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e same stone； outside as well as in。 And all this pagoda； as far round as the temple goes； is enclosed by a trellis made of the same stone； and this again is completely surrounded by a very strong wall； better even than the city has； since it is all of solid masonry。 It has three entrance gates； which gates are very large and beautiful； and the entrance from one of these sides； being towards the east and facing the door of the pagoda； has some structures like verandahs； small and low； where sit some JOGIS；＇385＇ and inside this enclosure； which has other little pagodas of a reddish colour； there is a stone like the mast of a ship； with its pedestal four…sided； and from thence to the top eight…sided； standing in the open air。 I was not astonished at it； because I have seen the needle of St。 Peters at Rome； which is as high； or more。＇386＇
These pagodas are buildings in which they pray and have their idols； the idols are of many sorts； namely； figures of men and women； of bulls； and apes； while others have nothing but a round stone which they worship。 In this temple of Darcha is an idol in the figure of a man as to his body； and the face is that of an elephant with trunk and tusks；＇387＇ and with three arms on each side and six hands； of which arms they say that already four are gone； and when all fall then the world will be destroyed they are full of belief that this will be； and hold it as a prophecy。 They feed the idol every day； for they say that he eats； and when he eats women dance before him who belong to that pagoda； and they give him food and all that is necessary； and all girls born of these women belong to the temple。 These women are of loose character； and live in the best streets that there are in the city； it is the same in all their cities； their streets have the best rows of houses They are very much esteemed； and are classed amongst those honoured ones who are the mistresses of the captains； any respectable man may go to their houses without any blame attaching thereto。 These women （are allowed） even to enter the presence of the wives of the king； and they stay with them and eat betel with them； a thing which no other person may do； no matter what his rank may be。 This betel is a herb which has a leaf like the leaf of the pepper； or the ivy of our country； they always eat this leaf； and carry it in their mouths with another fruit called areca。 This is something like a medlar； but it is very hard； and it is very good for the breath and has many other virtues； it is the best provision for those who do not eat as we do。 Some of them eat flesh； they eat all kinds except beef and pork； and yet； nevertheless； they cease not to eat this betel all day。
Afterwards going from this city of Darcha towards the city of Bisnaga；＇388＇ which is eighteen leagues distant； and is the capital of all the kingdom of Narsymga； where the king always resides； you have many cities and walled villages； and two leagues before you arrive at the city of Bisnaga you have a very lofty SERRA which has passes by which you enter the city。 These are called 〃gates〃 （PORTAS）。 You must enter by these； for you will have no means of entrance except by them。 This range of hills surrounds the city with a circle of twenty…four leagues； and within this range there are others that encircle it closely。 Wherever these ranges have any level ground they cross it with a very strong wall； in such a way that the hills remain all closed； except in the places where the roads come through from the gates in the first range； which are the entrance ways to the city。 In such places there are some small pits （or caves？）＇389＇ which could be defended by a few people； these SERRAS continue as far as the interior of the city。 Between all these enclosures are plains and valleys where rice is grown； and there are gardens with many orange…trees； limes； citrons； and radishes （RABAOS）； and other kinds of garden produce as in Portugal； only not lettuces or cabbages。 Between these hill…ranges are many lakes by which they irrigate the crops mentioned； and amongst all these ranges there are no forests or patches of brushwood； except very small ones； nor anything that is green。 For these hills are the strangest ever seen； they are of a white stone piled one block over another in manner most singular； so that it seems as if they stood in the air and were not connected one with another； and the city is situated in the middle of these hills and is entirely surrounded by them。
The SERRAS reach as far as the kingdom of Daquem；＇390＇ and border upon the territories belonging to the Ydallcao； and upon a city called Rachol that formerly belonged to the king of Narsymga； there has been much war over it； and this king took it from the Ydallcao。 So that these ranges are in a way the cause （of the two kingdoms） never uniting and always being at war； and even on the side of Orya also there are ranges； but they are different from these； since like ours they have scrub and small patches of brushwood； these ranges are low and between them are great plains。 On the extreme east of these two kingdoms you must know that the country is all covered with scrub； the densest possible to be seen； in which there are great beasts； and （this） forms so strong a fortress for it that it protects both sides； it has its entrances by which they pass from one kingdom to the other。 In these passes on the frontier the king of Narsymga has a captain with a quantity of troops； but on the side of （Portuguese） India he has none； except as I have said。
Now turning to the gates of the first range； I say that at the entrance of the gate where those pass who come from Goa； which is the principal entrance on the western side； this king has made within it a very strong city＇391＇ fortified with walls and towers； and the gates at the entrances very strong； with towers at the gates； these walls are not like those of other cities； but are made of very strong masonry such as would be found in few other parts； and inside very beautiful rows of buildings made after their manner with flat roofs。 There live in this many merchants； and it is filled with a large population because the king induces many honourable merchants to go there from his cities； and there is much water in it。 Besides this the king made a tank＇392＇ there； which； as it seems to me； has the width of a falcon…shot；＇393＇ and it is at the mouth of two hills； so that all the water which comes from either one side or the other collects there； and； besides this； water comes to it from more than three leagues by pipes which run along the lower parts of the range outside。 This water is brought from a lake which itself overflows into a little river。 The tank has three large pillars handsomely carved with figures； these connect above with certain pipes by which they get water when they have to irrigate their gardens and rice…fields。 In order to make this tank the said king broke down a hill which enclosed the ground occupied by the said tank。 In the tank I saw so many people at work that there must have been fifteen or twenty thousand men； looking like ants； so that you could not see the ground on which they walked； so many there were； this tank the king portioned out amongst his