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eir own； for the kingdom belongs entirely to the King；＇611＇ only the captains are put to charges on account of the troops for whom the King makes them responsible； and whom they are obliged to provide in the way of service。 Every Saturday the dancing…girls are obliged to go to the palace to dance and posture before the King's idol； which is in the interior of his palace。 The people of this country always fast on Saturdays and do not eat all day nor even at night； nor do they drink water； only they may chew a few cloves to sweeten the breath。 The King always gives large sums in charity； in the palace there are always two or three thousand Brahmans who are his priests； and to whom the King commands to give alms。 These Brahman priests are very despicable men； they always have much money； and are so insolent that even by using blows the guards of the door cannot hold them in check。
The captains and principal people use＇612＇ at night torches of oil； from four to twelve torches （according to rank）； those of highest rank having twelve at most。 The King； however； must have a hundred or a hundred and fifty torches。 There is much wax in the country； but they do not know how to work it。 Every merchant who brings merchandise in horses and other things which he may have brought to sell to the King； if he desires an audience； has to offer him a present of a piece of goods or a horse of the best that he has brought； in order that he may obtain an audience and transact his business。 And this not only to the King。 You must perforce pay bribes to all the several officers with whom you have to deal。 They will do nothing without some profit to themselves
When any one suffers wrong and wishes to represent his case to the King he shows how great is his suffering by lying flat on his face on the ground till they ask him what it is he wants。 If； perchance； he wishes to speak to the King while he is riding； he takes the shaft of a spear and ties a branch to it and thus goes along calling out。 Then they make room for him； and he makes his complaint to the King； and it is there and then settled without more ado； and the King orders a captain； one of those who go with him； to do at once what the supplicant asks。 If he complains that he was robbed in such and such a province and in such and such a road； the King sends immediately for the captain of that province； even though he be at court； and the captain may be seized and his property taken if he does not catch the thief。 In the same way the chief bailiff＇613＇ is obliged to give an account of the robberies in the capital； and in consequence very few thefts take place； and even if some are committed； you give some little present and a description of the man who stole from you； and they will soon know by the agency of the wizards whether the thief be in the city or not； for there are very powerful wizards in this country。 Thus there are very few thieves in the land。
This King has continually fifty thousand paid soldiers； amongst whom are six thousand horsemen who belong to the palace guard； to which six thousand belong the two hundred who are obliged to ride with him。 He has also twenty thousand spearmen and shield…bearers； and three thousand men to look after the elephants in the stables； he has sixteen hundred grooms＇614＇ who attend to the horses； and has also three hundred horse trainers＇615＇ and two thousand artificers； namely blacksmiths； masons； and carpenters； and washermen who wash clothes。 These are the people he has and pays every day； he gives them their allowance at the gate of the palace。 To the six thousand horsemen the King gives horses free and gives provision for them every month； and all these horses are marked with the King's mark； when they die they are obliged to take the piece of skin containing the mark to Madanarque； the chief master of the horse； so that he may give them another； and these horses which he gives are mostly country…breds which the King buys； twelve or fifteen for a thousand PARDAOS。＇616＇ The King every year buys thirteen thousand horses of Ormuz； and country…breds； of which he chooses the best for his own stables； and he gives the rest to his captains； and gains much money by them； because after taking out the good Persian horses； he sells those which are country…bred； and gives five for a thousand PARDAOS； and they are obliged to pay him the money for them within the month of September； and with the money so obtained he pays for the Arabs that he buys of the Portuguese； in such a way that his captains pay the cost of the whole without anything going out of the Treasury。
This King has also within his gates more than four thousand women； all of whom live in the palace； some are dancing…girls； and others are bearers＇617＇ who carry the King's wives on their shoulders； and the King also in the interior of the palace； for the king's houses are large and there are great intervals between one house and another。 He has also women who wrestle； and others who are astrologers and soothsayers； and he has women who write all the accounts of expenses that are incurred inside the gates； and others whose duty it is to write all the affairs of the kingdom and compare their books with those of the writers outside； he has women also for music； who play instruments and sing。 Even the wives of the King are well versed in music。
The King has other women besides。 He has ten cooks for his personal service； and has others kept for times when he gives banquets； and these ten prepare the food for no one save for the King alone。 He has a eunuch for guard at the gate of the kitchen； who never allows any one to enter for fear of poison。 When the King wishes to eat； every person withdraws； and then come some of the women whose duty it is and they prepare the table for him； they place for him a three…footed stool； round； made of gold； and on it put the messes。 These are brought in large vessels of gold； and the smaller messes in basins of gold； some of which are adorned with precious stones。 There is no cloth on the table； but one is brought when the King has finished eating； and he washes his hands and mouth。 Women and eunuchs serve him at table。 The wives of the King remain each in her own chamber and are waited on by maid…servants。 It is said that he has judges； as well as bailiffs and watchmen who every night guard the palace； and all these are women。
The King never puts on any garment more than once； and when he takes it off he at once delivers it to certain officers who have charge of this duty； and they render an account； and these garments are never given to any one。 This is considered to show great state。 His clothes are silk cloths （PACHOIIS）＇618＇ of very fine material and worked with gold； which are worth each one ten PARDAOS； and they wear at times BAJURIS of the same sort； which are like shirts with a skirt； and on the head they wear caps of brocade which they call CULAES；＇619＇ and one of these is worth some twenty cruzados。 When he lifts it from his head he never again puts it on。
The punishments that they inflict in this kingdom are these： for a thief； whatever theft he commits； howsoever little it be； they forthwith cut off a foot and a hand； and if his theft be a great one he is hanged with a hook under his chin。 If a man outrages a respectable woman or a virgin he has the same punishment； and if he does any other such violence his punishment is of a like kind。 Nobles who become traitors are sent to be impaled alive on a wooden stake thrust through the belly； and people of the lower orders； for whatever crime they commit； he forthwith commands to cut off their heads in the market…place； and the same for a murder unless the death was the result of a duel。 For great honour is done to those who fight in a duel； and they give the estate of the dead man to the survivor； but no one fights a duel without first asking leave of the minister； who forthwith grants it。 These are the common kinds of punishments； but they have others more fanciful； for when the King so desires； he commands a man to be thrown to the elephants； and they tear him in pieces。 The people are so subject to him that if you told a man on the part of the King that he must stand still in a street holding a st