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urs they have； shield…men with their shields； with many flowers of gold and silver on them； others with figures of tigers and other great beasts； others all covered with silver leaf…work beautifully wrought； others with painted colours； others black and （so polished that） you can see into them as into a mirror； and their swords so richly ornamented that they could not possibly be more so。 Of the archers； I must tell you that they have bows plated with gold and silver； and others have them polished； and their arrows very neat； and so feathered that they could not be better； daggers at their waists and battle…axes； with the shafts and ends of gold and silver； then you see musqueteers with their musquets and blunderbusses and their thick tunics； all in their order； with their 。。。＇452＇ in all their bravery； it was indeed a thing to see。 Then the Moors one must not forget them for they were there also in the review with their shields； javelins； and Turkish bows； with many bombs and spears and fire…missiles； and I was much astonished to find amongst them men who knew so well how to work these weapons。
The king leaves his palace riding on the horse of which I have already told you； clothed in the many rich white cloths I have mentioned； with two umbrellas of state all gilded and covered with crimson velvet； and with the jewels and adornments which they keep for the purpose of wearing at such times： he who ever wears such jewels can understand the sort of things so great a lord would wear。 Then to see the grandeur of the nobles and men of rank； I cannot possibly describe it all； nor should I be believed if I tried to do so； then to see the horses and the armour that they wear； you would see them so covered with metal plates that I have no words to express what I saw； and some hid from me the sight of others； and to try and tell of all I saw is hopeless； for I went along with my head so often turned from one side to the other that I was almost falling backwards off my horse with my senses lost。 The cost of it all is not so much to be wondered at； as there is so much money in the land； and the chiefs are so wealthy。
There went in front of the king many elephants with their coverings and ornaments； as I have said； the king had before him some twenty horses fully caparisoned and saddled； with embroideries of gold and precious stones； that showed off well the grandeur and state of their lord。 Close to the king went a cage such as is seen at Lisbon on the day of the Corpo de Dios festival； and it was gilded and very large； it seemed to me to be made of copper or silver； it was carried by sixteen men； eight on each side； besides others who took their turns； and in it is carried the idol of which I have already spoken。 Thus accompanied the king passed along gazing at his soldiers； who gave great shouts and cries and struck their shields； the horses neighed； the elephants screamed； so that it seemed as it the city would be overturned； the hills and valleys and all the ground trembled with the discharges of arms and musquets； and to see the bombs and fire…missiles over the plains； this was indeed wonderful。 Truly it seemed as if the whole world were collected there。
In this way it went on till the king arrived at the place where the tent was that I have already mentioned； and he entered his and performed his usual ceremonies and prayers。 You must not think that when the king passed the troops moved from their positions； on the contrary they stood motionless in their places till the king returned。 As soon as the king had finished his ceremonies he again took horse and returned to the city in the same way as he had come； the troops never wearying of their shouting； as soon as he passed by them they began to march。 Then to see those who were on the hills and slopes； and the descent of them with their shouts and beating of shields and shaking of arrows and bows that were without count。 Truly； I was so carried out with myself that it seemed as if what I saw was a vision； and that I was in a dream。 Then the troops began to march to their tents and pavilions in the plains； which were in great number； and all the captains accompanied the king as far as the palace； and thence departed to rest themselves from their labour。
Now I desire you to know that this king has continually a million fighting troops；＇453＇ in which are included 35；000 cavalry in armour； all these are in his pay； and he has these troops always together and ready to be despatched to any quarter whenever such may be necessary。 I saw； being in this city of Bisnaga； the king despatch a force against a place； one of those which he has by the sea…coast； and he sent fifty captains with 150；000 soldiers； amongst whom were many cavalry。 He has many elephants； and when the king wishes to show the strength of his power to any of his adversaries amongst the three kings bordering on his kingdom； they say that he puts into the field two million soldiers； in consequence of which he is the most feared king of any in these parts。 And although he takes away so many men from his kingdom； it must not be thought that the kingdom remains devoid of men； it is so full that it would seem to you as if he had never taken away a man； and this by reason of the many and great merchants that are in it。 There are working people and all other kinds of men who are employed in business； besides those who are obliged to go into the field； there are also a great number of Brahmans。 In all the land of the heathen there are these Brahmans； they are men who do not eat anything that suffers death； they have little stomach for the use of arms。
Should any one ask what revenues this king possesses； and what his treasure is that enables him to pay so many troops； since he has so many and such great lords in his kingdom； who； the greater part of them； have themselves revenues； I answer thus： These captains whom he has over these troops of his are the nobles of his kingdom； they are lords； and they hold the city； and the towns and villages of the kingdom； there are captains amongst them who have a revenue of a million and a million a half of PARDAOS； others a hundred thousand PARDAOS； others two hundred； three hundred or five hundred thousand PARDAOS； and as each one has revenue so the king fixes for him the number of troops he must maintain； in foot； horse； and elephants。＇454＇ These troops are always ready for duty； whenever they may be called out and wherever they may have to go； and in this way he has this million of fighting men always ready。 Each of these captains labours to turn out the best troops he can get because he pays them their salaries； and in this review there were the finest young men possible to be seen or that ever could be seen； for in all this array I did not see a man that would act the coward。 Besides maintaining these troops； each captain has to make his annual payments to the king； and the king has his own salaried troops to whom he gives pay。 He has eight hundred elephants attached to his person； and five hundred horses always in his stables； and for the expenses of these horses and elephants he has devoted the revenues that he receives from this city of Bisnaga。 You may well imagine how great these expenses may be； and besides these that of the servants who have the care of the horses and elephants； and by this you will be able to judge what will be the revenue of this city。
This king of Bisnaga has five kings his subjects and vassals；＇455＇ besides other captains and lords having large territories and great revenues； whenever a son happens to be born to this king； or a daughter； all the nobles of the kingdom offer him great presents of money and jewels of price； and so they do to him every year on the day of his birth。
You must know that when these feasts of which I have spoken are ended； at the beginning of the month of October； when eleven of its days are past； they make great feasts； during which every one puts on new； and rich； and handsome cloths； each one according to his liking； and all the captains give their men handsome cloths of many colours； each one having his own colour and device。 On the same day they give great gifts of money to the king； it is even said that they give on that day to the king in money a million and five hundred thousand gold PARDAOS； and each PARDAO is worth three hundred and sixty REIS； and from this you will be able to know how many REIS there will be。 I wish you to know that on this day begins their year； it is their New Year's Day； and for this they make the feast and give the gifts； and it is not to be wondered at； for we also do the same on New Year's Day。 They begin the year in this month with the new moon； and they count the months always from moon to moon。＇456＇
And now I wish you to know that the previous kings of this place for many years past have held it a custom to maintain a treasury； which treasury； after the death of each； is kept locked and sealed in such a way that it cannot be seen by any one； nor opened； nor do the kings who succeed to the kingdom open them or know what is in them。 They are not opened except when the kings have great need； and thus the kingdom has great supplies to meet its needs。 This king has made his treasury different