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a forgotten empire-vijayanagar-第61章

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omes from two lakes。 The water passes through this first line of wall; and there is much water in the lakes because of springs; and here there are orchards and a little grove of palms; and many houses。

Returning; then; to the first gate of the city; before you arrive at it you pass a little piece of water and then you arrive at the wall; which is very strong; all of stonework; and it makes a bend before you arrive at the gate; and at the entrance of this gate are two towers; one on each side; which makes it very strong。 It is large and beautiful。 As soon as you pass inside there are two little temples; one of them has an enclosing wall with many trees; while the whole of the other consists of buildings; and this wall of the first gate encircles the whole city。 Then going forward you have another gate with another line of wall; and it also encircles the city inside the first; and from here to the king's palace is all streets and rows of houses; very beautiful; and houses of captains and other rich and honourable men; you will see rows of houses with many figures and decorations pleasing to look at。 Going along the principal street; you have one of the chief gateways;'412' which issues from a great open space'413' in front of the king's palace; opposite this is another which passes along to the other side of the city; and across this open space pass all the carts and conveyances carrying stores and everything else; and because it is in the middle of the city it cannot but be useful。

This palace of the king is surrounded by a very strong wall like some of the others; and encloses a greater space (TERAA MOOR CERCA) than all the castle of Lisbon。

Still going forward; passing to the other gate you see two temples connected with it; one on each side; and at the door of one of these they kill every day many sheep; for in all the city they do not kill any sheep for the use of the heathen (Hindus); or for sale in the markets; except at the gate of this pagoda。 Of their blood they make sacrifices to the idol that is in the temple。 They leave the heads to him; and for each sheep they give a SACO (CHAKRAM); which is a coin like a CARTILHA (QUARTILHA  a farthing)。

There is present at the slaughter of these beasts a JOGI (priest) who has charge of the temple; and as soon as they cut off the head of the sheep or goat this JOGI blows a horn as a sign that the idol receives that sacrifice。 Hereafter I shall tell of these JOGIS; what sort of men they are。'414'

Close to these pagodas is a triumphal car covered with carved work and images; and on one day in each year during a festival they drag this through the city in such streets as it can traverse。 It is large and cannot turn corners。

Going forward; you have a broad and beautiful street; full of rows of fine houses and streets of the sort I have described; and it is to be understood that the houses belong to men rich enough to afford such。 In this street live many merchants; and there you will find all sorts of rubies; and diamonds; and emeralds; and pearls; and seed…pearls; and cloths; and every other sort of thing there is on earth and that you may wish to buy。 Then you have there every evening a fair where they sell many common horses and nags (ROCIS E SEMDEIROS); and also many citrons; and limes; and oranges; and grapes; and every other kind of garden stuff; and wood; you have all in this street。 At the end of it you have another gate with its wall; which wall goes to meet the wall of the second gate of which I have spoken in such sort that this city has three fortresses; with another which is the king's palace。 Then when this gate is passed you have another street where there are many craftsmen; and they sell many things; and in this street there are two small temples。 There are temples in every street; for these appertain to institutions like the confraternities you know of in our parts;'415' of all the craftsmen and merchants; but the principal and greatest pagodas are outside the city。 In this street lodged Christovao de Figueiredo。 On every Friday you have a fair there; with many pigs and fowls and dried fish from the sea; and other things the produce of the country; of which I do not know the name; and in like manner a fair is held every day in different parts of the city。 At the end of this street is the Moorish quarter; which is at the very end of the city; and of these Moors there are many who are natives of the country'416' and who are paid by the king and belong to his guard。 In this city you will find men belonging to every nation and people; because of the great trade which it has; and the many precious stones there; principally diamonds。

The size of this city I do not write here; because it cannot all be seen from any one spot; but I climbed a hill whence I could see a great part of it; I could not see it all because it lies between several ranges of hills。 What I saw from thence seemed to me as large as Rome; and very beautiful to the sight; there are many groves of trees within it; in the gardens of the houses; and many conduits of water which flow into the midst of it; and in places there are lakes (TAMQUES); and the king has close to his palace a palm…grove and other rich…bearing fruit…trees。 Below the Moorish quarter is a little river; and on this side are many orchards and gardens with many fruit…trees; for the most part mangoes and areca…palms and jack…trees; and also many lime and orange trees; growing so closely one to another that it appears like a thick forest; and there are also white grapes。 All the water which is in the city comes from the two tanks of which I have spoken; outside the first enclosing wall。

The people in this city are countless in number; so much so that I do not wish to write it down for fear it should be thought fabulous; but I declare that no troops; horse or foot; could break their way through any street or lane; so great are the numbers of the people and elephants。

This is the best provided city in the world; and is stocked with provisions such as rice; wheat; grains; Indian…corn; and a certain amount of barley and beans; MOONG;'417' pulses; horse…gram;'418' and many other seeds which grow in this country which are the food of the people; and there is large store of these and very cheap; but wheat is not so common as the other grains; since no one eats it except the Moors。 But you will find what I have mentioned。 The streets and markets are full of laden oxen without count; so that you cannot get along for them; and in many streets you come upon so many of them that you have to wait for them to pass; or else have to go by another way。 There is much poultry; they give three fowls in the city for a coin worth a VINTEM;'419' which coins are called FAVAOS;'420' outside the city they give four fowls for a VINTEM。

In this country there are many partridges; but they are not of the same sort or quality as ours: they are like the ESTARNAS'421' of Italy。

There are three sorts of these: one class has only a small spur such as those of Portugal have; another class has on each foot two very sharp spurs; almost as long and thick as one's finger; the other class is painted; and of these you will find the markets full; as also of
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