"رحلات السيد بيترو ديلا فالي، وهو نبيل روماني، إلى الهند الشرقية وصحراء الجزيرة العربية. وفيها يصف بدقة البلدان المختلفة، وكذلك العادات، الأعراف، التجارة، الطقوس الدينية والمدنية، لهؤلاء الأمراء وتلك الأمم الشرقية: في رسائل وديّة إلى صديقه السيد ماريو سكيبانو. وتم إضافة سرد عن رحلة السير توماس رو إلى جزر الهند الشرقية" [‎١‎٣‎٣] (٥٠٨/١٥٤)

Into the EAST-INDIES.
y
I underftood was dedicated to an Idol call'd Jgore Scuara, who,
they fay, is the fame with Mahadw, although they reprefenc
him not in the fame fhape with that I faw of Mahadeu in *
Cmnhaid* but in the (hape of a Man, with but one Head and
Face a and fixteen Arms on each (ide (in all thirty two) , which
is not ftrauge, fince our Antients call'd many of their Idols by
names iufficiently different, and pourtray'd them in feveral
fhapc&5 and wherein alfo I underftood there was an Idol of Var~
ved, who is the Wife of Mahadeu, though the Temple be not
dedicated to her J: I faw 5 I fay 5 in the Piazza one of their Fryers „
ir Gjatjgami, clad allin white, fitting in ah handfome -
no, with two great white Umbrellaes, held over him, one on
each fide 5 (which two were for the more gravity) and a Horfe led
behind, being follow'd by a great train of other Giangami^ clad
in their ordinary habits. Before t\it ?aUnchind y march'd a nu
merous company of Souldiers, and other people, many Drums
and tifcs, two ftrait long Trumpets, and fuch brafs Timbrels as
are us'd in Per/ta,Bells and divers other Inftrumfents,which found
ed as loud as poflible,and amongft tbem was a troop of Dancing-
women adorn'd with Girdles,Ringsupon their Legs,Neck-laces,
and other ornaments of Gold, and with certain Pedforals or
Breaft-plates, almoft round, in the faftion of a Shield, and but
ting out with a Charp ridg before, embroyder'd vyith Gold, and
ftuck either with Jewels or fome iiich things v^hjeh refledted the
Sun-beams With marvellous fplendor 3 as to the reft of their
bodies, they were uncover'd , without any Veil or Head-tire.^
When they came to the Piazza, the Palanchino ftood ftill,and the
multitude having made a ring, the Dancing-women fell to dance q
after their manner , which was much like the Morif-dance ©f
ita1p y jor\dj the Dancers fung as they dane'd, which feem'd much /
better : One of them, who, perhaps, was theMiftrefsof the
ieft, dane'd alone byherfelf, with extravagant and high jump-
ings, but alwayes looking towards the Valanchino : Sometimes
(he cowr'd down with her hanches almoft to the ground, fome-
times leaping up (he ftruck them with her Feet backwards,
(zs Ctelius Rhodiginus relates of the ancient dance call'd Bibafi)
continually linging and making feveral geftures with her Hands 5
but after a barbarous manner, and fuch as amongft us would not
be thought handfome. The Dance being ended, the FaUnchino
with all the train went forward, the Inftruments continually
playing before them. Ifollow'd to fee the end, and found that
thejy went into the chief ftreet, and (bout of the City by the
Gate which leads toSagher, flopping in divers places of the ftreet
to act the fame, or the like dances over again, and particular
ly, in the Entrance ofthefaid Gate, where,amongft many Trees
and Indian Canes which make the City-Wall, thereisafmall
Piazza, very eeven, and (haded about, like a Paftoral Scene,
and very handfome. Atlaft xheGiangawo with his Talanchind
and train, enter'd into certain Gardens without the Gate, where
' b\8
m
i
So
illi
]