Book I Travels in India. 61 



(!hap. x. 



Of the Kingdom r/GoIconda, and the Wars which it has maintain 'd 

 for [owe few years Lift fa ft. 



TH E whole Kingdom of Gokonda, take it in general, is a good Countrey, 

 abounding in Corn, Rice, Cartel, Sheep, Poultry, and other ncceflaries JTor 

 human life. In regard there are great (tore of Lakes in ir, there is alfo great 

 llore of Fifh. Above all the reft, there is a fort of Smelt, that has but one bone 

 in the middle, which is molt delicious food. Nature has contributed more than 

 Art, toward the making thcfe Lakes, whereof the Countrey is full } which are 

 generally in places fomewhat rais'd, (b that you need do no more than make a lit- 

 tle Dam upon the plain-fide to keep in the water. Thefe Dams or Banks are fome- 

 timcs half a league long : and after the rainy feafons are over, they open the 

 Sluces from time to time to let out the water into the adjacent Fields, where it 

 is receiv'd by divers little Channels to water particular grounds. 



Bagnagar is the name of the Metropolis of this Kingdom ; but vulgarly it is 

 caH'd Gotcondd, from the name of a Fortrefs, not above two leagues diitant from 

 it, where the King keeps his Court. This Fortrcfs is about two leagues in cir- 

 cuit, and by confequence requires a numerous Guard. It is as it were a Town 

 where the King keeps his Treafure : having left B'agnagar, ever fince it was lack'd 

 by the Array, which Aurcng-^cb brought againft it. 



Bagnagar is then the City, which they vulgarly call Golconda 5 and it was foun- 

 ded by the Great Grandfather of the prefent King ; upon the importunity of one 

 of his Wives, whom he pattionatcly lov'd, whole name was JVagar. Before that, 

 it was only a place of Pleafure, where the King had very fair Gardens, till at 

 length his Wife continually representing to him the delicacies of the fituation for 

 the building a City and a Palace, by reafon of the River ; he laid the foundations, 

 and orderM that it mould bear the' name of his Wife, calling it Bag-Nagar, that 

 is to lay, the Garden of N.rg.rr. This City lies in (eventeen degrees of Eleva- 

 tion, wanting two minutes. The Countrey round about is a fiat Countrey, only 

 neer the City are feverai Rocks, as you lee about Ftntai/i-Bleafi'. A great River 

 waflies the Walls of the City upon the South- weft- fide, which, neer to Maflifa- 

 tan, falls into the Gulf of Bengal*. At Bagnagar you crols this River over a. 

 Bridg no lefs beautiful than Vpnt-Ncnf at Paris. The City is little Ids than Or- 

 leans, m 11- built, and full of windows. There are many fair large Streets, but not 

 being well pav'd : they are dufty, as are all the Cities of Pcrfia and India, which 

 is very otfenfive in the Summer. 



Before you come to the Bridg, you 11111ft pals through a large Suburb call'd 

 Erenrahad, about a league in length? where live all the Merchants, the Brokers, 

 Handicraft-Trades, and in general, all the meaner fort of people 5 the City 

 being inhabited only by pedbns of Quality, Officers of the King's Houte, 

 Miniiters of Juiticc,' and Officers of the Army. From ten or eleven in the 

 forenoon, till' four or live in the evening, the Merchants, Brokers and Work- 

 men come into the City to trade with the Forreign Merchants; after which, time 

 they return to their own Houies. In the Suburb are two or three fair M^-nccs, 

 which fcrve for Inns for the Foreigners, befides feverai Pagods in the Neighbour- 

 ing-parts. Through the fame Suburb lies the way to the Fortrefs of Gol- 

 conda. 



So loon as you are over the Bridg, you enter into a large Street, that leads^ 

 you to the King's Palace. On the right-hand are the Houfes of fome Lords ot 

 the Court ; and four or five Inns two Stories- high : wherein there are fair Halls, 

 and large Chambers to let in the frefh Air. At "the end of this Street there is a 

 large PiaXLa ; upon which ftands one of the fides of the Palace; in the middle 

 whereof there is a Balcone, wherein the King comes to fit, when he pleales to 

 give Audience to the People. The great Gate of the Palace ftands not upon this 

 Piazza but upon another very neer adjoyning ; and you enter firit into a large 

 11 Court 



