At Night He Drinks With His
Nobles From Rich Plate, To Which I Was Invited; But, Being Told That I
Must Not Refuse To Drink, And Their Liquors Being Excessively Hot And
Strong, I Durst Not Stay To Endanger My Health, Being Already Somewhat
Indisposed With A Slight Dysentery.
On the 9th September the king rode out to take the air on the banks of
the river Darbadath, [Nerbuddah] a distance of five cosses.
As he was
to pass my house, I mounted my horse to meet him; and, as it is the
custom for all men whose gates he passes, to make him some present,
which is taken as a good sign, and is called mombareck, or good news;
and as I had nothing to give, neither could go with nothing, nor stay
without offence, I ventured to take with me a fair book, well bound,
filleted, and gilt, being the last edition of Mercator's Maps of the
World, which I presented, saying, That I had nothing worthy the
acceptance of so great a king, but begged to offer him the world, in
which he had so great and rich a share. He accepted it in good part,
laying his hand repeatedly on his breast, saying, that every thing which
came from me was welcome. He asked about the arrival of our ships, which
I said we daily expected. He then said, he had some fat wild-hogs lately
sent him from Goa, and if I would eat any he would send me some at his
return, I made him due reverence, answering, that any thing from his
majesty was to me a feast.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 560 of 910
Words from 152418 to 152692
of 247546
