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and to see the bombs and fire…missiles over the plains； this was indeed wonderful。 Truly it seemed as if the whole world were collected there。
In this way it went on till the king arrived at the place where the tent was that I have already mentioned； and he entered his and performed his usual ceremonies and prayers。 You must not think that when the king passed the troops moved from their positions； on the contrary they stood motionless in their places till the king returned。 As soon as the king had finished his ceremonies he again took horse and returned to the city in the same way as he had come； the troops never wearying of their shouting； as soon as he passed by them they began to march。 Then to see those who were on the hills and slopes； and the descent of them with their shouts and beating of shields and shaking of arrows and bows that were without count。 Truly； I was so carried out with myself that it seemed as if what I saw was a vision； and that I was in a dream。 Then the troops began to march to their tents and pavilions in the plains； which were in great number； and all the captains accompanied the king as far as the palace； and thence departed to rest themselves from their labour。
Now I desire you to know that this king has continually a million fighting troops；＇453＇ in which are included 35；000 cavalry in armour； all these are in his pay； and he has these troops always together and ready to be despatched to any quarter whenever such may be necessary。 I saw； being in this city of Bisnaga； the king despatch a force against a place； one of those which he has by the sea…coast； and he sent fifty captains with 150；000 soldiers； amongst whom were many cavalry。 He has many elephants； and when the king wishes to show the strength of his power to any of his adversaries amongst the three kings bordering on his kingdom； they say that he puts into the field two million soldiers； in consequence of which he is the most feared king of any in these parts。 And although he takes away so many men from his kingdom； it must not be thought that the kingdom remains devoid of men； it is so full that it would seem to you as if he had never taken away a man； and this by reason of the many and great merchants that are in it。 There are working people and all other kinds of men who are employed in business； besides those who are obliged to go into the field； there are also a great number of Brahmans。 In all the land of the heathen there are these Brahmans； they are men who do not eat anything that suffers death； they have little stomach for the use of arms。
Should any one ask what revenues this king possesses； and what his treasure is that enables him to pay so many troops； since he has so many and such great lords in his kingdom； who； the greater part of them； have themselves revenues； I answer thus： These captains whom he has over these troops of his are the nobles of his kingdom； they are lords； and they hold the city； and the towns and villages of the kingdom； there are captains amongst them who have a revenue of a million and a million a half of PARDAOS； others a hundred thousand PARDAOS； others two hundred； three hundred or five hundred thousand PARDAOS； and as each one has revenue so the king fixes for him the number of troops he must maintain； in foot； horse； and elephants。＇454＇ These troops are always ready for duty； whenever they may be called out and wherever they may have to go； and in this way he has this million of fighting men always ready。 Each of these captains labours to turn out the best troops he can get because he pays them their salaries； and in this review there were the finest young men possible to be seen or that ever could be seen； for in all this array I did not see a man that would act the coward。 Besides maintaining these troops； each captain has to make his annual payments to the king； and the king has his own salaried troops to whom he gives pay。 He has eight hundred elephants attached to his person； and five hundred horses always in his stables； and for the expenses of these horses and elephants he has devoted the revenues that he receives from this city of Bisnaga。 You may well imagine how great these expenses may be； and besides these that of the servants who have the care of the horses and elephants； and by this you will be able to judge what will be the revenue of this city。
This king of Bisnaga has five kings his subjects and vassals；＇455＇ besides other captains and lords having large territories and great revenues； whenever a son happens to be born to this king； or a daughter； all the nobles of the kingdom offer him great presents of money and jewels of price； and so they do to him every year on the day of his birth。
You must know that when these feasts of which I have spoken are ended； at the beginning of the month of October； when eleven of its days are past； they make great feasts； during which every one puts on new； and rich； and handsome cloths； each one according to his liking； and all the captains give their men handsome cloths of many colours； each one having his own colour and device。 On the same day they give great gifts of money to the king； it is even said that they give on that day to the king in money a million and five hundred thousand gold PARDAOS； and each PARDAO is worth three hundred and sixty REIS； and from this you will be able to know how many REIS there will be。 I wish you to know that on this day begins their year； it is their New Year's Day； and for this they make the feast and give the gifts； and it is not to be wondered at； for we also do the same on New Year's Day。 They begin the year in this month with the new moon； and they count the months always from moon to moon。＇456＇
And now I wish you to know that the previous kings of this place for many years past have held it a custom to maintain a treasury； which treasury； after the death of each； is kept locked and sealed in such a way that it cannot be seen by any one； nor opened； nor do the kings who succeed to the kingdom open them or know what is in them。 They are not opened except when the kings have great need； and thus the kingdom has great supplies to meet its needs。 This king has made his treasury different from those of the previous kings； and he puts in it every year ten million PARDAOS； without taking from them one PARDAO more than for the expenses of his house。 The rest remains for him； over and above these expenses and of the expenses in the houses of his wives； of whom I have already told you that he keeps near him twelve thousand women； from this you will be able to judge how great is the richness of this kingdom； and how great the treasure that this king has amassed。
And if any one does not know what a PARDAO is； let him know that it is a round gold coin； which coin is not struck anywhere in India except in this kingdom； it bears impressed on it on one side two images and on the other the name of the king who commanded it to be struck； those which this king ordered to be struck have only one image。 This coin is current all over India。 Each PARDAO； as already said； is worth three hundred and sixty REIS。
After all these things （feasts） had passed the king betook himself to the new city； of which I ha