‘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’ [‎152] (173/508)

The travels of Peter Delia Valle,
of Matigalor. I rook with me dXfo zBrcichmanczW&Narfu^ a
Native of Maxtor, to fcrve me for an Interpreter with the
Qjeen, ('although my Chriftian Servant fpokc the Language
well) pr-rtly, that I might have more perfons with me toferve
me. and partly, becaufe the Bachman being a Gentile, known
and vers 'd " in this Court, might be more ferviceable to me in
many things r than my own Servant 5 lo havingpio\ uled what
was needful, and prep a r'd visuals to dine with upon the River
by the way, which is (cmewhat long, Idetermind to ict forth
the next Morning.
December the fourthsBefore day-light I took boat at Mangafor,^
in which there were three Water-men, two of which row'dac
the Prow, and one at, the Poop with a broad Oar, which (erv d
both for an Oare and a Helm. Having pafs d by Bronghel, we
enter'd into the great Northern River, in which on the left hand
is a place where paflage-boats laden with Merchandize pay a
Tole to the Minifters of Venkrtapk Naieba, to whom the circum
jacent Region is fubjeft. Rowing a great way againfl: the
ftream, the water whereof for a good fpace is fait, at length we
ftay'd to dine at a Town call'd Sale, inhabited for the moft part
by Moors, and fituate on the right bank as you go up the River.
This Town with others round it, is fubjeft to an Indian-Gentile
Lord, call'd Ramo Ran, who in all hath not above 2000 Pay-
gods of yearly Revenew, of which he payes about 800. to Venh^
taph Naieka, to whom he is Tributary. Neverthelefs he wears
the Title of King, and they call hm Omgiu Arfu, that is, King
otOwgiu, which is his chief place. Having din'd and refteda
while, we continu'd our Voyage, and after a good fpace enter'd
into the State of the Queen of Oloza, to whom the Country on
either fide the River belongs. The River is here very {hallow,
fo that though our boat wasbutfmall, yet in many places we
ftruck againft the ground ^ at length about Evening we arriy'd
at AJanel ^ fo they call the place where the Queen of Olazt
now refides, which isonely a Street of a few Cottages or Sheds
rather then Houfes; but the Country is open, fair and fruitful,
inhabited by abundance of little Houfes and Cottages here and
there of Hufband-men, befides thofe united to the great Street
caird tht Bazar, or Market •, all which are comprehended under
the name of Man} I, which lies on the left fide of the River as you
go againft th'e Ifreaftv ' . « \ ^
Having landed , and going towards the Bazar to get a Lodg
ing in fome Houfe, we beheld the Queen coming alone in the
fame.way without any other Woman,on footjaccompany'd onely
v/ithfour or fix foot-Souldiers before her, all which were quite
naked after their manner, laving that they had a cloth over thek
fhame, and another like a (heet worncrofs the fhoulders like a
belt 5 each of them had a Sword in his hand, or at mofl: a Sword
and Rueklerjthere were alfoas many behind het of the farte fort,
one of which carry 'd over her a very ordinary Umbrella made