‘The travels of Sig. Pietro della Valle, a noble Roman, into East-India and Arabia Deserta. In which, the several countries, together with the customs, manners, traffique, and rites both religious and civil, of those Oriental princes and nations, are faithfully described: In familiar letters to his friend Signior Mario Schipano. Whereunto is added a relation of Sir Thomas Roe’s voyage into the East-Indies’ [‎19] (40/508)

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^