‘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’ [‎74] (95/508)

74
the Travels Peter Delia Valle,
P77^-o /it'y J v
'/ t*} , ^ y/ tA e -s .
r //
^/'Z-£■ e ) jy/r ac/l* .
/ /
l< tCt e -Si.
J) y . ^ /
were fometimes bis Captains or Minirters, who having by de
grees pull 'd down the Principal (who was, if 1 miftake not, the
-King of Bifnaga on the South, and the King of Sceherbeder) are
become equal 5 and all without fuperiority fovereign Princes.
Amongft thefe, the nearefl: to the MoghoUve three Regult, or
pety Kings, all which yet have great dominion and ftrength,
and are at this day of the Sed: of the ^ for the having
«t firft been brought into India to ferve as flaves, are by degrees
become Mafters ^ and by oppreffing the Gentiles in many places
have much propagated their Religion. Ofthefe three Princes,
the neareft to the Moghol, whofe Territory lyes toward the Sea
on the Weft, and Contines with the Tortngals at Giatil and other
places, and who is properly ftyl'd King of Dackn^ ^ from the
greateft Province) is call'd by the name, or rather firname,
hereditary to all that reign in this State, Nizam Scikh, which
many interpret/?^ delta Lancia ^ King of the Lance^ alluding to
the Per/fan word Nize, which (ignifies a Lance 5 but I conceive
they are miftaken, becaufe his name is Nizam Scthh, and not
Nize Sciah^ as according to this interpretation it (hould be:
Wherefore! have heard others, perhaps, better interpret it, Rt
de' Falconi, King of Falcons^ or Hawks, from the word Nizam,
which in the Indian Tongue, they fay, fignifiesa Hawk or other
Bird of Prey. And whofoever reigns here, always retains this
lirname ^ becaufe whileft he was not anabfolute Prince, but a
Minifter of that other great King of this was his Title and
Office under that King. The now reigning, is a
Boy of twelve years old, who therefore doth not govern it, but
an Abyffine Slave of the Moors Religion, call'd Melik^Amber,
adminifters the State in his ftead, and that with fuch authority,
that at this day this Territory is more generally known and cali'd
by the name of Melickis Country, then the Kingdom of Nizam-
Sciah, Neverthelefs this Melik^Amber governs not fraudulently,
and with defign to ufurp, by keeping the King (hut up, as I have
fometimes heard 5 but according as I have better underftood
fince from perfons informed nearer hand, he adminifters with
great fidelity and fubmiffion towards the young King 5 to whom
fieverthelefs, they fay, he hath provided, or already given to
Wife a Daughter of his own , upon fecurity that himfelf fhall
be Governour of the whole State as long as he lives. This Melik
Amber \s a Man of great parts, and fit for government, but, as
they fay, very impious, addided to Sorcery 5 whereby 'tis
thought that he keeps himfelf in favour with his King, and that
for works of Inchantments, ( as to make prodigious buildings,
and with good luck, that the fame may laft perpetually and
lucceed well ) he hath with certain Superftitions us'd in thofe
Countries committed moft horrid impieties and cruelties, killing
hundreds of his Slave's Children, and others^ and offering
them as in Sacrifice to the invok'd Devils^with other abominable
ftories which I have heard related 5 but becaufe not feen by my
felf