‘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’ [‎17] (38/508)

Into the E AS T~lN D I E S. ij
Gentile-Idolaters in India , which are more new to me 5 and
with fisich obfervations in reference to both., as (hallfeem worthy
of notice, 1 (hall not fail to acquaint you. In the firft place,, I
{hall give you the relation of a Nuptial Pomp, which I faw one ??7& <? / )
day pafs by my hdufe in this manner 5 A long train of men with ^
Drums and Trumpets Before them march'd in the day time
firft, carrying cover'd bafkets full of fundry things, which were
either a Prefent fent from the Bridegroom to the Bride, or rather
the attiring of the Bride, which ufes tp be publickly fhewn in the
Eaft. Then follow'd on foot likewife fome black Women-ilaves,
well cloth'd, being given to the Bride either by the Father or the
Hufband. Laftly, to conclude the Pomp, came a Palanchino,
a kind of Litter, wherein perfons of quality are wont to be
carry'd in India. It was not of the ordinary form, which hang
downwards upon one pole between the bearers before and be
hind 5 but it was to be carry 5 d on high upon poles by four men,
one at each corner, and it was cover'd all'over with (ilk * yet no
body was within it 5 lb that I know not what it ferv d for, unlels
haply it was intended to tranfport the Bride to her Hufband 5
this different fafhion being for greater folemnity made ufe of, in
fuchan occafion as Marriage. At night the married couples
pafs'd by, and, according to their mode, went round about the
City with a numerous company. They were four,all very fmall
Children,two boys and two girls > ('for in India, moft Marriages
are made at that age J and becaufe they were not big enough
to ride on Horfe-back alone, therefore they were held up by fo
many well-grown men who fat upon the faddle. Before them
went many Torches and Mufical inftruments, with a great troOpi
of people on foot accompanying them* But the perfons of qua
lity follow'd in Coaches, of which there was a good number,
and going one by one they made a very long train y whereby it
was known that the married Children were of confiderable
quality. 1
Of remarkable things without the City, there is on ode fide VI f/
a very large Ciftern or Artificial Pool, furrounded with ftorie-
work,^and contriv'd with many fides and angles, at which there ^ / / </?
are ftairs leading down to the fur face of the water. Inthemidft *
ftands a little Ifland, which cannot begone to but by boat of
fwimming. The Diametreof this Artificial Lake is two good
furlongs, which in our parts would feem a competent largenefs,
but here 'tis not much; and this Fifh-pond of Surat isnotac- '
counted among the greateft, but the leaft in India ^ where indeed
they are numerous, and the moft magnificent and goodly
ftruftures, or rather, the only ftruftures in this Country which
have any thing of magnificence or handfomenefs. Thtey are made
in divers places by Princes, Governours of Countries, or other
wealthy perfons^tor the publick benefit,and as works of Charity 5
becaufe the foil, futable to the Climatej is fufficiently hot 3 and
aboundeth not in water ; Rivers are not in all places 5 and
D othe^