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SIR THOMAS ROE’S VOYAGE TO INOIA»

fador prefented him a horfe. Next behind came three palankines, the carriages andfeet ot one plated with gold, fet at the ends with ftones, and covered with crimfon.velvet embroidered with pearl, and a fringe of great pearl hanging in ropes a footdeep, a border about it let with rubies and emeralds. A footman carried a foot-llool of gold let with ftones. The other two palankines were covered and lined onlywith cloth of gold. Next followed the Englilh coach, newly covered and richlyadorned, which he had given to Queen Normahall, who fat in it. After them a third,in which fat his younger fons. Then followed about twenty elephants royal, led forhim to mount, fo rich in ftones and furniture, that they glittered like the fun. Everyelephant had fundry flags of cloth of filver, gilt fatin and taffety. His noblemen hefullered to walk afoot, which I did to the gate, and left him. His wives on their ele-phants were carried half a mile behind him. When he came before the door where hiseldeft fon is prifoner, he ftayed the coach and called for him. He came and madereverence, with a fword and buckler in his hand, his beard grown to his middle, afign of disfavour. The King commanded him to mount one of the fpare elephants,and fo rode next to him, with extraordinary applaufe and joy of all men, who w'erenow filled with new hopes. The King gave him one thoufand roupies to caft to thepeople. His gaoler Afaph Chan, and all thofe monfters were yet afoot. I took horfeto avoid the crowd and other inconveniences, and croflfed out of the lelkar before him,waiting till he came near his tents. He paffed all the way between a guard of elephants,having every one a turret on his back, and on the four corners of each four banners ofyellow taffety, and right before a piece of cannon carrying a bullet as big as a tennis-ball, the gunner behind it. They were in ail about three hundred. Other elephantsof ftate went before and behind; being about fix hundred, all which were coveredwith velvet, or cloth of gold, and had two or three gilded banners. Several footmenran along the way with fkins of water to lay the dull before the King. No horfe orman was fuffered to come within two furlongs of the coach, except thofe that v/alkedby afoot. So that I halted to his tents to attend his alighting. They were walled inabout half an Englilh mile in compafs, in form of a fort, with feveral angles andbulwarks, and high curtains of a coarfe ftuff made like arras, red on the outfide, andwithin figures in panes, with a handfome gate-houfe, every poll that bore thefe upheaded with brafs. The throng was great, I had a mind to go in ; no man was per-mitted, the greateft in the land fitting at the door: however I made an offer, andthey admitted me, but refufed the Perfian ambaffador, and all the noblemen. Herefirft the Perfian ambaffador faluted me with a filent compliment. In the midft of thiscourt was a throne of mother of pearl borne on two pillars raifed on earth, coveredover with a high tent, the pole headed with a knob of gold ; under that, canopies ofcloth of gold, and under foot carpets. When the King drew near the door, fomenoblemen came in, and the Perfian ambaffador. We ftood on both fides making aline. The King entering caft his eye on me ; I made him reverence, and he laid hishand on his breaft and bowed, and turning to the other fide nodded to the Perfian. Ifollowed at his heels till he went up, and every man cried, joy and good fortune ; andfo we took our places. He called for water, waffled his hands, and departed. Hiswomen went in fome other way to their apartment, and his fon I faw not. Withinthis inclolure were about thirty divifions with tents. All the noblemen retired to theirs,which were in excellent forms, fome all white, fome green, fome mixed, all inclofedas orderly as any houfe, in the moft magnificent manner I ever faw. The vale (hewedlike a beautiful city, for the baggage made no confufion. I was ill provided with car-nage and afhamed of my equipage ; for five years allowance would not have provided

. VOL. VIII, e ' mi

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