Travels in India (Tavernier) 39.1.2

39.1.2

On the 27th [July] we arrived at a large village called Bezwada, not having been able to accomplish this day more than a league and a half, on account of the quantity of water which flooded all the roads. We were obliged to halt till the 31st, as the rains had so much flooded the river that the boat could not hold its own against the swift current of the water, and they had not the intelligence to stretch ropes across the river. Besides which it required some time to enable the horses which the King of Persia was sending to the King of Golconda to cross over; they were then reduced to fifty, because five had died at sea. They were being taken to Mīr Jumlā, who was the Nawāb or Grand Vizir, because anything that he has not seen, or which has not been approved by him, is not shown to the King, who buys nothing and receives no present except with the advice of his Prime Minister, who consequently must have the first view; and this, as I have said, was the reason which compelled us to go to the Nawāb at Gandikot. During the sojourn which we made at Bezwada we went to see many pagodas, the country being full of them, and there are more there than in any other part of India, because, with the exception of the Governors of the place and some of their servants, who are Muhammadans, all the people are idolaters. The pagoda of the town of Bezwada is very fine, and is not enclosed by walls.