第87章

Returning to the feasts,you must know that in this House of Victory the king has a room (CASA)made of cloth,with its door closed,where the idol has a shrine;and in the other,in the middle (of the building),is placed a dais opposite the staircase in the middle;on which dais stands a throne of state made thus,--it is four-sided,and flat,with a round top,and a hollow in the middle for the seat.As regards the woodwork of it,you must know that it is all covered with silk cloths (?SOAJES),[437]and has lions all of gold,and in the spaces between the cloths (SOAJES)it has plates of gold with many rubies and seed-pearls,and pearls underneath;and round the sides it is all full of golden images of personages,and upon these is much work in gold,with many precious stones.In this chair is placed an idol,also of gold,embowered in roses and flowers.On one side of this chair,on the dais below,stands a head-dress;this also is made in the same manner;it is upright and as high as a span,the top is rounded,it is all full of pearls and rubies and all other precious stones,and on the top of it is a pearl as large as a nut,which is not quite round.On the other side is an anklet for the foot made in the same fashion;it is another state jewel,and is full of large pearls and of many rubies,emeralds,and diamonds,and other stones of value;it will be of the thickness of a man's arm.In front of all this,at the edge[438]of the dais,resting on a support were some cushions where the king was seated during all these feasts.The feasts commence thus:--You must know that when it is morning the king comes to this House of Victory,and betakes himself to that room where the idol is with its Brahmans,and he performs his prayers and ceremonies.Outside the house are some of his favourites,and on the square are many dancing-girls dancing.In their verandahs round the square are many captains and chief people who come there in order to see;and on the ground,near the platform of the house,are eleven horses with handsome and well-arranged trappings,and behind them are four beautiful elephants with many adornments.After the king has entered inside he comes out,and with him a Brahman who takes in his hand a basket full of white roses and approaches the king on the platform,and the king,taking three handfuls of these roses,throws them to the horses,[439]and after he has thrown them he takes a basket of perfumes and acts towards them as though he would cense them;and when he has finished doing this he reaches towards the elephants and does the same to them.And when the king has finished this,the Brahman takes the basket and descends to the platform,[440]and from thence puts those roses and other flowers on the heads of all the horses,and this done,returns to the king.Then the king goes again to where the idol is,and as soon as he is inside they lift the curtains[441]of the room,which are made like the purdahs of a tent,and the king seats himself there where these are,and they lift them all.Thence he witnesses the slaughter of twenty-four buffaloes and a hundred and fifty sheep,with which a sacrifice is made to that idol;you must know that they cut off the heads of these buffaloes and sheep at one blow with certain large sickles which are wielded by a man who has charge of this slaughter;they are so sure of hand that no blow misses.When they have finished the slaughter of these cattle the king goes out and goes to the other large buildings,on the platforms of which is a crowd of Brahmans,and as soon as the king ascends to where they stand they throw to the king ten or twelve roses --those (that is)who are nearest to him.Then he passes all along the top of the buildings,and as soon as he is at the end he takes the cap from his head,and after placing it on the ground turns back (to the place)where the idol is;here he lies extended on the ground.When he has arisen he betakes himself to the interior of the building,and enters a garden (or walled enclosure --QUYNTAL)where they say that a little fire has been made,and he throws into the fire a powder made up of many things,namely,rubies and pearls and all other kinds of precious stones,and aloes and other sweet-scented things.This done,he returns to the pagoda and goes inside and stays a little,at which time enter by the other door some of his favourites who are in the building,and they make their salaam.Then he goes back to the place whence he threw the flowers to the horses,and as soon as he is here all the captains and chief people come and make their salaam to him,and some,if they so desire,present some gifts to him;then as they came so they retire,and each one betakes himself to his own dwelling.And the king withdraws to the interior of his palace by that gate which Ihave already mentioned --that which stands between the two buildings that are in the arena (TERREYRO);the courtesans and bayaderes[442]

remain dancing in front of the temple and idol for a long time.This is what is done during the morning of each day of these nine days,with the ceremonies I have mentioned,and each day more splendid (than the last).