew up ships — Correct. The fibre attached to the coconut looked like hair. From it people made cords to sew up ships instead of iron nails, and cables for vessels.
Option (3) Coconut tree - it was cultivated in the same manner as the grape-vine — Incorrect. It is the betel that was cultivated like the grape-vine. The coconut tree was said to look just like the date-palm.
Option (4) Areca nut - its nut was said to resemble a man's head — Incorrect. It was the coconut that was said to resemble a man's head, with two eyes and a mouth. The areca nut was compared to a nutmeg.
NCERT (2026-27): “5.1 The coconut and the paan … “Read Ibn Battuta’s description of the paan: The betel is a tree which is cultivated in the same manner as the grape-vine; … The betel has no fruit and is grown only for the sake of its leaves … The manner of its use is that before eating it one takes areca nut; this is like a nutmeg but is broken up until it is reduced to small pellets, and one places these in his mouth and chews them. …” |