[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [Les six voyages de Jean-Baptiste Tavernier](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier) › [Travels in India (Ball)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball) › 145.7 # Travels in India (Tavernier) 145.7 Travels in India (Ball) 145.7 - **Language:** English ### [145.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.145.7) As for the standing army of the kingdom, it consists mainly of infantry, which is fairly good. The soldiers are inured to fatigue, and have for sole garment a piece of calico to cover the middle of the body. All the remainder of the body — the chest, back, arms, and thighs — are uncovered, and the skin, which is all cut (tattooed), as when one applies cupping-glasses, represents many kinds of flowers and animals. After the skin is cut and the blood has flowed from it, these figures of flowers and animals are rubbed in with whatever colours are wished for ; and one would say, on seeing these soldiers from a distance, that they were clad with some flowered silken stuff or painted calico, for the colours once applied never fade. They have for arms bow and arrow, musket and pike, and an azagaye, which is a stick of 5 or 6 feet long, tipped with iron at the end, which can be hurled with skill against an enemy. In the year 1665 there was in the town of Siam a Neapolitan Jesuit called Father Thomas. He fortified the town and the King’s palace, which is on the margin of the river, and he had previously erected good bastions on both sides. It was on account of this that the King allowed him to dwell in the town, where he had a small church with a house where M. Lambert, Bishop of Beyrout, went to lodge on arriving in Siam. But these two did not long remain on good terms together, and the Bishop found it advisable to have a - [Previous: 145.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.145.6) - [Next: 145.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.145.8) - [Up: 145](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.145) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.145.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.145.7) · Pramāṇa