A Forgotten Empire (Vijayanagar): A Contribution to the History of India c21.s2.52

c21.s2.52

When we came to this country the king was in this new town, and there went to see him Christovão de Figueiredo¹ with all of us Portuguese that came with him, and all very handsomely dressed after our manner, with much finery; the king received him very well, and was very complacent to him. The king was as much pleased with him as if he had been one of his own people, so much attention did he evince towards him; and also towards those amongst us who went with him he showed much kindness. We were so close to the king that he touched us all and could not have enough of looking at us. Then Christovão de Figueiredo gave him the letters from the Captain-Major² and the things he had brought for him, with which he was greatly delighted; principally with certain organs³ that the said Christovão de Figueiredo brought him, with many other things (peças). The king was clothed in certain white cloths embroidered with many roses in gold, and with a *pateca*¹ of diamonds on his neck of very great value, and on his head he had a cap of brocade in fashion like a Galician helmet, covered with a piece of fine stuff all of fine silk, and he was barefooted; for no one ever enters where the king is unless he has bare feet, and the majority of the people, or almost all, go about the country barefooted. The shoes have pointed ends, in the ancient manner, and there are other shoes that have nothing but soles, but on top are some straps which help to keep them on the feet. They are made like those which of old the Romans were wont to wear, as you will find on figures in some papers or antiquities which come from Italy. The king gave to Christovão de Figueiredo on dismissing him a *cabaya* (tunic) of brocade, with a cap of the same fashion as the king wore,² and to each one of the Portuguese he gave a cloth embroidered with many pretty figures, and this the king gives because it is customary; he gives it in token of friendship and love.