The Travels of Ludovico di Varthema: In Egypt, Syria, Arabia Deserta and Arabia Felix, in Persia, India, and Ethiopia, A.D. 1503 To 1508. Ludovico di Varthema
showing how elephants generate, 129-131.
They generate in secret marshes, 129; parts of an elephant eaten in some countries; various values of elephants; their great discretion; riches of the King of Narsinga; dress of the people and the king; his coinage, 130; lions; the Portuguese honoured in Narsinga, 131; return to Canonor, and go to Tormapatani.
Chapter concerning Tormapatani, a city of India; and concerning
Pandarani, a place one day distant; and concerning Capo- gatto, a similar district, 131-134.
Torinapatani (Dorinapatain), 131; misery of the people, 132; timber for ships; houses worth half a ducat; Pandarani; Capogatto, 133; go to Calicut; has reserved till now the description of the manners of the preceding places (because similar to those of Calicut), but he will now describe that kingdom, for the King of Calicut, called Samory, is the most important, 134.
THE SECOND BOOK CONCERNING INDIA.
Chapter concerning Calicut, a very large city of India, 135, 136.
Description of the city and poverty of the houses.
Chapter concerning the King of Calicut, and the religion of the
people, 136-139.
The king worships the devil, 136; why, 137; description of the devil's chapel and images of Deumo and Sathanas ; rites and ceremonies of the Brahmins in worshipping, 138.
Chapter concerning the manner of eating of the King of Calicut,
139-141.
The King's food first offered to Deumo, 139; and how the Brahmins wait on the King when eating, 140; and carry their relics away and give them to the black crows, 140.
Chapter concerning the Brahmins, that is the priests of Calicut, 141.
The Brahmins are the chief persons of the faith; royal marriage custom.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Chapter concerning the Pagans of Calicut and of what classes they
are, 141, 142.
Classes of the Pagans, 141; Brahmins; Naeri (Nairs); Tiva, or arti- sans, 142; Mechua, or fishermen; Poliar, who collect pepper, wine, and nuts; Hirava, who plant lice; degradation of the two last before Brahmins and Naeri.
Chapter concerning the dress of the King and Queen, and others
of Calicut, and of their food, 143.
Chapter concerning the ceremonies which they perform after the
death of the King, 143, 144.
Succession goes to sister's son, 143; reasons for this, 144; customs on the King's death; betel eating.
Chapter showing how the Pagans sometimes exchange their
wives, 145-147.
Varthema shows his Malayalim, 145; dialogue between two mer- chants exchanging wives; poiyandria of the other classes of pagans, 146.
Chapter concerning the manner of living, and of the administration
of justice among the Pagans, 147, 148.
How they eat, 147; punishments; impaling; fines; curious mode of enforcing payment of debts.
Chapter concerning the mode of worship of the Pagans, 149.
Their matutinal washing; prayers; and customs of cooking, &c.
Chapter concerning the fighting of these people of Calicut, 149-151.
Army of the King, 149; dress, 150; customs of battle; the Naeri (Nairs), 151; customs as to burning and burial; money of Calicut; great variety of nations found trading there; great numbers of Moors (Mohamedans) .
Chapter concerning the manner of navigating in Calicut, 152-154,
Mode of ship-building, 152; timber, 153; sails; anchors of marble; seasons of navigation; names of the different classes of vessels, 154.
Chapter concerning the palace of the King of Calicut, 155, 156.
The palace and its small value, 155 ; why they cannot dig founda- tions, 156; the King's jewels, and his bad humour, with the reasons thereof; his treasures.
Chapter concerning the spices which grow in that country of
Calicut, 157, 158.
Pepper described, 157; ginger, 158; myrobalans.
Chapter concerning some fruits of Calicut, 159-163.
Fruit called ciccara (jack), 159; amba (mango); corcopal (?), 161; fruit like a medlar; comolanga (?); malapolanda (plantain), 162.
Chapter concerning the most fruitful tree in the world, 163-166.
The tenga (cocoa-nut tree), 163; its many uses, 164; the nuts; sub-
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
stance like flax which is woven, 165; another made into cords; char- coal; excellent water contained in the nut; oil; sap drawn and used for win ; the cutting down of these trees not forgiven, 166; mode of cultivation; the oil of zerzalino (sesamum).
Chapter concerning the practice they follow in sowing rice, 166, 167.
Ploughing, sowing, and devil-dancing, 167.
Chapter concerning the physicians who visit the sick in Calicut,
167.
Devil-dancers employed to visit the sick, 167 ; potion of ginger.
Chapter concerning the bankers and money-changers, 168-170.
Their balances and touchstones, 168 ; the brokers, and their curious mode of bargaining with the fingers ; weights used in trade, 170.
Chapter showing how the Poliari and Hirava feed their chil-
dren, 171-173.
Singular treatment of the children, 1 71; their agility; the many animals and birds of Calicut, 172; parrots; starlings (or mainas); apes and their tricks.
Chapter concerning the serpents which are found in Calicut, 173.
Great marsh serpents (crocodiles), 173; venomous serpents; protec- tion of them; protection of cows, 174; superstitions.
Chapter concerning the lights of the King of Calicut, 174, 175.
Vases used in the king's house for lamps described, 174; feasting customs on expiry of mourning, 175.
Chapter showing how a great number of people came to Calicut on
the 25th of December to receive their pardon, 175-177.
Temple in a tank, 175; manner of the sacrifice; the great Sathanas; the vast number assembled, 177.
THE THIRD BOOK CONCERNING INDIA.
His companion cannot sell his goods, because of the war with the King of Portugal, 178 ; they go by a beautiful river (backwater) to Caicolon, 179; Christians of St. Thomas, 180; go to Colon (Quilon), 182; and thence to Chayl, 184; pearl-fishery.
Chapter concerning Cioromandel, a city of India, 186-188.
City of Cioromandel, 186; body of St. Thomas, 187; miracle at his tomb; war with the King of Tarnassari, 188; Varthema and his companion go to Zailon (Ceylon).
Chapter concerning Zailani, where jewels are produced, 188-190.
Four kings in the island, 188 ; then' wars, 189 ; elephants ; rubies, 190 ; mining customs; excellent fruits.
Chapter concerning the tree of the canella [cinnamon], 191-194.
Cinnamon-tree