"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" [‎١‎٨‎٥] (٥٠٨/٢٠٦)

Into the EAST-INDIES.
85
■irwasfo,, (if it were not an Indian Cane) like a Shep-herd's ftafF^
e& of Qt L upon which fix'd in the earth, juft as Shep-herds are reprefcnted
ennU in our Comedies, he ftood leaning for a while. When he was
fatuted by us, he receiv'd us fmiling, and with much courtefie 5
and whilft his two Neeces ftood by him leaning againft a high
banck to fit upon, we ftood orderly in the Court juft before
the Ring 5 and the whole Court and the Porches being full of
other Courtiers who came in, partly, with the King, and partly,
by fome 'other little entrances. I will not omit the manner
how thofe that entred fainted the King 5 for I faw more then
one do it, and particularly, a Youth who enter'd a good while
after the King by one of thofe little Gates 5 to whom in parti
cular the King fpake much , and of whom he feemed to make
great account. In his falutation he advanced his joyned Hands
over his Head, then parting them a little, fo extended and ex
alted , he fmote them lightly together twice or thrice, to wit,
the palm of one Hand with the four longeft Fingers of the other
joyned together 5 which whole action he repeated twice or
thrice. Such as had weapons, lifted up their joyned Hands
above their Heads, with their Swords, Ponyards, Bucklers, or
other Arms in them, and inftead of ftriking with their Fingers,
as by reafon of their Arms they could not,they bowed down their
Hands fb conjoyned, and made the points of their Swords touch
theground.Nolefs full were the higher Cloyfters round about of
Women, who ftood there t6 behold us 5 amongft whom ftood
apart in the moft eminent place the Qiieen, Sifter to the King,
a Woman of ripe Age, cloth'd in blew Cotton as to her lower
parts, and abundantly adorned with Jewels.
The King defiling to talk with us, cauled the youth to
draw near.and afterwards called for the Indian Slave above-men
tioned 5 bec2ufeC/m> 5 either out of exceffive Reverence, or for
t hat he had forgotten the Portugal-T ongue, durft not undertake
to interpret. He aiked our Captain who he was,and how called ?
The Captain would not confefs himfelf Captain of a Ship, and fb
become known, but counterfeiting another Name, faid, he was 4
a private Souldier, and Companion to the reft of us ^ which the
King(eemed not to believe. He enquired likewife concerning
the other Souldiers prefent ^ and above all,very particularly con
cerning me , pointing at the pendant which I wore in my Ear,
almoft like their Cuftom o£ India^ and looking upon me for it
with fome wonder, as a thing which he knew not-ufual among
the Fortugals whereupon I told him who I was, to wit, of
what Country, and fomething I faid briefly concerning the
curiofity of my Travells, that I had run through fo many Coun
tries onely to fee the world, and was at length come to his
Court, being no Vortugal^ but of Rome^ a different and remote
Nation from Portugal 5 with all which he feem'd well pleas d #
He bid us feveral times put on our Hats ^ but our Captain, whofe
example 'twas fit for us to follow, being refolv'd not to make
B b himfelf
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