‘The travels of Sig. Pietro della Valle, a noble Roman, into East-India and Arabia Deserta. In which, the several countries, together with the customs, manners, traffique, and rites both religious and civil, of those Oriental princes and nations, are faithfully described: In familiar letters to his friend Signior Mario Schipano. Whereunto is added a relation of Sir Thomas Roe’s voyage into the East-Indies’ [‎51] (72/508)

Into the EAS T-IN D I E S.. <1
\ ^ '
fomewhat rais 'd from the ground , wherein 'tis the cuftotneto/
read the Ring's Commandments publickly, when they are be
proclaim'd. Thence turning to the right hand, and paffing
another great Gate, and through a fair Street we came to the , , ^
Roval Palace} for Ahmtdabid is one of the four Cities,amongft
all the others of-nis Dominions, where the Grand Mogholhy™- .y
ticular priviledge hath i Palace and a Court ^ and accordingly /
becomes fometimesto refidc there. This Palace hath a great
fquare Court, furrounded with white and well pohfh d wallsi ,
the midft ftands a high Port to (hoot at with arrows, as is alfo
ufual in the Piazzaes of Pcrfia. On the left fide of the Court a# ^ ,
vou go in, are the Kings Lodgings, a fmall and low building.
What 'tis within fide, Iknownot, for I enter d not into it* but
without,'tis as followsUnder the Kings Windows is a fquare
place inclosed with a rail of colou ^d wood, and the pavement
fomewhat rais'd; within which, when the King is there, ate
wont to ftand certain Officers of the Militia, whom they caU
mnfubdat, and they are almoftthe fame with our Colonels ;
their Command extends not to above a Thoufand Horfe i no,r
are they all equal, but from a thoufand downwards, fomehave
more, fome lefs, under them. Within this indofure of the-
Manjubdary, under the King's Balconies, ftand twocarvd Ele
phants ofembols 'd work, but not large, painted with their natu
ral colours i and in the front of the Royal Lodgings, are othet
fuch Ornaments after their mode 3 of little connderation. Some
faid, that a while ago in one of the Balconies ftood expos d to
publick view an Image of the Virgin ^ir^plac'd there by Sctah
Selim 5 ( who , they fay, was devoted to her ) and to whom,
perhaps, it was given by one of our Priefts, who frequent his
Court out of adefireto draw hiip to the Chriftian Faith , but
theTmage was not ihere now, and p^ffibly, was taken away by
Sultan Chorrom his Son , (reported-an Enemy of the Chnitians
and their affairs) fince his coming to the Government ot thole
parts of Cuzarat. The ftation of the greater Captains, andoi
higher dignity then the Manjnhdary, as the CWand others ofc / -
that r?nk, is in the Kings Balconies ? or near hand above rt* 16
within the Rooms: The inferior Souldiers, that is, fuch as
have onely two or three Horfes, ftand upon the ground m the
Court without the above mention'd inclofure. In the front ot
the Court is another building, with an inclofure alio betore it,
but lefs adorned ^ 'tis the place where the King's Guard Itands
with all its Captains: And the fame order, I believe, is always
obferv d in the MoghUs Court, in whatfoever place or City
he happens to be. Within this Court is another on the left hand,
furrounded with>other buildings for neceffary Offices, but not
fo well built nor polifti'd. Having feen what we could of the
Royal Palace, we return^ by the (ame way we came to tnt
ftrcet of the great Market. From whence we went to lee a ^ s
famous Temple of Muhade#} to which there is hourly a grea /
- * jl 2 concourle A ^