"رحلات السيد بيترو ديلا فالي، وهو نبيل روماني، إلى الهند الشرقية وصحراء الجزيرة العربية. وفيها يصف بدقة البلدان المختلفة، وكذلك العادات، الأعراف، التجارة، الطقوس الدينية والمدنية، لهؤلاء الأمراء وتلك الأمم الشرقية: في رسائل وديّة إلى صديقه السيد ماريو سكيبانو. وتم إضافة سرد عن رحلة السير توماس رو إلى جزر الهند الشرقية" [‎١‎٩] (٥٠٨/٤٠)

Into the E AS T-IN D I E S. 19
frequently mentions with the title of Mehk. 3 and relates to have
been in thofe times, a little above a hundred years ago, a great ^
friend to the Portugal^ ftyling him often Lord of and
once in the laft book. Lord of Snrcit^ but! rather believe that 6 c ^ 1
he was onely Governour of either of thefe Cities under the then Lib. 10. c. i d
Mahometan Kings of Camhaia, (as lie fpeaksj that is,
rht'-y of which Province Camhutd is a principal and in a manner
the Maritine City, more known then the reft to the Portugals t s- rs* S
by trade; whence they have given its name to the whole King- ^ ^ ^
dome, although not CamhaU , but Ahmcdabad , more within
land, is properly the Royal Seat. Tis therefore poffible that
JMelikGopi, mention'dby Earros^ made th is Ciftern when he . ^
was Governour ofSurktjt being the work and expenceoffuch a
perfon. Nor do the vulgar miftake in faying that he was a private
man , fince under the Mahometan Princes , who never allow
any hereditary Lord in their Territories, the Governours of
their Cities, and all other Miniftets, (whom they choofe indif-
ferently out of all forts of people, and not feldome out of the
loweft plebeians, and are always removable at pleafure) may
with reafon be call'd private perfons, although advanc d to what-
ever high dignity. - . , ^ , ttttt y
On an other fide of the City, but out of the circuit of the* VIII.
houfes, in an open place, isfeena great and fair Tree^ ot that ^
kind which I faw in the feacoafts of Perfu near Ormuz , cal- ' - '' ^ —
led there Lul, but here Ber, The Gentiles of the Country hold ,
it in great veneration for its greatnefs and age, vifiting an
honoring it often with their fuperftitious ceremonies,as dear and ,
dedicated to a Goddefs of theirs call'd whom they ^ ■'
hold to be the Wife of AUhadeit, one of their greatefl Deities, ^ ^ ^ .
On the trunk of this Tree a little above the ground, they have
rudely engraven a round circle, which really hath not anyrea-
ture of a humane countenance, but according to their grofs ap
plication reprefents that of their Idol. This face they keep
painted with a bright Flelh-colour, and this by a facred rite o
Religion; as the Romans alfo dy'd the face of Jufiter mth Ver-
inilliwri;, as P/i/y'teftifies : Round about it are faftned Flowers^
and abundance of a plant whofe leaves refemble a Heart, call d . - ^^7
hereP^, but in other places of lW/4, Betle. Thefe leaves the
Indians ufe to champ or chaw all day long , either tor healt 1 s
fake, or for entertainment and delight, (as fome other IMations
for the fame reafons, or rather through evil cuftome, conti
nually take Tobacco: ) And therewith they mix a little allies ot
fea-ftiels, and fome fmall pieces of an Indian Nut fufficiently ^
common, which here they call and in other places
a very dry fruit, feeming within like perfeft wood , and be
ing of an aftringent nature they hold it good to ftrengthen t e
Teeth: Which mixture, befides its comforting
hath alfb a certain biting tafte wherewith they are delig te
and 5 as they chaw it, it ftrangely dyes their lips and mouths re^