Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/192

 l-'jS nrSTOUY ]■• INDIA. [Book T.

A.i) ii.is jtiid trumpets Houndinj^. Tlie ootwal was waiting tf> receive liini with 200

nairs, understoorl to he tlx; Mobility of tlte country, and a large [jroniis^mouH

DeG.ama'8 assemblage. Two palantiuias had been T)rovided, one for De Gama and another

fii-st visit to ° ^ ^ '

thozamo- for the cotwal; the rest of the attendants followed on foot. During the jour- ney they paid a visit to a temple built of freestone, covered with tiles, and a« large as a great monastery. In front of it stood a pillar as high as the ma.st of a sliip, made of wire, with a weather-cock on the top, and over the entrance hung seven bells. The interior was full (jf images ; and these, as well as some of the ceremonies, confirming the Portuguese in their previous belief that the natives were Christians, they began to pay their devotions. The dimness of the light did not allow them to see the kind of figures they were worshipjnng, but on looking around they discerned monstrous shapes on the walls, some with great teeth sticking an inch out of their mouth, others with four arms and such frio-jitful faces, that one of the Portuf^uese, on beholdinc; one of them, be- fore which he was making his genuflexion, exclaimed, " If this be the devil, it is God I worship." On approaching the city the multitude became immen.se, and the cotwal halted at the house of his brother, who was waiting, along with a number of nairs, to conduct De Gama with all the pomp of an ambassador into the royal presence. Though almost stifled by the press, he was so much gratified that he could not help observing to those around him, " They little think in Portugal what honour is done us here."

nisrecep- 'pjig palacc, at which they arrived an hour before sunset, had a handsome

tion at tike ^ -^

i.aiacd appearance, and was surrounded by trees, and gardens adorned with fountains. It was entered by a series of five inclosm-es, each having its own separate gate ; and such was the eagerness of the populace to S(^ueeze themselves in, that several were crushed to death. At the grand entrance De Gama was received by the chief minister and high-priest, a little old man, who, after embracing him, took him with his attendants into the presence. The hall of audience was set round with seats, rising as in a theatre ; the floor was carpeted with gi-een velvet, and the walls hung round with silks of diverse colom's. At the head of the hall the zamorin lay reclined on a kind of sofa, with a covering of white silk wrought with gold, and a rich canopy overhead. He was a large, stout man, of dark complexion, advanced in years, and with something majestic in his appearance. He wore a short coat of fine caHco, adorned with branches and roses of beaten gold ; the buttons were large pearls. Another piece of white calico reached to his knees. A kind of mitre, ghttering with pearls and pre- cious stones, covered his head; liis ears were stning with jewels of the same kind ; and both his finders and toes were loaded with diamond rinofs. His aims and legs, left naked, were adorned with gold bracelets. Near him stood two gold basons and a gold fountain ; the one bason contained betel and areca nut, which was handed him by an attendant, the other received it when chewed ; the fountain supplied water to rinse his mouth.

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