‘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’ [‎23] (44/508)

Into the EAST-INDIES. 23
themoftpartis nothing but Rice, (the ancient food of all the
Indians 3 aecording to Straho) of which they have infinite plenty 5 tib; i f :'
and a little fillij which is found every where in abundance ; So
that every body^ven of mean fortune, keeps a great family, and ^
is fplendidly attended ^ which is eafie enough, confidering the y? ' /f
very fmall charge, as I faid, and on the other fide the very con-
fiderable gains of traffick wherein moft men areimploy d, and
the incomes of the Land, through its incredible fruitfulnels, I
dare fay, unmeafurable. Upon this occafion I mult not forget, r ^
that amongft the Indian Men, both Mahometans and Pagans, ^
agreably to what Strabo teftifies, they did ot old wear onely
white linnen, more orleisfine according to the quality of the
perfons, and the convenience they have of fpending : which
linnen is altogether ofBumbaft or Cotton, (there being no Flax
m India) and for the moft part very fine, in comparifonofthole q
of our Countries. The Garment which they put next to thefkin,
(erves both for Coat and Shirt from the girdle upwards, being
adorn'd upon the breaft,and hanging down in many folds to the
middle of the Leg. Under this Caflack from the girdle down
wards, they wear a pair of long Drawers of the fame Cloth,
which cover not only their Thighs 5 but legs alfo to the Feet 5 and
'tis a piece of gallantry to have it wrinkled in many folds upon
the Legs. The naked Feet are no other wife confin d but to a
flipper, and that eafie to be pull'd off without the help of the
Hand 5 this mode being convenient, in regard of the heat of
the Country, and the frequent ufe of (landing and walking upon
Tapiftry in their Chambers. Laftly, the Head with all the hair,
which the Gentiles (as of old they did alfo, by the report of
Strabo') keep long, contrary to the Mahometans who (have it, Lib( ^
is bound up in a fmall and very neat Turbant, of almoft a qua
drangular form,a little long, and flat on the top : They who go
moft gallant, ufe to wear their Turbant only ftrip'd with filkof
feveral colours upon the white, and fometimes with Gold 3 and
likewife their girdles wrought of Silk and Gold, inftead of
plain white.I was fo taken with this Indian drefs, in regard of its
clcaniiefs and eafinefs 3 and for the goodly (hew me-thought it had
oahorf-back,with the Scemiter girt on, and the buckler hanging
at a (houlder belt, befides a broad and fhort dagger of a very
ftrange iliape ty'd with taflell'd firings to the girdle, that!
caused one to be made for my felf, complete in every point, and
to carry with me to fhew it in Italy, The Mahometan Women,
efpecially of the Mogholians, and Souldiers of other extraneous
defcents, who yet are here efteem'djgo clad likewife all in white^
either plain, or wrought with Gold-flowers 5 of which work
there are fome very goodly and fine pieces. Their upper Gar
ment is fhort, more befeeming a Man then a Woman, and much
of the fame fhape with thofe of Men : Sometimes they wear a
Turbant too upon their heads, like Men, colour'd and wrought
with Gold : Sometimes they wear onely fillets either white or