‘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’ [‎22] (43/508)

The traveh 0/Peter Delia Valle,
/if tsrt
&
whole Torrid Zone, (in thefe things very different from ours)
I (hall fay briefly once for all, that they arc fuch and fo many,
that to write fully of them would require exprefs volumes,
and make as big as thole of Diojcoridcs and Vlitty^ all of things
f F y /V unknown to us. Neverthelefs, the curiofity of the Portugals, and
other Eur0 p eans w ho trade in thefe parts, hath hitherto been fo
//. f ma ll that I know not any that have fpoken and obferv'd any
y 7 r\ t hing in this kind, befides the three Authors above mentioned.
////^^ 'And they have written of very few things, although of thofe
few they have written faithfully and well 5 and I, who have
read them all with diligence, have madelbme not unprofitable
Notes upon them, which I keep in Manufcript by me , and you
may fee one day 5 when it fhall pleafe God to bring us together,
lil for the Dutch Commendator, and the Englifh Prefident alfo,
[ /?/ ^ 7 ' who came frequently in this manner to carry me abroad 5 I muft
\ Of y / Z 7 not forbear to fay, that both of them live in fufficient fplendor,
an( i a ft er the manner of the greateft perfons of the Country.
They go abroad with a great train, fometimes alfo of their own
men on Horfe-back 5 but efpecially with a great number of Indi
an fervants on foot, arm'd according to the mode, with Sword,
Buckler, Bows, and Arrows. For 'tis the cuftome of fervants in
piUc'aJ India^ whether Mahometans or Gentiles, to go alwayes arm'd
not onely upon a journey but alfo in the City, and to ferve in
the houfe all day with the fame weapons by their fides, and never
to lay them off, faving at night when they go to deep. Moreover,
thefe Governoursof the two Frank or Chriftian Nations which
refide in Surht , ufe to have carry'd before their Coach or
Horfe when they ride^ a very high Bannerol or Streamer by a
man on foot; (which likewife is the cuftome of all men of qua
lity here) and likewife to have a fadled Horfe lead by hand be
fore them : And not onely they who are publick perfons, but
any private perfon whatever, of whatever Country or Religion,
may in thefe parts live with as much grandeur and equipage as
he pleafes : and fuch is the liberty here, that every one may do 3
if he will and be able, as much as the King himfelf. Hence, gene
rally all live much after a genteel way ^ and they do it fecurely,
as well becaufe the King doth not perfecute his fubjeds with falfe
accufations, nor deprive them of any thing when he fees them
live fplendidly, and with the appearances of riches^ ( as is often
done in other Mahometan Countries ) as becaufe the Indians
are inclin'd to thefe vanities s and fervants coft very little, in
regard of the multitude of people, and the fmall charge where
with the common fort are maintain'd j for a fimple Servant, who
is not an Officer, commonly in the beft houfes, between wa^es.,
victuals, and clothing, ftands not in more then three Rupia a
moneth, amounting to about the value of a Venetian Zecchine,
or ten (hillings fterling. Of Slaves there is a numerous company,
and they live with nothing, their clothing is onely white linnen,
which though fine, is bought very cheap 5 and their dyet for
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