‘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’ [‎458] (479/508)

A Voyage to E AST-IND1A 7 &c:
Hilts of his Sword and Dagger., are raoft curioufly enriched
with thofe precious Stones ^ befide others of very great value^
which he wears in Rings on his fingers.
Thefirftof Marchjhe Mogolhegmsz royal Feaft, like that
which Ahafuerus made in the third year of his Reign, Efth. i.
wherein he [hewed the riches of hi? glorious Kingdom, This feaft
the Mogol makes, is called the Nooroos^ that fignifies Nine-days :
which time it continues, to uftier in the new year, which begins
with the Mahometans there, the tenth day of March,
Againft which Feaft, the Nobles aflemble themfelves toge-*-
ther at that Court in their greateft Pomp,pre(enting their King
with great gifts, and he requiting them again with Princely re
wards : at which time I being in his prefence, beheld moft im-'
menfe and incredible riches, to my amazement, in Gold, Pearls,
Precious ftones. Jewels, and many other glittering vanities.
This Feaft is ufually kept by the while he is in his Pro-
grefs, and lodges in Tents.
Whether his Diet at this time be greater than ordinary I
know not 5 for he always eats in private amongft his Women 3
where none but his own Family fee him while he is eatings
which Family of his confiftsof his Wives, and Children, and
Women, and Eunuchs, and his Boys ^ and none but thefe abide
and lodge in the Kings Houfes, or Tents, and therefore how
his fable is fpread, I could never know ^ butdoubdefs he hath
of all thofe varieties that Empire affords, if hefo pleafe. His
food (they fay) is ferved in unto him in Veflels of Gok^which
covered and brought unto him by his Eunuchs,after it is proved
by his Tafters, he cats, not at any fet times of the day, but he
hath provifion ready at all times, and calls for it when he fc
Imngry, and never but then.
1 he fir ft of September (which was the late Mogol's birth
day) he retaining an ancient yearly Cuftom, was, in the pre-
i^nce of his chief Grandees, weighed in a Balance 5 the ^Cere
mony was performed within his Hou{e 5 or Tent,^ a fair fpacious
Room, whereinto none were admitted but by fpeciafleave.
The Scales in which he was thus weighed were plated with
Gold, and fo the beam on which they hung, by great Chains
made likewifeof that moft precious Metal, the King fitting in
one of rhem was weighed firft againft filver Coin, which im
mediately after was diftributed among the poor 5 then was he
weighed againft Gold 5 after. that againft Jewels (as they fay)
but I obferved (being prefent there with my Lord Ambaflador)
that he was weighed againft three ieveral things, laid in filken
Bags on the contrary Scale. W 7 henl faw him in the Balance, I
thought on Be/fhazzar, who was found too light, Dan. $.27.
) his weight (of which his Phyficians yearly keep an exa^t
account) they prefume to guefs of the prefent eftate of his
tb ^ ^P ea k ttatteringly,however they think it
When