ABSTRACT
The king of the said city does not cause his wife’s vir ginity to be taken by the Brahmins as the king of Calicut does, but he causes her to be deflowered by white men, whether Christians or Moors, provided they be not Pagans. Which Pagans also, before they conduct their wives to their house, find a white man, of whatever country he may be, and take him to their house for this particular purpose, to make him deflower the wife. And this happened to us when we arrived in the said city. W e met by chance three or four merchants, who began to speak to my companion in this wise : te Langalli ni pardesi,” that is, “ Friend, are you strangers ?” He answered : “ Yes.” Said the merchants : “ Ethera nali ni banno,” that is, “ How many days have you been in this country ?” W e replied : “ Mun nal gnad banno,” that is, “ It is four days since we arrived.” Another
over this there is a scarf, or flowing mantle, that hangs from the shoulders ; and on their heads they wear high caps made o f velvet, either plain or of silk embroidered with flowers of gold, according to the rank o f the wearer. Earrings are a part o f male dress : persons of con dition use tubes o f gold about three inches long, and as thick as a large quill, which expands at one end like the mouth of a speakingtrumpet ; others wear a heavy mass o f gold beaten into a plate, and rolled up ; this lump o f metal forms a large orifice in the lobe o f the ear, and drags it down by the weight, to the extent sometimes o f two inches.” P in k e r t o n , vol. ix. p. 496.
