‘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’ [‎163] (184/508)

4*
Into the EA ST-INDIES. 163
reprefent the Trees planted at equal diftances and in orden
5. Seven or eight wooden Stairs leading up to the Porch.
6. The Porch of the Houfe, in which the little fquares near
the outer lines are the wooden pillars which fupport it, and the
ambient lines the walls.
7. The Rings Servants (landing on either fide without the
little Porch of the Chamber.
8. I Pietro Delld Valley when I firft talk'd with that King a
ftanding. . . r-
9. The Room wherein the King was.;
10. The Ring fitting on the ground upon a little coarfe
Cloth. ' _ . f , ,
11. The King's Nephew fitting on the ground upon a little
matt.
12. The Ring's Servants Uanding.
12. I Fietro Delia, Vallc fitting in the faid room on the ground
upon a little low Table 3 whilft i eat and difcours'd with the King
a very long time together ^ the place mark'd with thenumbcK
13 5 being that where they fet the meat before me.
14. A fmall open Court.
15. A fmall mount or bank in the faid Court, leading from
the more inward Chambers to that where the King was.
16. Inner Chambers and Lodgings 9 which, what they were,
i faw not 5 but they were of very bad earthen buildings, low,
and coverd with thatch-like Cottages, that is, with Palm-leavs 5
which are always to be underftood when I (peak of Cottages or
Houfes cover'd with thatch in India.
17. I Tietro Delia Valle fitting between two of the Ring s Ser
vants upon the fide of the Porch, ("after haying fppkenthe firft
time with the Ring,) entertaining me while the meat was pre-
P a " n g' ' , - , VTTl
The meat was not long in preparingjand being now in order,tne a I I.j
King call'd for me again to enter into the room where it ftood rta-
dy 5 and one of the Brachmans who fpoke Portugal^ and was wont
to accompany me^fk'd me. Whether it would not be more con
venient for me to ungird my Sword, and put off my Caflack >
I anfwer'd, that my Calfack gave me no trouble, nor was there
occafion to lay it off 5 but my Sword might be laid afide, and
therewith ungirding it, I gave it him to hold: which 1 did, the
rather becaufe all Princes being commonly lufpicious, I imagin d
the Ring would not like my entring in with Arms 5 and he that
goes into another's Houle, to vifit him and do him honour^
is not to dilgufi", but to comply with him in all points. So I
enter'd without a Sword, but yet with (hoes and ftockins on,
though with them it be unufual 5 for nonelhould enter into that
place but bare-foot, and the King himfelf is fo there, according
to their cuftum : Nor did I fcruple their taxing me of unclean'
linefs, as undoubtedly they would have done in tnrkje and Perfia^
if I had enter'd into their rooms with (hoes or flippers on^ becaufe
y 2 there