The chronicles of Paes and Nuniz (Vijayanagara) 23.2.3
The Narrative of Domingos Paes and the Chronicle of Fernão Nuniz (Sewell, A Forgotten Empire) 23.2.3
- Language
- English
23.2.3
The captains and principal people use[612] at night torches of oil, from four to twelve torches (according to rank), those of highest rank having twelve at most. The King, however, must have a hundred or a hundred and fifty torches. There is much wax in the country, but they do not know how to work it. Every merchant who brings merchandise in horses and other things which he may have brought to sell to the King, if he desires an audience, has to offer him a present of a piece of goods or a horse of the best that he has brought, in order that he may obtain an audience and transact his business. And this not only to the King. You must perforce pay bribes to all the several officers with whom you have to deal. They will do nothing without some profit to themselves