a forgotten empire-vijayanagar-第56章
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ince the King was not inclined to war； so he made his forces ready； and began to invade the King's territory； and arrived within a league of the city of Bisnaga。 Chetarao was in the city with such great forces and power that he could easily have captured him if his heart had allowed him to take action； since the Ydallcao had with him only 12；000 foot and 30；000 horse； yet with this small force the Ydallcao entered Nagallapor a league from Bisnaga and razed it to the ground。 The King never tried to go out against him； nor had he the stomach for a fight； and there were only small skirmishes by some captains； good horsemen。 These spoke to the King； asking that His Highness would give them leave to attack； and saying that his own presence was unnecessary for so slight an affair； but the King was terrified； and by the advice of his brothers…in…law （of which they gave not a little） decided to send and make peace with the Ydallcao。 The Ydallcao was very glad and made a peace with him which was to last for a hundred years； on condition that the King should give him ten LAKHS of gold PARDAOS； each LAKH being 100；000 PARDAOS； and further should yield up to him the city of Rachol which the King Crisnarao had taken from him； and which had a revenue with its lands of 150；000 PARDAOS； as well as jewels which could easily be valued at a LAKH。 The King accepted these terms； and the Ydallcao departed well pleased with this money； and after all was done the King sent to him a diamond stone weighing 130 MANGELLINIS；＇594＇ with fifteen other similar ones worth fully a LAKH。 This money he soon afterwards recovered and put in his treasury； exacting payments from his captains and people so ruthlessly that they say that in six months he had recovered and put the whole in his treasury。
Wherefore the captains and troops； both because he made this peace and because he exacted this sum of money contrary to the wishes of them all； have lived greatly discontented； and have held that if this kingdom should ever be brought to destruction； it must take place in the lifetime of King Chitarao； for he had destroyed the principal people of his kingdom and killed their sons and taken their goods； all owing to the bad counsel of his brothers…in…law； by whom he was dominated。
I will tell you of one who was called Crisnaranarque whom he seized one night； and who； before he surrendered himself； killed all his wives； in number two hundred； and then killed himself with poison in presence of the King。 This was because the King wanted to kill his son in his presence。 By sale of the captain's arms； namely daggers； swords； spears； battle…axes and other things； which were all ornamented with gold and silver； the King realised more than 3000 PARDAOS。 In this way the kingdom has been deprived of its principal men and of those who sustain it； wherefore the Ydalcao holds it in so little esteem that he puts upon it every day a thousand affronts and requisitions。 Of this King there is nothing more so far to recount； save that he is a man that they hold to be of little force of character； and very negligent of the things which most concern the welfare of his kingdom and State。
CHAPTER 21
Of the manner of attendance on these kings； which is as follows。
＇What follows concerns the reign of Achyuta Raya。＇
All the service of this house； with the things which they make use of； is of silver and gold； that is to say basins and bowls； stools； ewers； and other vessels of that sort。 The bedsteads＇595＇ in which his wives sleep are covered and adorned with silver plates。 Every wife has her bed in which she sleeps； and that of the King is plated and lined and has all its legs of gold； its mattress of silk； and its round bolster worked round the ends with large seed pearls。 It has four pillows of the same pattern for the feet； and has no other sheet than a silk cloth on top。 He always carries with him a mosquito curtain with a frame of silver；＇596＇ and he has a house made of pieces of iron in which is contained a very large bed； which is intended for such time as he takes the field。
He has five hundred wives and as many less or more as he wants； with whom he sleeps； and all of these burn themselves at his death。 When he journeys to any place he takes twenty…five or thirty of his most favourite wives； who go with him； each one in her palanqueen with poles。 The palanqueen of the principal wife is an covered with scarlet cloth tasselled with large and heavy work in seed…pearls and pearls； and the pole itself is ornamented with gold。 The palanqueens of the other wives are ornamented only with silver； but another palanqueen； which is for his own person； always goes on the right side； and is in the same way decorated with gold。 For a son or a daughter； if such an one goes with him； he takes another bedstead of ivory inlaid with gold； and when he takes the field； wherever he pitches his camp there they make for him houses of stone and clay； for he does not stay in a tent； and he always has these decorated with cloths。＇597＇
In his palace within the gates he is served by women and eunuchs and servants numbering fully five or six hundred； and these wives of the King all have their own officials for their service； each for herself； just as the King has within the gates； but these are all women。 The palaces of the King are large and with large rooms； they have cloisters like monasteries； with cells； and in each one is one of his wives； and with each of these ladies is her maid…servant； and when the King retires to rest he passes through these cloisters； and his wives stand at the doors and call him in； but these are not the principal wives； they are the daughters of captains and nobles of the country。 Inside the gates of the palace they say that there are over two hundred milch…cows； from the milk of which they make butter for these ladies to eat。
The King has no expense in connection with his food； because the nobles send it to him every day to his house； namely rice and wheat and meat and fowls with all other necessary things。 In the kitchen there are some two hundred inferior guards； and four over it； and two chief officers of the guard； and those who are now captains of the guard of this king are called； one Pedanayque and the other Ajanaique； they are also captains of soldiers； these porters do not go further inside than through four or five doors； because inside of these are none but eunuchs and women。
When the King rides out there go with him usually two hundred horsemen of his guard whom he pays； and a hundred elephants； and this in addition to the captains； forty or fifty in number； who are always in attendance with their soldiers。 He takes with him two thousand men with shields； all men of good position； ranged in order on the flanks； and in front goes the chief ALCAID with about thirty horsemen having canes in their hands like porters； the chief ALCAID bears a different wand； he who is now the chief ALCAID of this King is called Chinapanaique。 Behind with the rearguard goes the Master of the Horse with two hundred horsemen； and behind the cavalry go a hundred elephants； and on their backs ride men of high estate。 He has in front of him twelve destriers； saddled； and in front of these horses go five elephants； specially for the King's person； and in front of these elephants go about five…and…twenty horsemen with banners in their hands； and with drums and trumpets and other music playing so loudly that you can hear nothing。 Before these goes a great drum carried by men at the sides； and they go now and then striking it； the sound of this is heard a long distance off； and this drum they call PICHA。 After the King has mounted he counts the two hundred horsemen and the hundred elephants and the shield…bearers of the guard； and whoever is missing is severely punished and his property confiscated。
CHAPTER 22
Of the manner in which obeisance is done to the King； &c。
The manner of the salaam which the nobles make to the King every day is this： In the morning the nobles go to the palace at ten or eleven o'clock； at which hour the King comes out from within where his wives are； and after he has taken his seat they open to the nobles； and each one comes by himself and bows his head and raises his hands。 This is what they call the 〃salaam〃 （SALEMA）。 With the king are about ten or twelve men who have the duty； on the entrance of each captain； of saying to the King： 〃See； your Highness； your captain so…and…so； who makes salaam to you。〃
The Kings of Bisnaga have always liked； for show； to have many horses in their stables； and they always had eight or nine hundred horses and four or five hundred elephants； on account of which； and on account of the people that looked after them； they were put to great expense； and this King that now is （Achyuta Raya） has in his stable seven hundred and odd horses and four hundred elephants。 He spends on account of them and for their attendants； to whom he gives food； two thousand gold PARDAOS per day。 And of horsemen whom the King pays he has six thousand； and all of them are on the stables establishment （？） （COMEM DA ESTREBARYA）； and those who serve them are paid each year； some a thousand PARDAOS； some five hundred； some three hundred； and those who have less pay receive not less than a hundred。 Of these six thousand； two hundred are obliged to ride with the King。
The kings of this country are able to assemble as many soldiers as they want； as they have them there in their kingdom and have much wealth wherewith to pay them。 This King Chitarao has foot…soldiers paid by his nobles； and they are obliged to maintain six＇598＇ LAKHS of soldiers； that is six hundred thousand men； and twenty…four thousand horse； which the same nobles are obliged to have。 These nobles are like renters who hold all the land from the King； and besides keeping all these people they have to pay their cost； they also pay to him every year sixty LAKHS of rents as royal dues。 The lands； they say； yield a hundred and twenty LAKHS of which they must pay sixty to the King； and the rest they retain for the pay of the soldiers and the expenses of the elephants which they are obliged to maintain。 For this reason the common people suffer much hardship； those who hold the lands being so tyrannical。 Of these sixty LAKHS that the king has of revenue every year he does not enjoy a larger sum than twenty…five LAKHS； for the rest is spent on his horses； and elephants； and foot…soldiers； and cavalry； whose cost he defrays。
During his feasts and the almsgiving to his temples all these captains； who are thus like renters； must always attend the court； and of those whom this King always has about him and by whom he is accompanied in his court there are more than two hundred。 These are obliged always to be present with the King； and must always maintain the full number of soldiers according to their obligations； for if he finds that they have a less number they are severely punished and their estates confiscated。 These nobles are never suffered to settle themselves in cities or towns because they would there be beyond reach of his hand； they only go thither sometimes。 But a concession is granted to the kings that are subject to him； namely they do not go to court unless they are summoned； and
