Travels in India (Tavernier) 29.1

29.1

Goa I went to Bicholly, which is upon the mainland; from thence to Bijapur, then to Golconda, Aurangabad, and Surat. I could have gone to Surat without passing through Golconda, but I was obliged to go there on business. From Goa to Visapour (Bijapur), which one generally accomplishes in eight days . . 85 coss. ,, Visapour to Golconda, which I did in nine days ..... 100 ,, From Golconda to Aurangabad the stages are not so definite, for sometimes it takes sixteen, sometimes twenty, and up to twenty-five. From Aurangabad to Surat one does the journey sometimes in twelve days, but sometimes one is not able to accomplish it in less than fifteen or sixteen. Bijapur is a large town which has nothing remarkable about it, either as regards public edifices or trade. The palace of the King is large enough indeed, but badly built, and what causes the approach to it to be difficult is, that in the moat which surrounds it, and which is full of water, there are many crocodiles. The King of Bijapur has three good ports in his kingdom; these are Rajapur, Dabhol, and Kareputtun. This last is the best of all, and the sea washes the foot of the mountain, where, close to land, there is from 14 to 15 fathoms of water. On the top of the mountain there is a fort with a supply of water, and although it is commanded by nothing and is by nature impregnable, since the King has made peace with the Portuguese he has abandoned it.