‘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’ [‎214] (235/508)

214
The Travels ofVetcv Delia Valle,
V!.
1
/
fides divers other Affairs of Europe of lefs confideration.
May the nineteenth. One Ventura da Cojia, a Native of Canara
was married. He was a domeftick fervant to Sig: Alvaroda,
\ Cofia, aPrieftand ourFriend, Lord of a Village nearG^^ for
whofe fake, who was willing to honour his fervant's wedding
in his ownHoufe, I andfome other Friends went thither to ac
company the Bride and the Bride-groom to the Church of San
BlagiO) a little diftant in another Village, which was the Parifh
of the Bride, where the Ceremonies were perform'd in the Even
ing for coolnefs fake. The Company was very numerous, con-
fifting of many Gentlemen, fuch, perhaps, as few other
Canarini have had at their Marriages. The Spoufes came under
Umbrella's of Silk garnifti'd with filver, 8c in other particulars the
Ceremonies were according to the cuftom of the Portugals $ one-
ly I obferv'd , that according to the ufe of the Country, in the
Company before the Married Perfons, there march'd a party of
fourteen or (ixteen men odly cloth'd after the Indian faQiion, to
wit, naked from the girdle upward, and their Bodies painted in
works with white Sanders, and adorn'd with bracelets and neck
laces of Gold and Silver, and alfo with flowers and turbants
upon their heads, in feveral gallant fafhions and ftreamers of fc-
veral colours hanging behind them: From the girdle downwards,
over the hofe which thefe Canarini ufe to wear fhort like ours,
♦ they had vanoully colour'd clothes girt about them with ftream-
ers, or flying laps, hanging down a little below the knee 5 the
reft ofthe leg was naked, faving that they had fandalson their
feet. Tl^ele fine fellows danc'd all the way both going and re
turning, accompanying their dances with chaunting many Ver-
fes in their own Language, and beating the little fnappers which
they carry'd in their hands, after the fafliion of the Country,
formerly taken notice of at ikkert. And indeed the dances of
thefe Canarini are pleafant enough^ fo that in the Feftivities
made at Goa for the Canonization of the Saints Ignatio and Scix-
vier^ though in other things they weremoft fbleinn and fumptu-
ous 5 yet, in my conceit, there was nothing more worthy to be
feen for delight, then the many pretty and jovial dances which
interven'd in the Tragedy. The Marry'd Couple being return'd
from Church to the Bride's Houfe, we were entertaind with a-
handfome Collation of Sweet-meats in the yard, which was
wholly cover'd over with a Tent, and adorn'd with Trees and
green boughs, the Company fitting round, and the Marry'd
Couple on one fide at the upper end upon a great Carpet under
a Canopy. After which we all return'd home, and the
Hufband ftay'd that night to fleep in his Wife's Houfe.
May the twentieth, A Galley of the Fleet expected from Mo
zambique arriv'd at Goa, It brought Sig: Don Nugro Alvares,
(Sometimes General there, and Suprjeam Governour of all that
Coaft of Cafuria, comprifing under his Government the Rivers
of Coama, Mombace, and as much of Afiicl^ as the Portugals have
from-
VII.