‘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’ [‎156] (177/508)

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IX.
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Sifters , they accounting the Fepiale-line more certain, as indeed
it is, than the Male. Yet that the laft King of having
neither Nephews nor other Legitimate Heirs 3 his Wife fucceeded
him 5 and (he alfo dying without other Heirs left this Abag-DeuH^
who Washer Sifter to fucceed her. To whom, becaufe fheisa
Woman and the defcent is certain, is to fucceed a Son of hera,
of whom I (hall hereafter make mention 5 but to him, being a
Man, not his own Sons, but the Sdn of one of his Sifters, here
after likewife mention'd, is to fucceed.
Not to conceal vdiat I know of the Hiftory of this Queen, I
lhaU add, that after her Aflumption to the Throne upon the
/ // death of her Sifter, (he was married for many years to the King
2 A Bangbd, who now is a fugitive, depriv'dof his Dominions,
but then reign'd in his own Country which borders upon hers.
Yet, though they were Hufband and Wife, (more for Honors
fake then any thing eHe J they liv'd not together, but apart each
in their own Lands i in the Confines whereof,either upon Rivers,
where they caus'd Tents to be erected over boats, or in other
places of delight,they came to fee and converfe with one another 5
Bangbel wanting not other Wives and Women, who accompa
ny'd him where-eyer he went. 3 Tis reported, that this Queen
had the Children, which fhe hath d by this Banghel, if they were
not by fome other fecret and more intimate Lover 5 for, they
fay, fhe wants not fuch. The Matrimony and good Friend-
Chip having lafted many years between Banghel and the Queen,
I know not upon what occafiondifcord arofe between them, and
fuch dilcord that the Queen divore'd Banghel^ fending back to
him, ("as the cuftom is in fuch cafe) all the Jewels which he had
given her as his Wife. For this, and perhaps for other caufes,
Banghelhecdime much offended with the Queen, and the rupture
proceeded to a War ; during which, it fo fortun'd that one
day as fhe was going in a boat upon one of thofe Rivers, not very
well guarded, he lending his people with other boats in better
order, took her and had her in his power: Yet, with fair carri
age and good Words, flie prevail'd fofar that he let her go free and
return to her Country. In revenge of this in jury jlhe forth-with
rais d War againft Banghel^ who relying upon the aid of the
neighbouring Portugals, becaufe he was confederate with them,
and (as they fay of many Royolets of India) Brother in Arms
^ rortngtl) the Queen to counterpoize that forqe
call d to her amftance againft Bangbel 9 and the Portugals whofa-
vour'd him, the neighbouring King Venkrtapa Naieka, who
was already become very potent, and fear d by all the Neigh
bours, and under his proteftion and obedience (he put her felf.
Venyapd Naie^a lent a powerful Army in favour of the Queen,
took all Bangher s Territories and made them his own,deftroying
the Fort which was there 5 he alfo made prey of divers other
^ ^5 ds t h . erea bouts, demolifhing their ftrength, and rendring
tnem his Tributaries 3 one of which was the Queen of CHrnat >
wh®