Chewing These Ingredients Makes The
Spittle Very Red, Causes A Great, Flow Of Saliva, And Occasions A Great
Appetite; It Also Makes The Teeth Very Black, And The Blacker They Are
Is Considered As So Much The More Fashionable.
Having recovered his
appetite by this means, he returns again to banqueting.
By way of
change, when his belly is again gorged, he goes into the river to bathe,
where he has a place made on purpose, and gets a fresh appetite by being
in the water. He, with his women and great men, do nothing but eat,
drink, and talk of venery; so that, if the poets have any truth, then is
this king the great Bacchus, for he practises all the ceremonies of
gluttony. He spends his whole time in eating and drinking with his
women, or in cock-fighting. Such is the king, and such are his subjects;
for the whole land is entirely given to such habits of enjoyment.
[Footnote 40: Areka is the nut, and betel the leaf in which it is
wrapped, along with chunam, or lime, called sharp-chalk in the
text. - E.]
While, in all parts of Christendom, it is the custom to uncover the head
in token of reverence, it is here the direct contrary; as, before any
man can come into, the presence of this king, he must put off his shoes
and stockings, coming before him bare-footed and bare-legged, holding
his hands joined over his head, bowing his body, and saying dowlat;
which duty performed, he sits down, cross-legged, in the king's
presence.
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